STATEMENTS ON SIGNIFICANT MATTERS

2026-03-12 3 1 0 House of Reps 0 1

Thursday, 12 March 2026

The SPEAKER ( Hon. Milton Dick ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

STATEMENTS ON SIGNIFICANT MATTERS 1 STATEMENTS ON SIGNIFICANT MATTERS International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1 Reference to Federation Chamber 4 09:23 Dr ALY 13050 Cowan I move: That further statements on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination be permitted in the Federation Chamber. Question agreed to. Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme 4 Reference to Federation Chamber 6 09:35 Ms ROWLAND 159771 Greenway I move: That further statements on the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme be permitted in the Federation Chamber. Question agreed to. BILLS 6 BILLS Export Control Amendment (Clarifying Obligations Relating to Registered Establishments) Bill 2026 6

Export Control Amendment (Clarifying Obligations Relating to Registered Establishments) Bill 2026

First Reading 6 Second Reading 6 09:36 Ms COLLINS HWM Franklin I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Australia's agricultural exports are forecast to reach around $80 billion this financial year and support a wide range of agricultural businesses across the country. The government plays a key role in facilitating this trade through the assurances we provide to importing countries. Our regulatory system demonstrates the high standard of Australian agricultural goods, and our government-to-government communications assure importing countries that their requirements are being met. These requirements are ever evolving, and our regulatory approach needs to adapt accordingly. The Australian government is conducting an export assurance reform project that will strengthen the regulatory oversight of goods including wool, honey, pet food, skins and hides, rendered goods, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, stock feed and feed additives. Through this reform process, the government has identified amendments required to the Export Control Act 2020, to ensure that the export regulatory framework continues to function as intended. Many places where goods are processed and prepared for export are regulated as registered establishments under the act. In these cases, the act stipulates that all operations for prescribed goods at the establishment must be included in the registration. This includes operations that do not otherwise require registration, creating excessive regulatory burden for Australian businesses. The bill will remove this burden, by enabling occupiers of registered establishments to conduct these operations without contravening the act. The new provisions would ensure that only operators who carry out export operations that are not covered by their registration but should be are penalised. This would align penalty provisions across the act and its rules. Without this amendment, export operations across some of Australia's key agricultural industries could be forced to complete extensive processes to register operations that do not, in themselves, justify registration. This bill will remove all that red tape for industry and increase government efficiency. The bill also broadens the scope of what documents the government can issue under the act to support trade. This addresses a growing gap where documents that our trading partners require are not catered for under our legislation. These amendments ensure that the government can provide the support needed to maintain and grow Australia's market access for all agricultural exports. The bill underpins the government's commitment to support the growth of Australia's agricultural sector by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our export regulatory system and paving the way for broader reform across a range of commodities. Debate adjourned. Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026 7

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026

First Reading 7 Second Reading 7 09:40 Mr THISTLETHWAITE 182468 Kingsford Smith I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Transnational, serious and organised crime actors continue to adapt and develop new ways to exploit Australian community members and target our economic systems to generate illicit profits and launder the proceeds of crime. Money laundering is not a victimless crime. Each year, billions of dollars of illicit funds are generated from criminal activity such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, child exploitation, tax evasion, and other illegal and corrupt practices. It's also used by authoritarian regimes to fuel corruption and undermine the rule of law across the world. AUSTRAC has observed that crypto ATMs are one of these new mechanisms, linked to everything from money laundering to scams and fraud to illicit substances to child exploitation. When AUSTRAC looked at the top 90 most prolific users of these ATMs in 2024 it found that 85 per cent of these users were either scam victims or money mules who had been tricked or coerced into moving money. While not everyone who uses these ATMs is linked to illicit activity, the observations of our law enforcement agencies is that, unfortunately, a substantive amount of their use contributes to criminal gain. The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026 responds to crypto ATMs and the broader modern financial crime environment which facilitates serious crimes and harms both Australia's financial systems and the community. Schedule 1 of this bill will introduce a new framework in the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to empower the AUSTRAC CEO to restrict or prohibit businesses regulated under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing regime from using a high-risk product, service, delivery channel or thing, to protect the Australian community. This implements a commitment made by the Minister for Home Affairs at the National Press Club on 16 October 2025 to combat the significant harms being caused by organised crime and scams across the country. The Australian Institute of Criminology estimates that serious and organised crime cost Australia up to $82.3 billion in 2023-24, causing misery and financial hardship for victims. The illicit profits are reinvested in further serious crimes that cause untold harm to the Australian community and our region. The emergence of new technologies in recent years has presented great opportunities for the economy and the community. However, these same opportunities can be exploited by criminal actors. We've seen criminal groups, exploiting high-risk mechanisms, coerce everyday people to move and launder money from scams and illicit drug sales. For example, cryptocurrency ATMs are often exploited by criminals coercing individuals to exchange money for virtual assets. These high-risk mechanisms are used because they make it harder for our law enforcement and intelligence agencies, like AUSTRAC, to trace the movement of that money. To ensure that the new power is appropriately targeted, the AUSTRAC CEO must be satisfied of the significant harm of the high-risk mechanism before exercising the power and that a restriction or prohibition is necessary in the public interest. The new power is intended to support AUSTRAC's flexible, risk based response to emerging and evolving money laundering and terrorism financing risks, while still allowing reporting entities to use innovative technologies and business models. Schedule 2 of the bill will make technical amendments to the meaning of financing of terrorism in section 5 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to reference new offences introduced in the Criminal Code Act 1995 for financing a state sponsor of terrorism. This definition will also be updated to reflect developments in Australian sanctions laws on terrorism financing, including by allowing new sanctions offences to be prescribed in the future. These amendments will also ensure Australia unequivocally meets its commitments as a member of the Financial Action Task Force, the global anti-money-laundering and terrorism financing watchdog. Schedule 3 of the bill contains technical amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006that were identified through the implementation of the significant reforms enacted by this government through the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024. The 2024 reforms were a critical and long-overdue step in Australia's compliance with international standards and ensuring that we do not become an international 'back door' for illicit funds. The technical amendments will make compliance easier for Australian businesses who have obligations under these laws, while still delivering strong anti-money-laundering outcomes. The Australian government will always act to prevent the criminal abuse of our economy and the harm and suffering this causes to our entire community. For those who think crypto ATMs provide a new loophole to turn cash into crypto and evade law enforcement—know this—we will close the loopholes, we will track you down, you are in our sights. I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned. COMMITTEES 8 COMMITTEES Intelligence and Security Joint Committee 8 Report 8 09:47 Mr LAXALE 299174 Bennelong On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the following reports: Review of the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Criminal Code and Advisory report on the Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026, incorporating a dissenting report. Reports made parliamentary papers in accordance with standing order 39(e). Mr LAXALE 299174 by leave—On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present two reports: firstly, the Review on the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—or the IRGC—as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Criminal Code. The committee supports the continued listing of the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism. The committee is satisfied that the appropriate process has been followed and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps meets the definition of a state sponsor of terrorism. Specifically, the committee concurs that the IRGC is a foreign state entity which has directly or indirectly engaged in, prepared, planned, assisted in or fostered the doing of a terrorist act that was targeted at Australia. Lastly, speaker, the committee stands with the Australian Iranian community in this time of considerable distress, uncertainty, but also hope. Throughout this important review, the committee received more than 180 submissions and held a public hearing with a wide range of organisations representing the Australian Iranian community. The overwhelming majority of submissions and evidence strongly supported the IRGC's continued terrorist listing. On behalf of the committee, I extend my thanks to all those who participated in this review. We heard some harrowing evidence from people with lived and shared experience of the IRGC's reign of terror. I thank those who shared personal experiences of suffering. This would not have been easy. The committee recognises the courage and convictions of these individuals who have willingly contributed to our democratic and parliamentary process and spoken out against the repressive activities of the IRGC despite clear and potential risks to their own personal safety. The committee considers that the IRGC's demonstrated willingness to engage in violence, intimidation and transnational repression, including against Australian targets, meets and exceeds the threshold intended by the parliament when establishing the state sponsor of terrorism framework. The listing strengthens Australia's ability to disrupt and deter IRGC-linked activity within Australia, including financing, facilitation and intimidation. It also sends a clear signal that hostile state-directed activity targeting Australian communities will not be tolerated. The listing makes support of the IRGC illegal in various ways, and the committee calls on the Australian Iranian community and the wider community to be vigilant and to report any intelligence they hold to the Australian Federal Police's 24-hour National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400. Overall, the committee supports the listing of the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Criminal Code and finds no reason to disallow the legislative instrument. The committee also makes three recommendations directed at ensuring the listing is appropriately implemented in practice, including an important recommendation to promote proactive engagement from government with the Australian-Iranian community, including in languages other than English, where required, to encourage and report back on information sharing. BILLS 8 BILLS Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026 8

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

Report from Committee 8 09:51 Mr LAXALE 299174 Bennelong The second report I present is the advisory report on the Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026. This bill proposes changes to the Royal Commissions Act 1902 and the Criminal Code Act 1995 to establish a framework for the provision of intelligence or operationally sensitive information to a prescribed royal commission. The bill will provide immunity from secrecy provisions where a person provides information as long as the provision of information is consistent with an arrangement entered into between a commissioner of the royal commission and the Commonwealth or the heads of the relevant Australian intelligence entities. The current Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion responds to the shootings at Bondi Beach in December, which is now considered to be the worst terrorist attack ever to have taken place on Australian soil. The royal commission's work is both urgent and important. While secrecy provisions are an important part of the national security legislative framework, the committee is concerned that the work of the royal commission and potentially other future royal commissions is currently impeded. For royal commissions to be effective, witnesses need to know that they are protected from breaching secrecy provisions when they provide information. The committee considers that the proposed amendments appropriately balance the strong public interest in royal commissions having unimpeded access to information and those providing that information from being protected from prosecution, with the equally important public interest in ensuring intelligence and operationally sensitive information is protected from public disclosure. The report recommends that the bill be passed as soon as possible by the parliament. I commend both reports to the House. COMMITTEES 9 COMMITTEES Public Works Joint Committee 9 Approval of Work 9 09:54 Dr LEIGH BU8 Fenner I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation—Black Mountain Greenhouse Redevelopment. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation seeks approval from the parliament to replace critical greenhouse infrastructure at Black Mountain in the ACT that was damaged during a hailstorm in January 2020. The project will provide new and refurbished greenhouses with supporting facilities to replace the greenhouse infrastructure and capability damaged by the hailstorm. The new facilities will support the organisation to undertake research and development for government and industry across agriculture, biodiversity, environment and biosecurity. The estimated total cost of the works is $37.9 million, excluding GST. The proposed works were referred to the Public Works Committee on 2 September 2025. Following its inquiry, the committee recommended that the House of Representatives resolve that it is expedient to carry out the proposed works. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction is expected to commence in April 2026 and be completed by August 2028. On behalf of the government I would like to thank the committee, ably chaired by the member for Makin, for undertaking a timely inquiry. I commend the motion to the House. Question agreed to. Approval of Work 9 09:56 Dr LEIGH BU8 Fenner I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation—Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness—Stage 1 Part Life Refit. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation seeks approval from the parliament to undertake the first stage of the proposed part-life refit at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness at Geelong, Victoria. The refurbishment will be delivered in two stages. Stage 1 will provide a new high-containment laboratory wing containing three main laboratory suites with a connection into the existing building via an accessway, part replacement of high-risk equipment, external services and enabling works. Stage 2 will be the subject of a separate Parliamentary Works Committee referral. The estimated total cost of stage 1 works is $372.2 million excluding GST. The proposed works were referred to the Public Works Committee on 2 September 2025. Following its inquiry, the committee recommended that the House of Representatives resolve that it is expedient to carry out the proposed works. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction is expected to commence in 2026 and be completed by late 2028. On behalf of the government, I would like to thank the committee, ably chaired by the member for Makin, for undertaking a timely inquiry. I commend the motion to the House. Question agreed to. Approval of Work 10 09:58 Dr LEIGH BU8 Fenner I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Australian Taxation Office—Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises, Levels 5 to 10, 152 Wharf Street, Brisbane. The ATO seeks approval from the parliament to fit out levels 5 to 10 of their existing leased premises at the Wharf Street, Brisbane site. The estimated total cost of the works is $29.2 million excluding GST. The proposed works were referred to the Public Works Committee on 2 September 2025. Following its inquiry, the committee recommended that the House of Representatives resolve that it is expedient to carry out the proposed works. Subject to parliamentary approval, work will commence in June 2026 for practical completion in November 2026. The committee also recommended that the ATO continue to enhance and refine their change management practices, ensuring that it incorporates robust staff consultation procedures for the design and delivery stages of proposed works to effectively capture all affected staff. The ATO has accepted this recommendation and advised that the committee's recommendation will be reflected in subsequent ATO public works proposals that are referred to the committee. On behalf of the government, I would like to thank the committee, ably chaired by the member for Makin, for undertaking a timely inquiry. I commend the motion to the House. Question agreed to. Approval of Work 10 09:59 Dr LEIGH BU8 Fenner I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Services Australia—Proposed Fit-out of Leased Premises at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong, New South Wales. Services Australia seeks parliamentary approval to proceed with the proposed fit-out of leased premises at 90 Crown Street, Wollongong, New South Wales. The works seek to provide fit-for-purpose office space and consolidate the non-customer-facing staff in the Illawarra region into one site by 2027. The estimated total cost of the proposed works is $22.34 million, excluding GST. The project was referred to the public works committee on 2 September 2025. Following its inquiry, the committee recommended that the House of Representatives resolve that it is expedient to carry out the proposed works. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction is expected to commence in March 2026 and be completed by February 2027. On behalf of the government, I would like to thank the committee, ably chaired by the member for Makin, for undertaking a timely inquiry. I commend the motion to the House. Question agreed to. Approval of Work 10 10:01 Dr LEIGH BU8 Fenner I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Attorney-General's Department—Proposed Fit-out of Existing Leased Premises at 3-5 National Circuit, Barton, Australian Capital Territory. The Attorney-General's Department seeks approval from the parliament to fit out existing leased premises at 3-5 National Circuit, Barton, ACT. The project will enable the department to consolidate from three buildings into one building in Canberra and reduce its leased space in Canberra by 6,817 square metres, or by 26 per cent. The estimated total cost of the proposed works is $39.93 million, excluding GST. The project was referred to the public works committee on 8 October 2025, and, following its inquiry, the committee recommended that the House of Representatives resolve that it is expedient to carry out the proposed works. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction is expected to commence in June 2026 and be completed by December 2027. The committee also recommended that the department exercise its two lease-renewal options at the expiration of its current lease on 3-5 National Circuit in 2036 to maximise value for money to the Commonwealth of the proposed works unless significant considerations prevent such an extension. The department has noted this recommendation and advised that it will consider exercising lease renewal options in the context of planning for the 2036 expiry of the department's current lease. On behalf of the government, I would like to thank the committee, ably chaired by the member for Makin, for undertaking a timely inquiry. I commend the motion to the House. Question agreed to. Approval of Work 11 10:03 Dr LEIGH BU8 Fenner I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Department of Home Affairs—Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre Hawk Compound Redevelopment. The Department of Home Affairs seeks approval from the parliament for upgrade works at the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre, located at Northam, approximately 90 kilometres north-east of the Perth central business district. The estimated cost of the works is $34.95 million, excluding GST. The project was referred to the public works committee on 2 September 2025, and, following its inquiry, the committee recommended that the House of Representatives resolve that it is expedient to carry out the proposed works. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction is expected to commence in mid-2026 and be completed by March 2027. The committee also recommended that the department ensure that current staff involved in the day-to-day operations of the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre are consulted on the proposed works and are provided an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed design. The committee further recommended that the department include a full accounting of its staff consultation processes for the proposed works in the post-implementation report of the project. The department has advised that it notes the committee's recommendations and will provide full information about the staff consultation processes for the proposed works in the post-implementation report of the project. On behalf of the government, I would like to thank the committee, ably chaired by the member for Makin, for undertaking a timely inquiry and for its consistent focus on the inclusion of the voices of public servants in Public Works Committee approvals. I commend the motion to the House. Question agreed to. Public Accounts and Audit Joint Committee 11 Report 11 10:05 Ms SITOU 298121 Reid On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present the committee's Report 515: inquiry into the effectiveness of Australia's National Anti-Doping Scheme. Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). Ms SITOU 298121 I ask leave of the House to present a report to the committee by Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM entitled Independent Post-Election Review of the Parliamentary Budget Office 2025-26. Leave granted. Ms SITOU 298121 I present the Independent Post-Election Review of the Parliamentary Budget Office 2025-26 and I ask leave of the House to make a short statement in connection with the reports. Leave granted. Ms SITOU 298121 On the independent review of the Parliamentary Budget Office, the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, in accordance with its legislative responsibilities, requested an independent post-election review of the Parliamentary Budget Office after the 2025 federal election. The review was conducted by Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM and examined the effectiveness and efficiency of the PBO, the appropriateness of its mandate, its resourcing and service demand levels, stakeholder feedback and the impact of its work on public debates. The review makes it clear to the committee that, 13 years after its establishment, the PBO continues to be a highly regarded institution in the public policy landscape and its work is considered to be insightful and highly credible. The review concluded that the PBO's mandate continues to be appropriate and should remain unchanged and that altering it could jeopardise the PBO's established credibility and strong working relationships. It identified opportunities to further strengthen engagement with parliamentarians, parliamentary parties and the broader public. The review made 23 recommendations across themes including enhancing credibility, improving transparency, strengthening the PBO's service offering and maximising its long-term impact. Together, the recommendations are intended to facilitate more efficient support to parliamentarians and to strengthen the ability of the PBO to continue delivering high-quality, credible support on all dimensions of its mandate going forward. The committee extends its appreciation to Dr Parkinson and the PBO review secretariat for their work. The committee will further consider the findings and recommendations as part of its ongoing oversight of the PBO. In relation to Report 515: inquiry into the effectiveness of Australia's National Anti-Doping Scheme, this inquiry of the JCPAA examined Sport Integrity Australia's management of Australia's national antidoping scheme. SIA is Australia's national antidoping organisation and holds the primary authority and responsibility for collecting and testing athletes' samples and for detecting potential antidoping rule violations. The Australian National Audit Office conducted an audit to assess the effectiveness of Sport Integrity Australia's management of the national antidoping scheme. Overall, it found that SIA's management of the scheme was partly effective. The inquiry evidence was consistent with the ANAO audit findings. The aspects of SIA's regulatory activities the committee examined included SIA's approach to preventing, detecting and responding to antidoping rule violations, its governance arrangements, its regulatory approach to managing Australia's antidoping testing program, and the robustness of its investigative framework and quality assurance practices. During the inquiry, the committee was particularly concerned to find that SIA's approach to regulation, specifically in relation to sports that pay for their own antidoping testing, is not consistently risk based. SIA has chosen to administer the arrangements for these sports in a manner different from that of sports that receive government funded testing. In the absence of clear, documented processes demonstrating how risk assessments inform decision-making, arrangements with user-pays sports can create the perception of unequal treatment or regulatory capture. The committee is not satisfied that SIA has demonstrated adequate controls to mitigate regulatory capture risks or ensure consistency in its regulatory activities. As to SIA's approach to investigations of potential antidoping rule violations, which is critical to maintaining the integrity of Australia's antidoping system, shortcomings were found in investigative practices, quality assurance processes, documentation and adherence to procedures. The committee makes three recommendations to SIA in this report. The first is that SIA prioritise the development and implementation of effectiveness and efficiency performance measures for its key regulatory activities, in line with the Commonwealth Performance Framework. The second is that SIA establish, publish and actively communicate a formal policy of gifts and benefits, to clearly set professional boundaries with the regulated population. The third is that SIA require information from sports to include documented risk factors, to strengthen transparency and support SIA to make risk based and data informed decisions. The committee acknowledges that SIA has undertaken a body of work in response to issues identified by the ANAO. However, as demonstrated throughout the audit and this inquiry, policies, procedures and documentation alone are not sufficient. The practical application of these controls, and assurance that they are operating as intended, is critical. I acknowledge the chair, the deputy chair and members of the committee for their considered contributions to this inquiry. I also thank the ANAO and SIA for their cooperation and the committee secretariat for its continued professionalism and support. I commend the report to the House. BUSINESS 12 BUSINESS Consideration of Legislation 12 10:13 Mr GEE 261393 Calare I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring immediately: (1) the Stopping Wind Farms in State Forests Bill 2025 being called on; (2) debate on the second reading of the bill proceeding immediately for a period of no longer than one hour; and (3) any questions required to complete passage of the bill then being put without delay. This bill requires the urgent attention of this House. In the last parliament, I introduced a game-changing bill which would stop the building of wind farms in softwood pine plantations which are state forests. I've brought it back again. I introduced this bill in the first place because of the continuing pain, anguish and anger that many of our local residents are feeling over wind farm proposals in these areas. The pain is real, and the anguish is real. Since bringing this bill to the House, the situation on the ground for our communities has not improved, and the House needs to hear it. The pain and the anguish have not gone away. Politicians of all persuasions have failed to act. They've let our communities down. So I'm once again bringing this bill to the House. It needs to be passed into law, and I'm giving all members the opportunity to vote on it again. I'm not against renewable energy, and neither are our communities. But our communities are crying out for reasonable and commonsense balance. I've attended many community meetings and consultations over these proposals, and what residents are experiencing is really concerning. I have to tell you, bogus consultation is a major feature of these windfarm companies moving into our area. It's fly in, fly out tick-a-box consultation from developers, without meaningful engagement and genuine dialogue, and this has been a feature of our residents' experiences. These developers fly into our communities, and then this elaborate charade of consultation commences. The companies assiduously tally up all the contacts with community members so that this can appear in documents to support their development approvals. I have to tell you, there's a strong feeling in our communities that they are being played for mugs by people with no real stake in the local area besides the businesses operated by their bosses. These windfarm companies are overseas for the most part. Many of the companies are foreign, and the decisions made about turbine placement are made in foreign boardrooms with little regard to the impact on residents. It's all about the money, and it makes a mockery of the consultation process. The people on the ground from the turbine companies say they feel the pain of local residents, but this rarely translates into meaningful change. City people may think putting turbines in state pine forests means they're out in the back blocks, far from having impacts on local residents. Some people in our area think that, as well. But that is not the case at all. The developers are putting them close to the powerlines and to road access, which means they're extremely close to towns, villages and community members. They are literally surrounding some of our communities and some of our isolated farmhouses, for example—and not-so-isolated farmhouses. In the case of the Sunny Corner Wind Farm, some residents were given maps that showed 300-metre turbines less than one kilometre from their homes—just a few hundred metres. I had one resident approach me to tell me he'd sunk all his super into his house and land package and that he can't sell it now because of the proximity of the turbines, which he pointed out, one being just 700 metres away. People in the cities don't understand the anguish and the stress this causes for our local residents. I've been contacted by many constituents who've spoken of the mental toll this takes on them. There's a real human cost to this that is too often lost, overlooked and ignored. In the case of the Sunny Corner Wind Farm proposal the developer, Someva, has clearly placed turbines in locations that will cost them the least yet impact residents the most. It's all about the money, and, sadly, profits are being put ahead of people. It's appalling. People have had enough of it. In the Oberon area, the developers of the Pines Wind Farm, TagEnergy and Stromlo, have managed to turn a whole community and region against it. The backlash in and around Oberon has been extraordinary. Here is an example of the doublespeak of these companies. The developers told me they would be putting turbines only within the boundaries of the state forests. They made that very clear when I first spoke to them. This has turned out to be blatantly false. They have been shopping turbines outside the boundaries of the state forests, after giving those assurances that have proved to be false, and they're moving into the Trunkey Creek area, a small, close-knit farming community that just want to get on with their lives without this hanging over their heads. The community is in shock. So I say to TagEnergy and Stromlo: Move on. Read the community and move on. Just leave the area. As I've said, for all of the so-called consultations and the calming words of the city based consultants on the ground, decisions about turbine placement are, for the most part, made in foreign boardrooms far, far away. It's a business decision, and moving turbines away from impacted residents costs money. It's the same with the Kerrs Creek Wind Farm near Molong. I spent months and months trying to work through the community concerns with the developer, Res, which is controlled by the McAlpine Group in the United Kingdom, and, after all of that, there's been hardly any movement at all—no meaningful movement. This whole consultation process has been a waste of time. Does anyone really think the United Kingdom boardroom of the McAlpine group of companies is going to care what the people in the Molong area want? I don't think so. How did we get here? It's a failure of politics and the result of politicians doing nothing. The problem is that the wind farms are regulated by state planning laws and, in 2021, the New South Wales National Party passed a law to put wind farms into state forests. And, when they did it, they did not properly regulate and set out the rights of impacted residents and neighbours. It was exactly the same with the creation of the renewable energy zones, which the National Party created, and they again abjectly failed to properly regulate them. Look at what has happened with EnergyCo and ACEREZ in the Merotherie Road area near Gulgong. They basically bulldozed a centuries-old wildlife corridor and have wrought significant and devastating destruction on that local community, all in the name of saving the environment. It should not have come to this and it would not have come to this if the National Party had done its job. But it has failed. What this bill will do is use the corporations power within the Constitution to provide that a corporation must not construct, install or commission a wind farm in a state forest. And, to put it beyond doubt and without limiting the definition of state forest, it includes the Sunny Corner State Forest near Portland and Lithgow, the Vulcan State Forest, the Mount David state forest and the Gurnang State Forest. They are all in the Oberon area. And there is also the Canobolas state forest near Orange. I've had many constituents contact me about the Spanish company Iberdrola's planned wind farm in the Canobolas state forest, known as the Four Mile Creek Wind Farm, and they are very upset about it—and this bill would stop it. The bill and the operative clause are not limited to those named state forests. They are for any state forest. It's now up to all parties to get behind this bill, because our communities want action. Given that the National Party has brought this unregulated mess onto our communities, this bill aims to clean it up. Our communities need support and they need their voices heard. They want their voices heard and they want these wind farms in state forests stopped. So I commend this bill to the House, and I urge every right-thinking member in the House of Representatives to come down and support it. Our communities and our residents need this bill, and they need the support of members in this place. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 201906 Is there a seconder for the motion? 10:23 Mr KATTER HX4 Kennedy I second the motion. I've had practical experience in the outcomes that the honourable member is referring to. The Chalumbin Wind Farm was on the front page of the Spectator magazine. It was a national issue, and the outrage of the people in the heartland of the electorate I represent concerned the last remnant jungles on earth. There's a little bit in Africa, there's a little bit in South America and there's a little bit in Australia—and that's about it. There are hardly any jungles left in the world. They were putting Chalumbin Wind Farm right alongside a remnant jungle on earth. So when the myriads of flying foxes and birds flew out—chop, chop, chop. But the suggestion is outrageous because it's on top of the Great Dividing Range, and you have to clear a 100-metre-wide path where you're going to put these wind farms. So now we have no ground cover—because you have to clear the grass away, too, because of fires—on top of the Great Dividing Range, with what the World Heritage declared, quite rightly, some of the last remnant jungle on earth. That was the proposal for Chalumbin! It was spectacularly fought in the national media—on the front page of the Spectator magazine, to quote but one example—and among numerous national media outlets. Eventually, Minister Plibersek quite rightly put the mocker on it. She took a risk because the greenies think this is the answer to all of their prayers—a wind farm. The ridiculous nature of the costs alone would prohibit any sane person from proceeding down this pathway. And I speak with authority, because I was the minister for electricity in Queensland. I put in the first standalone solar system in Australia in 1982 or 1983. Before most people in this House were actually born, it was put in. But I had to do my homework on the alternative proposal for wind farms. Would you believe that, for the solar proposal that we implemented on Coconut Island, the incoming Labor government put in wind farms—I mean, a wind farm on a tiny little island of about 10 acres! You go to bed every night with 'whoomp, whoomp, whoomp', desecrating and polluting paradise. A wind farm only lasts for about 20 years. The wind farm at Ravenshoe has to be dismantled by law when it comes to its end of life. They just dumped all of the fan blades on the ground, on properties owned by the Kidners, a very prominent, well-loved and popular local family. They just dumped them on the ground and walked away. When people proceeded to take legal action on it, the company had vanished. It didn't exist anymore. There was no-one you could sue or take action against. So here we are desecrating paradise. This is some of the last remnant jungle on earth. They just dumped the stuff in the middle of the jungle. Again, it attracted national publicity, but this House and the state house in Queensland have taken no action upon this. So I commend the member for bringing forward this matter of very great importance to the people of Australia. Why they go to put it in national parks is because you can't be far away from the grid. So you've got to find somewhere near the grid, and a lot of people live near a national electricity grid. National parks are a place where people don't live, so we'll put it in the national parks. Of course, people live adjacent to the national parks. But why do you have a national park? It's to keep it as it is, or as it was for 100,000 years or whatever! We want to keep a little bit of Australia the way it was, and I think every Australian would agree with that concept. Well, now you are doing the exact opposite. You're putting wind farms in there. The cost of electricity generated by wind is about three or four times the cost— (Time expired) A division having been called and the bells having been rung— The SPEAKER 53517 As there are fewer than seven members on the side for the ayes in this division, I declare the question negatived in accordance with standing order 127. The names of those members who are in the minority will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings. Question negatived. BILLS 15 BILLS Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026 15

Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026

Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026

Second Reading 15 10:34 Mr GEORGANAS DZY Adelaide by leave—One last issue I want to speak about in the debate on the appropriations bill, which I didn't get the chance to do the other day, was housing, which is very important, especially in my electorate. Housing has been an issue for a long time across Australia and homelessness remains a serious challenge. This Albanese Labor government is working to turn this around. Since coming into government, more than 220,000 Australians have bought their first home, rent assistance has increased for over a million households, more than 25,000 social and affordable homes are in planning or construction, including in my seat of Adelaide, and the government has committed to $45 billion to build more homes to support renters and help more Australians into homeownership. It was only recently that, on behalf of Clare O'Neill, I attended a sod-turning ceremony for a Uniting on Hawker project in my electorate with the premier, Mr Malinauskas. This is a great housing project to be built in collaboration with the state government and the federal government. The project is not just about building apartments; it's about rebuilding lives. For the people who will be going into these houses, it's about restoring their stability, about giving them hope for the future and about creating a place where people can feel safe, valued and supported. Uniting on Hawker will replace some outdated buildings with 30 modern, thoughtfully designed apartments combining both social and affordable housing. These homes will be built across two levels with shared communal spaces designed to encourage friendship, connection and create a real community. Our focus at the campaign of the last federal election was on housing, certainly for women, who are the biggest cohort of homeless at the moment, the fastest-growing rate, especially women over 55. This housing project will ensure that it houses people that are in vulnerable situations. Every aspect of this development has been shaped with care and safety in mind. Universal design principles will make sure that every home is accessible, comfortable and suited to women with different physical needs. Another project I attended in my electorate was the Law and Alfred West Cottage's home. I was honoured to be there—again, representing the honourable Claire O'Neill, the minister for housing—that day to celebrate the project which will deliver secure, modern and dignified homes for women over the age of 55. Right there in my electorate, you can actually see the promises of the federal Albanese Labor government come to fruition and it's something that fills me with immense pride. These homes are more than just bricks and mortar; they are about housing human beings. We see these people, we value them and we will not leave older women behind. Through the federal government's Housing Australia Future Fund or the HAFF funding, there's investment in redevelopment projects all around my electorate to provide safe and contemporary homes for older women, who are the biggest group of people to find themselves in vulnerable positions, and who are, tragically, as I said, the fastest-growing group at risk of homelessness. This is not a statistic that we just sit with comfortably nor is it one we can ignore; t's a call to action. These events to launch these projects are part of our answer. That particular project is a $13.3 million project to deliver 29 new homes in my electorate, and it stands as a powerful reminder that housing availability, social infrastructure and dignity in ageing are priorities shared across the federal government and with our state colleagues, of course, because they were assisting as well. Previously there were some ageing cottages there. They were falling apart on the very site where they had served their community well. But their time has passed and what rises in their place is not simply new housing; it is a renewal. The Laura and Alfred West Cottage Homes represent opportunity, stability, safety and ultimately a place to call home, a home where older women can rebuild, reclaim their independence and re-imagine their futures. To Believe Housing Australia, trustee of the Laura and Alfred West Cottage Homes, I extend my thanks for their great work that they do in our community, housing vulnerable people. And not only have they delivered this incredible redevelopment in conjunction with the state and federal governments, but their commitment has restored hope, strengthened our community and ensured that more South Australian women can live with the security and respect that they deserve. So I thank them for helping us build a future where every woman, regardless of age and circumstances, has a safe place to call home. 10:40 Ms JARRETT 298574 Brisbane I rise in support of the appropriations bills for 2025-26. Just under a year ago, the Albanese government took to the voters of Australia an ambitious plan to ease cost-of-living pressures and to rebuild the economy. That plan was built around three main pillars: that the economy worked for people, not the other way around, that no-one was held back and no-one left behind and that workers would earn more and keep more of what they earn. We hear these words daily in this House. This plan was backed up by an ambitious agenda around a fairer industrial landscape, housing, health care, renewable energy, climate, education and the environment, all designed to simultaneously address the biggest challenge confronting our communities: cost of living. So these bills put money behind this plan, enabling the Albanese Labor government to deliver for Brisbane and every other electorate across this country. Let's start with cost-of-living relief. Under Labor, 14 million Australian taxpayers will get a new tax cut this year and next. Last year, Australians received $150 in energy bill relief, and in Queensland the former state Labor government delivered consecutive energy bill rebates, which meant many residents in Brisbane didn't pay an energy bill, some for over a year, until recently. Labor has cut 20 per cent off student debt. This is going to help Patrick, Angus, Jack, Nathan, Emily and Josie in my electorate, who, amongst others, will see their student debt cut, some up to $10,000. This will help almost 34,000 students and graduates with student debt living in Brisbane. Young people voted for this, and we are delivering this much-needed cost-of-living relief. Labor is making free TAFE permanent and is providing paid prac for nurses, midwives, social workers and teachers. This not only helps with cost of living but provides an incentive for workers to join these professions. We will continue to deliver affordable child care closer to home. There'll be more childcare centres and three days of early childhood education guaranteed, which started this year. This will save many families on average almost $1,500 a year. This sort of change and this sort of package makes it easier for mums, dads and carers when they're having those dinner table conversations and wondering whether or not both parents should be working or not. It makes it easier for them to decide yes. History shows that when the answer is, 'We can't afford it,' it's usually the woman who stays at home, and we know the negative impact this has long term. It makes women poorer in retirement, not to mention their lost contribution to our communities and our economy. As Minister Rishworth has said, Labor backed wage increases for low-paid workers in each of the last three annual wage reviews. This has helped workers in aged care, health care and early childhood education. They got bigger paycheques, and these went to especially women, who make up the majority of workers in the care sector. Late last year, I had the privilege of meeting some early childhood education workers in my electorate with Minister Walsh. Not only did we see the wonderful care our educators deliver, but we got to hear firsthand how getting more money in the pocket makes a difference to many families. For those workers, it helps them get their food on the table and pay their bills, but, very importantly, something that's not often talked about is the fact that carers felt more valued and appreciated. We can't underestimate the impact this can have on the confidence, performance and commitment to workplaces and the children that go to these centres. For too long, the work of these people has been undervalued, and women have been financially disadvantaged, including into retirement, with less super than their male counterparts. Just to give you a sense of the scale of the increases, for aged-care nurses alone, Labor is delivering $2.6 billion to increase their award wages from 1 March 2025. $3.6 billion will support a historic wage increase for early childhood educators and care workers. The wage increases, combined with tax cuts, mean workers across Brisbane, especially the lower paid, especially women and especially young people, will earn more and keep more of what they earn. As has been said in this chamber before, Labor created Medicare, and Labor will always protect it. Access to affordable, quality health care is something I wanted to see improve and campaigned hard on. Coming from a family of eight siblings, my family relied on Medicare when I was growing up. During the campaign, too many people in my community found it too difficult to see a doctor when they needed it. That's why I'm proud to be part of a Labor government that is strengthening Medicare by delivering $7.9 billion for more bulk-billing so Australians can see a GP for free. We have made medicines even cheaper, and all you'll pay for PBS script, as many people in this House have heard before, is $25 or $7.70 if you're on a concession. We're expanding our growing network of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, making it easier for Australians to get the urgent medical care they need. The Albanese government has already opened 87 of these centres across Australia, with 50 more in the works. This includes one in the inner north of Brisbane, which I really campaigned hard for. I can say that, just a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of opening the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Kelvin Grove. It's in the heart of the Brisbane electorate. I really would like to thank the team at the clinic and the Brisbane North PHN, who worked hard to make it a reality. Nine-out-of-10 GP visits are expected to be bulk-billed by 2030, with a goal of around 4,800 fully bulk-billing practices across the country by 2030. We're already seeing more of this in Brisbane, and we need to see more. The Albanese Labor government is also increasing support for our quality public hospital system with an additional $1.8 billion in funding. On top of this, we're supporting hundreds more government funded GP training places, with 2,000 places per year by 2028 and 400 more postgraduate scholarships for nurses and midwives to extend their skills. For too long, women's health has been overlooked, underfunded and misunderstood. Now, under this Labor government, women's health has been put front and centre. We've invested $800 million to deliver more choice, lower cost and better health care for women. We've heard some of these examples before, but they are absolutely worth repeating. The first new oral contraceptive pills were listed on the PBS in over 30 years, Yaz and Yasmin. We had the first PBS listing for new menopausal hormonal therapies in over 20 years. Women with specific low levels of reproductive hormones will have earlier access to the combination therapies through PBS, and there will be more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics treating more conditions, including menopause. Let's move on to housing. Housing is a human right and an important foundation in anyone's life. As a child with foster siblings, I saw firsthand how a safe home can be life changing. The challenges we have in housing are complex, and they are the result of decades of inadequate attention under the former LNP government. This Labor government has made the single biggest investment in housing since World War II. Our $43 billion plan sees investment across homelessness, social housing, homeownership, support for low- and middle-income earners and additional rent assistance. Labor is working to deliver over 55,000 social and affordable homes and support for more than 100,000 homebuyers to own their own home. In Brisbane alone, we see we are seeing progress, and we'd like to see more. There are approximately 2,100 Brisbane residents using the five per cent deposit scheme. There are over 9,000 recipients of the Commonwealth Rent Assistance program, 80 social and affordable homes in Lutwyche and Windsor under the Housing Australia financing programs, 12 dwellings for women experiencing family and domestic violence—we need a big uplift there—and almost 2,900 dwellings as part of the build-to-rent program. More than 485 construction trade apprentices have benefited from our $5,000 incentive payments, but we do need to do more. Across the country, Labor is delivering more homes. This includes unlocking more homes through the $4.5 billion for states, territories and local governments to address local infrastructure backlogs and meet housing targets; providing $120 million from the National Productivity Fund for states and territories to remove barriers to modular and prefabricated construction; $50 million to scale up Australia's capacity in modern construction methods to build more homes more quickly; and up to $10,000 for eligible apprentices in housing-construction occupations. We've also banned foreign buyers from purchasing existing dwellings for two years from 1 April 2025. In addition, the government is delivering a 45 per cent increase in the maximum rates of Commonwealth rent assistance, along with stronger renters' rights through a better deal for renters. Moving on to education, having access to affordable education is an important foundation in anyone's life. It provides an opportunity to live the life we want. Education has the power to change lives. My mum's childhood meant she missed out on a full education and unfortunately didn't reach her dream of becoming a teacher. No-one deserves this. That's why I'm proud to be part of a government who is delivering a better and fairer education system for all. This includes $3.6 billion to fund wage increases for those in early childhood education; almost $450 million for the three-day guarantee; $1 billion to establish the early childhood education fund, to increase supply of early childhood educators; putting public schools on the path to full funding; making free TAFE permanent; cutting student debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians and making their loan repayments fairer; and an additional $2.5 billion to reform our universities, including to support more students from underrepresented backgrounds. While there is a big program to improve living standards and the lives of people across Australia, we recognise there also has to be responsible financial management. These bills, through important amendments, can help pay for more government services by making $800 million in savings in the first year. In doing so, this Labor government is delivering on its commitment to rebuild and strengthen our Public Service. Agencies are already achieving savings through reduced spending on contractors, consultants and labour hire and in other areas. Already the Labor government, in its first term, has found $5.3 billion in savings while not affecting the quality of services or reducing the number of staff employed. Labor will continue to do the work we need to do to rebuild the Public Service after inheriting one that was hollowed out after a decade of the LNP outsourcing, uninvesting in and undervaluing the work that public servants do and the services they deliver. Let's not forget it was those opposite whose plan at the last election was to cut 41,000 Public Service jobs and the services Australians rely on. I have to put on record that I value the work of the tens of thousands of public-sector workers who live in my electorate in Brisbane. We thank you for your service to the people of Brisbane. These bills will deliver on the government's economic plan, which is focused on rolling out responsible cost-of-living relief and building a stronger economy. On this side of the House, we stand for lower taxes, we stand for workers earning more and keeping more of what they earn, and we believe that no-one should be held back and no-one should be left behind. I commend the bills to the House. 10:53 Ms TEMPLEMAN 181810 Macquarie The appropriation bills provide a great opportunity to step back and take a look at how this government, the Albanese government, is delivering on the commitments we've made across vital portfolios—health, education, social services, climate change and energy—and the cost-of-living assistance that we have been able to deliver. In my own electorate of Macquarie, I want to start with our Hawkesbury urgent care clinic, which is up and running in Kable Street, Windsor. This is something our community wanted; thousands of people signed my petition to get a Hawkesbury urgent care clinic. The data backed up the need for it, too, to ease the pressure on the busy Hawkesbury District Hospital, where around 42 per cent of presentations in 2024-25 were for semi-urgent or non-urgent conditions. Now, we know how useful the urgent care clinic is turning out to be. I've had the privilege of visiting it and I look forward to the official opening of it next week. But it's already up and running, and people like Jenny are writing to me about it. These are her words from an email: I had told my family the details of the Urgent Care Clinic and they saw Facebook posts. Yesterday. My great granddaughter suffered an accidental face plant resulting in a cut lip. The parents took her to Hawkesbury Hospital, were seen straightaway by a triage nurse but the wait time was not pretty for a distressed one year old. So they took her to the Urgent Care Clinic in Windsor, were seen immediately, were reassured and back home before normal bedtime with a happy little girl. What a great outcome for all. I agree with Jenny. This is a great outcome and this is exactly the kind of urgent-but-not-life-threatening situation that urgent care clinics are there for. I'm so glad our Hawkesbury community has the service now, with other urgent care clinics also located in Penrith to service the Lower Blue Mountains part of my electorate and in Rouse Hill for other parts of the Hawkesbury. The other really important health change that we have made and funded is the new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic for the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network. I want to talk about this clinic and the difference it makes in women's lives. It's particularly pertinent to be talking about it, because we are in Endometriosis Awareness Month. The Winmalee Medical Centre opened our endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic in recent weeks, and again I am looking forward to the official opening of that coming up. I held an endo high tea for Endometriosis Awareness Month at the weekend, and we heard from Practice Manager Leanne, GP Doctor Lakshmi and Nurse Navigator Kaylene about how the intake process would work and the referral pathways that they're developing up and down the mountains, across towards Penrith and including into the Hawkesbury for the whole range of endometriosis and pelvic pain treatments that may be required to meet women's needs and support them through what is a very difficult condition. As my constituent Rachel wrote to me: I wanted to reach out and let you know how encouraged I am by your continued efforts in this area. It took 20 years for me to get the Endo diagnosis that shocked my doctors, and did not at all surprise anyone else. I'm so glad to see the progress in this space and to see women being diagnosed younger and younger. In fact, one of the questions that came up at our endo high tea was, 'How old do you have to be to seek help?' The answer is that there's no age limit—no bottom limit, no top limit. These endometriosis pelvic pain clinics also offer menopause support. This is one place where women who have experienced challenges over many years or who are just experiencing challenges now can go and get expert help. I really commend the attitude that Winmalee Medical Centre is taking. It recognises that it's on a big learning curve and it is also going to have a role at uplifting the skills and understanding of GPs right across the primary health network. Both the urgent care clinic and the endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic are exactly the kind of practical outcome that makes a real difference to residents across Macquarie, but another measure that's making a very big difference is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and prescription medicines being set at a maximum of $25 a script. We've also frozen the cost at $7.70 for concession card holders, and, of course, that lasts till the end of the decade. For stable health conditions, the 60-day prescriptions are a convenient and cost-effective pathway for patients. We've also added new PBS listings for a wide range of medications and conditions—contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies, prostate cancer treatments, Parkinson's disease treatments and things for neuroblastoma, endometrial cancer, cystic fibrosis and melanoma, just to name a few. These are things that make a tangible difference to people's lives and make a huge difference to their cost of looking after themselves. Continuing on the health deliverables we've had, we've got 1800MEDICARE. That means you can ring a free 24/7 helpline where you speak to a registered nurse about any health condition. I've used this service. I needed some advice before I jumped on a plane to Perth, and the nurse was able to talk to me about my symptoms, guide me through the right steps—the most sensible things I could do. So whether it's looking after yourself at home, getting help from a health service in your area or just getting advice before you hit the road, 1800 MEDICARE is there. You can also access key health information, electronic prescriptions and more through the 1800MEDICARE app, all on your phone. These are things that the Albanese government believes in, because we know that your health is the first step to being able to really fulfil the potential of your life. It is an absolutely fundamental need. One of the things that drove me to politics was a desire to see improvements in the way mental health issues are treated. I am very pleased that we have been able to establish much greater access to mental health services, and I want to take a moment to talk about some of those. I want to start with the Medicare mental health centre that is already operating in Richmond, and the one in Penrith, which provides walk-in support without a referral or mental health treatment plan being needed. This appropriation bill covers our expansion of this service. We're expanding these walk-in Medicare mental health centres, and I want to point out that many of them are open six or seven days a week; they're not confined to Monday to Friday, nine to five, because anyone who knows anything about mental health challenges knows that they rarely happen Monday to Friday, nine to five. The times where support and action is needed are often outside those times. So we're expanding into digital support, with the Medicare Mental Health Check In. Now, when people first start thinking about getting support for mental wellbeing, it's really easy just to have a picture of long appointments, big emotional conversations or really complex therapy. For some people, that's exactly what's needed. But for others, especially when they're just starting to see symptoms, a more practical kind of and immediate sort of help can make a difference. That's where the Medicare Mental Health Check In starts. It offers a starting point for better wellbeing, giving people some straightforward everyday skills to help them feel steadier, more supported and more in control. And it is up and running now. You don't need a diagnosis or a referral. You don't even need to know exactly how you're feeling. You just need to be finding things tougher than usual. This is a free national service that offers early support for people who are beginning to experience mental health concerns or symptoms. It's designed to be really easy to access, so there is no need for a referral, for a diagnosis or even to explain what's wrong. You can dig into trusted information—everyday tools. You can see real stories from people with different backgrounds and experiences. What's really significant is that, from the end of March, the service offers programs that will take around six weeks that you can work through over that time with a trained mental health practitioner who will focus on ways to cope with common challenges. So we've got the first level of that. This next level comes in at the end of March. Then, from late May, self-guided programs will also be available, allowing people to participate in structured modules on their own with support available if they want it. The service focuses on helping people cope with stress, anxiety, worry, panic or low mood, and it's based on a very safe and evidence based approach called cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT. That's something that many psychologists use in their counselling sessions. It's recognised for its effectiveness in helping manage symptoms and regain a sense of control. This is a really key next step in our objective to enable people to receive free mental health support when they need it and where they need it. For young people needing mental health support, we have headspace centres. In my electorate they're in Hawkesbury, Penrith—just outside the electorate but still handy—and Katoomba, supporting young people and family to be mentally healthy and engaged in their communities. While I'm speaking of young people, one of the big changes that has come in and alleviated a lot of stress for a lot of people, particularly young people, is a cut to student debt. More than 3.2 million Australians have now had their student debt cut by 20 per cent. Whether you call it HECS or FEE-HELP, in total, the Albanese government has cut more than $16 billion in student debt. The ATO has sent more than 2.8 million messages notifying people of their cut. The average student debt was $27,600, and we took $5,500 off that. This will help students as they plan for their future. It'll help former students as they're establishing their post-student lives. Less debt gives them a firmer foundation on which to build those lives. From student debt cut being cut to prac placement payments and programs like free TAFE and the Key Apprenticeship Program, we are backing Australians to get the skills they need for the jobs that we need. Apprenticeships in the clean energy sector, for instance, are on the rise, with more than 17,000 apprentices choosing careers in new energy industries such as solar, automotive and smart technology. We have signed up thousands of construction thanks to our Key Apprenticeship Program. In the first six months of the program, launched in July last year, 11,400 apprentices have commenced in the housing construction trades under the program. In New South Wales it's 2,273 apprentices in that first six months. The program helps apprentices start and finish training in that critical skills area that we need so we can keep building more homes. Apprentices participating in the program receive $10,000 over the course of their apprenticeship to assist with costs such as tools, equipment and fuel. If people are wondering whether they have a family member who might be interested in it, go searching for it. It's called the Key Apprenticeship Program. The top three housing construction occupations for commencements under the program are carpenters and joiners, plumbers and electrical trades workers, alongside other occupations like glaziers, plasterers, bricklayers and concreters. These are fantastic ways to incentivise young people and get them training up in the areas that we know we need them most. I want to finish by touching on the clean energy part of our Labor government commitment. Clean energy businesses are busier than ever, with over 2,000 homes and small businesses across Macquarie benefiting from our Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Around the country, it's well over a quarter of a million cheaper home batteries. This program not only helps people reduce their power costs and store their energy; it also means less pressure on the grid at peak times, lower reliance on expensive generation and downward pressure on prices for everybody. Along with the community batteries that are up and running in Blaxland, Blaxland East and Hobartville, these are really helping shift our system and helping people tackle the cost of living. 11:08 Ms BERRY 23497 Whitlam I rise to speak in support of the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026 and the related bills because I am proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government, which is delivering on its commitments across the country, including in my electorate of Whitlam. I am proud because our government is focused on delivering real outcomes for the Australian community. We aren't a government of empty promises. We don't hide behind empty slogans. We're not engaged in fearmongering or culture wars. We are focused on delivering real outcomes for the Australian people. Australians are a pragmatic people, and we don't judge people just on what they say; we judge people on what they do. Australians like governments that get things done, governments that have the best interests of all Australians at their core, which is what our Labor government is all about. We're not wasting time infighting or focused on our own internal dramas. We are a united, functional and effective government focused solely on delivering for the Australian people. The Albanese Labor government is delivering for Australians against that test that matters most: real-world delivery. Australians believe in fairness, and our victory at last year's election was so resounding, in large part because of Labor's unwavering commitment to fairness. This focus on fairness is the mandate that Labor was given, and it's the mandate that Labor is honouring. Cost-of-living pressures are still occupying the minds of many Australians, and Labor understands that cost-of-living pressures place enormous difficulties on individuals and families. We know that many people are already doing it tough. These pressures show up at the supermarket checkout and in rental increases, power bills and the things that you end up going without. We're working hard to relieve some of those pressures through practical measures. That's why we've delivered tax cuts, cheaper medicines, subsidised child care, targeted help for renters, increased bulk-billing, reduced HECS debts, help for first home owners, more support for apprentices, fee-free TAFE, and pay rises, particularly for those workers that need them the most, reducing unemployment and protecting penalty rates. That's to name just a few of our achievements. Responsible economic management focuses on tackling inflation rather than fuelling it, and Labor is making investments in our future while also maintaining spending discipline. Crucially, Labor understands this truth: the cost of living isn't just about prices; it's about wages. For too long, Australians were told that wage stagnation was inevitable, that insecure work was the new normal—and that, if you wanted flexibility, you had to give up security. Labor has rejected that false choice. The Albanese Labor government has worked to get wages moving again by backing pay rises for low-paid workers, supporting collective bargaining and restoring fairness to workplace laws that have been deliberately weakened. Labor has stood with aged-care workers, early childhood workers, cleaners and hospitality staff—people who keep this country running but have not always been appreciated for it. And what's the result? Wages are growing again, job security has been restored, casualisation has been reined in and working Australians are getting a fairer share of the prosperity they helped to create. That's what fairness looks like in modern Australia. Health care is another area of investment where Labor's values translate into delivery. Australians believe deeply that health care should be based on need, not wealth. But after years of neglect, bulk-billing was in decline. GP clinics were under pressure and people were putting off care because they simply couldn't afford it. The Albanese Labor government has stepped up and reversed that trend. By strengthening Medicare, expanding bulk-billing incentives and making essential medicines cheaper, we are restoring confidence in a system that defines who we are as a country. The Albanese Labor government is making the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago, with an $8.5 billion package that is delivering on our commitment to more bulk-billing and more doctors. The latest data shows that Australians can now access over 3,400 Medicare bulk-billing practices across the country. In my electorate of Whitlam, we now have 25 practices that are fully bulk-billing, up from nine, a huge increase since the government's incentive programs began. In the three months to the end of January 2026, the bulk-billing rate for all Australians jumped to 81.4 per cent nationwide. This is the largest quarterly jump in bulk-billing in 20 years outside of the COVID pandemic. For Australians aged between 16 and 64, there has been a 6.9 percentage point increase in the bulk-billing rate, the largest quarterly increase on record. There has been an increase in the bulk-billing rate in every state and territory, and there are more fully bulk-billing practices in every state and territory, which is a fantastic outcome. The Albanese Labor government's reforms mean over 95 per cent of Australians are now within a 20-minute drive of a registered Medicare bulk-billing practice. In October 2023, before the Albanese Labor government tripled the bulk-billing incentive for GPS who bulk-billed children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders, the bulk-billing rate was just 75 per cent. Our investment in bulk-billing is extremely important because it means people can see a doctor when they need to, not just when they can afford to. The Albanese Labor government's rollout of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the country has also been extraordinarily successful. These clinics are open for extended hours, seven days a week, and you do not need to make an appointment. Importantly, Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are fully bulk-billed, which means there are no out-of-pocket expenses. This means an enormous amount for people across the country and this means an enormous amount for people in my electorate. There have been over 2.5 million presentations at Medicare Urgent Care Clinics since the first sites opened in June 2023. In my electorate of Whitlam, a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opened in Dapto in 2024 and another opened in Shellharbour just last month. A significant benefit that flows from opening an Urgent Care Clinic is that it takes pressure off our local hospitals. In my electorate, that includes Shellharbour and Wollongong hospitals, where around 55 per cent of presentations are non-urgent and semi-urgent. Data from the New South Wales bureau of health shows that semi-urgent presentations to New South Wales emergency departments have dropped by 5.1 per cent since Medicare Urgent Care Clinics began opening, while non-urgent presentations have dropped by 8.7 per cent. I note that last Sunday was International Women's Day, and I'm proud that, just over a year ago, the Albanese Labor government announced its landmark $792.9 million women's health package, an investment that is delivering more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women and girls. When health care works properly, it doesn't just save money; it saves lives. It reduces stress, it keeps people at work, it strengthens communities and families, and Labor understands that investing in health isn't a cost; it's one of the smartest investments we can make. If you want to know what kind of country we're building, look at how we treat families and children. Labor knows that raising kids has become harder, not just because parents aren't working hard enough but because the system hasn't been working for them. That's why Labor has made child care more affordable and accessible, helping parents, especially women, return to work if they choose or increase their hours without being punished by impossible fees. For example, the Albanese Labor government has introduced the three-day guarantee, which means that every child is eligible for three days of subsidised early learning each week, no matter what their parents do. And First Nations families will be eligible for five days a week of subsidised early learning. About 100,000 families who previously were eligible for fewer than three days are expected to benefit from the three-day guarantee, and most of these families are low-income households. This reform is part of the Albanese government's broader plan to give every child access to quality early learning. It sits alongside a 15 per cent pay increase for early childhood educators and investment in new centres through the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund. This isn't just good social policy; it's good economic policy because when parents can work, businesses grow. When women's workforce participation rises, productivity improves. When kids get quality early education, outcomes improve across their whole lifespan. This is what smart government looks like: policies that support families and strengthen the economy at the same time. Labor is also delivering for Australians by investing in skills and opportunity. For too long, Australia relied on short-term fixes rather than long-term planning. Skill shortages were ignored, training was underfunded, young people were told to take on a debt for education that didn't always lead to secure jobs. Labor is turning that around by expanding fee-free TAFE places, investing in apprenticeships and rebuilding respect for vocational education. Labor is opening doors, not just for young Australians but for workers of all ages who want to retrain, upskill or change careers. This year marks the three-year milestone of free TAFE since its introduction Australia-wide by the Albanese Labor government. Free TAFE has seen 725,000 enrolments and more than 210,000 course completions around the country since the start of the program, putting hundreds of thousands of Australians on pathways to jobs in sectors including nursing, construction, aged care, the tech sector and early childhood education and care. This is about dignity, and it's about choice. It's also about making sure Australia has the workforce it needs for the future, not just today. One of Labor's greatest achievements has been restoring trust in economic management. Over 1.2 million jobs have been created since we won government in 2022. At a time of global uncertainty, Labor has chosen responsibility over recklessness: paying down debt, improving budget outcomes, making tough decisions where necessary and always keeping an eye on the long-term health of the economy. This matters because strong public finances aren't an abstract concept. They are what allow governments to invest in health, education, infrastructure and social services when Australians need them most. Labor understands that compassion and competence are not opposites; they depend on one another. Australians also expect their government to act on climate change, not with slogans but with solutions. Labor is delivering a responsible transition to cleaner, cheaper energy—creating jobs, attracting investment and lowering emissions without leaving workers or communities behind. The Albanese government has now approved 132 renewable energy projects: 54 solar farms, 28 onshore wind farms, 20 energy storage systems, 17 infrastructure and exploration projects and 13 transmission projects. These projects are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 70 million tonnes of CO2 each year, which is the equivalent of emissions from about 22.7 million passenger cars. Together, the projects will generate more than 43.5 gigawatts of renewable energy and storage around the country—enough to power every household in Australia. Renewable energy is the cheapest and cleanest form of energy available and will help us meet our ambitious and achievable 2035 target and achieve net zero by 2050. This is about seizing opportunity, not fearing change. Renewable energy isn't good just for the planet; it's good for power bills, regional development and national resilience. Labor is ensuring Australia competes in the industries of the future rather than clinging to the past. Finally, Labor is delivering something that can't be measured in dollars but matters just as much: integrity and decency in government. We will remain focused on what we have been elected to do, which is to not fight amongst ourselves but to focus on getting the job done. Australians deserve leaders who respect democratic institutions, tell the truth and take responsibility when things go wrong. Labor believes in accountability and respects the public service. We believe in building relationships with local governments, with states and territories and within our local communities and around the world. We have shown that governing can be calm, serious and focused on outcomes, and that matters, because trust, once lost, is hard to regain and democracy depends upon it. Labor is delivering for Australians. We're delivering relief for families under pressure, fairer wages and stronger health care. 11:24 Mr KEOGH 249147 Burt In communities right across Perth's south-eastern suburbs, families are working hard every day to give their kids the best possible start in life. The Albanese government's No. 1 priority is delivering cost-of-living relief to communities like ours. We're working to set Australia up for the long-term. We're strengthening Medicare, investing in education and helping people get into their own homes. Our government is focused on the here and now for every Australian while setting us up for a better future. We are focused on what's good for the wellbeing of families, our local economy and our nation. We're building a better Burt, changing the story of our community for the better. And that starts at the beginning. Many parents tell me the same thing. They want to work. They want their kids to benefit from early learning. But child care needs to be affordable, accessible and available close to home. That's why the Australian Labor Party is delivering real reforms to strengthen early childhood education and care. First, we've introduced the three-day guarantee, ensuring that every child can access funding for at least three days of subsidised early childhood education and care each week. In growing communities like Byford, across the city of Armadale and the city of Gosnells, where so many young families are moving in, this is making a massive difference. I don't want to see any more parents needing to contend with mountains of paperwork or being in the situation where they're weighing up whether they can afford to go back to work or study after having kids. Our increases in the childcare subsidy, pay improvements for childcare workers and three-day guarantee are all about making, accessing and affording child care easier for families. This means more children being able to access early learning, for all the educational and social outcomes that brings. And I want to see parents getting back into the workforce, because it's good for our local economy, too. It's great for career progression and for their family incomes as well. This guarantee means more certainty for families and a better start for children across our community. We're enabling that with long-overdue pay rises for early childhood educators. Anyone who has spent time in a childcare centre knows how dedicated these workers are. They help our children to learn, to build confidence, to develop the skills they need before they even step into primary school. But, for too long, these educators have been underpaid for the critical work they do. I'm proud to be part of a government that has turned that around. We're recognising the value of early childhood educators, helping keep them in the workforce for longer and attracting new workers into this vital profession. Early childhood education isn't just child care; it is nation building. It supports parents who want to work, it strengthens our local economy and, most importantly, it gives every child the best possible start in life. That's exactly what families in Burt deserve, because when we invest in our children we invest in the future of our community. Education is one of the most powerful investments a country can make in its future. Every child deserves the chance to succeed, no matter where they live, what their background is or what school they go to. That's why fully funding our public schools matters so much, especially in communities in Perth's south-eastern suburbs. Across our electorate, thousands of students attend local public schools. They're learning. They're growing and building the skills that will shape the future of our community. But, for too long, public schools across Australia have not been funded to the level that they should have been. That means teachers have been working harder with fewer resources. It means schools have been trying to stretch budgets to support students who might need some extra help. And it means families have been worrying about whether their kids are getting the support they deserve. And that's not just support in the classroom. Many of the schools in my communities also offer and run breakfast clubs to make sure kids can rely on a good meal every morning. Fully funding public schools is about changing that. It means making sure every school has the resources it needs to support our students to thrive. It means smaller classes, more support staff and the programs that help children who might otherwise fall behind. In communities like Burt, where our community is incredibly diverse and where many families rely on a strong public education system, this investment is making a real difference. It means extra support for students who are learning English. It means help for kids who have additional learning needs. It means making sure teachers can focus on what they do best: teaching and inspiring our young people. Schools are right at the heart of our community. They're where friendships are formed and talents are discovered. Over the almost 10 years that I've been proud to represent the community of Burt in our nation's parliament, I've visited schools across our community. I've visited classrooms all across Perth's south-east and met with teachers, principals, parents and of course students. What I see time and time again is dedication—teachers who go above and beyond every single day for their students and, in fact, for the whole school community, doing what they do best in the classroom, of course, but with so many other things as well, like robotics competitions, sports programs, music, programs for parents and the bravery to try something new. But dedication alone shouldn't have to fill the funding gap. That's why fully funding our public schools is so important. It ensures that the commitment of our teachers is matched by the resources that they need to do their jobs. I'm proud to be part of a federal Labor government that's working hand in hand with the WA Labor government to fund public schools with $1.6 billion of additional funding over 10 years. That means that every child in Burt going to a public school who walked through the gates for the first day of school this year was in a fully funded school. WA led the way, signing on to the better and fairer schools funding agreement, and now every state and territory has followed. When we invest in public education, we're investing in the future of our entire community, our entire nation. We're investing in the next generation of apprentices, nurses, teachers, engineers, small business owners and community leaders who will shape the future. We are encouraging more people to get into construction apprenticeships as well, with a $10,000 incentive payment, and we've of course been providing free TAFE. We're backing that in with the new Armadale University Study Hub so that distance is no longer a barrier to our community getting a uni education, should they want one. We're making sure that every child and every young person, no matter their circumstances, has the opportunity to reach their full potential. But, in making sure we're setting up a person to reach that potential, we need to make sure that they also have a stable roof over their heads. One of the biggest challenges facing Australians right now is housing. For too many people, finding a safe, secure and affordable place to live has become harder than it should be. That's something that we are determined to change. Housing is a life-defining challenge for too many Australians. Housing isn't just about buildings. It's about stability, it's about dignity, and it's about making sure people have the foundation they need to build a good life. That's why our government created the Housing Australia Future Fund, the single biggest investment in social and affordable housing in more than a decade. Importantly, those investments are happening in our community. In Kelmscott and in Byford, the Housing Australia Future Fund will deliver new social and affordable homes for people who need them most, including women and children escaping family and domestic violence, older women at risk of homelessness and low-income families doing it tough. These homes will provide not just a roof over someone's head but the security and stability that comes with knowing you have somewhere safe to call home. For our community in Burt, this matters enormously. We know that housing pressures have been felt across Perth's south-east. Families are feeling the squeeze. Rents have risen sharply, and community organisations are seeing more and more people needing help. That's why we've taken action, not just with one program but with a comprehensive housing agenda designed to boost supply and help people get into homes sooner. Through the Housing Australia Future Fund, we're delivering 30,000 new social and affordable homes across the country. We're also delivering thousands of additional homes through the Social Housing Accelerator and other programs, working with states, territories and community housing providers. But we know building homes takes time, so we're also acting to support renters and first home buyers. We've increased Commonwealth rental assistance by around 50 per cent for people who need help the most, and we've expanded the Help to Buy scheme to help more Australians purchase their first home. And, of course, we have our five per cent deposit scheme as well. We're working with states and territories to unlock land and accelerate construction so that more homes can be built where people want to live. The solution to Australia's housing challenge is clear. It is about supply. We need to build more homes. We need to make sure that the homes we build include social and affordable housing so that everyone has a place in our communities. The investments we're seeing across the south-eastern suburbs of Perth are a really important part of that. They're about making sure people in our community are not left behind. They're about strengthening our local community. They're about ensuring that people who need support the most have a safe place to live. Housing security should never be out of reach, nor should a good education. We're investing in early childhood, school, TAFE and university education, as well as housing in our community, because it's only by setting up that strong foundation that we'll change the story of our community—a strong foundation to build a better Burt. 11:35 Mr DAVID SMITH 276714 Bean I rise today to discuss the appropriation bills. We've heard from the health minister recently that the work the government is undertaking on bulk-billing is ensuring our bulk-billing rates are climbing and are back on the right track after years of lost investment under the previous government. In just three months, we have seen the bulk-billing rate for all Australians jumped to 81.4 per cent nationwide. That is the largest quarterly bulk-billing jump in 20 years, outside of the COVID pandemic. To put this into more practical terms, this increase in bulk-billing and bulk-billing practices means that approximately 96 per cent of Australians are now within a 20-minute drive of a registered Medicare bulk-billing practice. But the ACT does face its own unique challenges when it comes to bulk-billing. While the relatively small uptick in bulk-billing in the ACT is welcome, there is more work to do. It's also one of the reasons I welcomed one of Australia's newest Medicare urgent care clinics in my electorate of Bean in the Woden Valley. This clinic opened in December of last year and strengthens the already existing network of clinics across the territory. It is the first in the ACT to be GP led. It's close proximity to Canberra Hospital means that it will work to take pressure off the emergency department at Canberra Hospital. I look forward to the tender being finalised for the three bulk-billing clinics that we committed to during the 2025 election. These clinics will be critical to providing greater access to affordable and accessible health care in Canberra. This will soon be joined by more mental health support for Canberra parents. New and expectant Canberra parents will get free, personalised mental health support, with a new perinatal mental health centre to be established in Tuggeranong in Bean. The Albanese government funded centre will offer Canberran families support during the vital perinatal period, from pregnancy through to the baby's first birthday. This is a time when up to one in five women and one in 10 men experience anxiety and/or depression. The centre will help meet local demand for mental health care and provide psychological services with no out-of-pocket costs. This is in addition to the supports already provided by the Tuggeranong Medicare Mental Health Centre, an important avenue for those in my community to access mental health information, services and supports from qualified professionals over extended hours. Anyone can reach out for support for themselves, a loved one or a patient. It is free and no appointment or referral is needed. But investments in health care do not stop just there. The Albanese government has made record investments in our healthcare system, reaching new agreements with the states and territories to deliver record funding into the hospital system. Here in the ACT, it will mean an additional $557 million boost to hospital funding, alongside additional funding of $75 million to assist with the challenges of being a smaller jurisdiction. This is part of a package that is worth over $4 billion in the ACT. The Albanese government has also established 1800MEDICARE, because life isn't nine to five, and neither should be access to health advice. This new phone line offers free advice and out-of-hours telehealth, backed by Medicare. You should be able to get the medicine you need without worrying about the cost. That's why Labor is making prescription medication cheaper by slashing the cost of medicines listed on the PBS. From January, that has meant it's no more than $25 per script and just $7.70 for concession card holders. You will have heard many members on this side of the chamber, as well as key stakeholders, discuss the importance of this policy. This is from a Pharmacy Guild media release: Every week, more than 400,000 prescriptions will now cost no more than $25—putting up to $6.60 back in patients' pockets for every prescription. It makes medicine the most affordable it's ever been. It also stated: The cost of medicine for those without a concession card is reducing to $25. That's the lowest amount since 2004 and only the second time in history that the price of medicine in Australia has been reduced. These are direct quotes not from the government but from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and their national president, Trent Twomey. I was able to recognise these changes with the award-winning Wanni White Coats, the team down at Capital Chemist Wanniassa, led by Elise and Honor. I've risen in this chamber previously to acknowledge their incredible work. Joining them last December, I was able to directly hear from them how these record changes to the PBS will really help our community. Like many community pharmacies, they had noticed the cost pressures on constituents and had advocated for change. I'm fortunate enough to be able to say that this pharmacy isn't the only award-winning pharmacy in Bean, with the team at Capital Chemist Mawson receiving Guild Pharmacy of the Year in 2024 and the team at Coleman Court being recognised for the same award in 2025. Knowing that I am, as part of the Albanese Labor government, able to support the work of these wonderful teams is one of the many privileges of my position. Deputy Speaker Chesters, if you would allow me, I would like to take this chance to recognise my local schools across Bean and let them know that the Albanese Labor government has their backs. We have great schools across Bean, underpinned by dedicated and caring principals, educators and staff and supported by volunteers and P&Cs. Whilst it's a little overdue, I wish to welcome back all the local schools in Bean for the 2026 school year. To my local schools, a new school year brings fresh opportunities along with new challenges, and your ongoing commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and engaging environment for students is truly valued. It's a busy time of year for parents, particularly in term 1, as they worry about setting up their children for the new year with stationery, uniforms and restarting the school lunches and routine. But the good news is that the Albanese Labor government is giving parents one less thing to worry about by making sure all schools will be fully funded no matter where you live. This increase in funding represents an extra $16.5 billion over the next decade and an extra $49 billion in the decade after that, meaning millions of extra dollars being invested in schools, teachers, educators and students right across Bean. This is the biggest new investment in public schools by any Australian government, and it will ensure that students get the best start to schooling not just across local schools in Bean but right across the country. Just over in Whitlam—not only a great prime minister but one of our newest suburbs in Bean—last month, the Albanese and ACT governments announced that they have reached a historic agreement, delivering $10 million through the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund to deliver more not-for-profit early learning at the Whitlam School in Canberra. This Albanese Labor government funding will go towards building a new early childhood education and care service at the new Whitlam School, delivering 130 new early childhood education and care places for families in 2028. This is a crucial investment being provided in the fastest-growing area of our community, and I wish to thank the federal health minister and the ACT deputy chief minister, Yvette Berry MLA, for this investment. It again highlights the importance of having two strong, united Labor governments working together for our community. Over the last month, the ACT federal Labor team have been out welcoming back students to campuses and talking to them about how the Albanese Labor government is supporting all aspects of the tertiary education system. Labor promised to cut student debt, and now the Albanese Labor government is delivering. Australians with student debt, including HECS-HELP, VET and TAFE loans will have seen a 20 per cent reduction—no application, no forms, just real cost-of-living relief. We have made free TAFE permanent, opening the door to secure work for more young people right across my community. At the same time we've increased the HECS and HELP loan repayment threshold, so students get to keep more of what they earn before repayments kick in. We are paying students on prac for key degrees such as nursing, midwifery and social work so that they're able to complete their training without those extra economic stresses. I enjoyed being at the Australian National University recently to directly speak with students about how these changes will help ensure they have access to quality education and the opportunities that that provides, without having to stress about the expenses that can too often be incurred receiving that education. I also want to talk a little more about what the Albanese government is doing to assist those taking up a trade because, as we all know, the only way we can build Australia's future is by investing in those who will be the ones building that future. We are boosting support for apprentices, delivering a $10,000 bonus to housing, construction and clean energy apprentices so more tradies can finish their training under the Key Apprenticeship Program. I was able to hear firsthand last month how this funding is making a real difference on the ground. I was able to meet with Liam and Max, apprentices working in my electorate of Bean, last month at a at a building site in Torrens and hear about how this program and other government incentives have enabled them to get on with their training. When asked what he was going to be able to use the KAP for, Liam said that he would be using it to buy new tools so that he could be more useful on site, learn new skills and service his car. He said it would help cover rent and the cost of living while he trains to develop the skills that will help build our community. Max said that the incentives had already come in handy for him and spoke about how it takes a weight off your shoulders when you know that, as an apprentice, you will be buying tools and a vehicle for work. It is really handy to have support from the government to progress with your apprenticeship and get the things you need. Paul, managing director of Exceed Homes, who employs these two apprentices, echoed these sentiments and reinforced that the structure of the program, with payments being spaced out over the program, means that there is assistance there to ensure that apprentices get through their apprenticeship and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I would not only like to thank Paul and the team for having me on site but also for the work that they do right across the community. There is always a lot of talk about government funding in an abstract sense, with huge figures discussed at a national scale, but this is what these numbers mean in my local community. These are real, practical changes that have been provided to my community. These are real, practical improvements delivered to the hip pocket right across my community. These are real, practical improvements to the lives of those in my community. It is these changes and these stories that are why I'm passionate about continuing the work that we started in our previous term. The Albanese Labor government has introduced a broad range of supports and programs to address the cost of living. We know that there's more work to do in 2026, and we're committed to doing more of the same. 11:48 Mr HUSIC 91219 Chifley Appropriation bills, like the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026 and the related bills, are also about the investment choices that we make as a nation. They tell Australians what we value and the type of future we intend to create. They fund the essential services people rely on. They also shape the way the government participates in and influences the economy through its decisions. Much broader than that too, these bills underpin something we should be talking more about this in this place, and that's government procurement. Governments always need a lot of goods and services to get things done, so government purchasing power can't be understated. On average, the Commonwealth government procurement program entails around $70 billion and 80,000 contracts committed each year. The question for us is not only whether that money is spent efficiently, though it must be, but also whether it's spent strategically. Does that spend give us bang for buck well beyond the simple purchase of a good or service? Are we taking the opportunity to also use our purchasing power to build sovereign capability? For example, are we giving Australian technology companies a chance to scale here rather than just waving them off to go overseas? Are we strengthening national resilience in the face of rising global uncertainty, and are we prepared to use the enormous economic leverage that procurement provides to build the future we want—dare I say it, a future made in Australia? In 2023, the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee conducted an inquiry into supporting the development of sovereign capability in the Australian tech sector. The committee report states: The increasingly globalised nature of the tech sector increases the risk of economic disruptions resulting from geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, pandemics, supply chain volatility, raw material shortages, and overseas regulations and policies. These risks necessitate a need for Australia to balance advantageous participation in the global tech market with ensuring adequate sovereign capabilities to mitigate these risks. Why is this important? Rewind to last week, when we were privileged to be addressed in this place by the Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt Hon. Mark Carney, who, at the World Economic Forum in Davos this year, uttered words that would resonate deeply. He said: … when we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we negotiate from weakness. We accept what's offered. We compete with each other to be the most accommodating. This is not sovereignty. It's the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination. When speaking about what it means for middle powers to 'live the truth', he said: … it means reducing the leverage that enables coercion—that's building a strong domestic economy. It should be every government's immediate priority. And diversification internationally is not just economic prudence, it's a material foundation for honest foreign policy, because countries earn the right to principled stands by reducing their vulnerability to retaliation. We are now seeing governments around the world, especially middle powers, move fast on treating procurement as an issue of sovereignty and diversifying things such as digital investments. Just over a month ago, the French government announced that 2.5 million civil servants will transition away from videoconferencing tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams and move to a homegrown system. The French government was explicit about its reasoning: to guarantee the security and confidentiality of public electronic communications, and to rely on a powerful sovereign tool. French ministers have spoken openly about the risks of sensitive data and strategic innovation being exposed to foreign actors. Other European jurisdictions have migrated public servant inboxes from Microsoft to open-source alternatives, have shifted file sharing from SharePoint to Nextcloud and are exploring replacing Windows with Linux. At the European level, the push for digital sovereignty has become a formal policy agenda. The European Commission's leadership has warned that reliance on single countries or companies in critical digital infrastructure can be weaponised. The EU has paired strong regulatory frameworks with strategic investment and procurement levers designed to foster domestic capability. We don't have that kind of thought leadership occurring on national soil right now, and we should. Australia isn't insulated from these pressures. Our public sector relies extensively on global cloud and software providers. We've introduced important safeguards, including reforms to critical infrastructure, security and competition law, yet the aforementioned inquiry found: … there is a significant procurement capability gap in the APS, which is characterised by risk-aversion, inter-agency fragmentation and non-compliance. Procurement is often obsessively framed, in this place, in terms of 'achieving value for money', 'ensuring probity' and 'avoiding waste'. All of that's essential, but you cannot be blinkered around those concepts. Value for money is not confined simply to the lowest upfront price. It can and should incorporate long-term strategic value. The European Union recognised this explicitly through its Cloud Sovereignty Framework, introduced late last year, where procurement decisions are weighted to consider strategic sovereignty, legal and jurisdictional sovereignty, data and AI sovereignty, technological sovereignty and more. Australia does this in some sectors; that's the good news. For example, defence procurement is explicitly linked to sovereign industrial capability priorities. We recognise that certain capabilities must be sustained domestically for reasons of national security and strategic autonomy. The question is: why would digital capability more broadly be treated any differently? Digital systems underpin our energy grids, our health records, our financial transactions, our education systems and our defence platforms. They're as critical to national resilience as traditional industrial assets. If we default to the largest global incumbents in every single category, Australian firms are denied the anchor customer they often need to grow. Venture capital will then flow offshore. Intellectual property will migrate. Our brightest engineers, for example, will build foreign platforms rather than nurture domestic ecosystems. Conversely, when government deliberately creates space for local providers—through clearer pathways into procurement panels, proportionate contract requirements and genuine consideration of sovereign capability—that catalyses growth. Technology markets tend towards concentration, which has been seen time and again. Network effects and scale advantages reinforce incumbency. Without deliberate counterweights, smaller domestic firms struggle to compete for large public contracts, regardless of their innovation or quality. Procurement is one of the few levers governments possess to rebalance those dynamics. The government has rightly spoken about, and acted on, building a Future Made in Australia. We've invested in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals processing and value-adding industries. But technology has to sit at the centre of that ambition. Australia's research base is world class. Our research institutions consistently rank among the best globally and produce a disproportionately high share of global research. We produce exceptional research in quantum computing, in medical technology, in cybersecurity, in fintech and in artificial intelligence. Yet, too often, we invent here and commercialise elsewhere. I'm tired of seeing an idea that began in an Australian mind being completed in a company in another country. The issue is not that we're short on ideas or talent. It's the structural and cultural barriers that stop us from scaling innovation. It's got to be called out. There is a complete lack of support and faith in the corridors of Treasury and Finance, whose mindset is stuck in the nineties. They believe the best thing Australia can be is the customer of someone else's idea or product. Look no further than Vaxxas as an example. Vaxxas is a Brisbane based Australian company that's commercialising novel tech to enhance the performance of existing next-generation vaccines. At the University of Queensland, Vaxxas developed a high-density microarray patch, which is effectively a needle-free vaccine patch the size of a 20c coin, pioneering future self-administered vaccine delivery. Not only can this biotech development achieve stronger immune protection with smaller doses, it can also eliminate the need for vaccine refrigeration during storage and transportation—all developed in this country. The implications for reducing the resource and logistics burden of maintaining this strict vaccine cold chain can't be understated, nor can the possibility of mailing these patches out for self-administration in the event of another global pandemic, rapidly reducing disease spread. Here's what Vaxxas CEO David Peacock had to say: We have funding from the US and Europe for pandemic preparedness, but we do not have any funding from the federal government here. Vaxxas doesn't want to see their homegrown invention head offshore. They've told us that their tech could be integral to our sovereign capability for pandemic preparedness. Yet there's a strong likelihood they'll have to move their headquarters overseas, because they've been backed by Europe faster than they've been backed by their own country. Our ecosystem has let them down. There is a choice before us. We can accept that Australian-built know-how will be governed elsewhere, with economic benefits flowing out of this country. Alternatively, we can treat procurement as a tool—one that deliberately nurtures domestic capability, de-risks world-class Aussie innovation, supports scaling Australian firms and embeds resilience into national tech and digital infrastructure—not as a cost but as a genuine investment to stimulate demand for new tech to support growth. I'm proud of the progress that has been made; for example, the changes to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules that came into effect at the end of last year. Those things matter. For the first time, we've got a clear definition of what counts as an Australian business for procurement purposes. This is huge. This gives transparency to the system and confidence to Australian firms that when we say we're backing Australian business, we mean it. Too often in the past, procurement processes have favoured those with the resources to navigate complex tenders rather than those with the best ideas or the most innovative solutions. In October last year, the updated Commonwealth Procurement Rules gave that definition practical effect. From 17 November 2025, non-corporate Commonwealth entities have to prioritise Australian businesses for procurement below the relevant procurement thresholds. This update, amongst others, will provide Australian businesses with access to approximately 31,000 Australian government contracts valued at almost $2 billion. Changes that sit within the broader Future Made in Australia framework, taken together, will show a procurement framework that's way more structured, more transparent and strategically stronger than it was years before. We also have to acknowledge that technology markets are evolving at extraordinary speed. Artificial intelligence is a classic example of what's happening there. The platforms and standards being locked in today will shape productivity, security and economic growth for decades. But we can't afford to treat that as business as usual. We also need to make sure that, when it comes to procurement, Australian firms are not disadvantaged when competing against firms that have aggressive tax-minimisation strategies. If there are firms that refuse or minimise the amount of Australian tax they pay, those firms should not be entitled to reap the Australian revenue that flows to them through procurement, and we should take a much stronger stand on that. We do need to create space in procurement for alternative providers, particularly Australian firms, creating opportunities for local tech. We anchor capability. We give our researchers and engineers commercialisation pathways in this nation. It doesn't mean excluding international firms. We're an open trading nation, but we want to benefit from global innovation and investment fairly and in a way that does not lock us in to being completely dependent on global supply chains that can reduce our independence as a result. We should be asking: Are our procurement frameworks adequately weighting considerations of digital and tech sovereignty? Are we lowering barriers for innovative Australian SMEs to compete for government contracts? Are we systematically assessing the long-term strategic implications of vendor concentration in critical digital services? When we appropriate billions of dollars in procurement, we're not simply paying invoices. We're shaping markets. We're signalling priorities. We're determining which firms will grow, which technologies will dominate and where the next generation of innovators will build their careers. The Finance Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2025-26 state that Finance 'will advance regulatory reforms and the procurement integrity agenda and focus on enhancing our data and digital capabilities internally.' There's also been a focus on the application of artificial intelligence as we strengthen and implement AI for the Australian Public Service. I look forward to these developments, but, more importantly, I look forward to Australian procurement backing Australian business. 12:03 Ms LAWRENCE 299150 Hasluck Appropriation bills are about priorities. They are about what we value as a nation and whether we are prepared to back those values with sustained investment and service delivery. Over the last four years, the Albanese government has demonstrated that we are prepared to do just that: to invest in climate action that lowers bills; to invest in a health system that puts people first and in a National Disability Insurance Scheme that is sustainable and fair; to invest in a Defence Force that is ready for the strategic challenges ahead; and to invest in a multicultural society that remains cohesive, confident and secure. The appropriations in these bills reflect those priorities in practical terms. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will receive over $2.9 billion, predominantly to continue support for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. In Western Australia, particularly in my electorate of Hasluck, this really matters. Households across suburbs like Dayton, Noranda and Guildford are already embracing rooftop solar at remarkable rates. We in the west have recently led the nation in household solar uptake, but until now too many families have generated clean power during the day, have seen it flow back into the grid and then have had to buy it back at peak prices in the evening. Home batteries flip the script. They allow families to store their own power, reduce reliance on the grid at peak times and cut their bills. It's a win-win for the environment and the cost of living. Labor is delivering. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program builds on the work we've already undertaken, from energy bill relief to investments in grid stability and renewable generation, to ensure that climate action and cost-of-living relief go hand in hand. In Hasluck I speak regularly with families who are doing everything they can to manage household budgets. They want practical solutions, not slogans. Supporting home batteries is exactly that: practical, local, immediate relief combined with long-term emissions reductions. At last count, more than 2,100 batteries had been installed in my electorate, and that number is climbing. That's over 2,100 families who are not waiting for the coalition to come onboard with net zero or with renewables. That's 2,100 families voting with the space on their garage walls. Likewise, all across Western Australia, with our unique grid and our strong uptake of distributed energy, this investment strengthens system resilience while empowering households. It reflects a government that understands the realities on the ground and backs communities to be part of the solution. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will be receiving over $1.5 billion for programs that improve wellbeing and participation, ensuring access to medicines, strengthening Medicare and delivering reasonable and necessary supports for NDIS participants. In Hasluck, these investments are not abstract line items; they are tangible changes in people's lives. We know that Medicare was under sustained pressure when we came to office. Bulk-billing rates were falling, workforce shortages were biting, and patients were paying more for out-of-pocket costs. Through strengthening Medicare reforms, supported here with $101 million, we have reversed that trajectory. Tripling the bulk-billing incentive, expanding urgent care clinics and investing in primary care reform has made a real difference. Western Australia has seen improved bulk-billing rates and in communities across Hasluck, families are feeling that shift. Access to medicines has also improved. By lowering the maximum cost of PBS medicines and enabling 60-day prescriptions for many common medications, we have reduced costs for patients with chronic conditions. For older Australians and families managing long-term health needs, that is not marginal; it is meaningful. Members opposite really do need to get on board with this. Medicare and cheaper medicines are popular because they relieve cost pressures at the very time when people need help the most, when they or their loved ones are unwell. The Australian people voted for this, and I know firsthand that the people in Hasluck voted for this both in the 2020 election and again resoundingly in 2025. It really is on the coalition to create some sort of health policy prior to the next election that takes account of the fact that the community want investments in health care. Then there is the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The further appropriation includes $876 million for the National Disability Insurance Agency to provide that reasonable and necessary support for NDIS participants. The NDIS is one of Australia's most significant social reforms, but it must be sustainable to endure. In Western Australia, thousands of participants rely on the scheme for support that enables independence, employment and social participation. In Hasluck I regularly meet with families who speak of the transformative impact of properly delivered supports, therapies, assistive technologies and community participation. Over the past four years we've undertaken some serious reforms to stabilise growth, reduce fraud and ensure that funding is going where it is genuinely needed. That work has required cooperation across jurisdictions, including with the Western Australian government, and also with community members—people who identify and call out alleged fraud where they see it. These are people like Drew and Pete, who recently wrote to me to bring my attention to concerns they have about some NDIS providers allegedly being in breach of the contractual obligations that they have to the NDIS. That is something we take seriously and are absolutely clamping down on. It reflects this shared commitment that we have for the individuals who are the beneficiaries—from participants to the providers and across all tiers of government——to protect the integrity of this scheme and safeguard participant outcomes. This appropriation ensures continuity of support while reform continues. It is responsible, compassionate and focused on long-term sustainability. The Department of Defence will receive over $1 billion, including $985 million brought forward to implement the 2024 National defence strategy and the 2024 Integrated Investment program. Western Australia is central to Australia's defence posture. From HMAS Stirling to the broader defence industry ecosystem in our state, WA plays a critical role in maritime capability and strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific. The updated National defence strategy recognises that we live in a more contested and uncertain strategic environment. Investment must be aligned with that reality. Bringing forward expenditure is about ensuring readiness, modernisation and capability not in some distant future but now. For Western Australia that translates into jobs, industry participation and sovereign capability. It means supporting local defence industry businesses that contribute to sustainment, shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing. It means training and employment pathways for young Western Australians looking to build careers in defence and related industries. In Hasluck, many residents work in defence, the defence industry and related supply chains, particularly around sustainment. And very soon, we will be the home of not just army cadets but army reserves as well. Strategic investment supports secure, skilled employment and it reinforces Australia's ability to protect its interests. National security is not a slogan; it is a serious responsibility. These appropriations reflect a government that is meeting that responsibility with clarity and foresight. The Department of Home Affairs will receive $881 million to implement programs that safeguard Australia's domestic interests, respond to crises and threats, support the government's response to the antisemitic terrorist attack and maintain our cohesive multicultural society. Australia's strength has always been its diversity, underpinned by our shared democratic values and mutual respect. Western Australia is proudly multicultural. In Hasluck, communities from every continent call our electorate home. Our local schools, small businesses, community groups and places of worship reflect that richness. The events surrounding the antisemitic attack in Bondi and then the further failed attack in Forrest Place on Australia Day, as well as the security and police actions that have nipped plans in the bud, are all a stark reminder that hatred and extremism have no place in our society. The government's response has been firm and principled: protecting community safety, supporting affected communities and reinforcing our zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and all forms of hate. Funding through Home Affairs strengthens intelligence, counter-extremism and community safety measures, but it also supports cohesion because security is not only about enforcement; it is about inclusion. Maintaining Australia's cohesive multicultural society requires investment in community engagement, settlement services and initiatives that build understanding across communities. In Hasluck, I see benefits of these investments in local multicultural associations, youth programs and community events that bring people together. Just by way of example, we have the Ellenbrook Multicultural Festival, the Cook Islands community Pasifika festival and the Kings multicultural—I recently attended their Holi event and still have the colours all across the skin on my back, but one day they will come off. I have celebrated the Iftar dinner with the Alnoor community language school and the Pongal harvest festival with the Tamil Association of Western Australia. These are all extraordinary, fantastic events and I'm honoured to attend them. But they are not just add-ons or luxuries; they are, taken together, the very foundations of our society and of social stability. They are something that we are deeply proud of within my community—to be able to celebrate culture, language, dance, music, and traditions respecting those who have come from different parts of the world with different perspectives, and to have an open mind and a willingness to learn and build bridges where there are differences. Having that ultimate that respect for each other is what I'm proud that the appropriation for this area will go towards strengthening. The Housing Australia Future Fund is a Labor legacy program that I am proud to have supported in this place. Already in Hasluck funds have been committed through the first rounds of the construction of 537 social and affordable homes in Ellenbrook, Bassendean, Woodbridge and Midland. All of them are adjacent to the railway line, which is now completed, from stations through to the extension of the rail line out to Ellenbrook. That will soon mean 537 families in Hasluck will have access to housing that they are currently finding difficult to obtain. More than 2,260 people in my electorate have been able to access the five per cent deposit under the Home Guarantee Scheme. A home means security, and we all need a place to call our home. These appropriations are further evidence of the commitment of this government to govern for all Australians. They support climate action that lowers bills. They strengthen Medicare and protect the NDIS. They modernise our defence capability. They safeguard our security while reinforcing social cohesion. They act to address the housing needs of communities like mine in Hasluck. Importantly, they are extensions. They are backed by four years of demonstrated delivery. In Hasluck and across Western Australia, people are not interested in political theatre. They want to see government that identifies challenges, invests responsibly and then follows through. That is what these appropriations do; they invest in households, in health, in security and in the future resilience of our nation. For these reasons, I commend the bill to the House. 12:17 Ms CATHERINE KING 00AMR Ballarat I rise to support the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026 and related bills. These additional estimates appropriation bills provide the legislative basis for the Albanese government's policy decisions taken in MYEFO. MYEFO is often something that gets a bit overlooked in the wash, and I doubt there are many Australians there who are following the passage of this legislation closely today, but fair enough—it can be a bit of a dry topic. Let me tell you what those decisions mean practically. They mean that people across the country will continue to have access to the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. In the six months following its establishment, this program has helped more than 250,000 households and small businesses cut their power bills and take control of their energy. In my electorate of Ballarat, more than 1,000 batteries have been installed—that's 1,000 households who in many instances have seen their energy bills reduced to zero. Interest continues to grow in the program, and that's why in MYEFO we announced the program will be expanding from $2.3 billion to $7.2 billion over four years, which is expected to see two million Australians install a battery by 2030, delivering around 40 gigawatt hours of capacity, doubling our election estimate of one million batteries and increasing by almost four times the expected capacity. These bills also mean that Australians have access to cheaper medicines. On New Year's Day Australians woke up from their celebrations to the news that general patients would now pay no more than $25 per PBS script. The last time it was that cheap was back in 2004, well over 20 years ago. They also mean the launch of 1800MEDICARE, a 24/7 service which provides expert health advice, referrals and reassurance to people calling about their healthcare needs. It is expected that around 250,000 Australians will avoid an unnecessary trip to the hospital emergency department each year because of the health advice and services provided through 1800MEDICARE. This includes up to 130,000 free urgent telehealth GP services each year by the end of the decade. These appropriation bills also mean a tax cut for every taxpayer. Only this government is delivering a further two rounds of personal income tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer, adding to the first round of tax cuts that commenced back in 2024. Under these changes, from 1 July this year, the 16 per cent tax rate, which applies to taxable income between $18,201 and $45,000, will be reduced to 15 per cent, and from 1 July 2027, this tax rate will be reduced further to 14 per cent. We estimate that, on average, that's $50 back in your pocket each and every week. These appropriation bills mean more support for our domestic and international security, with additional funding going towards strengthening our social cohesion and safeguarding Australia's domestic interests from anything that might threaten our peace and prosperity. In my portfolio, it means addressing cost pressures and continuing to build the critical infrastructure and transport projects that Australians rely on each and every day. That's what these MYEFO appropriations bills do, and it shows you what this government is committed to. The government is focused on easing cost-of-living pressure for Australians now and looking forward to what Australians will need into the future, because unlike those opposite we're not focused on the past. We're not stuck in reprosecuting old ideologies over and over again, solely intent on tearing ourselves apart. We're not trying desperately to revive old policies soundly rejected by the public, as they did—and continue to do—with their $700 billion nuclear energy policy. We are focused on the things that matter to Australians today. I'm very fortunate to serve in a portfolio where Australians can see the government's investments every day: on the roads they drive; in the trains, buses and planes they catch; and at airports that they go through. We're continuing the work of delivering these crucial investments through our infrastructure investment pipeline, which is worth over $120 billion over the decade. It's going to be a big year for infrastructure fans out there, and, I have to say, it's already been a pretty big month. I was incredibly proud to be able to announce in Newcastle the next phase of high-speed rail. Together with my good friends the member for Paterson and the member for Newcastle, I announced $659.6 million into the two-year development phase that will ensure that the high-speed rail Sydney-to-Newcastle line is construction-ready and ready for a final investment decision by the government. High-speed rail is ambitious, but its benefits are enormous. The business case, which I also released at the time, shows that the economic activity generated by the high-speed rail Sydney-to-Newcastle line is around $250 billion, with 99,000 jobs expected to be created from building this line, stretching from advanced manufacturing to increased tourism opportunities, and 160,000 homes will be unlocked along the line. We are a purposeful government doing the cautious, diligent work to build the infrastructure Australia will need well into the future. We've learnt the lessons from previous projects, such as the disastrous rollout, frankly, of Inland Rail, which was announced with no idea about where it would start or end or how much it would actually cost. High-speed rail is the example of the kind of project a serious government can deliver. Of course, it doesn't stop there. This year we'll see the opening of the Western Sydney International Airport to freight and to passengers. Started 12 years ago, under the then infrastructure minister and now prime minister, Sydney will finally have its much-needed second airport. In Victoria, I was pleased to recently attend the start of early works on the Sunshine Superhub—the next step in building the Melbourne Airport Rail link—much anticipated. Like high-speed rail and Western Sydney airport, a rail link to Melbourne Airport has been talked about for a long time. Under this government, it is starting to be delivered. In Western Australia, we've just heard that the construction of METRONET is complete, with the final—23rd and concluding—project, the new Midland Station, now open to passengers. The project has been transformative: 72 kilometres of new passenger rail and 23 new stations stretching right the way across Perth, changing the way many Western Australians travel. It's unlocked new business opportunities, new housing and new community infrastructure as well. In Queensland, our historic investment in the Bruce Highway is making the road safer and easier to travel. Just over a year ago, I joined the Prime Minister in Gympie to announce the additional $7.2 billion investment in the Bruce to improve the highway north of Gympie to Cairns. It takes our government's total investment in the Bruce up to more than $17 billion, and construction is underway from Mackay down to Dohles Rocks. It was incredibly exciting also to be in South Australia late last year to see the arrival of the tunnel-boring machines to help build the $15.4 billion non-stop North-South Corridor. I know the minister at the table is very excited about that project in her home state. When this project is complete, South Australians can expect to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights and cut travel times by up to 40 minutes during peak hour. In the ACT we've seen the first section of tracks laid for light rail stage 2A, marking a major milestone in extending the network to Commonwealth Park. In the Northern Territory, contracts have recently been awarded to continue sealing the Tanami Road, with works to begin in the coming months. Shovels are in the ground across the country. It's possible because we did the hard work of cleaning up the infrastructure investment pipeline. Of course, when we came to government back in 2022, we walked into a mess, frankly. We had a pipeline that was simply underfunded and under-planned, resulting in us having to find an additional $33 billion if we were to deliver every project on the pipeline. We cleaned up that mess, making sure every project in the pipeline is properly planned and able to be delivered. Our investments in transport are also demonstrating what can be achieved when we have a sensible government focused on delivering for Australians. Our support for the administration and subsequent acquisition of Rex Airlines has helped to keep flight prices down and provide choice for regional Australians. Likewise, our new vehicle efficiency standard is increasing vehicle choices for consumers while helping to bring down emissions. Those opposite claimed that NVES would destroy the weekend and that we were banning utes. I'm not sure that they'll be pleased to know this, but there are now electric utes in Australia. More ranges are expected to be offered, but they're still around. The traditional ute still exists as well. Through the work of the transport portfolio, we are continuing to both deliver the infrastructure Australians need and ensure our transport systems continue to move. My electorate, of course, is also a very special place I want to talk about. It's one of history, diversity and opportunity, from Daylesford and the spa country in the north, the proud communities of Shelford and Teesdale in the south and the city of Ballarat itself, the home of Australian unionism and the Eureka stockade right in the middle of Ballarat. I never take for granted the honour it is to represent my community here in our nation's capital, and I continue to work every day to get the best outcomes for people in Ballarat. Throughout last year's election campaign, I had the opportunity to respond to the advocacy of our councils and many local organisations and to commit to a number of projects that would make a tangible and positive difference to local people. One of the most important of those in our community is the Continuous Voices Memorial in Victoria Park. I've spoken before in this place of Ballarat's history of institutional abuse and the way that it continues to echo through generations. For some time now, local survivors and supporters have been working together on the design of a memorial, a place of healing, recognition and quiet reflection, a place in the heart of Victoria Park that acknowledges and honours all survivors of sexual abuse and assault. I was incredibly proud to stand with survivors and their supporters in Ballarat's Victoria Park and commit $500,000 for the Continuous Voices Memorial. This commitment from this government together with the previously announced support from the Victorian government and the City of Ballarat will ensure this project is a reality. The commitment assures survivors that we see you, we believe you and we support you, and it will provide a space for everybody to continue to reflect on what happened not only in our town but across the country. As, of course, a very proud and welcoming country, we are proud and welcoming community, one where people support each other. The Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council operates out of an old high-school building called the Ballarat Welcome Centre. It's a beautiful site, but the building needs some love, and I was delighted to pledge $500,000 to revitalise its facilities. The role of the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council and the work that they do to ensure social cohesion and harmony in our community has been starkly highlighted by some terrible events that occurred at an iftar event in my community in the suburb of Alfredton. This is not the reflection that any of us want to see of our community, and I want to thank the many members, including the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, who have been supporting members of the Muslim community in Ballarat recently and will continue to over the coming days and weeks. The money to BRMC will improve its accessibility and support the multicultural council to do its important work in our city going forward. The Ballarat Agricultural Show has also played an iconic role in Ballarat for almost 170 years. This show is something many families look forward to each year and it's always a brilliant day out. It's run by a terrific group of volunteers. They don't just deliver the show but also play an integral role in supporting primary producers and showcasing agriculture throughout the region and lots of other events as well. We've committed over $1.5 million towards the event and exhibition centre. I'm really looking forward to its hosting the Ballarat Wine Show, agricultural workshops and private events as well. In essence, it will ensure the sustainability of the show for generations to come. We've also committed to community soccer upgrades in Creswick and Daylesford, pretty important areas, as well as to the Don Wallace Recreation Reserve through to Teasdale. The other commitment we made during the election was to the Veterans Hub. It will be a place of connection and practical support for the servicemen and women to whom we owe so much in our community, and also for their families and their supporters. Our work is well under way in making sure that that Veterans Hub becomes a reality, and I do want to thank and particularly acknowledge not only Andrew Hamilton and the team behind the Ballarat Veterans Assistance Centre for their many years of advocacy for this project but also the City of Ballarat for being fully prepared to step forward with premises to actually now make this hub a reality. I'm looking forward to the progress across all of these election commitments from 2025. We've recently seen some of the 2022 election commitments opened, cutting the ribbon on the Vicars Street Community Hub, a terrific new multigenerational facility in my electorate, the Central Springs Recreational Reserve and work is progressing on other projects across the electorate. I would recommend a visit, for anyone who is keen to go, to the springs in Daylesford. It is a beautiful place featured on The Block just last year and I know they've seen visitors go up as a result of that. I'm thrilled again to be able to have the opportunity to not only represent my community—it's the proudest job I have—but also to lead the infrastructure and transport portfolios and to do so within a government that is committed to delivering for all Australians. I commend the appropriation bills to the House. 12:32 Ms RISHWORTH HWA Kingston I rise to speak on the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026 and related bills. It gives me great pleasure to be speaking on this bill, because this bill is the next bill to actually focus on our government's agenda of delivery. Our government has been delivering and delivering, and I'm really very proud of that. I want to start by speaking about delivery in my local electorate in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. I'm going to have to disagree with the minister for infrastructure. I think the southern suburbs of Adelaide is the most beautiful place in Australia and, indeed, probably the world. It is the gateway to the Fleurieu Peninsula, with an incredible coastline and beaches that run from Hallett Cove all the way down to Maslin Beach. It's a wonderful community to live, work and raise a family in. It has had its challenges over the last little while with the unprecedented algae bloom that has been persistent on our beaches. But I have to say, being down on our coastline, it is magnificent. I'd encourage anyone to get down and enjoy the South Australian coastline. There are businesses that are ready to take your order, ready to sell you something, ready to give you an experience that you will enjoy. Of course, in my local electorate, we continue to see really significant investment. I did want to talk a little bit first about the investment in health that our government has made, particularly when it comes to the cost of medicines. We know that if the cost of medicine is too high then people will choose not to refill their script or will not actually do what they are directed to, so I am proud to be part of a government that has lowered the cost of scripts on the PBS for everyone with a Medicare card. The maximum co-payment is now the lowest it has been in 20 years, just $25 per script, and it has stayed frozen at $7.70 for concession card holders. This is making a real difference. It builds on our investment and our reform, quite frankly—for example, our quite important reform of 60-day dispensing. These are really important measures making a real difference to people in my electorate. We have also seen the investment in bulk-billing in the electorate, and I'm proud that our investment is starting to turn around the really concerning numbers that happened under the coalition when they were in government with their complete neglect of Medicare and bulk-billing. I'm pleased to see that the rate of bulk-billing has jumped to 81.4 per cent nationwide. This is the largest quarterly jump in bulk-billing in 20 years outside of COVID. We as a government promised more bulk-billing, and that is exactly what we're delivering. I want to share a story from John from Christie Downs, who messaged me to say that he was so pleased to find out his local clinic had started bulk-billing again, taking his $80 consult fee down to zero. That is really good news for John but good news for so many residents across the southern suburbs. Since our new bulk-billing practice incentive payment was introduced, 10 medical practices in the southern suburbs have become fully bulk-billed, helping to ease the cost-of-living pressures for patients. We also have invested in the Morphett Vale urgent care clinic in the south, and this is a very popular addition to medical infrastructure in the south. We see many people using the urgent care clinic for things that you can't see a GP for or they're not able to treat but that are not quite serious enough to get to the emergency department, and so we're really pleased. I want to share some stories. Keith from Hallett Cove wrote to me to let me know the service at Morphett Vale urgent care clinic was superb, avoiding the inevitable trip to the local emergency department. I'm really pleased that additional funding has been made for this very popular urgent care clinic and is now going to be able to stay open longer on weekends and public holidays with boosted capacity during peak periods. This is really important and shows how important these facilities are. Infrastructure is so critically important. As my electorate is an outer metropolitan electorate, we need to make sure we have the infrastructure so people can get to where they need to go faster. Just recently, it was a great pleasure to be at the final opening of the duplication between Seaford and Sellicks. In particular, I was there to open the duplication between Aldinga and Sellicks. This is a really proud investment by both the state government and the Commonwealth, making that piece of road safer. It was great to be joined with some of the action group members at the opening, hearing about how that would not only save time on commute times but also, importantly, potentially save lives, because that piece of road is so much safer. Work continues on the Torrens to Darlington, or T2D, piece of infrastructure. This is so critically important to connect our city and is funded by both the state and the Commonwealth. The Torrens to Darlington non-stop north-south corridor is 78 kilometres of traffic-light-free motorway. This will be so critically important. The down payment of that is the Majors Road interchange, which is now connecting the people of Sheidow Park and Trott Park and Flagstaff Hill and Aberfoyle Park much quicker to South Road. I would like to assure Natalia from Flagstaff Hill, who says she loves the new interchange—as a twice daily user, it cuts her work commute by 20 minutes every single day—that the investment we've made is already making a difference. But I can tell you, Natalia, that once that interchange gets connected to that non-stop north-south corridor, it is going to be such an important piece of infrastructure. I'd like to acknowledge everyone working on that piece of infrastructure. It is really important, and we know that investment in this type of infrastructure is nation-building. Labor is really investing in both ensuring that there's more construction of housing and also making it easier for people to get into their first home. The new Help to Buy scheme is having a big impact, including in my electorate. Just under 900 people in the southern suburbs have been able to purchase their first home with a five per cent deposit or less. This is really important good news for those people, and that support is really, really important. There is a lot happening, including investment in our local sporting facilities. Work continues to be underway on the Noarlunga aquatic centre. That will be super exciting when it's ready. It has not been updated for decades. That investment from the Commonwealth government, under this Albanese Labor government, is really critical to ensuring people can stay fit and involved in their local community. We're also investing in other facilities, including the Cove Sports and Community Club. We made a commitment at the election to invest $5 million, which will go towards stage 2. I am really pleased about and welcome the commitment by the state Labor member. If he and Labor are re-elected in South Australia, they will also contribute $5 million to that project, which, along with a council contribution, will allow a very important update to that sporting facility to be made. We also made a commitment of $5 million for a new important investment in the South Adelaide Football Club, and I am continuing to work with the South Adelaide Football Club to ensure that we get a really, really good upgrade there. In addition to the investments in my local electorate, we continue to make progress in my portfolio of employment and workplace relations. We are starting to see the really significant benefits flowing from our agenda when it comes to making our workplace relations system fairer. When we look, we see the increases in wages and in enterprise bargaining. We are also closing the gender pay gap, which is at an equal record low of 11.5 per cent. This, of course doesn't happen by accident, and I did want to highlight the investment we are making in breaking down gender segregation in workplaces. In the MYEFO, we were able to continue to support the work done by both employer organisations and trade unions to look at practical ways in which we can break down some of the systemic barriers, as well as the individual supports that can be given to support the breaking down of gender segregation. As I've said to many of those industries with male dominated workplaces, 'You're missing out on talent.' The construction industry and many of the trades are missing out on talent because we still have some structural barriers for women to participate. So there is still work to be done, and we will continue to do that work. We are really starting to see enterprise agreement-making increase. Of course, enterprise agreements are really important. Workers and their unions can sit down with their employers and negotiate what the right wages and conditions to have are to meet those workplaces' needs. We are now seeing 2.65 million Australian workers covered by enterprise agreements. This is good news. Our changes that allowed for or improved multi-employer bargaining have led to early educators getting a 15 per cent pay increase. I just want to highlight again—I've said this many, many times in this place—that educating our youngest Australians is critically essential work. This pay increase is a real recognition of the work that they do, and I want to pay tribute to them. Our same job, same pay reforms are benefiting more than 8,000 workers. This includes workers at a Queensland mine who had pay increases of up to $60,000 a year, and domestic flight attendants who secured pay increases of up to $20,000 a year. That was by enforcing a pretty simple concept: two people doing the same work should get paid the same amount, and temporary labour hire shouldn't be used to undercut the negotiated pay and conditions of workers. Those pay increases, while they're very good for those workers when it comes to the cost of living, are essential in recognising the dignity of the work that those workers are doing and the value of that work. I've spoken to many workers who said that the same job, same pay laws were critical in feeling valued. We continue to do the work in the portfolio of employment and workplace relations. I also want to note that we have now seen 1.2 million jobs created under this government's watch. That is really significant and, despite so many naysayers on the opposite side, these jobs are so important. The dignity of work is so important. Having a well-paid, secure job is very, very important. I look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders and with the community for the Australian people to deliver better pay and secure work so that we can all live productively. 12:47 Mr ZAPPIA HWB Makin Greek philosopher Aristotle is credited with saying that true democracy requires citizens to care about injustice to others. As a general observation, Australia could be considered a democratic country, and it prides itself on being so. The very simple Australian citizenship pledge specifically states, 'whose democratic beliefs I share'. Yet even Australian democracy is far from perfect. It has its flaws, and our laws do not always deliver justice. When laws do not deliver justice, confidence in government diminishes. When confidence in government diminishes, civil standards begin to crumble. In Australia, the notion of a fair go used to be central to our character, but it is a characteristic that is rapidly fading. Maintaining civil standards is dependent on all Australians believing in those standards and calling out poor or bad behaviour when it occurs. Regrettably, all too often when wrongdoing or malpractice is called out, the person calling out the wrongdoing is attacked and becomes the target. It happens in the private sector, it happens in government departments, it happens in sporting bodies, in religious organisations and across so many other aspects of life. In recent years there have been widely reported examples of whistleblowers who have exposed serious wrongdoing and are then themselves punished, prosecuted and even jailed. The common tactic by both government and the private sector is to smear, threaten and even prosecute those people who expose malpractice. The cases of ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle and ADF whistleblower David McBride are good examples of where acting in the public good can have devastating consequences for the whistleblower. The charging and prosecution of those two whistleblowers does not pass the pub test and highlights the need to further strengthen national whistleblowing laws. Recently at a parliamentary briefing Kieran Pender, the associate legal director of the Whistleblower Project—Australia's first specialist legal service for whistleblowers, based at the Human Rights Law Centre—reported that, since launching in mid 2023, the project has triaged more than 600 whistleblowing inquiries and provided advice to more than 200 whistleblowers. Those figures alone are concerning, and I suspect they are only the tip of the iceberg. We now have the case of an ASIO whistleblower who is known by the pseudonym 'Marcus'. I recently wrote to the Attorney-General about this matter. Marcus claims to have information relating to the Bondi shootings. However, it appears that ASIO is attempting to discredit him. His story went to air last month on ABC's Four Corners. I hope Marcus is able to provide evidence to the Bondi royal commission. When others see whistleblowers poorly treated they remain silent, and the wrongdoing continues. This issue is integral to our democracy and to the Australian people's ability to have confidence in our institutions. We need to do better. I know that the Attorney-General is looking at strengthening the whistleblower laws. I commend her for that, and I look forward to those changes being brought to this parliament so that we can indeed provide protection to whistleblowers when they need it. I also understand that one of the concerns we have in this country is that there is a plethora of laws that protect whistleblowers. Simply navigating through those laws is in itself a legal minefield. However, if we can improve that, I would certainly welcome it. The other matter I wish to speak about is the issue of the world as it stands today. We live in very difficult times. Global instability is at its highest level since World War II. Global conflict, frequent devastating extreme weather events, global population growth, and irregular immigration, cost-of-living pressures, transnational crime, and even rapid technology changes are all causing uncertainty, insecurity and fear across society. Australia has again been caught up in another US initiated war, a war that has already cost the lives of hundreds of innocent people, including a reported 175 or so schoolchildren and staff at a school bombed in Iran and around 750,000 people in Lebanon who are now displaced. It is a war that many reasonable observers question the legitimacy of, a war that is already having serious consequences for the world, including here in Australia. We are seeing the effects on fuel prices and indeed the flow-on effects that that has here in Australia and indeed across the world. My view is that this is only the beginning. It is only a matter of time before other imported everyday products are also affected as shipping lanes are disrupted. It's in effect the kind of situation we saw when COVID struck this country some five years ago, when products suddenly became scarce and supply chains became very difficult. I see that happening again. But it also highlights once again that, whilst here in Australia we are very far removed from even the Middle East war, the reality is that it still impacts us, as do other global events. And once again it highlights the need for Australia to rebuild its manufacturing base, something the Albanese government is committed to doing and something that I think is so important. We used to have a country where just about every product was manufactured here. I can recall that in the 1960s or thereabouts there wasn't a single product that was needed for everyday use that wasn't made here in Australia. However, we have gone from having something like 30 per cent of the workforce employed by manufacturing at that time to having more like only five or six per cent, which shows how much we have lost in terms of the manufacturing ability of this country. Again, it is important for Australia to rebuild its manufacturing base not only because we cannot continuously rely on importing products from overseas but also because it builds skills and gives us security. And, to be frank, we have the ability to do so, as we used to do. The last issue I want to touch on is modern slavery. Whilst Australia has a Modern Slavery Act, and we have appointed former senator Chris Evans as the first Anti-Slavery Commissioner, we must do more to ensure that large businesses do not source products that are produced under slave labour. This is happening too often and in too many places. In fact, the number of people who are currently considered to be treated as slaves around the world is something like 50 million, and the figure has grown in recent years. In a society and in a world where we would have thought that slavery ended 100 years or so ago, it's interesting to note that there are more people today working under slave conditions than there were in decades past. I'm not entirely surprised by that, because, with just over half of the world's population living in either extreme or relative poverty, modern slavery is an easy issue for those who want to exploit cheap labour. And we are seeing it throughout so many parts of the world. Human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriages, sexual exploitation and the like are all too common in so many other countries. This is a global problem, and I don't pretend we can solve it alone here in Australia. But we can play our role in reducing modern slavery throughout the world, as other countries have done and are doing. Yes, we do have a Modern Slavery Act here in Australia, but more needs to be done. We need to ensure that big businesses—because they are the ones who import most of the products that come into this country—have an obligation that they in turn ensure that the products they are bringing in are not produced under slave-like conditions. Whilst our current laws attempt to do that, they simply don't go far enough. I accept that there are a lot of businesses in this country that indeed do the right thing—companies who try to source their products from ethical manufacturers overseas, who take a stand when they know products are produced in places where slave-like conditions are used—but that's not always the case with many other big businesses. Yes, slavery produces cheap products, and I guess in the end it's also up to individual consumers to take a stand and try to source and buy products that come from places where they are produced ethically. But the reality is that consumer demand is driven by cost, and cost obviously means that importers look for the cheapest product and don't necessarily source from places that produce ethically. I accept that it is sometimes difficult to trace back to where a product was made, because the chain of supply can sometimes be very complicated. I accept that for any business to undertake the detailed investigations they need in order to know where a product comes from is not always simple. I believe we can do better, and I believe we should do better. We have an obligation, to all those people around the world today who are being treated as slaves, to stop their exploitation. In particular, we have an obligation to ensure that all those children around the world who are used to make products and used as child labour are also freed from their bondage. I believe we can do more. I know that the government is now looking at this issue to try to strengthen the laws, through the Anti-Slavery Commissioner. There is work being done right now to see how we can address this issue. I certainly look forward to reports coming back to this parliament and the laws of modern slavery being strengthened. 13:00 Ms CHESTERS 249710 Bendigo The bills before us, as other speakers have established, are Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026. These bills underpin the government's expenditure decisions that have been made since the last budget. They are related to the financial year and include the changes that have been made and were announced in the midyear update at the end of last year. Appropriations Bill (No. 3) seeks to approve, for all appropriations in consolidated revenue, up to $9.2 billion, funding that will go towards a number of key measures and to strengthen other measures that were announced in the budget—for example, the cost of demand-driven programs and how that has increased; this funding helps to bridge that gap. The bill also provides funding to support a number of significant programs. A key one that many on this side have highlighted and that I also wish to highlight is a funding increase of $2.9 billion to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, predominantly to support the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. We know this program has been popular in electorates all over the country, particularly in regional electorates. In my own electorate, more than a thousand homeowners and small businesses have already tapped into Labor's Cheaper Home Battery Program. Recently Minister Chris Bowen and I visited Christopher at his home in Cal Gully. Christopher is an NDIS worker, and his partner is an early childhood educator—people working hard in our community but not millionaires. They have tapped into the Cheaper Home Battery Program to install a battery and expand their solar system. They say it has literally wiped out their energy bills. They are looking forward to a winter where they will not get that bill shock that they got when they were still reliant on the grid. So, a thousand people so far, and that number is set to climb. I want to use this as an opportunity to remind people in my electorate to not believe the mis- and disinformation you might read on social media or here through the community. Batteries are safe. If you're unsure or want to know how they work, engage one of the local installers. Find out from companies like ProSolar whether a solar and battery system would suit your home. Every person like Christopher and the thousand other people who have tapped in are helping others who aren't yet signed up. Having fewer customers relying upon the grid means we will have less demand on the grid, meaning more supply to go around. Christopher is helping his neighbours purely by powering himself. What is unique about this program is that it gives those who have the capacity to help power themselves, and that helps others who may not be in the same situation. I acknowledge that not everybody can tap into the program, such as if their roof isn't strong enough to support solar, if they're renters or if they're in an apartment block. There are lots of reasons why people can't access the program, and we need to look for alternative ways to support people in those situations. But I encourage those who can to think about investing in Labor's Cheaper Home Batteries Program because it will help lower your energy bills. It will make you more energy efficient and secure going forward. People talk about the apps they get, where they check to see how much solar energy they have in their battery and find out when best to use it—when to turn the washing or the dishwasher on. They are becoming more energy aware and energy efficient and taking back control of their energy use. This is a good thing for all of us. Also in this bill is increased funding for various programs in the health, disability and aging portfolio. We've heard other speakers talk about the transformational changes to aged care, in particular the boost to aged-care workers' wages. These are quite often the unsung heroes not just of the pandemic but of people caring for our older Australians and making sure that their final years in life are lived with dignity and respect. If you meet an aged-care worker, they tell you they do it for the love of it. They love the work that they do caring for the residents and making sure they've got the support they need. It is so important for us to continue to support the sector, lifting their wages and ensuring that they have training opportunities to progress through the system. Thinking of all the aged-care services that I've visited locally, you meet lots of people who've worked in the same place for the same home for many, many years. Every year I'm invited out to Bendigo Bupa to award their service certificates. Quite often people spend five, 10, 15 or 25 years working in the same home, supporting different residents and ensuring they have the dignity and the care they deserve. These people are angels, and making sure they are paid a decent wage is core business to this government. At the other end of life, we've also boosted the wages of early childhood educators. We've supported changes to the award to see all educators now receive a pay increase, and wages will continue to go up. This acknowledges for the first time that their pay should reflect the skills and the work that they do. Early childhood educators long ago won the debate that they are not babysitters but educating our youngest Australians and giving them the foundations to succeed at primary school and secondary school. It took the election of our government to change the system and boost the wages of these critical workers and educators in our community. These changes have seen a stabilisation of the workforce and people coming back into the sector because they're now able to earn a decent wage to pay the bills. I recently visited Goodstart Early Learning Bendigo as well as the Goodstart Early Learning Strathfieldsaye. In both visits I met educators and teachers who were able to buy a home because their wages now allowed them the opportunity to pay a mortgage and to secure their future. Homeownership is now possible for so many people in the sector where previously, because of low pay, they felt locked out. Another key part of the bills before us is extra funding to help secure and support our strengthening Medicare reforms. This is core Labor business and has been for many decades and generations of Labor parliamentarians. The investment into bulk-billing incentives has seen a turnaround in many areas, including my own electorate of Bendigo, where we are now seeing more and more doctors and clinics become 100 per cent bulk-billing clinics. Three-out-of-five clinics in my electorate are now 100 per cent bulk-billing clinics, from those in Kyneton in the south all the way up to Rochester and Heathcote and for so many other services in between. We now have more bulk-billing clinics and more doctors bulk-billing, and that is because of the investment from our government. And why? It's because we believe it should be your Medicare card and not your credit card that you use when accessing health care. We don't want cost being a barrier to you accessing or seeing a GP. It is helping and changing lives. For the clinics not yet signed up, I encourage you to do so. For the GPS who've not yet gone to bulk-billing, I encourage you to do so. Think about the difference it will make to the patients and to the health of our community if you sign up and join us on lifting bulk-billing rates. Also in my electorate is the Bendigo Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which is hosted by the Bendigo Primary Care service. It's a good old-fashioned GP superclinic funded by the previous Labor government to be built just around the corner from our hospital. Since the funding from our government has invested in the Medicare urgent care clinic, we are seeing a drop in presentations at Emergency. They are supporting what are known as category 4 and category 5 patients. People are able to call and book an appointment, or there is a walk in service, so they're able to get the support that they need. After hours and on weekends, this service is helping. It is staffed by doctors from around the region, who take on the shifts as well as the nurses to make sure that people get the urgent care that they require. This measure, working hand in hand with bulk-billing changes, is seeing people being able to access the care that they need, taking pressure off our hospitals. Cheaper medicines—that is a fundamental change which kicked in on 1 January and is really helping people with cost-of-living pressures if they have to take regular medication. The last time that $25 was the most you would pay for a PBS prescription medication was in 2004. I had literally just finished my university studies and moved to Victoria. That's how long ago it was since medicines were capped at $25. But we didn't just cap them at $25; we've also locked in that people on concession cards, including our pensioners, will pay no more than $7.70 for their prescriptions. These are the practical ways in which our government is helping people make ends meet and meet the cost of living. They are practical changes that are really helping people. I can also report back to the House that, since the last election, one of the key things that we've been working on locally is ensuring that all of the recipients of our election commitments have completed their paperwork so that funding can soon flow for key projects, including funding for the upgrade of Bendigo Heritage attractions to restore and redevelop this very important tourist aspect that we have at the Deborah goldfields triangle. We've updated the funding for the Truscott Reserve changerooms, which is home to the Eaglehawk Soccer Club. That funding has been secured along with the final bit of funding required for the Football Netball Club changerooms. This is a project that I'm particularly proud of. In the 2022 election, I was the first level of government, the first person, to make a commitment to the redevelopment of the North Bendigo Recreation Reserve upgrades. That million dollars that I committed back in 2022 triggered the increased funding that would flow from state and local governments towards the redevelopment of the entire precinct. I was incredibly proud to commit the final component of funding required to complete stage 2. As I stand here today, the council is well underway with developing and delivering stage 1 and stage 2 of the North Bendigo rec reserve upgrades. The Bendigo Creek funding has been secured—$7 million to revitalise and restore the Bendigo Creek, devastated by a legacy of gold mining and development. We are starting to see natural wildlife return to the Bendigo Creek through the work that is being done in partnership between the City of Greater Bendigo, local Landcare groups, our First Nations group and the Loddon-Campaspe catchment management authority. Finally, the funding has now been confirmed for the Kyneton and the Kangaroo Flat skate parks. I know that there are lots of young people in Kyneton and Kangaroo Flat, particularly at Crusoe College, who will really welcome that we've passed another milestone for these two projects. These are just some of the many projects that we're working on in my electorate and that I am delivering. I'm part of a government that listens to the community and delivers what is needed locally, whether it be in aged care or early childhood education or whether it be through cheaper batteries, energy security, Medicare, health care, school funding or the many community based projects that I've outlined. We are a government that listens to and works with the community to make sure that they get what they need. 13:15 Ms FRANCE 270198 Dickson I rise to speak on the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026, the Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026 and the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026. Australia, like most of the world, continues to experience persistent inflationary pressures, but we know that inflation is much lower than when we came to government. Inflation has a three in front of it instead of a six, but it's still higher than we would like. We also know people are under pressure and are worried about paying the bills, including people in my electorate of Dickson. That is why we have been clear-eyed and focused on responsible cost-of-living relief while, at the same time, delivering a $235 billion turnaround in the budget. This government has got the Liberal debt down by $176 billion, saving Aussies $60 billion in debt interest. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has also delivered two surpluses—something the previous coalition government could never achieve, no matter how many black mugs and premature slogans they put out. Along with record debt, those opposite also left us with a dire housing shortage, energy and fuel uncertainty and a serious lack of access to affordable health care. They left a hot mess, and you would think they would have recalibrated and gone to the last election with a plan to reduce the massive debt that they left us, but, instead, they decided to go all in, gambling with our economic security and proposing a spending spree to end all spending sprees—$600 billion on nuclear power stations that would take at least 20 years to build. Just to rub salt into our cost-of-living wounds, that plan was widely panned by experts who said it would actually have increased electricity costs by hundreds of dollars for every household. Those opposite also went to the election promising to raise income taxes. No-one, and I mean no-one, understood this crazy plan—a plan that the new Leader of the Opposition, the then shadow Treasurer, was the architect of. He was the mastermind behind those proposed tax increases. Fantastic! Well done! Great move! In stark contrast, the Albanese Labor government is providing real help for people with the cost of living, as promised during the election. When I'm in my community knocking on doors or talking to locals at a coffee shop or a supermarket, cost-of-living relief is by far their No.1 concern. That's why we're providing tax cuts for every taxpayer, with another round coming into effect on 1 July and again next year. These are tax cuts opposed by those opposite. Our tax cuts, once implemented, will save Aussies an average of $50 a week—$50 a week back into the pockets of every Australian, opposed by those opposite. We also know that Aussies are now earning more and keeping more of what they earn. Under Labor, real wages are growing again. We know that those opposite intentionally limited wage growth while in government, a cruel approach that meant that the lowest-paid Aussies could not even crawl their way to a wage they could live on, let alone thrive on. Since coming to government, we have taken significant steps to deliver wage increases to address working poverty after a decade of neglect. As a result, nominal wage growth is at its highest in nearly 15 years. We've seen an increase in the minimum wage and significant increases in award wages, particularly for feminised industries like child care and aged care. Early childhood educators and aged-care workers were leaving their sectors in droves prior to this wage rise because they could earn more working at Macca's or Kmart. Those much-needed wage rises, of course, were opposed by those opposite. The new deputy leader of the Liberals claimed that real wage increases would be the worst thing for Australians. Really? Minimum wage earners, educators and aged-care workers would respectfully disagree. We've provided energy bill relief and cheaper home batteries to help with the cost of household power bills—opposed by those opposite. While they yell and scream about energy prices, they've voted against energy bill relief every single time. They are against investment in cheaper renewable energy. They called our Cheaper Home Batteries Program 'elitist'. Over 1,700 homes and businesses in my electorate of Dickson have taken up the 30 per cent discount on new home batteries—again, much needed cost-of-living relief opposed by those opposite. We've also delivered the single largest investment in Medicare ever: $8.5 billion for more bulk-billing and more doctors, and $1.8 billion in extra hospital funding. This is in stark contrast to those opposite. While in government, they tried—and, thankfully, failed—to introduce a GP co-payment, which would have effectively ended bulk-billing. Interestingly, the new shadow Treasurer, the member for Goldstein, has previously suggested Medicare should be privatised. All Aussies should be low-key terrified of the member for Goldstein and of the Liberal Party's suggestion that he should ever be in charge of the country's finances. Our investment in Medicare is unmatched, because you should not have to rely on your credit card for essential health services and medications. The Albanese Labor government has tripled the bulk-billing incentive for people who need to see their GP most often and offered an extra incentive for whole GP practices to offer bulk-billing to every single patient. New data shows Australians can now access over 3,400 Medicare bulk-billing practices across the country. That number continues to grow every single week. Almost 1,300 of those practices were previously mixed billing. In just three months, the bulk-billing rate for all Australians has jumped to 81.4 per cent nationwide. This is the largest quarterly jump in bulk-billing in 20 years. We've launched 1800MEDICARE, a free service that will get you a free consultation with a registered nurse—or a GP, if needed—over the phone. We've opened more fully bulk-billed Medicare urgent care clinics. That includes the Murrumba Downs UCC in my electorate. It is now a much-loved community service. We've made medicines cheaper, reducing the cost of medicines on the PBS to just $25—back to 2004 prices. And we're investing more than $790 million in our women's health package, providing Australian women with more choice and better treatment at a lower cost. For the first time in 30 years, we have put new contraception pills on the PBS, as well as menopause medications. That is what you get with a majority-female caucus. On that front—on the gender pay gap—it's worth reminding the House that those opposite voted against our three-day childcare guarantee, saying, 'It's not something the country can afford.' Working mums can't afford the coalition. We've provided 20 per cent off student debt, literally changing the lives of so many students. Those opposite called it 'reverse Robin Hood', basically labelling uni students 'the big end of town'. We've also funded more free TAFE and paid prac places. On that, they said, 'If you don't pay for something, you don't value it.' Well, in Queensland, the most popular free TAFE courses are nursing and early childhood education. I know my local nurses and childcare workers value and love what they do. The Albanese Labor government is also taking strong steps to ensure Australians have a safe, secure and affordable home. We have an ambitious $45 billion plan to build 1.2 million homes across the country. Of course, those opposite blocked our plan in conjunction with the Greens, which delayed our progress for a long time. But, with the states and territories, we are doing everything we can to increase supply right across the country. Our five per cent deposit scheme for first-time buyers is making a real difference in my electorate of Dickson. Since we came to government, 1,713 people in Dickson have been able to buy their first home with a five per cent deposit, fast-tracking their way to homeownership. We're also investing in more social and affordable housing through the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund to support the delivery of 55,000 social and affordable homes right across Australia. One hundred and fifty-three of those new homes are being built right now in Joyner, in my community of Dickson. Of course, those opposite not only opposed our investment in social and affordable homes but have also said they would repeal the laws that have allowed investment in these homes. They have said our $10 billion investment fund for social and affordable homes was a 'warped' approach. I tell you what's truly warped. It's the coalition's record on construction of social and affordable homes in the nine years they were in government. There were just 373 homes in nine years. That's not just warped; it is neglect. We've built over 5,000 social and affordable homes since being elected. For renters we've delivered real relief with back-to-back increases to Commonwealth rent assistance—nearly a 50 per cent boost—supporting 7,230 people in my electorate of Dickson. And we're backing the construction workforce, with more than 335 apprentices receiving $5,000 incentive payments. From 1 July 2025, it will be up to $10,000 through Labor's Key Apprenticeship Program. These appropriation bills have ensured responsible cost-of-living relief. The Albanese Labor government is focused on getting inflation under control while easing cost-of-living pressures for Australian families. That is what my electorate of Dickson voted for and that's what we are delivering here. 13:28 Ms STANLEY 265990 Werriwa The Albanese Labor government is now into its second term after having been elected in May 2022 and re-elected in May last year. In that time, there has been no shortage of challenges both domestically and internationally. Notwithstanding that, on every occasion our government has risen to the occasion. We are fortunate that in uncertain times we have leadership that provides certainty, direction and a steady hand. Front and foremost among the Albanese Labor government's achievements has been addressing the cost-of-living pressures for many Australians. The list of measures the government has implemented in this area is long and exhaustive and covers almost every aspect of life. But let me let me use this opportunity today to highlight just a few. Few things are more important to the lives of Australians than healthcare, particularly in the electorate of Werriwa. The Albanese government knows this, as have successive Labor governments all the way back to Gough Whitlam. Central to healthcare is Medicare bulk billing and the PBS. All have been strengthened by the Labor government and in doing so eased cost-of-living pressures for those who live in the electorate of Werriwa. I begin with Medicare. I've said many times that the green Medicare card all Australians carry is the envy of the world. It ensures free and universal access for Australians to the world's best health system when they need it. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 248181 The debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 43. The debate may be resumed at a later hour and the member will be granted leave to continue speaking when the debate is resumed. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS 41 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Energy 41 13:30 Ms BOELE 26417 Bradfield With all the great challenges come great opportunities. To put another way, in politics we should never let a good crisis go to waste. We are in the middle of a global energy crisis, and it's not the only one we've seen in recent times. From Russia's invasion of Ukraine to yet another war in the Middle East, rolling geopolitical crises continuously threaten global fuel supplies. At the same time, while the government is making progress on shifting our balance of energy use from fossil fuels to renewables, it's doing so with one hand tied behind its back, and this is because of the fuel tax credit scheme. It's an $11 billion annual Commonwealth subsidy that's paid for by the Australian taxpayer to make petrol and diesel cheaper for heavy on-road users and for users offroad on farms and mine sites. This subsidy is a massive disincentive for miners to make a switch to electricity, a switch which would save the money, be better for the planet and, critically, at this moment in time, guarantee their fuel security and their business continuity. While we continue to have this ridiculously expensive, inefficient and ineffective headwind in the form of a petrol and diesel subsidy, we are not helping to wean our farmers and miners off their addiction to dirty, expensive and unreliable liquid fuels. We are not protecting our economy from price volatility and fuel supply risks, and we're not protecting them. The fuel tax credit scheme must be reformed and it must be reformed now. Middle East: Lebanon 41 13:31 Ms AMBIHAIPAHAR 315618 Barton It is an extremely distressing time for Lebanese Australians who are worried about their families and loved ones. Our message to Australians in the Middle East, including Lebanon, is clear: if you want to, leave now while commercial flights are available. We do not want to see Israel conduct a major ground offensive into Lebanon. We condemn the comments by an Israeli minister suggesting that parts of Beirut would look like Gaza. Enough of this needless pain and suffering. At the same time, Hezbollah must disarm. We support Lebanese authorities in their efforts to prohibit any military activity by Hezbollah, and we call on everyone to adhere to international humanitarian law. In Barton so many of us live alongside Lebanese neighbours. We share our faith, schools, coffee shops and our homes. Continue standing with them during these awful times. Do not give in to the politics of hate and division. And to those in the other parties like the Greens, who say we have not spoken about Lebanon, those claims are simply not true. The Greens have got form on this—they've used misinformation to create fear and division before. Senator Shoebridge should not use this crisis for political point-scoring. The Foreign Minister has spoken about Lebanon multiple times and is urging Australians in Lebanon to register with DFAT crisis portal. We stand with our Lebanese Australian community. We oppose any major ground offensive into Lebanon and we stand united as a diverse, compassionate and proud Australian community with our Lebanese brothers and sisters here. Economy 41 13:33 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein I don't think there has ever been a time where Australians are more mindful and nervous about their future. But don't worry, the Treasurer is on his way to save us. He has turned the inflation corner almost like it is a magical trick Australians have now had 13 interest rate rises and the average Australian mortgage holder is spending $23,000 a year more on interest. But don't worry, it's all under control. We've turned the corner and now revealed we have, potentially, an interest rate rise in March as well as in May. Australians were told that this was not going to be the case, but now they know the truth. Worse than that, they're having to live the consequences of the Albanese government. This government keeps pouring debt petrol on the inflation fire. There's plenty of petrol around for the inflation fire, just not for motorists or farmers. Instead of restraining spending and taking pressure off inflation, he keeps fuelling the very problem that's pushing up interest rates and making sure Australians pay more. While Australians are paying the price for this inflation fire, what are they getting in return apart from platitudes, empty rhetoric, obfuscation and an absence of responsibility? Australians deserve better. They deserve a government that is going to deliver economic management to build the future of the country while taming inflation so that Australians can get ahead, not go backwards. Benham, Mr Ray 41 13:34 Mr SOON 298618 Banks Earlier this year, I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ray Benham. As well as being a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and a very highly regarded engineer, Ray was a longstanding community champion who made a significant contribution to local cricket and rugby league. Ray first became involved in local cricket as a parent, when Ray and Christine's son Michael began playing for the Revesby Workers Cricket Club, contributing as a coach and a scorer. He was also instrumental in setting up the Bankstown-Broken Hill sister City Sporting Exchange. In recognition of his service, he would go on to become a life member of the Bankstown District Cricket Association. He did the same for the East Hills Junior Rugby League Football Club, managing and serving on several committees. His contributions to these organisations will never be forgotten. Ray led a life rich in passions, from his family to astronomy, his love of aviation as a pilot and riding his Triumph Bonneville 650 motorbike. Ray's life was also full of exciting stories like driving the band, the Masters Apprentices, around regional New South Wales. I had the honour of attending Ray's funeral and my thoughts remain with the Benham family and all of his loved ones, particularly his wife, Christine, and his son, Michael. Christine, you mentioned in Ray's eulogy that he was a huge beam of shining light. Thank you for sharing his life with our community. Fuel Security 42 13:36 Ms SHARKIE 265980 Mayo We should be stocking 90 days of fuel reserves like we are supposed to do as part of the International Energy Agency. Instead, we only have 36 days of petrol and 32 days of diesel. Now, that has been an issue for as long as I've been in the parliament. Successive governments have not had the 90 days of fuel reserves. I've got to say, actually this government has had a higher rate. I think we went down to 27 days under the previous government. I first spoke about this in 2017, whether it's been questions, whether it's been letters to ministers over successive governments and look where we are today. We have communities who are fearful of running out of fuel, and that's resulted in a massive spike in demand and sharp prices. If we had the 90 days of fuel reserves, I don't think we would have had as much fear from people in our communities, particularly in regional communities like mine. We can't just get on a bus, we can't just get on a train and we can't just not put diesel in our tractors. We have Vintage coming up—it is really getting away—next week and we are really concerned. This must be a timely reminder for the future. We must ensure that our island nation has 90 days of fuel reserve onshore. Dickson Electorate 42 13:38 Ms FRANCE 270198 Dickson If you told me 10 years ago that Petrie in my electorate of Dickson would become home to a world-class university, an Olympic and Paralympic Games venue and a new lakes precinct with three kilometres of waterfront walkways, I would have choked on my Weet-Bix. It sounds more like South Bank in Brisbane than Moreton Bay. But record investment by the Albanese Labor government in infrastructure and education is delivering exactly that. I recently walked the new lakefront walkway at the Mill site with Mayor Peter Flannery and state MP Shane King. The lakes precinct, located beside the future Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre for Brisbane 2032, is being delivered under the $1.8 billion South East Queensland City Deal, a partnership between federal and state governments and local councils. The $33.1 million Lakes Activation project complements the $205 million Olympic and Paralympic legacy venue, and it's right next door to the UniSC Moreton Bay Petrie station, the Mitchell Water Park and more. These projects will not only transform Petrie but the whole region, a true demonstration of what we can do when all three levels of government work together. Fuel 42 13:39 Mr RICK WILSON 198084 O'Connor I rise today to condemn this government's failure to guarantee access to fuel for all Australians. Constituents of my regional electorate are contacting me in droves as fuel dries up for their businesses—livestock farmers who need to truck cattle and sheep to market, grain growers preparing paddocks for seeding, southern forests horticulturists who need diesel for their irrigation systems and tractors, transporters who need to take their produce to market and our Great Southern fishermen and fish processors, who are struggling to save their livelihoods under the WA Labor government's demersal fishing ban. Despite Minister Bowen's assurances that there is plenty of fuel in the country, big wholesalers are rationing fuel, regional servos are running dry and regional industries are being brought to a standstill. Bulk distributors are in crisis too. Eagle Petroleum, Kalgoorlie, have advised they cannot guarantee supply to seven Goldfields service stations beyond this weekend. Meanwhile, it appears the big four fuel companies have plenty of fuel for city bowsers. Minister Bowen is gaslighting regional Australians when he implies that we are hoarding fuel. Minister Bowen, is it not the major wholesalers who are doing the hoarding while the small independents and our regional economies starve for fuel? This government has the tools to safeguard supply for those that produce food and fibre for our nation. What it lacks is the courage to act. Norwood Netball Club 43 13:41 Ms CLUTTERHAM 316101 Sturt I recently attended the inaugural season launch for the Norwood Netball Club, which will be competing for the first time in Netball South Australia's 2026 Hospital Research Foundation Group Premier League competition. As a netball tragic who still tries to play in my local masters competition—masters in age only, not skill level—I was honoured to be able to support the club at their season launch. Netball remains the No. 1 sport for women and girls in this country, and the Norwood Netball Club's Premier League squad will be playing in a highly skilled and highly sought after competition. The Netball SA Premier League competition is the highest level of netty in South Australia, and it is the pathway for players to national competitions, the Suncorp Super Netball league and to join the mighty Adelaide Thunderbirds. One day, maybe some players from the Norwood Netball Club will even play for the Australian Diamonds, and if they are at the peak of their career in 2032 when Australia hosts the Olympics in Brisbane, maybe we'll even see the Norwood Netball Club representing Australia in the 2032 Olympics. Let's get netball into the Olympics 2032. I know that, under the leadership of co-captains Sienna Burns and Millie Cordy and coach Lee-Anne Cummins, the team will do their utmost best for the Norwood Netball Club in their inaugural season. So bring on the season! Good luck players. Let's win the flag. Economy 43 13:42 Mr WOOD E0F La Trobe In my electorate of La Trobe, residents are doing it really tough, with a 40c increase to fuel. I know this is occurring right across the country, but the cost of living under Labor has been very bad, particularly when it comes to inflation. Domestic inflation is running at 4.9 per cent, showing that pressure is really going hard on all Australians. Inflation in Australia is now higher than in major advanced economies. It's higher than the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. That is why interest rates have gone up again, and we expect that to occur again in the future, which is going to be very tough, especially for my electorate of La Trobe. For nearly four years, the government has been spending at record levels outside of a recession. The government's debt is racing towards $1 trillion. Australians are paying around an incredible $50,000 every minute to service that debt. Families are feeling the impact everywhere. Electricity is up by 32 per cent from last year. Insurance is up 39 per cent. Energy is up 38 per cent. Rents are up 22 per cent. Health is up 18 per cent. Education is up 17 per cent. Food is up 16 per cent. It is very tough for all Australians, and the Labor government must be condemned for failing to act on inflation. Peters, Ms Taylah 43 13:43 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon I want to recognise a constituent of mine, Taylah Peters, on being named the Northern Territory winner of the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women's Leadership. This honour reflects not only her professional achievements but the deep compassion, strength and integrity that Taylah brings to some of the most challenging areas of social support. Her work spans domestic and family violence, advancing equality and the profound grief experienced by families who have lost a child. Through every one of the roles that she holds, she places dignity, safety and lived experience at the heart of her leadership. She ensures that women, survivors and families who have too often gone unheard are met with respect, understanding and genuine support. As Chair of Amber NT, Taylah has been a tireless advocate for holistic and culturally safe healing. Her unwavering commitment to securing stable and diverse funding for specialist grief and loss services is driven by her belief that Territorians deserve consistent, high-quality care during their darkest moments. I commend Taylah's work as Chair of Amber NT. As she says, no-one should have to walk the journey of grief after the loss of a child alone. Today we acknowledge Taylah for her dedication, her steadiness and the hope that she brings to so many Territory families. Well done, Taylah. Crime 43 13:45 Mr WALLACE 265967 Fisher Earlier this week, Australians learned through a national investigation by A Current Affair that an accused child sex offender from New Zealand is now living on the Sunshine Coast. This is a man who was charged in New Zealand with extremely serious sexual offences involving multiple alleged child victims over many years. Those matters were never tested in court after a New Zealand judge accepted medical evidence that he was too unwell to stand trial. This gentleman was apparently on death's dark bed. Yet two years later we now see that he has travelled internationally and is living freely in Australia, which has caused deep concern in the community that I represent. Families on the Sunshine Coast are asking very simple questions. How did this happen? How was this individual able to enter Australia in the first place? Was the Department of Home Affairs aware of these serious allegations? Were appropriate character checks undertaken before he was granted entry? Australians rightly expect that our visa system protects the community. The minister already has powers under the Migration Act to act on character grounds. Those powers should have been used. This individual's ability to stay in this country should be cancelled, and he should be removed from Australia. Community safety must always come first. Multiculturalism 44 13:47 Ms LAWRENCE 299150 Hasluck In an increasingly uncertain world, one where there are all too many conflicts, it is useful to remind ourselves that as local leaders we must encourage peace and harmony in our own communities. As Minister Aly said, harmony is something we have to build, something we have to strengthen and something we have to defend. Many recent arrivals and citizens in Western Australia have made their home in Hasluck. Our communities welcome me to their celebrations every week. In fact, I'm still finding colours in my hair from the Kingz Multicultural Club Holi festival I attended in Beechboro. I thank the Tamil Association of WA for bringing the Pongal Harvest Festival to Midland and the Cook Island community for bringing Pacifika. I thank Aliaa from the Alnoor Community Language School for hosting a fantastic iftar and dance in Ellenbrook. Just a day before that event I was at an opening of the Intensive English Centre at Ellenbrook Primary School, where children from all over the globe were singing in harmony. Before that, I was at the Chinese New Year ball celebrating the energy and passion for the Year of the Horse. Our lives are truly enriched by the communities that have made Australia their home. As leaders, let us ensure that our communities feel encouraged to keep sharing those gifts, reinforcing that they belong. Fuel Security 44 13:48 Ms ALDRED 11788 Monash I represent a region that the rest of Australia relies on for food, water and power, and our region relies on secure and affordable fuel to do that. Right now we are running out. Australia is the only country member of the International Energy Agency not to meet its agreed standards for fuel reserves. Australia sits at 47 days for oil reserves. New Zealand sits at 95 days, Spain at 96 and the UK at 120. France, Germany and Japan are respectively at 122, 130 and 206 days. The Netherlands is at 413. This government has been in office for four years. Fire loves kindling like this Prime Minister loves to blame others. You can see him light up blaming inflation, the RBA and previous governments, doing anything other than accept responsibility. I asked a question in question time this week: what is the government's plan to fix this crisis? The Prime Minister was so busy scowling and sniping at me while I outlined how bad things were in my region, he wasn't listening. So let me say it again, because I've just gotten off the phone from a fuel supplier in my electorate: they've been put on rations, reducing their supply by 30 per cent, so they've had to ration our local community and prioritise farmers and truck drivers. Australia needs a real leader with a real plan and all we've got is a brawler who passes the buck. International Women's Day 44 13:49 Ms FERNANDO 299964 Holt As we marked International Women's Day on Sunday, I rise to recognise the incredible women in Holt and right across Australia who contribute so much to our communities, our economy and our society every single day. This is a chance to celebrate progress while recognising there is still a lot more work to do. We need to see more women in leadership, more women as CEOs, and we must keep breaking down barriers so women are represented at every level. As a mother, I know women so often carry not only our their ambitions but the hopes of their families as well. Across Holt I see that every single day, with mothers working long shifts, with women running small businesses, with young women chasing big dreams and with community leaders giving back with courage and compassion. That is why I'm so proud to be a part of a federal Labor government that has a majority of women in its caucus—a government that values women's leadership and puts women's voices at the centre of decision-making, unlike those opposite. To every young girl across our country: your voice matters, your ambition matters and your future should have no ceiling. Fuel 44 13:51 Mr CHAFFEY 316312 Parkes It seems that Australian fuel supply is so fragile that regional independent wholesalers and our farmers are being told they can't have any. It's all been saved for the cities. Let me tell you about Sam Clifton from Transwest Fuels, an independent wholesale fuel supplier for regional New South Wales. Sam has been turned away from his normal bulk fuel suppliers in both New South Wales and Queensland. How will he provide fuel for his more than 2,000 customers? Let me tell you about Inland Petroleum, who have told their customers that they know their prices are terrible, but they've also had to cut their margins to keep them down. 'We are doing everything we can to keep fuel moving to farmers, to transport operators and regional communities,' they say, but they also need to look after their 280 employees. Let me tell you about Tim, a Binnaway farmer, who has been told by his supplier that there is no fuel for him to mix feed for his livestock during the drought, and farmers like Kathryn from Coolah, who told me that they should now be planting—in her case, canola. They should be harvesting, transporting and feeding stock to put food on the table for all Australians. No diesel equals no food. When that supply starts to run out, watch those prices rise. The Albanese Labor government has watched the cost of living skyrocket. But when they allow fuel supplies to dwindle, the whole machinery of government— (Time expired) Liberal-National Coalition 45 13:52 Ms CAMPBELL 312823 Moreton It's already March, but it seems like whenever we come down to this place there's another coalition party leadership contest. This week is no different because yesterday, as the dust settled on the latest salvo in one of the coalition party rooms, we saw the fifth leader appointed in less than one year. Count them: five. We had the member for Dickson. We had the member for Farrer. We had the member for Hume and the member for Maranoa, and we now have Senator Canavan. Yesterday, Senator Canavan said, 'We must fight for what we truly believe in.' We know what Senator Canavan believes in, so let's take a look. Senator Canavan doesn't believe in net zero. In fact, he doesn't believe in it so much that he called climate science 'fear porn'. Senator Canavan doesn't believe that farmers are the National Party's core constituency. Senator Canavan thinks that the solution to housing is for young people to raid their super, and Senator Canavan's vision for Australian women is for them to have more babies. One thing is abundantly clear. It doesn't matter who sits in an opposition leadership chair, what's clear is that their priority is not the Australian people. Their priority is themselves. Fuel 45 13:54 Mr BIRRELL 288713 Nicholls Onto something important: the fuel situation is getting worse by the day in my electorate, affecting businesses, farmers and families. Inionba Pastoral in Kyvalley milks 1,500 cows and crops 5,000 hectares to feed cattle. They can't get a delivery of fuel or urea. Another family dairy farm needs fuel to deliver feed to their herd, but a 20,000 litre order never arrived. A major transport operator says fuel deliveries in regional depots are now being rationed, with some receiving only half their usual weekly supply. Terminal gate diesel prices have jumped 30 per cent in six days. A quarry operator using 30,000 litres of diesel a week has been told deliveries are no longer guaranteed. Independent contractors say on-site deliveries to farms are now severely limited. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy says there is enough fuel in Australia overall, and I take him at his word. I agree that people shouldn't be panic buying—they don't need to—but the minister must also accept the urgency of the regional supply issues being reported in my electorate and across regional Australia. The government must act to get fuel where it's needed to keep farms and regional businesses running. Mandy from Inionba Pastoral said, 'Sam, can you tell the minister that, if he wants milk in his latte, he better get this sorted out quick.' Made in the Illawarra: Innovation, Energy and Manufacturing Expo 45 13:55 Ms BYRNES 299145 Cunningham I was delighted to co-host the Made in the Illawarra: Innovation, Energy and Manufacturing Expo this week, right here in Parliament House, in partnership with the University of Wollongong. Our event brought together industry leaders, community organisations and leading researchers from across the Illawarra to showcase our region's capabilities on the national and international stage. The atmosphere was electric, with so many companies showcasing their incredible knowledge, capability and innovation and putting the Illawarra on the map as a powerful force when it comes to solving some of our nation's challenges. We had 21 local organisations and 10 of the University of Wollongong's leading research teams exhibit, including BlueScope, Hysata, Sicona, Green Gravity, RDA Illawarra and Wollongong City Council. The Albanese Labor government has a proven track record of investing in the Illawarra as a clean energy and advanced manufacturing powerhouse, and this expo was a great opportunity to demonstrate how the clean energy future can be made in the Illawarra. I'd like to say a big thank you to the climate change and energy minister, the industry minister and the environment and water minister for their time and passionate commitment to the Illawarra. I'd like to give a big thank you also to everyone who attended the expo. I would also like to thank Vice Chancellor Max Lu, Canio Fierravanti and Ty Christopher. The Illawarra is a hub for innovation and collaboration, and I know my friends the member for Whitlam and the member for Gilmore— (Time expired) Cost of Living, Fuel 46 13:57 Ms BELL 282981 Moncrieff It is a sad state of affairs when, every time I step up to this dispatch box, it's to talk about how much Australians are struggling. Why? Because of those opposite. Australians are being hit from every direction in this government's homegrown cost-of-living crisis. Insurance is up 39 per cent, energy has increased by 38 per cent, rents are up 22 per cent, health is up 18 per cent, education is up 17 per cent, food has increased by 16 per cent and now the government's mismanagement of inflation and fuel security is making things much, much worse. Inflation was 3.8 per cent in January. That sends a clear message: this crisis is not just global, and it's not because of the war, as the Minister for Climate Change and Energy claims. It's being driven right here at home by reckless spending and a government that refuses to take responsibility, Prime Minister. This week we have heard disturbing reports about fuel supply. The government insists there is plenty of fuel in this country, but wholesalers are reportedly rationing petrol and diesel. Transport companies are being cut off from bulk supplies, and some regional service stations are running dry. If fuel stocks are as strong as those opposite claim, then why is fuel not getting to those who depend on it? That's a supply chain failure and that is an Albanese Labor government failure. Hunter Electorate: Acknowledgements 46 13:58 Mr REPACHOLI 298840 Hunter I want to recognise an incredible achievement by a group of young athletes from our region, who have taken the Hunter all the way to the world stage. The Lady Lynx cheer team from EOD Allstars have been crowned the USA national champions at the Spirit Sports Grand Nationals Championship in California. After already being undefeated national champions here in Australia in 2025, these young women travelled halfway around the world, took on some of the best teams anywhere and came home with the title. Achievements like this don't happen by accident; they come from early mornings, long training sessions, discipline, commitment and teamwork, and this team brings those qualities to every single performance. Congratulations to the 23 athletes who made this possible: Tilly, Amayah, Peyton, Phoenix, Vogue, Harper, Mia, Ella, Paris, Ayla, Scarlett, Georgia, Asher, Mikayla, Quinn, Ivy, Felicity, Sophia, Kendra, Amarni, McKenzie, Miilah and Taylor. And congratulations, of course, their dedicated coaches, Alissa and Liv, whose leadership and support helped bring out the very best in this team. Those young athletes are fantastic ambassadors for our region, the Hunter. They show what can happen when talent, hard work and community spirit come together. To the Lady Lynx cheer team, congratulations on an outstanding achievement. It's an extraordinary result and one that has made the Hunter incredibly proud of you all. Thank you. The SPEAKER 53517 In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded. MINISTRY 46 MINISTRY Temporary Arrangements 46 14:00 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I inform the House that the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and Minister for Emergency Management will be absent from question time today. The minister is visiting flood impacted communities in Katherine. I also acknowledge the tragic loss of lives near Kilkivan related to the natural disasters. This is indeed very sad news that we have received. The Minister for Home Affairs will answer questions on behalf of the Minister for Emergency Management in relation to those issues, and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government will answer questions on the Minister's behalf in relation to regional development, local government and territories. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 46 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Fuel Security 46 14:01 Mr TAYLOR 231027 Hume My question is to the Prime Minister. On the ABC this morning, the Minister for Resources twice refused to guarantee that Australia won't run out of fuel as a result of the ongoing Iran war. Prime Minister, was the Minister for Resources correct in refusing this guarantee? 14:01 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for his question. I understand that Australians are following events in the Middle East and that they're seeing and feeling the consequences here at home. Our government is looking at every practical measure required to shield our nation and household budgets from the worst of this global uncertainty, ensuring that our farmers, our regional communities and the services all Australians rely on can continue to access the fuel that they need. We continue to see ships arrive carrying fuel in the quantities and frequencies we expect. The longer the conflict in the Middle East goes on, obviously, the more significant the impact will be on the global economy. On any regular day, 20 per cent of the world's oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz, and if that shipping route remains effectively closed, then that will have ongoing consequences for fuel prices and production supply chains and, of course, an inflationary impact right around the world. Overnight, the International Energy Agency has said the challenge facing the world oil market is unprecedented in scale, which is why the IEA have agreed to the release of 400 million barrels of oil—the largest ever collective action. Australia is carefully considering our next steps in response to the IEA announcement. Today, the minister has directed more fuel into the Australian market, keeping more of the fuel that we make here in Australia here for Australians to use. The National Coordination Mechanism is bringing industry, the states and territories and partners in our region together to get fuel to where it's needed most. Australia's fuel security and supply is our focus—not just in the last week but over the last four years: introducing the minimum stockpiling obligation, building up our stockpiles of fuel, diesel and technical grade urea and investing in making more liquid fuels here. We'll continue to deal with these issues calmly, methodically and in an orderly way, prioritising Australia's fuel supply and our fuel security, and acting always in the national interest. I note that, in response to a question on a previous occasion, 'Do we have to swing by the Army disposals now and get our jerry cans?', one of the members of this place said: It's incredibly important people don't do this. It is not necessary. It's also not helpful … at the end of the day, there is a lot either in the supply chain, or coming … and we're doing everything to make sure there's no prospect of a future disruption… there's no need for additional buying. That was said by the Leader of the Opposition in 2021. He was right then and, if he said that today, he'd still be right. Middle East 47 14:04 Dr GARLAND 295588 Chisholm My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister provide an update on conflict in the Middle East and its implications for Australians? 14:05 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for Chisholm for her question. The Australian government continues to work around the clock to support Australians who are affected by the ongoing war in the Middle East. Our first priority, as always, is to keep Australians safe and to get help to Australians who need it. I can confirm that, as of a little while ago, more than 3,600 Australians have returned on 26 flights, with further flights scheduled today and in coming days. The vast majority of Australians who were stranded while transiting through the Middle East have now made it home. Of course, many Australians will choose to stay where they work and live, in places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Commercial flights are still the safest way for Australians to return, and I again reiterate that, if people are offered seats on those commercial flights and they wish to return home, they should take them. They should take up the opportunities. Crisis support teams are on the ground in the region and consular support remains available. As we committed to earlier this week, the Australian Defence Force is preparing the deployment of an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to the gulf, and a quantity of AMRAAMs will also be provided. These are important defensive weapons against Iran's unprovoked attacks against countries such as the UAE. This supports the defence of gulf nations and contributes to the safety of civilians in the region, of course including the 24,000 Australians who are in the UAE. But the situation in the Middle East remains volatile and unpredictable. It is a dangerous situation, and we're seeing the impacts of the conflict right around the world. I again reiterate the Australian government's demand on Iran to cease all of these attacks and our call for de-escalation. Our priority, as always, is supporting Australians, keeping them safe and working in the national interest. We'll do that each and every day for as long as it is required. Fuel 47 14:07 Mr HASTIE 260805 Canning My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister guarantee that Australia will not run out of fuel? 14:07 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler It's just a rhetorical upgrade from the previous question that I was asked and to which I gave a comprehensive answer, which is that we are prioritising fuel security and supply. The fact is that we're putting in place all of these measures. Our reserves aren't in Texas; they're here and available. The SPEAKER 53517 I'm not prepared to take the point of order from the Manager of Opposition Business, because the Prime Minister is 15 seconds into his answer. Going on previous Speakers' rulings, from 18 June 2009 all the way through to 19 September 2019—and I can send those to the manager—I'm not prepared to take the point of order. Resume your seat. We've had this before. I've been crystal clear. If we were two minutes in or 2½ minutes in—but it is completely unreasonable. Former Speakers followed exactly the same course that I am following. Seconds in, with the Prime Minister having barely said a few words, to take a point of order on relevance— Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Members on my right, if you interject on the Prime Minister, you won't be here to hear the answer. The Prime Minister has the call. Mr ALBANESE R36 Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I said overnight, this is, internationally, a very challenging time. What it isn't is a political opportunity. We're working with industry, we're working with the NFF and we're making sure that we put in place all the appropriate measures to ensure that there is fuel security in this country. 14:09 Mr BOWEN DZS McMahon I can guarantee that Australia enters this crisis much better prepared. We currently have 36 days of petrol supply on hand, 29 days of jet fuel and 32 days of diesel. The Leader of the Opposition was asked in 2020, when he held my position— The SPEAKER 53517 I will take this point of order. The minister will resume his seat. The minister was not asked anything about the opposition. Resume your seat. I will now hear the point of order from the manager. Mr Tehan 210911 It goes to direct relevance. The question was very straightforward. Can you guarantee Australia will not run out of fuel? The SPEAKER 53517 I do not want the minister talking about the opposition. He's going to have to talk about the question that he was asked. Mr BOWEN DZS Indeed, Mr Speaker. I'm simply pointing out what a previous minister said would guarantee supply, because the then minister for energy was asked, and he said 24 days. The SPEAKER 53517 Order! No, I will deal with this. Mr BOWEN DZS I'll move on. The SPEAKER 53517 Yes, to assist the House. We'll do this in a reasonable way. I've directed the minister to return to the question, and he shall do so. Otherwise, we will move on to the next question. Mr BOWEN DZS I'll simply say that we enter this crisis with 36 days worth of petrol, which is more than a previous minister said was necessary in a worst-case scenario. I might return to that later. As the Prime Minister said, we deal with a situation currently where our fuel supplies continue to arrive and our fuel stocks continue to be strong. The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Cowper is warned! Mr BOWEN DZS Any responsible member of this House, when we're dealing with a doubling of demand, would say to the Australian people that because we have strong supplies and because we have— The SPEAKER 53517 Oder! The member for Cowper is on a warning, and he will leave under 94(a). I want the House to hear this information. The minister is providing information to the House on an important issue, so I'm asking for everyone's assistance. Show respect, show restraint. The member for Cowper then left the chamber. Mr BOWEN DZS Any responsible member of the House would say that, while there are real challenges here, because our fuel supplies are secure, there is no need for panic buying. If honourable members undertake a different course of action—a national crisis is a time for leadership on both sides of the House. One side of the House is providing it. The other side of the House is playing politics. Fuel Security 48 14:12 Mr BURNELL 300129 Spence My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. What is the Albanese Labor government's response to the fuel challenges being caused by the conflict in the Middle East? 14:12 Mr BOWEN DZS McMahon I thank my honourable friend for the question. The situation remains a very difficult international environment. Fuel supplies continue to arrive in Australia as scheduled, and our fuel stocks remain very strong. Our minimum stock obligation is being held and is in excess. But the situation also is this: in rural and regional Australia in particular, we continue to see unacceptable shortages, we continue to see supply chain constraints and we continue to see a doubling of demand. It is the case that demand has doubled. Use has not. Demand has doubled. As I've said previously, to a certain degree, that is very understandable as Australians are concerned when they see the news about what's happening internationally. Therefore, it's incumbent on all honourable members to continue the message that our fuel supplies are secure. In addition, the government has been working all week to ensure that we are doing everything possible with the industry to see as much supply as possible flow. I'm pleased to announce to the House further actions undertaken today to build on the actions taken yesterday by the Treasurer and I, and by other ministers during the week. Today I have decided to relax the requirements under the Fuel Quality Standards Act when it comes to sulphur content on a temporary 60-day basis. This will see 100 million litres of extra fuel flow in Australia a month over that time. This is relevant only to the Ampol refinery, which currently makes fuel for export to countries with lower fuel standards than us. This will, as I said, enable that supply to be blended into the existing Australian supply, and it will see 100 million litres of extra fuel each month for the two months for which I have provided the relaxation. I have asked for and received an assurance from Ampol that this extra supply will be prioritised for regional Australia and for the spot market to take pressure off those regional areas feeling such pressure. This will be felt most immediately in Queensland, where the Lytton refinery is. I can assure Australians that, while this is a relaxation, our fuel quality will remain very high by international standards—higher than when we came to office. The standards will still be higher than in 2022 and indeed higher than in 2025. This sensible relaxation accompanies also the operation of the National Coordination Mechanism, which is operating as I speak to ensure that we are working with industry. This is a practical measure: 100 million litres of extra fuel each month, which will be prioritised for regional Australia, with a particular emphasis on Queensland. This is action taken by the government; the opposition didn't call for this. The government has done it because it is a practical action to help farmers, help regional Australians, through this immediate crisis. Aged Care 49 14:15 Ms LE 295676 Fowler My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. Minister, your government promised that in a transition to your once-in-a-generation reforms, older people getting care at home would be no worse off, yet many seniors in my electorate who have been approved for home-care packages are left stuck in the national priority queue with only limited interim help because providers are at capacity. Will you urgently review these long-waited transition cases and set clear maximum wait times so older Australians are not left in limbo without real support at home while your reforms roll out? 14:16 Mr RAE 300122 Hawke I thank the member for Fowler for her question. I appreciate the constructive conversations that we've had about older people and their care in her community. As I've said consistently, we want every Australian to be able to access safe, dignified and high-quality aged-care services. To that end, as the member's question referred, we are engaging in generational reform of Australia's aged-care system. The new Aged Care Act came into effect on 1 November and along with it, the new Support at Home program—again, to which the member's question refers. Labor has increased aged-care funding overall by over 40 per cent since the Liberals were last in government. That is one of the steps that we're taking. However, demand for care is growing very rapidly. Today almost 350,000 Australians are receiving care through the Support at Home program, and that's more than double the number of places when compared to the Home Care Packages Program of just five years ago. Over the next 40 years, the number of Australians aged over 65 is expected to more than double, and those aged 85 and over will more than triple. To meet this demand in the short term, we're in the process of rolling out an additional 83,000 Support at Home places this financial year alone. These extra packages are getting more older Australians the care they need faster, and they're taking pressure off the National Priority System, which had dropped by over 25,000 people to the end of last year. We're also seeing encouraging signs that our reforms are moving the assessment system in the right direction. Between the April-June and July-September quarters of 2025, median wait times for home support assessments dropped by seven days. Median comprehensive assessment wait times are now sitting well under a month consistently. We know there's always more work to do, and we'll continue focusing on reducing wait times further so that every older Australian can access care as soon as possible. The new Aged Care Act established a sustainable funding model so those who can afford to contribute to their care do so, while those with fewer means can continue to access care. This is what good stewardship looks like. We have taken the prudent steps to ensure that the aged-care system is sustainable and is equitable and can serve the generations of Australians into the future. Middle East 50 14:19 Ms KARA COOK 316537 Bonner My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. What actions is the Albanese Labor government taking to support Australian farmers to continue producing food and fibre during the conflict in the Middle East? 14:19 Ms COLLINS HWM Franklin I thank our member for Bullwinkel. I know that the farmers and producers in her electorate, like those right across the country, are working day and night to ensure that we continue to get the fibre and the food that we need here in Australia and indeed right across the globe. As we do know, fuel and fertiliser are critical for our farmers, and the fuel is also important, of course, to keep our fishers fishing as well. As I said in here yesterday, we do know that the conflict in the Middle East is causing disruptions. We've been hearing directly from industry, from our farmers, from our producers and from our fishers on some of the challenges that they're facing right now, particularly in rural and regional Australia. We know that fuel supplies continue to arrive in this country, but we also know that we need to continue to work to support our industry with these challenges. Following our roundtable earlier this week, both the ACCC and the Australian Institute of Petroleum are working with suppliers to address some of the bottlenecks and to make sure that our regional communities are getting the fuel they need. We just heard from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy about the additional action that he has taken to ensure more fuel for our regional economies. As the Australian Institute of Petroleum said yesterday: Ensuring fuel supply to every part of Australia is vitally important—to every town, to every community and to every business … The President of the National Farmers' Federation, Hamish McIntyre, said: We're all working together now to make sure there's a fair and even distribution … Our government has also announced that we're doubling the penalties for false and misleading conduct and cartel behaviour, and the ACCC will ramp up fuel-price monitoring even further. As we've heard, we've acted to have the National Coordination Mechanism respond even further. We have better coordination, better cooperation, more scrutiny and more surveillance. Fertiliser Australia were also part of this week's roundtable, because, of course, we do know that fertiliser is critical. In the same way that industry is working with the ACCC to supply fuel to the regions, Minister Ayres and I are working with industry and the ACCC on similar arrangements for fertiliser supply. As I've said, while much of the fertiliser required for the upcoming season is already in the country or on the water, we continue to closely monitor this situation, and we'll keep listening and working with farmers and industry to ensure that the supply is available. Australians expect all of us in this place, and everyone along the supply chains, to continue to act in our nation's best interests. I implore those opposite and those in the supply chains to take this seriously. The conflict in the Middle East is not a commercial opportunity nor a political one, and Australians do expect all of us to continue to act in the national interest. Fuel Security 50 14:22 Mr TAYLOR 231027 Hume My question is to the Prime Minister. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy has just informed the House that Australia is in 'a national crisis on fuel supply'. Prime Minister, is the minister correct? 14:22 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler 'The big message for every Australian is don't panic. The supplies are there. We all have a role to play in that. Stick to our normal daily operations and schedules, and don't think that we always have to keep topping up. The fuel is coming.' Those are not my words; they are the words of the member for Maranoa this week—how can that not be relevant? The SPEAKER 53517 Order! This question requires a yes/no response, which I understand the opposition is seeking. I cannot direct the Prime Minister to answer the question in that way, but I will give the call to the Manager of Opposition Business and will ask him to succinctly say his point of order. Mr Tehan 210911 It goes to standing order 104(a) on direct relevance. Australians want to know— The SPEAKER 53517 Resume your seat. Once again, 30 seconds in, the Prime Minister is being directly relevant. He was reading a quote from another current member of parliament about the exact topic he was asked into the Hansard. He couldn't be more directly relevant. If he has more quotes, I'll make sure they are being directly relevant, as all prime ministers and ministers have done—certainly for the last 10 years that I've been here. Mr ALBANESE R36 Well, the bloke next to him, said this: 'I'd stress to people to not necessarily do that—panic buy.' The SPEAKER 53517 I ask the Prime Minister to refer to all members by their correct role. Mr ALBANESE R36 'We obviously have reserve supplies.' That is what the member for Page had to say. They're still, at this stage, sitting on the front bench. Who knows where they'll be when we come back? Honourable members interjecting— Mr ALBANESE R36 The bubble! Those opposite suggest that I'm talking about them; they just talk about themselves. In a week in which they've knocked off another leader, they suggest that we're talking about internals. The minister has said this on the minimum stockholding obligation: petrol, 36 days; jet fuel, 29 days; diesel, 32 days. And what others have said, what others have deemed as the minimum level depending on the field type, is this. Twenty-four days for petrol; we've got 36. Twenty-four days for jet fuel; we've got 29. And 28 days for diesel; we've got 32. That's what this bloke said when he was the energy minister. According to the Leader of the Opposition, we not only are delivering— Opposition members interjecting— Mr ALBANESE R36 Yesterday they asked a question. They came to the dispatch box and asked, 'When will the war end?' Today, they come to the dispatch box and ask, 'Is there a crisis?' There is a war in the Middle East. It is having an impact. And if those opposite want to wish it away and pretend that it's not happening, then what they show is that they are simply unfit not only to be a government, not only to be an alternative government—no wonder they're barely in opposition and being led by the bloke up in the corner! Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 When the House comes to order— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order. When the House comes to order, I would like to recognise some visitors that have joined us in the gallery. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS 51 DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Acknowledgement 51 14:26 The SPEAKER 53517 I would like to recognise a special— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! The Leader of the Opposition, I'm trying to recognise the foreign minister of Estonia, who is visiting this country. A very warm welcome to you, and welcome to question time. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order. I promised the foreign minister earlier today that he would witness democracy in action, and here you are. I'd also like to acknowledge Faye and Sam Helou, a couple who run a wonderful organisation called Days for Girls, who are represented by the member for Reid. Welcome to parliament to both of you as well. Honourable members: Hear, hear! QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 51 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Fuel Security 51 14:27 Mr WATTS 193430 Gellibrand My question is for the Treasurer. What action is the Albanese government taking to address petrol prices and fuel supply? How does this compare with other approaches? 14:27 Dr CHALMERS 37998 Rankin I thank the member for Gellibrand for his great question. He understands better than those opposite the local implications of instability in the world and big movements in global markets. We know that developments in the Middle East are putting additional pressure on people here at home, especially when it comes to volatility and energy prices. Just this week we've seen oil prices trading as low as almost $80 a barrel, as high as almost $120 a barrel, but it was $60 a barrel in January. We know that people are worried about these pressures, and we are acting where we can. Our message to the retailers is do not take advantage of motorists. We've taken important steps to crack down on any retailers who do try to take advantage of the situation. Just yesterday, we announced the doubling of fines. We increased surveillance of suspicious price spikes. And we are working with industry and the ACCC to coordinate supply, especially to regional areas where there are particular concerns. This is on top of the extra powers we already gave the ACCC, including to issue on-the-spot fines. I spoke to the chair of the ACCC very early this morning to make sure they have what they need, and they are on the case. I also want to remind the House that in November last year, this government passed important changes to the Fuel Security Act 2021 and the Petroleum and Other Fuels Reporting Act 2017. In the explanatory memoranda of the legislation that we updated in November, it said it was all about providing: … additional tools to manage critical fuel shortages and ensure Australia is not hampered by temporary shortages. That legislation made our stockpiles more accessible in times of disruption. It required more transparency around fuel supplies and also mandatory reporting of diesel exhaust fluid and urea shortages. The reason I raise this legislation that we moved and passed in this place and the other place in November of last year is that those opposite voted against it. They voted against it, if you can believe it. With all the politics they are now playing, they came into this place and voted against our efforts to manage the stockpiles more effectively for situations like the one we find ourselves in today. Doesn't it say everything about those opposite that when they had the chance to do the right thing, to update our fuel security arrangements, they came in here and, in the usual way, voted no? These are the same people who stored our fuel in Texas and saw six refineries become two refineries, the same people who are scaring people and making the situation worse. They will play their politics. We will work through these issues in a considered and methodical but urgent and decisive way, not just acknowledging people's concerns but acting on them. Fuel Security 52 14:31 Mr TEHAN 210911 Wannon My question is to the Minister for Resources. On the ABC this morning the Minister for Resources on two occasions refused to guarantee that Australia won't run out of fuel as a result of the ongoing Iran war. Can the Minister for Resources guarantee that Australia won't run out of fuel because of the ongoing Iran war? Minister, is this a national crisis? 14:31 Ms MADELEINE KING 102376 Brand I thank the leader for his question—sorry: the manager—I thank the member! An honourable member: It's hard to keep up! Ms MADELEINE KING 102376 It really is! But, to the question directly, what I will guarantee to the Australian people is that they will be far better placed to withstand the international shocks caused by the conflict in the Middle East with this government looking out for their interests and always acting in the national interest than if those MPs on the other side were on these treasury benches. It is these people behind me, these Labor MPs, who will always fight in the national interest, and I guarantee that they will work to make sure the Australian people are well supplied with fuel. The Treasurer has just highlighted exactly what those opposite have done: voted against important reform to make sure the Australian people can have access to the stockpiles of fuel that the Minister for Energy and Climate Change has made sure exist, while the Leader of the Opposition made sure it was in Texas—or somewhere; I don't even know anymore: it's so confusing, whatever their stockpiling plan was. And now they come in here and try to make accusations about what we are doing in the interests of the Australian people. Workplace Relations 52 14:33 Ms BYRNES 299145 Cunningham My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting working Australians? How does this compare to other approaches? 14:33 Ms RISHWORTH HWA Kingston I'd like to thank the member for Cunningham for her question and her steadfast commitment to sticking up for Australian workers. Our government has made significant reforms to ensure that Australians can better balance their work and personal life. Of course, it was our government that introduced the right to disconnect, which means Australians now have a right to enjoy time off with their family and friends guilt free. Anna, an aged carer, described the right to disconnect as 'life changing', helping her to better balance her work and family. Now, speaking of things the opposition votes against, of course those opposite voted against the right to disconnect, with the newly appointed shadow minister for employment labelling these laws as 'unreasonable'. Well, unlike those opposite, we on this side of the house believe workers like Anna deserve to have work-life balance and we do not believe it's unreasonable. Now, of course, our laws are also strengthening access to flexible work, making it easier for workers to request arrangements like work from home. The analysis from the Committee for Economic Development of Australia highlights that work from home policies can save Aussies up to $110 per week. Well, not only did the coalition vote against these important improvements, but, as we all know now, Senator Hume took it even further by committing at the last election to abolish work from home altogether. This was a terrible policy that would have hurt many workers, especially women workers. Don't just take it from me. The Liberals' own election review confirmed that this was a terrible policy. The review highlighted that this policy demonstrated that 'the Liberals were unsympathetic to the needs of women to better balance their work and family life'. Of course, it was also highlighted in their election review that voters were turned away from voting Liberal because this policy would have made life more difficult. The review also—and I did read it—called for some critical reflection from those opposite, but instead we have Senator Hume doubling down and defending the ban on work from home, saying it was the policy backflip, not the policy itself, that was a problem. Well, that certainly doesn't sound like a whole lot of critical self-reflection to me. What is really clear is that, while the Liberals may have changed leader, they have not learnt anything from the last election. It is only Labor that will back Aussies balancing life and family and work. Fuel 53 14:36 Mr BIRRELL 288713 Nicholls My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. I refer to the minister's previous answer describing the current fuel situation as a 'national crisis'. Minister, are we in a national crisis? 14:37 Mr BOWEN DZS McMahon I thank the honourable member for the question. It may have escaped members opposite, but there's a war going on. Do I regard a war as a crisis? Yes, I do. Do I regard the implications of that war, when it comes to fuel internationally, as a crisis? Yes, I do. That's why the International Energy Agency last night agreed to the largest coordinated action in its history. I spent time on the phone last night with the executive director of the IEA discussing that international crisis. And I'll tell you what: if a farmer can't get fuel, do I think it is a crisis for that farmer? Yes, I do. Maybe those opposite don't agree. If a fishing company can't get access to diesel for fishing, do I think it's a crisis for that company? Yes, I do. Apparently, I think, the members opposite don't. I understand their sensitivity. They wanted us less prepared for this, not more prepared. Not only did they keep the fuel supplies in Texas, but, as the Treasurer has outlined, just last year, this government legislated for this very eventuality. This government legislated better preparations. It said: The Bill amends the Minimum Stockholding Obligation for fuel importers and refiners to provide the relevant Minister with additional tools to manage critical fuel shortages and ensure Australia is not hampered by temporary shortages. Mrs McIntosh 281513 You don't care! The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Lindsay is warned. Mr BOWEN DZS As the relevant minister, I find that quite helpful. I find the fact that this government legislated it a good thing and the fact that those opposite voted against it deeply disappointing but part of a pattern of behaviour. The point I was making is that crises, whether international or otherwise, are a chance for both sides of the House to provide leadership. That's the point I was making that they were so offended by. As someone who sat in this House now for a while, through COVID, as shadow health minister, I know that. I know when I worked with the then health minister that that was an opportunity for both sides to provide leadership. Those of us who held opposition office at that time know that. As I said before in that answer—and I stand by every word of that answer, and I stand by this part—the fact that you choose to make politics in a crisis says more about the opposition than it does about the government. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! There's far too much noise. I'm now issuing a general warning. That means everyone is up for grabs. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! There's just too much noise, so we'll take action. Gender Equality 53 14:40 Ms COFFEY 312323 Griffith My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Women. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting women and gender equality, and are there any risks to this progress? 14:40 Ms CATHERINE KING 00AMR Ballarat I thank the member for Griffith for her question. She is one of 50 fabulous women we have on this side of the chamber. I'm so pleased to say that this past Sunday, to mark International Women's Day, the Albanese government's annual Status of women report card showed that we are making progress towards gender equality. The report shows that Australia is ranked 13th globally for gender equality, our highest score ever, when we were ranked in 2022, under those opposite, at 43rd. It also shows that the gender pay gap is now 11.5 per cent, our lowest ever. When those opposite left office, we were at 14.1 per cent. Now, I know, because of the work of our fabulous minister for health, over 303,000 women have accessed new, cheaper contraceptives on the PBS in the last year alone. We are so proud of these achievements. Supporting women is good for our communities, good for our families and good for the economy, and we are backing that up with real action. We've legislated for 10 days paid domestic violence and family leave. We've expanded paid parental leave to six months, and we're paying super on it. And we've supported pay increases in female dominated industries, such as child care and aged care. For us, these issues are front and centre of our economic agenda. On this side of the House, we are moving forward with women's equality, but you only need to walk some 20 steps in that direction to go back almost 20 years. Last month, we saw the Liberals roll their first female leader, and just yesterday we saw the Nationals elect Senator Canavan as their leader. The SPEAKER 53517 The minister will pause. The member for Forrest will leave the chamber for continually interjecting and showing disrespect to the minister. T he member for Forrest then left the chamber. Ms CATHERINE KING 00AMR As a little reminder, when our government introduced reporting on the gender pay gap, Senator Canavan called the report a 'hill of nonsense' and 'completely useless'. It's good to see that the disdain for advancing women's economic participation is at least something the Libs and the Nationals can bond over. How can we forget, as the minister for industrial relations said, the Liberals' attack on women through their working-from-home policy? I know they like to tell you, but I'll tell you. The women of Australia haven't forgotten this. In fact, they tried so hard to bury this policy that they went so far as to try and bury the whole Liberal Party election review, and you can see why. On page 34 it said that the Liberals' messaging was 'unsympathetic to the needs of women to better balance their work and family life', but not even the party office agreed either. They said that the party must continue to allow flexible working arrangements. But, of course, the Liberals weren't the only party to bury their election review. The Nationals did exactly the same thing, and is it any wonder when one of the recommendations contains that old chestnut from Tony Abbott of 'We need to recruit more women of calibre'? I shouldn't have to tell you this, but all women are women of calibre, and all women are capable of being in this place. Taxation 54 14:44 Dr RYAN 297660 Kooyong My question is for the Treasurer. Treasurer, when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Woodside doubled its profits. The PRRT fails to capture windfall profits from conflicts like those in Ukraine and Iran. In a cost-of-living crisis, will you impose a windfall tax on the excess profits of oil and gas companies so that Australians can feel confident that we will receive a fair return on our finite national resources? 14:45 Dr CHALMERS 37998 Rankin I thank the honourable member for her question. I do know and acknowledge that there are a range of views about the sorts of issues that the honourable member has raised. For our part, in this government, we've already made some changes to the PRRT which will ensure that Australians collect more tax sooner from the export of offshore gas. We made those changes because we know that there's an expectation in the Australian community that companies who pay the PRRT need to pay their fair share of tax. The changes that we made mean extra billions of dollars sooner to help fund the government's priorities, including in areas like Medicare and housing and all of the important objectives that the honourable member for Kooyong and the government share. Those are the steps that we have taken. We've taken those steps. That's not often acknowledged when people call for more to be done. We acknowledge and respect those calls to do more, but we've already acted in a fairly substantial way. Tertiary Education 54 14:46 Ms TEESDALE 314526 Bass My question is to the Minister for Education. How is the Albanese Labor government progressing on its reforms to make the university system better and fairer for students? How does this compare with other approaches? 14:46 Mr CLARE HWL Blaxland I thank my friend the beloved member for Bass for her question. We've cut student debt by 20 per cent. That means we've cut the debts of millions of Australians by thousands of dollars. As I told the House this week and last week, more Australians will start a uni degree this year than ever before—that's more teachers, more nurses and more doctors too. This year we're taking the next step to help make getting a university degree quicker and cheaper. If you've done a TAFE course in the same area, it should cut the length and the cost of your degree. This year I'll also introduce legislation to help more young people from poor families and from the bush to get a crack at going to university. If you're from a poor background, if you're from regional or rural Australia, and you get the marks and you've got the skills then you'll get a place at university—a Commonwealth-supported place. We've also got to fix some of the things that have put universities on the front pages of our newspapers this year for all the wrong reasons. Our universities do great things, but if you think that we don't have challenges with the way some of them are governed then you've been living under a rock. That's why we set up the National Student Ombudsman, and this year we'll take the next step. This year, for the first time, the Remuneration Tribunal will get involved in the setting of salaries for vice-chancellors. University boards will have to become a lot more open and a lot more accountable. I'll introduce legislation to strengthen the powers of TEQSA—that's the university regulator—so they've got the sorts of powers that they need to act when universities don't or won't. At the moment, they've effectively got a sledgehammer or a feather and not much in between. There's also more work that we need to do to weed out antisemitism. As part of that, we've appointed David Gonski to chair the Antisemitism Education Taskforce. David is a man who I'm sure is respected by everybody in this chamber and who knows the education system inside and out. This is an intense 12-month piece of work right across the education system, from pre-school to school, TAFE and university. But it's not just antisemitism we have to tackle. We're not a racist country, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist—of course it does—and it's a problem in our universities as well. The report I released a couple of weeks ago and the 76,000 submissions from students and staff make that clear. We've got to tackle all of this. It's not about belting universities; it's about making them better. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS 55 DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Acknowledgement 55 14:49 The SPEAKER 53517 I'd like to also welcome members of the One Gippsland delegation, who are joining us today as guests of the members for Monash and Gippsland. Welcome to question time. Honourable members: Hear, hear! QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 55 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Fuel 55 14:49 Ms PRICE 249308 Durack My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Minister, the WA Country Health Service has told its staff: 'Please make sure all cars are not left below three-quarters of a tank at all times. Fuel availability at your next destination cannot be guaranteed.' Can the minister guarantee that the employees of the WA Country Health Service are able to access a secure supply of fuel in this national crisis? 14:50 Mr BOWEN DZS McMahon I thank the honourable member for the question, although I must confess I'm a little surprised that I've just announced an additional 100 million litres of supply and the opposition has not asked a question about it. An opposition member interjecting— Mr BOWEN DZS With a guarantee that regional areas will be prioritised. An opposition member interjecting— Mr BOWEN DZS Western Australia's connected to the entire country; it's part of the same country. In relation to health services, I will say that I will obviously work closely with the Western Australian government and health services. There are some honourable members from that side of the House who've been to see me over the last 48 hours about particular issues in their electorates and have asked me to address them. I've worked very hard with them to address them. If the honourable member chooses to do that as well, she's very welcome. Housing 55 14:51 Ms MASCARENHAS 298800 Swan My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to help vulnerable Australians find secure and stable housing? Is the government aware of any alternative approaches to this crucial work? 14:51 Ms O'NEIL 140590 Hotham I thank the member for Swan for her question. Our government is funding the build of 500 social and affordable homes in her electorate alone, and next week she is turning the sod on the beginning of construction of 170 of those homes. It's going to be a great day for Swan. We've got a national housing challenge that's been building for decades, and, for some Australians, the stakes here could not be higher. Whether we're thinking about pensioners who are at risk of homelessness, women and children who are fleeing family violence or young families who might be being pushed from unaffordable rental to unaffordable rental, housing for these people in our community is a matter of safety and it's a matter of security. That is why building social and affordable housing is right at the heart of our government's housing agenda. We are building 55,000 social and affordable homes in every corner of our country. Every single one of those homes will change the life of an Australian and their family. It is self-evidently obvious that our country needs to be building more social housing, so you would think that our government's initiatives would have bipartisan support. Unfortunately, what we have seen from the coalition is that every single opportunity has been taken to delay and block the building of desperately needed housing. It is shameful, but maybe we shouldn't be surprised, because this is perfectly consistent with what we saw the coalition do during the wasted decade. Remember those nine years? For most of that period, they couldn't even be bothered having a housing minister, and, unbelievably, they built 373 homes over nine years. We're building 55,000. The shadow Treasurer has been unusually open about his personal views on social housing, and I want to share those with the parliament. He has said, 'Our real objective should not be to build more social housing.' He went on to say that his view is that social housing 'suffocates the spirit of entrepreneurialism'. I know—I read that and I couldn't quite believe it. I don't think I have ever heard a more snobbish comment in my entire life. I stand next to a prime minister who is proof of what social housing can do. Social housing gave him and his family safety, security and a platform from which he went on to lead our country, and every person on our side of the chamber is damn proud of that. This is what those opposite don't understand: social housing doesn't suffocate ambition; it gives people a platform on which to grow. When Australians are doing it tough, Labor does not turn its back. We build more housing; we protect the vulnerable, and we will not stop until every person in this country who deserves safe housing has got access to it. Members of Parliament: Staffing 56 14:55 Dr SCAMPS 299623 Mackellar My question is to the Prime Minister. People in my electorate of Mackellar are concerned about recent media reports that allege the government offered the coalition more personal staff in exchange for their support of the controversial Freedom of Information Amendment Bill. To avoid a perceived conflict of interest, will the Prime Minister commit to ensuring personal staff allocations for non-government parliamentarians are decided by an independent body, rather than awarded at the discretion of the prime minister of the day? 14:56 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for Mackellar for her question. When I became Prime Minister, I was somewhat surprised to hear that, under the Morrison government, members of the crossbench had double the number of staff of members of the Labor Party, the Liberal Party and the National Party. They had double. With respect, I'm not sure what those arrangements were, but they were double. Not only did the Morrison government not report that or come to the dispatch box; they were pretty quiet up in that corner about it too. They were pretty quiet about it up in that corner. I thought it was a bit unreasonable that people who were side-by-side in electorates such as Bennelong, which is next to the three seats that are now occupied by Independents, should have half the staff and that the people of Bennelong should get the capacity for half the representation of people who were Independents. I just thought that failed the commonsense test. That was my view. I noticed that it was the view also of members of the then Morrison government who were also not told. An honourable member interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 No, I'm not taking the point of order in line with my earlier decision. The Prime Minister was asked a question. He's being direct on it. Resume your seat. Mr ALBANESE R36 I make this point also that I think that the allocations have been fair and reasonable. As a proportion, people who are on the crossbench have more staff than people who are here on this side or on that side of the chamber because of the argument that is put there about not being part of party processes. I think it's been more than fair. I do make this point that the most number of representations that I have had from crossbenchers in the House and in the Senate isn't about health policy. It isn't about education policy. It isn't about housing policy. It's about their staff. Medicare 56 14:59 Ms RYAN 249224 Lalor My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government making it easier for Australians to see a bulk-billing GP after a decade of cuts and neglect? What information is available about alternative policies? 14:59 Mr BUTLER HWK Hindmarsh Thank you to the member for Lalor. She is such a powerful advocate for a stronger Medicare, in part because she's such a true believer in universal health care but also in part because she's seen what a difference this is making to her community. Already, more than 33,000 people have gone through the Werribee Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Every single one of them was fully bulk-billed. Today, more than 80 per cent of general practices in the member's electorate are bulk-billing all of their patients all of the time. We're seeing more bulk-billing right across the country. Before our investments on 1 November took place, only about 2,000 general practices in Australia were 100 per cent bulk-billing. We expected that number to get to 3,600 by 2028 on our way to our target of 90 per cent bulk-billing by the end of the decade. I can report that today that number is 3,581, up from 2,000 and just 19 short of our 2028 target, and it's increasing every single week. That's our plan. That's our approach. But the member asked me about alternative approaches. As I said last week, the Leader of the Opposition is a little hard to pin down here because he's been just so busy wiping the historical slate clean. I went back to his personal website, and, still, there is not a single report of the media statements he made supporting Peter Dutton's GP tax and supporting the Medicare freeze. Indeed, if you type into the search engine of angustaylor.gov 'Medicare' or 'health', all you get, of course, is no response. I'm obsessed. I have to admit I'm obsessed with trying to find some record. It's hard. You've got to go back to the Wayback Machine, as I said to the new deputy leader of the Nationals. It's much like the Liberal Party election review, which—surprise, surprise—in 52 long, painful pages mentioned Medicare and health exactly not a single time. Apparently there was nothing to learn and no insights at all. There is someone over there who is always overflowing with insights, and that is the shadow Treasurer—the man who wants to privatise Medicare. I wondered why. He gave an explanation about why he dislikes the current Medicare arrangements just last month. At this dispatch box, the shadow Treasurer described our healthcare system as 'a system designed to keep people ill to feed the benefits of the unions'. That's the insult the shadow Treasurer makes to Australia's doctors, to Australia's nurses and to Australia's hardworking health professionals. That's the different approach from those opposite. Fuel 57 15:02 Mr PASIN 240756 Barker My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Can the minister rule out making any changes to the diesel fuel credit arrangements, noting that any changes will slug farmers and miners— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! I can't hear the member. The member for Calwell will leave the chamber under 94(a). The member for Calwell then left the chamber. The SPEAKER 53517 Out of respect for the member for Barker, he may begin his question again. Mr PASIN 240756 My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Can the minister rule out making any changes to the diesel fuel credit arrangements, noting that any changes will slug farmers and miners with a tax increase of roughly 20c a litre, which will flow directly through to Australians in the form of higher fuel and grocery prices in this national crisis? 15:03 Mr BOWEN DZS McMahon I thank the honourable member for his question. I seem to recall he was excluded from the House earlier in the week. Maybe that's why he didn't hear my answer to the member for Mackellar, where I said that the government's policy has not changed and pointed out that it provides strong support for farmers. That's what I said earlier in the week to the member for Mackellar. That's what I say to the honourable member. Paid Parental Leave Scheme 57 15:04 Ms FERNANDO 299964 Holt My question is to the Minister for Social Services. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitment to strengthen paid parental leave, and what are the risks? 15:04 Ms PLIBERSEK 83M Sydney Thanks so much to the member for Holt. She is a big supporter of paid parental leave for all those young families in her electorate that rely on it and benefit from it. As I've said before, it is really surprising that Australia was one of the very few developed countries in the world not to have a paid parental leave scheme before the Rudd and Gillard governments. We are so proud of the fact that it was Labor that introduced paid parental leave and that it is Labor that continues to expand paid parental leave. We are providing more time, more money, more flexibility and more people with this benefit. More time—this year we will get to six months of paid parental leave. More money—each week recipients will get a higher payment, $200 a week more, and superannuation for the first time on paid parental leave because of decisions this government has made. More flexibility—more time for mums and dads to take off together, and, of course, more people are eligible. Since we came to government in 2022, someone receiving paid parental leave is $12,000 better off. We've almost doubled paid parental leave. Of course, we are very clear that we are for more and better paid parental leave. Those on the other side are, frankly, all over the place on this. We had the former treasurer who called mothers double dippers. We had the former Prime Minister who called them rorters. We've got the current shadow treasurer who says, about their own scheme, 'It's a very bad scheme. It's not my choice that women have children.' Now we've got the Leader of the National Party who said in response to Baby Priya's bill that women were going to deliberately get pregnant and have late term abortions to get paid parental leave. We've got the Leader of the Opposition who went to the election saying that he wanted to see higher taxes and lower wages for working mums. We've got a Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the other place—I mean, I think that's her title; it's not very clear—who wanted to cut off access to working from home for working mums. Essentially, they are all over the place on supports for working families. What we know for certain on this side is that we are for paid parental leave. We are for cheaper child care. We are for higher wages and lower taxes for working mums. We are for workplace flexibility, including working from home, and we are for supporting families to look after their kids with that security. Members of Parliament: Staffing 58 15:07 Dr SCAMPS 299623 Mackellar My question is to the Prime Minister. Were personal staff used as a way to encourage the coalition to support the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill? The SPEAKER 53517 I think that question was barely within the standing orders. I'll allow it, but the Prime Minister will, obviously, be able to be broad with that answer if he chooses to. 15:08 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler Well, they didn't, much to their shame, because this is an area that needs reform. Labor Government 58 15:08 Mr FRENCH 316550 Moore My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for Australians and working in the national interests? What have been the risks to this agenda? 15:08 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for his question. This is a government that's focused on the interests of Australians each and every day. In the last fortnight, we've been advancing that agenda. Last week we showed the national accounts which showed stronger growth than any advanced economy in the world, showed business investment on the rise, showed dwelling investment on the rise and followed up from the figures that, of course, showed that the unemployment rate at 4.1 per cent remains at a historic low. We on this side regard employment as being an absolutely key task, unlike, of course, the incoming shadow treasurer who said that they should get rid of the mandate of employment for the Reserve Bank and should not worry about it. The same person, of course, has said in Hansard: Nobody wins from low interest rates. That's on the record going forward. We have been focused on that. At the same time, this week we have made superannuation stronger and fairer by helping low- and middle-income earners to have more in their superannuation accounts whilst at the same time impacting people with high balances. At the same time, we've been out there assisting with natural disasters. Our minister, as we speak, is assisting up there in the Northern Territory, and I'm in constant contact with the Queensland Premier as well about the floods that are impacting areas such as Bundaberg and Gympie. The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Goldstein and the Leader of the Nationals in the House of Representatives will cease interjecting, particularly when the Prime Minister is talking about that topic. Mr ALBANESE R36 Of course, the gender pay gap, as the Minister for Social Services and the Minister representing the Minister for Women have said, is now at a record low, something that we are very proud of. We've also been dealing with these issues in the context of the fact that there is a war. I've now gone through two weeks here, and there hasn't been a question asked about that war that is having an extraordinary impact on the world. Those opposite have asked questions like, 'When will the war end?' They've asked, 'Is there a crisis?' when the whole world, whether they be in Australia, the United States, the Middle East or anywhere else, knows that this is a massive challenge for the entire world and the global community. In between dealing with things on a day-to-day basis, I've been talking with leaders internationally about that. Today we've had an announcement about the release of 100 million litres of fuel a month—again, no questions from those opposite. We will continue to be the adults in the room. (Time expired) Mr Albanese R36 I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper. STATEMENTS 58 STATEMENTS Personal Explanation 58 15:12 Ms STEGGALL 175696 Warringah Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation. The SPEAKER 53517 Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented? Ms STEGGALL 175696 I have been misrepresented by the Prime Minister. The SPEAKER 53517 You may proceed. Ms STEGGALL 175696 The first allegation the Prime Minister made was that there was no reporting of personal staff allocations to crossbenchers in the Morrison government. That is incorrect. The SPEAKER 53517 No, it's not about allegations. You need to state to the House what the misrepresentation was—not an interpretation of the words but exactly what the words were. Then explain to the House how you were misrepresented. Ms STEGGALL 175696 The Prime Minister's words were: Not only did the Morrison government not report that or come to the dispatch box; they were pretty quiet up in that corner about it too. Mr Speaker, those figures are reported at Senate estimates every time. There was no nondisclosure. The SPEAKER 53517 Resume your seat. I'll deal with this. I've been through this a number of times. When you are claiming misrepresentation, you need to state clearly where or who or what has been said in an article or in a speech. Collectively, you can't take an objection. You're saying that the Prime Minister said something that was reported elsewhere. That's not a misrepresentation. That's a debating point that you're trying to make. I'll give the member the call. Ms STEGGALL 175696 So the Prime Minister can make a general allegation grouping people together, but when I am included in that, I can't individually take that as misrepresentation. Is that the speaker's ruling? The SPEAKER 53517 The Leader of the House. Mr Burke DYW To contribute to the point of order—yes, that's what members of parties deal with every single day and always have. The SPEAKER 53517 Just resume your seat for a moment. We'll get through this and I'll give you the call. Collectively—yes, that is correct. That is my ruling. If a member were to suggest something—or a political party or political organisation—we would be here all day for every single member of that party or government to take offence and to say 'That's misleading,' or whatever their claim was. If the Prime Minister or any minister or any member had said 'the person said about me', and the words aren't correct, you could correct and use the form of the House for that. Does the member now wish to make another personal explanation? Ms STEGGALL 175696 I would like to conclude this point though. I am an independent; I am not a member of a party. As such— Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Members on my left will show restraint and show the member for Warringah respect. Ms STEGGALL 175696 As such, even though it is put in a grouping, it is under the rules allowable for me to ask to make a personal explanation if I have been misrepresented. The SPEAKER 53517 Yes. But the key is in the term 'personal representation', so it's about the person. Anyway, we shall— Ms STEGGALL 175696 I will write to the Speaker. The SPEAKER 53517 Does the Leader of the House wish to contribute? Mr Burke DYW The answer, as I'd say in a point of order, is contained in the standing order itself—in 68—where it says specifically that there has to be a matter 'of a personal nature'. That's the reason that anything generalised is not able to access this standing order. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! No, we're not going to have that sort of behaviour. People are entitled to raise without any commentary or associated noises. It's not fair and it's not respectful, and it's not the spirit that I want this House to operate under. The member for Warringah on a second personal explanation. Do you claim to have been misrepresented? Ms STEGGALL 175696 I have been misrepresented. The SPEAKER 53517 You may proceed. Ms STEGGALL 175696 The Prime Minister stated: I do make this point that the most number of representations that I have had from crossbenchers in the House and in the Senate isn't about health policy. It isn't about education policy. It isn't about housing policy. It's about their staff. I have been misrepresented. Again, that is not correct. The largest number of representations that I have made to the Prime Minister and the government is to accelerate climate action and truth in political advertising. The SPEAKER 53517 It's the same principle as we allocated before. Just to be clear to the House, if a minister or someone had said 'the member for said', there would be the ability to use this standing order because it's about the person. I appreciate where the member is coming from about collective action, but the standing orders are written in a way that they're about an individual. The Leader of the House. Mr Burke DYW To raise a point of order. I has now it's been said, but I do think it's just important to clarify that this standing order needs to only be used where it's of a personal nature, where the reference has been to that person individually. Otherwise we will be here for three hours after every question time and another two hours after every MPI, where the nature of parliamentary debate tends to be collective and lots of what is said is contested. The SPEAKER 53517 The Manager of Opposition Business. Mr Tehan 210911 Obviously we have our differences across the chamber, but on this we are completely united. I would just like to support what the— The SPEAKER 53517 I thank the member. I don't want to detain the House. Just resume your seat. We're going to do this respectfully. Members are entitled to raise, but I remind all members this standing order intersects with action regarding when members are specifically mentioned. Personal Explanation 60 15:18 The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Mackellar, do you claim to have been misrepresented? 15:19 Dr SCAMPS 299623 Mackellar Yes. I claim to be misrepresented. The SPEAKER 53517 You may proceed. Dr SCAMPS 299623 In answering my question—question 17—it was made clear to me that the most representations I, being on the crossbench, had made was about staff, which is not correct. The SPEAKER 53517 The point has been made by the member for Warringah. I can appreciate members feel aggrieved, but the standing orders are written in a way that they are about an individual. No more explanations. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS 60 AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS Report No. 24 of 2025-26 60 15:19 The SPEAKER 53517 I present the Auditor-General's report No. 24 of 2025-26 entitled Community Batteries for Household Solar program: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Document made a parliamentary paper. DOCUMENTS 60 DOCUMENTS Australian Federal Police, Department of Home Affairs 60 Presentation 60 15:20 Mr BURKE DYW Watson I present the Crimes Act 1914—Australian Federal Police—Controlled operations—Report for 2024-25; and the Department of Home Affairs—Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 and Part 15 of the Telecommunications Act 1997—Report for 2024-25. Presentation 60 15:20 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 60 MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE Energy 60 15:21 The SPEAKER 53517 I have received a letter from the honourable member for Kooyong proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: Utilising household energy measures to ease cost of living pressures and support Australia's energy transition and sovereign capability amid ongoing energy instability and uncertainty. 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— 15:21 Dr RYAN 297660 Kooyong On Tuesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released figures showing the biggest quarterly increase in housing prices in five years. But it's not just the price of owning or renting houses that is squeezing Australians; increasingly, it's just the cost of living in those homes. The rising costs of electricity, gas and other essential utilities are placing a heavy and growing burden on Australians across the country. Electricity costs rose by 32.2 per cent in the 12 months to January 2026, compared to a rise of 21.5 per cent in the year preceding. This represents an increase in the rate of growth of more than 10 percentage points in just one month. Part of the pressure on households come as state and federal energy rebates are wound back. That includes cessation of the Commonwealth Energy Bill Relief Fund. While these rebates did provide some important short-term relief during periods of high inflation and energy market volatility, their withdrawal means that now many households are fully exposed to the underlying cost of Australia's energy system. But domestic policy settings are only one part of the story. We're also experiencing a period of increasing global instability. The latest conflict in the Middle East is echoing the market shocks that we experienced in 2022. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, national household gas and electricity prices jumped by 27 per cent and 43 per cent respectively in the year to March 2023, forcing the government at that time to spend billions of dollars on subsidies. Today, we're seeing similar warning signs emerge in global energy markets. Qatar's decision to suspend LNG production, which accounts for about 20 per cent of the world's LNG, will significantly disrupt global energy supply. Much as it was in 2022, Australia's domestic gas market remains very exposed to global market shocks. Despite us being one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas, Australia's east coast gas market is tightly connected to international prices. When global prices rise, domestic prices too often rise as well. While the government has committed to implementing a domestic gas reservation scheme requiring LNG exporters to set aside 15 to 25 per cent of their gas for domestic use, that scheme will not come into action at this point until 2027. In the meantime, Australians, households and businesses remain vulnerable to high energy bills. Gas only constitutes about six per cent of the overall energy mix in our national electricity market. But because of the way that the wholesale electricity market sets prices, high gas prices are still driving up electricity costs for households, and gas power generation remains vital back-up during periods of low renewable output and high demand. The east coast still has vast quantities of gas, but most of that gas is in Queensland and it's controlled by only three consortia. As production from the Bass Strait declines, the lion's share of production is going straight to export and the east coast still risks running out of gas. Around three million Australian households remain dependent on gas. In my home state of Victoria, that's 90 per cent of homes. In this global context, at the time of an impending energy crisis, the need to invest in Australia's energy security and sovereign capability has never been clearer. The government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program was an important home upgrade initiative to help people electrify and bring down their energy bills. It saw more batteries installed in the last six months of 2025 than in the preceding five years altogether, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted clean energy subsidies. We need more of those sorts of initiatives. An obvious example is household insulation. Many Australian homes remain either underinsulated or uninsulated. Most Australian homes were built before minimum energy efficiency requirements were introduced nationally in 2003. The cheapest energy is the energy that you don't have to use. Targeted insulation upgrades can significantly improve the energy efficiency of existing Australian homes. It can help households to need and to use less energy, in turn helping to lower household energy costs and to reduce demand on Australia's energy grid. Insulation is a cost-effective solution across all climates—hot and cold. Properly installed ceiling insulation can reduce indoor summer temperatures by up to seven degrees and winter heat losses by as much as 35 per cent. Through insulation alone, one million homes in Victoria could save more than 11 petajoules of energy in total, or approximately 3,085 gigawatt-hours every year. It's been projected that insulation could save Australian households between $400 and $800 in their energy bills annually, while reducing peak demand on our energy grid. So, not only is there a cost-of-living argument; household insulation will also help Australia reach our emission reduction targets. All federal, state and territory governments have committed to net zero by 2050. Reaching this target will require a commitment to household energy upgrades—upgrades like insulation, like solar, and like home and community batteries—to improve energy efficiency across all of our Australian housing stock. Following the success of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, I welcome the government's announcement of a $7.2 million expansion of that program. But at this point, as we look at the upcoming budget, I encourage the government to continue investing not just in this initiative but also in other targeted clean energy household subsidies. By investing in these sorts of measures—like insulation, solar and helping rentals electrify—Australia can ease the immediate cost-of-living pressures facing millions of Australians. Measures like these will help families lower their energy bills while reducing demand on our electricity grid and strengthening the resilience and security of our domestic market. 15:28 Mr JOSH WILSON 265970 Fremantle I thank the member for Kooyong for proposing this topic and for framing it in a way that is characteristically thoughtful, constructive and timely, considering our present circumstances. The fact is that Australia is undergoing a comprehensive energy transition. It's being led by this government in a way that is starkly different from the approach that occurred in the 10 years previous under the coalition—a wasted decade—and it's occurring as part of a global shift being driven by necessity and good sense. It's a change that, for Australia, will mean lower costs than would otherwise be the case, more stability and control, cleaner air and lower emissions, more investments, more jobs and more export opportunities. That's why the Albanese government is leading that change in partnership with the broader Australian community—because it's a transition that the Australian community is 100 per cent up for. That also goes for our household sector and for our business and non-government organisation sectors. We know there's a lot more to be done, but the progress we've made is remarkable. People can ask how we are going. I'll tell you how we're going. Last year, in 2025, we deployed more renewable energy and storage than ever before, we saw more new EVs than ever before, and we saw the largest annual reduction in Australia's emissions outside of the COVID lockdown period. That's what occurred in 2025. In terms of renewable energy generation deployment, there was seven gigawatts of additional utility in smaller scale renewables. That is seven gigawatts of additional generation when, in the previous decade, we actually saw gigawatts of generation leave the grid altogether because the coalition didn't even have an energy policy through that period of time. They flirted with 22 separate policies and delivered zero. We saw five gigawatts of additional grid-scale battery capacity added last year. That, in one year, is the equivalent of what was delivered between 2017 and 2024. That is real progress, but there's a lot further to go. We know that the effort is occurring in difficult and turbulent global circumstances, from the war in Ukraine, which, sadly, continues, to the fresh conflict in the Middle East. As the member for Kooyong observed, that is putting pressure on energy prices, and that's why our work from 2022 and every year since then has been to provide relief and to take action to put downward pressure on energy prices through our approach, in terms of gas caps and rebates, to move now towards a reservation scheme, which I can say, as a Western Australian, is a very sensible thing to do. This is not just in relation to energy prices. We've made a contribution to recognising that the cost of living doesn't exist in neat compartments. It's something you experience in aggregate. We've made a contribution to bringing down those pressures in all ways—by seeing real wages rise, by reducing common costs like health and education, by doing things to make a difference for Australian households, particularly for households that face disadvantage and socioeconomic pressures. I know that the member for Kooyong and members of the crossbench have supported that. Almost all of those measures—I don't want to say 'all of them', because there might be one or two that I'd be wrong about—have been opposed by the Liberal and National Party members. There's no question that the clean energy transition is needed for lots of different reasons. It's needed to tackle dangerous climate change. It's needed because that's the way the world is moving. It's needed because the energy sources that we've relied upon in the modern era, over the last 150 years, are themselves finite. There is not an infinite amount of oil, coal and gas, so the transition has to occur. In Australia we have a remarkable ability to do that in world-leading fashion, and we've already seen some of those benefits. The way in which it is experienced by households at a time of cost-of-living pressures is pretty dramatic. The moment that a household goes from not having solar to having solar can save them $2,000 a year. If they add a battery, it's a further $1,000. If you make some of the investments that the member for Kooyong is talking about—which, frankly, probably come at the top of that list, such as insulation, thermal sealing and, perhaps, window treatments—the efficiency savings and the savings that accrue from having energy efficient appliances can add another $1,000 a year. If you go from a combustion vehicle to an EV, that's probably $1,000 in savings just in the fuel costs, not to mention saving on the operational costs that come from cheaper and less frequent maintenance. We know that that makes a big difference. That's why we're delivering that at the same time that we recognise the systemic benefits. Because the word 'household' is in the topic, I'm just going to try and cover a couple of the more household focused measures that have occurred and that the member for Kooyong didn't cover. I've said we're already the world leader for rooftop solar. One in three households, more than four million households Australia-wide, have it. In some jurisdictions, such as WA, it's two in five. Solar not only makes a big cost pressure improvement for those households; it makes a systemic benefit for the grid as a whole. When we got to, probably, April or May last year, we knew there was a big challenge in terms of distributed storage, because, while we had one in three with solar, there were probably fewer than one in 40 with batteries. In terms of distributed battery storage, we've now actually added the same amount in the last eight months as existed prior to the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. There are 250,000-plus households at six gigawatt hours of storage alone. The regulators are observing that that contribution in eight months is putting downward pressure systemically, which is really heartening. There's $1 billion through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Household Energy Upgrades Fund. That provides green loans, cheaper finance, for people to undertake energy performance upgrades, which can include insulation, glazing, solar, batteries et cetera. We know that the transition should only occur on the basis that we place proper focus on the people who need it most—the households and the parts of our community that face socioeconomic disadvantage. That's why we created the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative, which the states have put $300 million into and we've put $800 million into. That will see the upgrade of 100,000 social housing dwellings. I went to the launch of the South Australian version of that program with former member in this place Nick Champion, and we visited a house occupied by a tenant, Janet, who'd lived in that house and raised her family there for 35 years. She was getting insulation that afternoon for the first time. I think that's a fantastic and characteristically Labor program to lift up people in social housing at the same time as we deliver a lot more social housing. We're making sure that the benefits of solar can be experienced by people who can't necessarily put solar on their roofs, through the Community Solar Banks Program and the Solar for Apartments Program. There's $100 million there. I've touched on transport. Under this government, we've tripled the number of EV models available to Australians, with many more cheaper and affordable EV models, because of the reform that we undertook through the first National Electric Vehicle Strategy and the delivery of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard for the first time. So we've tripled the availability of EV models, we've tripled EV charging and we've seen the sale of EV vehicles go from four per cent in 2022 to 13 per cent last year. The ratio of new vehicles that are being sold as EVs has tripled. In the first couple of months of 2026, it's at 17 per cent. So we've gone from one in 25 new vehicles being EVs to one in six in four years. We're now approaching 500,000 EVs nationwide. Last year, sales increased 38 per cent, and year on year—if you go from February 2025 to February 2026—it's jumped 96 per cent. That's making a massive, massive difference. In terms of energy performance, we've extended the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme that applied to new dwellings from about 2003 to 2004. We recognise that there are lots of existing homes that haven't had the benefit of that scheme. We will extend it from 1 July this year to all existing homes. That's an additional seven million dwellings that will be able to measure their energy performance. We know that, if you go from a two-star rating to a five-star rating, you see 40 per cent less energy use. That's 40 per cent lower energy costs. We want to support that, as I said before, through the Household Energy Upgrades Fund. We are delivering the new Solar Sharer program, which will become available from 1 July. It'll be in New South Wales, South Australia and South-East Queensland. That will mean retailers have to offer a three-hour free power period. We think that's really significant. We'll start to see some of that time shifting, where people can use energy when we've got massive amounts of solar, and it will bring system costs down. So I really, really welcome this topic. I could go on for another 10 or 15 minutes and rattle through lots more programs. It's part of the big, big difference that the Albanese Labor government is delivering on behalf of the Australian community. 15:38 Mr WILKIE C2T Clark I applaud the member for Kooyong for bringing this matter of public importance before the House. It's a powerful reminder at a critical point in time that, if we get it right, the energy transition can support climate action, ease the cost-of-living pressures for Australians and enhance Australia's energy independence. The reality is that the cheapest energy available to many households today is the energy they don't have to buy, or the renewable energy they generate themselves. That is why investments in household measures, such as rooftop solar, home batteries, insulation, energy efficient appliances and electrification, should all be priorities for governments at all levels in this country. These measures reduce energy demand, cut household bills and ease pressure on the broader energy system. They also accelerate Australia's transition to cleaner energy, which is essential, of course, if we are to meet our climate obligations and protect our environment for future generations. Of course, there's another very important dimension to this conversation that's often overlooked, and that's energy security. If that wasn't staring us in the face previously, it sure is now, with global oil supplies in doubt and oil shares whiplashing like there's no tomorrow. While some bowsers run dry and fuel prices spike, this is unsurprisingly the hottest political topic right now, turbocharged by the opposition, which is shamelessly and cynically trying to tap into it for political gain. But that's not to say that the government has clean hands, because, like its predecessors, it has virtually ignored the International Energy Agency's fuel-holding guidelines and, even now, is failing to urgently introduce the sorts of pricing restrictions adopted by, at least, Germany. Like most of my colleagues, I've been hearing regularly from constituents about increased prices at the bowser. I take the point of the Minister for Climate Change and Energy that Australia currently has a sufficient fuel supply and that supplies continue to reach Australia, but that just makes it even more appalling that retailers are jacking up prices in this way. Frankly, it's just shameless price gouging done under the cover of the illegal war in Iran, and it should come with serious consequences, but, so far, it doesn't. All of this goes to show that, in a world where energy markets are increasingly volatile and geopolitical tensions have the potential for prolonged disruption of global supply chains, Australia must think carefully about its energy independence and its sovereign capability, and it must think too about the impact that energy insecurity has on the lives of ordinary Australians. When households generate and store their own energy, they are not just saving money; they are contributing to a more decentralised, distributed and resilient national energy system. That makes Australia less vulnerable to international shocks and supply lines, less reliant on our ageing fossil-fuel based energy infrastructure and a harder target for price gouging and cartel-like shakedowns from energy suppliers. But, as with anything, how we do this matters. While Australia is a world leader in things like rooftop solar, too many people in regional Australia, as well as low- and middle-income earners, renters and other marginalised communities, are missing out. So the government must ensure that investment in household measures means they are available to everyone, not just those who can afford the upfront costs. To that end, the government should enhance and extend its targeted grants, low-interest loans, community energy programs and minimum energy efficiency standards to help ensure that the transition is fair and equitable as well as effective. Of course, the opposition probably won't have a bar of this because they're still hooked on fossil fuels or, depending on the time of day, nuclear power and seemingly baffled by renewable energy. But I suggest they try to take the blinkers off and re-examine the issue in light of the national interest and the interests of their constituents. Moreover, adding extra capacity and stability to our grid through investment in household measures will be beneficial in freeing up energy capacity and investment for Australian industry. In other words, if you're fair dinkum about being 'hyper-Australia' and starting to make things again in this country, then you'd actually support and fast-track home energy measures. In closing, I want to thank the member for Kooyong for bringing this important topic before the House, because it's increasingly clear that investment in the energy transition for households is good economic policy, good environmental policy and good national security policy. 15:43 Ms TEMPLEMAN 181810 Macquarie I'm really pleased to have an opportunity to speak to this MPI and about the really significant support the Albanese Labor government has given households to take control of their energy use and bills. This is something I have been wanting to see for a long time, and it did not happen until we came to government. One way of thinking about how Australians have embraced, for instance, our Cheaper Home Batteries Program is that it took us 10 years to put in the first six gigawatt hours of household storage—it took the country 10 years to do that—and it's taken eight months to put in the second six gigawatts of household storage. That is a remarkable turnaround for the country. It's being done on roofs in electorates like mine in Western Sydney, in peri-urban and regional areas, more than it is happening anywhere else in the country, and we're very proud of that. This is partly about acting to tackle energy bills. Of course, there'll always be more to do on that it. But we have, over the course of our terms in office, tackled power bill relief, put caps on gas prices and invested in renewables, all of which the coalition opposed. If they had their way, we would be back shovelling coal into our own little coal stoves. The plan really does have those two parts—cheaper, cleaner energy and a better deal for households—so it's putting Australians back in charge of their energy bills with better access to solar, batteries and, of course, cars that will run, more cheaply, on electricity. At a time like this, when we can see the pressures that the more traditional energy sources have when there are critical things happening around the world, that's something I think more and more Australians will wake up to. I want to quote the minister for climate change. He spoke to this MPI long before it was proposed earlier this week in talking about the sovereign capacity of Australia. He said that the transition of our energy system to more renewables, which is the cheapest form of energy, is not dependent on global supply chains; Vladimir Putin cannot interrupt the supply of sun to Australia, and the international circumstance in the Middle East cannot interrupt the flow of wind in Australia. So that is a reliable form of energy, and that speaks to another reason this is so important not just for individual households but for us as a nation. Cheaper Home Batteries is one of my very favourite programs at the moment because it is so embraced by people in Macquarie and neighbouring areas. It helps households store the cheaper, cleaner energy they generate during the day from their rooftop solar and then use it when they need it most, including during the evening peak. So we've got less pressure on the grid at peak times, lower reliance on expensive generation and downward pressure on prices for everyone. Along with the community batteries that are up and running in Blaxland, Blaxland East and Hobartville, these home batteries help the grid manage demand more efficiently, improve system reliability and support the shift to more renewable energy. Our local clean energy businesses are busier than ever, with more than 2,000 homes and small businesses in Macquarie benefiting from this Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Around the country, we've surpassed 250,000. I think we're up to 265,000-plus home batteries. I want to talk about Penrith Solar Centre as an example, now known as PSC energy. I visited their Penrith facility with the minister last year. Jake Warner, who's the director, a Penrith local who started out as an electrical apprentice, says the Cheaper Home Batteries subsidy has been incredible not just for mums and dads but for everyday Australians across Australia in getting access to more affordable energy. Not only is it more affordable; it's more secure and more stable. We're seeing the grid become increasingly stable since the deployment of these decentralised home batteries. We're seeing power bills slashed, in some cases to zero, he says. This is an incredible effort. For companies like his, it's created 50 new jobs. He and Damian McMahon from Blue Mountains Solar speak to what a difference this is making to their customers. I'm proud to be part of a government doing this good work. 15:48 Dr SCAMPS 299623 Mackellar I thank the member for Kooyong, too, for raising this matter of public importance on the opportunity for Australia to improve our sovereign capability and make energy cheaper for everyday Australians through the clean energy transition. I will focus today on household transport, something that is particularly topical considering the recent petrol price hikes that have occurred in response to the Middle East war—price hikes that are impacting Australians across the country right now. It must be noted that we live in an increasingly volatile world. In just a handful of years, we've had a number of major international disruptions, including the COVID pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and now the war in Iran. Australia's poor fuel security remains one of our biggest national vulnerabilities and drives up cost of living. Yet one of the most effective ways to reduce this risk is often overlooked, and that is investing in electric and active transport. The International Energy Agency has emphasised this point. In response to the oil shock, triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine back in 2022, the IEA released a 10-point plan to cut oil use aimed at easing market strain. Among its key recommendations were making public transport cheaper; incentivising micro-mobility, walking and cycling; and speeding up the adoption of electric and more efficient vehicles. For more than a decade, analysts and industry have warned Australian governments about our poor fuel security. Australia imports more than 90 per cent of our refined fuel, tying households and businesses to volatile global markets. The 2020 Liquid Fuel Security review revealed that, alarmingly, the emergency powers to ration fuel stocks could take up to three weeks to implement in the event of a fuel emergency. We remain non-compliant with the IEA obligation to hold 90 days of net oil imports. As a country that imports the majority of our liquid fuels, it will always be difficult to achieve this target. The more reliant our transport sector is on foreign oil, the more exposed Australians are to higher prices during global conflicts. The faster we shift our cars, vans and buses off petrol, the more capacity we free up to tackle more difficult fuel security problems such as diesel for freight and aviation fuel. Accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles, especially public transport, and shifting shorter car trips to walking, cycling or e-mobility devices will directly reduce our dependence on imported oil. It is important to note that around two-thirds of the car journeys in our cities are able to be walked, wheeled or cycled in 15 minutes or less. The new vehicle efficiency standards, introduced by government in 2024 following a strong push from the crossbench, were a great first step. We've heard there are now twice as many EVs on our roads as there were two years ago. Yet the government is now considering winding back tax incentives and exemptions for EVs purchased through novated leasing programs. This is despite electric vehicles still making up only 13 per cent of new car sales in Australia. Now is not the time to be removing the very incentives that are helping people make this switch. We need clear targets, as well, to reach 100 per cent electric passenger car sales, just as countries like the UK and France have already set. We also need stronger support for charging infrastructure right across the country, and, importantly, we must introduce policies that help low-income households and renters make the transition to electric vehicles. Australia also desperately needs proactive policies and investment to increase our active transport rate. Currently, we spend $714 per person on roads every year, but just 90c goes to walking, wheeling and cycling. The government's Active Transport Fund is woefully inadequate. The Australia Institute research has shown that the $100 million in the Active Transport Fund would only be enough to build 25 kilometres to 50 kilometres of new separated bike paths. In contrast, France plans to invest the equivalent of around A$3.2 billion in cycling infrastructure between 2023 and 2027, and they have committed to building 100,000 kilometres of cycle lanes by 2023. (Time expired) 15:53 Mr FRENCH 316550 Moore The cost of living remains the dominant issue in conversations with households across the country. Energy bills are part of that pressure. Families feel it across Australia. The same is true in my electorate of Moore. From Karrinyup through to Duncraig, Sorrento, Hillarys and Mullaloo, households are conscious of electricity costs and what they mean for the weekly budget. Electricity is not a discretionary expense. It powers lights, refrigeration, heating, cooling and communication. Reliable and affordable power is therefore essential. When we talk about household energy policy, it is important to place the discussion in the broader economic context. When this government came to office, the economic starting point was challenging. We inherited significant deficits, a trillion dollars of debt, high inflation and falling real wages. Since then, the focus has been on stabilising the economy while delivering responsible cost-of-living relief. The most recent national accounts show the Australian economy growing at 2.6 per cent through the year. That is the strongest pace of growth in almost three years and is faster than every major advanced economy. Importantly, that growth is being driven by the private sector, not public spending. That matters because cost-of-living relief must be delivered without adding to inflation. Australia is facing global uncertainty, but the economic data shows the country is approaching those challenges from a position of strength. Strong economic management creates the capacity to deliver practical relief to households. One of the most important improvements in the economy has been the recovery in household incomes. Real disposable income per person has increased by around two per cent over the past year, reversing the decline that occurred earlier. Wage growth has contributed to that improvement. Minimum and award wages have increased significantly in recent years. Employment growth has been strong. Since this government came to office, more than 1.2 million jobs have been created. Unemployment remains low, and workforce participation is close to record levels. In practical terms, the recovery in household living standards is being driven by people working and earning. Alongside rising wages, the government has delivered tax relief. Every Australian taxpayer has received a tax cut, with further reductions to commence in the coming financial year. These measures increase take-home pay and help households manage cost pressures. They sit alongside policies designed to reduce everyday expenses. For example, medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme are now capped at $25 or less. That is the largest reduction in medicines in the history of the PBS and will save Australians hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Investments in Medicare, including expanded bulk-billing and urgent care clinics, also reduce the financial burden on families. Within that broader cost-of-living framework, household energy measures play a specific role. Unlike temporary payments, energy efficiency upgrades and rooftop solar can reduce electricity bills permanently. Australia now has one of the highest rates of rooftop solar adoption in the world. Millions of households have installed solar panels as a way of managing their power bills. Across many suburbs in metropolitan Perth, including communities throughout Moore, solar panels are now a common feature of rooftops. Households have adopted these technologies because they make economic sense. They reduce electricity consumption from the grid and lower long-term costs. The next stage of this development is the expansion of household battery storage. The government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program is designed to support this transition. The program is expected to expand to around $7.2 billion over four years, helping households, small businesses and community organisations reduce their electricity bills. It is expected to support the installation of more than two million batteries by 2030, delivering approximately 40 gigawatt hours of storage capacity. Household batteries store solar energy generated during the day and make it available when demand increases. This not only helps households manage their bills but also strengthens the electricity system itself. 15:58 Ms LE 295676 Fowler When energy prices rise, it's not the politicians who feel it; it's the families and the businesses. In my community of Fowler and for small business owners across Western Sydney, we are currently living through a period of immense pressure. When we talk about energy in this place, we often speak in abstractions, targets, transitions and percentages. For the people I represent, however, energy is a line item on the balance sheet that is increasingly failing to add up. I've been raising these concerns since I entered parliament. I have called for fuel excise relief and warned about the rising costs of power. I have asked the Prime Minister and the government for a clear explanation of how government policies translate into real relief for struggling households and businesses. Here are just some examples of what energy chaos looks like on the ground. A local bakery cafe in Cabramatta told me that their energy rate in March 2024 was 32c per kilowatt. By April, it had jumped to about 49c per kilowatt. That is about a 53 per cent increase in a single month. Another local bakery in Canley Vale have seen their flour prices rise by 40 per cent since 2022, on top of skyrocketing energy prices and rent. When you hit a small business with these kinds of increases, you aren't just adjusting a price. You are removing the hope of even a small profit. You're asking a family, who have poured their life's work into a shop, to decide which staff to let go and whether they can even afford to keep the lights on. The government's primary answer to this crisis has been the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, but there is a massive disconnect between the press releases and the reality in Western Sydney. A home battery rebate does very little for a bakery strangled by commercial energy tariffs and rising overheads. Even on its own terms, the batteries program is stumbling. It launched with a promise of one million batteries by 2030, backed by $2.3 billion. Yet, because the initial funding was exhausted so rapidly, the government has had to commit a further $5 billion of taxpayers' money just to chase the original target. But it's questionable whether that target will even be reached. In a cost-of-living crisis, a $5 billion correction is a massive figure. More importantly, we must ask who is actually benefiting from this spending. In Fowler we have approximately 68,000 households. Do you know how many, as of late last year, are actually benefiting from the battery program? It is just under 500. Fowler sits at 96 on the list for installation. For the vast majority of my constituents—the renters, the families in townhouses and those in social housing—this program is practically inaccessible. My community is being asked to pay for a transition that is leaping over Western Sydney and landing in the laps of those who are already ahead. I don't say this to be partisan. I say it because the current approach is leaving the entire ecosystem of Fowler behind. Our small-business owners are the very same people heading these households. If we want sovereign capability, we must ensure that our local shops remain viable. If we want a fair transition, it must be accessible to the families, the renters and the workers, who simply cannot afford the gap payment for a battery, even with a discount. I ask the government to look beyond the Instagram feeds and to the tens of thousands of households in my electorate who are still waiting for the cheaper power they were promised. We need structural reform, not just sugar hits. No-one should be left behind, and it's time that the government's energy policy reflected that. I'd like to say thank you to the member for Kooyong for raising a matter of public importance on this subject. 16:03 Ms JARRETT 298574 Brisbane Thank you to the member for Kooyong for raising this matter of public importance. It really does go to the heart of what the Labor government is doing in transforming our energy system. I note that there are elements of that transformation that the member for Kooyong has supported. We know that one of the best ways to reduce vulnerability to high energy costs and to bring down costs overall for Australians, and also to build and protect sovereign capability in our energy system, is to invest in renewable energy. The Australian energy grid is undergoing a major transformation. This is vitally important, because not only will it deliver cheaper power to Australian households but also it will make us less reliant on foreign imports. This is backed up by the CSIRO, who also said that the cheapest form of energy is in renewables, and, on this side of the House, we'll listen to the scientists. At the start of this month, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy announced that more than a quarter of a million households, small businesses and community organisations have installed bill-busting batteries. I don't call that a failure. This is part of the government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program. In fact, around half are also installing upgraded solar systems at the same time. When I look across the lovely rooftops of my electorate in Brisbane and see them glistening with solar panels, I think, it's no wonder—given we are the sunshine state. Together, batteries installed under the program have now reached 6.3 gigawatt hours of storage. This milestone shows that Australians are embracing practical upgrades that cut power bills, make better use of rooftop solar and help build a cleaner and more reliable energy system. Home batteries help households store cheaper, cleaner energy, which is generated during the day and can be used during the evening, which is a peak period. Again, contrary to what the member for Fowler said, the battery program is a huge success. It takes pressure off the grid, lowers reliance on expensive generation and puts downward pressure on prices for everyone. As more batteries, including community and grid-scale batteries, are installed across the country, they also help the grid manage demand more efficiently, improve system reliability and support the shift to a more renewable energy system. That's why I'm going to repeat what I've said in this House before. We need our community batteries in Newmarket and the Gap to help service my community of Brisbane. The LNP council needs to stop playing politics and give us the go-ahead. Another program is our Solar Sharer Offer, the SSO. The SSO is an electricity standing offer that will provide households with the option of a daily window of free energy usage. The offer incentivises households to shift their energy use to periods of low-cost generation during the day, saving them money and delivering significant system-wide benefits that lower costs for all consumers. On top of these programs, we've also delivered $150 energy rebates for all Australian households, because we recognise that Australians are doing it tough, and every little bit helps. This government has also approved our 100th renewable energy project, with recent figures revealing that renewable energy is now powering 51 per cent of the grid. The government is doing a lot. We're doing as much as we can. We need to do more, and I again acknowledge the various members of the crossbench who have supported a number of these reforms. On this side of the House, we listen to the science and we act on it. We've acted to help with power bill relief, gas price caps and investment in cheap renewables, all of which those opposite have opposed. In fact, those opposite haven't had a coherent energy policy for the past decade. Does the $660 million nuclear option, which was rejected by the Australian people, ring any bells? The world is shifting. Energy is not just about power; it's about security and about the future. We're entering a new era of energy sovereignty where power, in terms of both energy and geopolitics, increasingly comes from producing energy close to where it's used. Why? Because sovereign power reduces our geopolitical exposure and protects our economic and national security. Our government recognises this. We're investing to make it happen. We're investing in renewables, and it's good for our sovereign capability. 16:08 Ms SPENDER 286042 Wentworth Australia is an energy superpower. Few countries are as richly endowed with energy resources as we are, both those of the past and those of the future. Our electricity grid, while only 50 per cent renewable, is powered by 100 per cent Australian fuels. The coal, wind, gas and sunshine that generate our electricity are domestic. Unlike many countries, we do not rely on imported fuels to keep our lights on, although we do to keep our cars running. So we start from a position of enormous strength. But, as was said at Climate Action Week in Sydney, advantage matters only if we act. The fact that we are even having a conversation about energy insecurity in a country with Australia's resources is in many ways a failure of policy. When the east coast began exporting LNG, we did so without putting in place a domestic gas reservation scheme. Since then, despite tripling of production, domestic prices have also roughly tripled. Supply has grown, but prices have tripled as well. That is not the outcome of scarcity. It is the result of policy decisions that linked Australian gas to volatile international markets. Those markets are shaped by forces far beyond our control: the war in Ukraine, the US fracking boom, OPEC supply decisions, rising demand across South-East Asia, and now the conflict in the Middle East. Such volatility can be a windfall for exporters, many of which are foreign owned. But for Australian households and businesses it has meant painful price shocks and ongoing uncertainty. The current geopolitical crisis has made three things clear. First, on cost: we cannot wait until 2027 for domestic gas reservation to ensure Australian households and businesses using Australian gas are not forced to pay volatile international prices. Second, on benefit: when global conflicts drive extra extraordinary spikes in export revenues, Australians should share in that benefit. It is urgent that we implement a windfall tax on war-driven, supernormal revenues, as the EU and UK did in 2022. Already there are calls on government for cost-of-living relief, for example by slashing fuel excise or reintroducing electricity rebates. Such calls cannot be answered without a stronger budget position. Without a windfall tax, energy price relief would in effect be a transfer payment from government to multinationals. Third, we must accelerate the electrification of our economy. This is not only about climate; it is about energy security and the cost of living. Australia imports most of its liquid fuels, leaving us exposed to global shocks. We could reopen refineries and lock ourselves further into the fuels of the past, or we can accelerate our transition to cleaner, cheaper domestic fuels. An electric vehicle can be fuelled by 100 per cent Australian energy, and that energy is becoming cleaner every day. Road transport can and must be electrified, yet nine out of 10 of every car sold in Australia extends our dependence on imported fuels. We need policies that drive transport electrification across the country, including in regional areas for those living in apartments and in trucking. This is not about isolationism. Australia's energy story has always been one of partnership. Early gas production relied upon foreign capital and expertise. When Japan's nuclear industry shut down in the 2010s, it was Australian gas that helped keep the lights on. We have resources to spare, just as our trade partners do. We are stronger and safer because of these interdependencies, but we must also be clear: myopic foreign profit cannot come before Australian households or Australian industry, and it must not come before our long-term energy security. We have weathered too many global energy shocks. We have the benefit of hindsight. Our policies should reflect that hard-won wisdom. Finally, we must continue to focus more on those parts of our community that are currently not well-supported through this energy transition. In particular, I speak to the renters and apartment dwellers in Wentworth—60 per cent of my community live in apartments and 40 per cent rent. Those are big numbers. Many of them are passionate about the climate transition and the need to clean our energy grid, but do not have the tools to be able to do so. I appreciate the government has introduced things like the three hours of clean energy in the day, but the challenge is that many apartment dwellers and renters do not have the smart-meters to take advantage of these types of policies, and so it will not actually benefit them. Those are the ones that we need to support, because we need to make sure that all Australian households thrive and can access clean and cheaper energy through this transition. If we don't then those households will lose faith that this transition is going to support them and not just others. 16:13 Ms COMER 316551 Petrie I thank the member for Kooyong for bringing up this important matter. It gives me the opportunity to talk about one of my favourite topics: how the Albanese Labor government is simultaneously helping ease cost-of-living pressures whilst also supporting Australia's energy transition. The people in my community and right across Australia are feeling the pinch of the cost of living. One of the most important ways that we can help households right now is bringing in measures that lower their power bills. In Australia we are blessed with the best sun and the best wind in the world—I might add, the best beaches too—and now we're putting them to work to bring down the energy bills. More than one in three homes in the country have solar panels installed, one of the highest rates on the planet. Australia is leading the world in rooftop solar and Queensland leads Australia with one in two households with solar. That means Queensland families are not just part of the clean energy transition; they are driving it. Go Queensland! Households are generating their own power, lowering their electricity bills and contributing to a stronger, more resilient energy grid. Programs like the Cheaper Home Batteries Program are helping families store the solar power they generate during the day and use it when they need it most, further reducing bills and strengthening Australia's energy system. Across Australia more families and small businesses are taking up these opportunities. One of the very first batteries installed and turned on under this program was right in my electorate of Petrie. I had the pleasure of visiting Rob's home in Bridgeman Downs alongside Minister Bowen to see his battery system in action. For Rob, batteries mean lower power bills and making the most of the solar energy his home already uses and produces. Since the program began in my electorate of Petrie, 1,571 households and local businesses have already taken up the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Northlakes and Mango Hill lead with 365 batteries installed. Redcliffe and Scarborough in Newport now have 236 installations, and Deception Bay has 144. Suburbs like Clontarf, Margate and Woody Point are also seeing a strong uptake in installations. These numbers tell an important story. The clean energy transition isn't coming from the cities; it's being led by the families in the suburbs and the communities across Australia who want lower power bills and a secure energy future. We are already seeing the results of this transition. In the last quarter of 2025, Australia reached a historic milestone. For the first time ever, more than half of our electricity came from renewable energy. That shows that clean energy transformation is not just a future ambition; it is happening right now. The summer we just had was a scorcher and, with renewable renewables providing energy to the grid, we have not faced significant issues with reliability or supply. This is despite the naysayers, who think that renewables are less reliable than fossil fuels. The Albanese Labor government has proven that renewables are vital and effective at meeting our energy needs. Households and communities and businesses are generating more of their own power, strengthening our energy system and helping drive down emissions. And that is not all. The Albanese government is introducing a new regulated electricity market offer, which includes a free three-hour power period during the day, every day. That's three hours of free electricity every single day. We are living in turbulent times, but here in Australia we are responding from a position of strength. Australians have seen the headlines about global fuel disruptions and uncertainty in international markets. It is understandable that people feel concerned, but Australians can be assured our nation is fuel secure. I repeat that to those opposite: our nation's fuel is secure. Australia is currently above the minimum domestic fuel stockholding obligations and, crucially, those reserves are now stored here in Australia. That wasn't always the case. When the coalition was in government, fuel reserves were stored overseas. This government ensured that the fuel reserves are kept onshore when Australians need them. In times of global uncertainty, that matters. We are seeing disruptions in some areas caused by temporary spikes in demand, not a national supply issue. I want to be clear: Australia continues to meet its fuel stockholding obligations and our fuel reserves are secure. That means Australians can have confidence that the petrol they rely on every day remains available and secure. That is the approach of the Albanese Labor government. 16:19 The DEPUTY SPEAKER 248181 The time for this discussion has now concluded. BILLS 69 BILLS Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026 69

Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026

Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026

Second Reading 69 16:19 Mr KHALIL 101351 Wills It is a great honour to be the member for Wills in Melbourne's northern suburbs because of the people who choose to live, work and be there play there every day. The opportunity to serve them, to deliver for the community, both nationally and locally, is by far the best part of the job. Appropriations bills like this are how we actually deliver to our local community. From Fawkner to Fitzroy, from Pascoe Vale to Princes Hill and from Carlton North to Coburg North, our government, the Albanese Labor government, is continuing to deliver for my electorate of Wills in every budget that we deliver. It is as a member of a party of government that I can actually follow through on commitments and we can all follow through on the commitments that we make to our communities and deliver for those communities, not just talking about it but actually making a real difference to their lives every day. For instance, last year I announced that a re-elected Albanese Labor government would fund a brand new Medicare urgent care clinic in Coburg. Well, I'm very pleased to report that the construction is well underway at 444 Sydney Road in Coburg, and we are very close to the opening day. As we know and have heard, the Medicare urgent care clinics—and this one in Coburg—will provide urgent but non-life-threatening care for things like burns, breaks and cuts. They're going to be open late and on weekends with no appointment necessary. Just walk in and show your Medicare card. I spoke to a local constituent recently in Brunswick West. Her name was Sarah, and she told me about the fantastic care that she received at another Medicare urgent care clinic that she had to travel to because we didn't yet have one in our electorate. She slipped in her kitchen and was left with a cut that definitely needed urgent attention. She arrived at that Medicare urgent care clinic, showed her Medicare card, took a seat and was seen within 15 minutes. Within the hour she was stitched up, back home and on bed rest. She told me that she caught up on MAFS. I'm not sure if that's the right rehabilitation—it might have caused other forms of trauma and the need for other medical attention—but she was home and able to recuperate because of the Medicare urgent care clinic's great care for people. This is just one of the many ways that the Albanese Labor government is delivering for my community in Wills. Another one that I'm very passionate about is the commitment we made to a local sports club in my electorate, because this club really makes the community great in many ways. It's the Fawkner Netball Club. We are investing $4.5 million to repave the courts and build overhead coverings. This club is really a pillar of my community. It was formed a number of years ago, around the same time that I was first elected. They have gone over and above in supporting women and girls from very diverse backgrounds who usually don't play sports or play netball to come together through one of Australia's most cherished sports, which is netball. I've been to the club many times during their weeknight training sessions. I've even had a crack myself. I'm not very good, but, aside from my subpar netball skills, what I heard directly from the players, the volunteers and the parents is how much this commitment means to them, how much it will mean for the future development of the club and how much it means for the community that they're able to continue to do their training, rain or shine. It provides stability for the players and the club, knowing that they can continue to do that. It's more than just a sporting club; it's part of our community. It brings people together from so many different backgrounds. It ensures that young girls and boys—there are boys that play netball—have the ability to be physically healthy and have really good mental health outcomes through the socialisation, teamwork, culture and team atmosphere. It is doing so much good for the local community, and I pay great respect to Jade and Grace and everyone there at the club who have done such a terrific job. They really deserve this investment. We are investing in local sports because it's not just about the sport itself; it's about what it does for the community all around. That's why we're also investing $3.3 million into the redevelopment of Gillon Oval in Brunswick. I made that announcement with the local community there—the local football club, the local cricket club and the other clubs that are there. There's a tennis club nearby as well. We're making the oval fit for purpose for generations to come by renovating what is a historic oval. It's the AR Glenn Grandstand, which is currently unsafe for use. If you went there, you wouldn't want to stand under it. It looks pretty dangerous. It needs to be renovated and fixed up. We're also putting funding towards lighting upgrades to support night games at the oval. The Gillon Oval sees hundreds and hundreds—thousands—of community members turn out for games every weekend. The community uses it on training nights as well. It's really important that there's safety and accessibility of the grounds to ensure that people have the best experience and to support the local sporting legends—all the juniors and seniors and the weekend warriors that get out there as well—because of that connection that is formed, that bond that is formed. I took the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, down there when we made the announcement. We tried to have a bit of a kick of the footy. That was fun. He saw firsthand how much this means to the local community. It was extra special going down into the clubrooms because there's a bit of history at this oval. The great John Curtin, the great Labor prime minister in World War II, actually played Victorian Football Association, VFA, footy for Brunswick on that oval. He was also a selector for the cricket team there in the twenties and thirties. That's how old the stand is. The great John Curtin was there. It was great to see some of the cricket and footy memorabilia over the generations and the connections and the friendships that continue to occur through the sporting clubs that participate there. I'm really proud of this government for the investments that we're making in these historic community spaces, which will make such a difference for generations to come. But it's not just sport. The other aspect that I'm very passionate about in the community is the environment. We worked very hard to advocate and to be able to announce an investment of $1.9 million to invest in the green spaces and urban waterways that are so important for our communities. We announced funding, and we're going to invest that funding into the revitalisation of Merri Creek. Merri Creek is a very important urban waterway that pretty much borders my electorate with the neighbouring electorate of Maribyrnong—sorry, the neighbouring electorate of Cooper. Moonee Ponds Creek is on the other side. It's so important for the community because people enjoy what is, effectively, all this native flora and fauna right in the middle of an urban centre. It's quite remarkable, and it's so important for the kids, and for adults as well, to be able to engage and experience that. This funding is really there to help increase the vegetation, improve the stormwater retention and enhance the overall ecological health of the creek. It's loved by locals. If you go for a walk down there, it's beautiful. It's not like you're in the city at all. People catch up with their loved ones. They do their walks. They work on the conservation of the creek. There's a real community atmosphere with respect to supporting that part of Melbourne, so it was fantastic to be able to announce that. It means a lot that we can actually do this at the local level. I also announced—and this goes to transportation—$3.7 million to upgrade linear parklands in the south of my electorate. That will upgrade all the sports and play precincts there and will also allow all-abilities play for the community. That was a true community campaign. As soon as it was announced, with the redistribution, that Carlton North, Fitzroy North and Princes Hill were moved into my electorate of Wills from the then Greens held electorate of Melbourne, the Yarra City Council and the local community really came to see me about the needs that they have and that we could actually deliver if we were to form government. That's why that was such a powerful community campaign, because of the needs that they had for the linear parklands that they'd been asking for for a long time. Obviously, being in government and being able to deliver that made all the difference to that community, and it's great that that's going ahead. We also did a lot of work supporting multicultural communities in my electorate. It's one of the most diverse electorates in Melbourne. Just as one example, I was pleased to support the Central Pontian Association with an elevator for the elderly members. They're on Sydney Road at the Pontiaki Estia club. That is really appreciated by the community. The appropriations bill allows us to deliver. This is why it's so important. It allows delivery to the community. The Albanese government is investing in local communities like mine in my electorate of Wills. That's the way that the Labor government does this. It actually cares about the community. It makes sure that we deliver for them and make a difference to their lives. I'm so excited by so many of these projects because what they do is really work with community to actually deliver on the things that make a difference to them, whether it's in sports, in the environment or in transportation, like linear parklands—which, incidentally, I forgot to mention, is the longest cycling track in the Southern Hemisphere, which is quite remarkable. These are projects that make a huge difference. These projects come from the advocacy of the people that live there—the needs that they understand. They come to us, being local members of parliament and being able to engage with them, and then we deliver through this place. There's a lot of cynicism around politics, but we're able to achieve these things because we form a government, and a Labor government cares about the people that we represent. So it's fantastic to see these projects come to fruition through those commitments through this appropriations bill. I am so pleased for the community members that are going to benefit from this for generations to come. As I said at the start of this speech, serving your community is the best part of the job. It's the best part of the job when you do something for them that is tangible, real and makes a difference to their lives. All of us here, on whichever side we sit, especially those in parties that can form government, would agree that local MPs can actually do something for their community, and that's a wonderful thing in politics. There's a lot of cynicism around politics. People talk about playing politics. Well, let's play some more politics in a positive way, because this is positive politics. This is politics that makes a difference. It's political action through this parliament, through this democracy and through our representation of our communities that make a difference to their lives. I'm pleased to have been able to speak on the appropriation bill. People might not think it's a very exciting bill to talk about, but it makes a difference to people in our community. Debate interrupted. ADJOURNMENT 71 ADJOURNMENT Calare Electorate: Infrastructure, Fuel Security 72 16:30 Mr GEE 261393 Calare The people of the Central West are currently enduring crises of historic proportions. Our region is being throttled by a dual failure of infrastructure and essential fuel supply that is threatening our economy, our food security and the very fabric of our communities. Right now, a major fuel crisis is unfolding before our eyes. This isn't only a matter of punishing prices; this is also a crisis of availability. I'm hearing from farmers across our electorate who are ringing the alarm bells. We are at the critical cusp of planting season, yet our producers cannot secure the diesel needed to sow their crops. They're ordering the diesel, and it's simply not being delivered. Local service stations are running out of fuel. Rationing has started. Prices are skyrocketing. If our farmers cannot plant, this nation does not eat. The government must guarantee supply before this fuel crisis becomes a full-scale national food shortage. Adding to this burden is the catastrophic indefinite closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass. The impacts of this are devastating. In Lithgow, as Mayor Cassandra Coleman highlights, 11,000 extra vehicles are being funnelled through the CBD every day, pounding local roads that are already owed $7.2 million in unpaid disaster recovery funding. Blayney businessperson Ian Reeks points to the long delays this is now causing businesses and the dangerous route along the Darling Causeway, not built for such an increase in diverted heavy vehicle traffic. In the Hartley Valley, local businesses are at breaking point watching their customer traffic vanish overnight. Owner of the iconic Lolly Bug in Hartley Sharon Tofler has said that the most terrifying word in the English language right now is 'indefinite'. Sharon is already seeing income slashed by more than half. Everyone fears more 'forever roadworks' that we know all too well. The impacts are region wide. Jacqui Harman, who runs Kenzell Farm at Oberon, has written to me because she is already seeing mass cancellations for the Easter period. Western regional director for Business NSW, Vicki Seccombe, said local businesses have reached breaking point. She said the highway closure comes at a time when businesses are already under intense pressure. This disruption piles on more pressure at a time when many businesses are already operating on very thin margins. Now is the time for strong leadership and investment from both state and federal governments, she said. But what is truly infuriating—what is stoking deep and justified anger across our electorate—is the feeling that the people of the Central West are being treated as second-class citizens. How is it that, in the Australia of 2026, the main access road in and out of our region is reliant on a bridge built by a convict chain gang in the 1830s? You cannot make this up. It's a ludicrous, disgraceful indictment of all political parties and decades of neglect. Our communities make an enormous contribution to the wealth of this state and nation. Our regional economy drives this country. Yet, when it comes to infrastructure, we are treated as an afterthought. The citizens of the Central West see gold plated tunnels being bored under Sydney at a cost of billions. They see world-class expressways stretching from the north coast to the south coast. Yet successive governments have avoided spending the money we need to build a genuine expressway to Sydney. We've seen everything from empty National Party sod-turnings on a Bells Line of Road expressway and a failure to fully commit to the Great Western Highway to the snatching away by this government of billions in committed funding. They've all just been kicking the can down the road, and now that road is disintegrating beneath our feet. The Great Western Highway is not fit for purpose, and you can't fix it with bandaid solutions. The anger in our communities is real. I call on the government to take immediate action to secure our local fuel supply so that our famers can sow their crops and our businesses can keep their doors open and our regional workforce employed. In the upcoming budget I call on the government to commit the funding for a genuine expressway through the mountains as an urgent national infrastructure priority project. The people of the Central West pay our taxes and contribute more than our fair share to this country. It's time that governments and political parties of all stripes stop treating our communities as an inconvenience and start giving us the infrastructure we need and we deserve. We demand our fair share of government funding and an end to these debilitating crises. Deakin Electorate: Croydon Primary School 72 16:35 Mr GREGG 315154 Deakin When I first ran for parliament in 2022, I quickly got used to all sorts of requests being made, all good ideas. As someone who became interested in politics wanting to make the community a better place, I loved all the ideas, but the reality is that not all can be funded. The hard decision is: which do we choose? Which can we support? Which are the really good ideas, and what needs to be given priority? In 2022, one idea stood out to me. Croydon Primary School was calling for a gym not only to support their wonderful student community during the day but also as a piece of essential infrastructure after-hours to help engage what we found to be a bit of a disengaged group of youth in the area, hanging around in shopping centres and getting into a bit of mischief. We needed a hub. We needed a piece of infrastructure through which we could run programs to engage these young people, and I'm so proud that we finally have it. The Principal of Croydon Primary School, Julie Gilbert, was a fierce advocate for this proposal from day 1, and she made an incredibly convincing case. As a teacher, I could see the massive difference it would make to the school community and to the community more broadly. I was thrilled to announce back in 2022 that the government would build a gym if the Albanese Labor government were elected, and I think it's fair to say the school community was pretty excited at the time. Of course, history tells us that I did not win the 2022 election, but I'm pleased to say that the Albanese government honoured its promise nevertheless. I was still thrilled to be driving past Croydon Primary School being built over the years. It was always a thrill to see it begin, and one of my first stops after being elected was to see the work being done on the primary school gym which was under construction, which I was able to do with my friend the Minister for Education, the honourable Jason Clare. It was amazing to see it coming to life, and, only just a few weeks ago, even more thrilling to join the Minister for Education once again and walk into a brand new gym, seeing the faces of the excited staff and students at the school who were absolutely thrilled with their magnificent new facility. I am not a crying person. Those who know me would say that. But I can say that I did shed a tear that day because what it meant to those young people and to those parents was jaw-dropping. This was a significant investment in their futures. It showed that our community cared about them and was invested in their future. It showed that were listening to community leaders who were begging for the infrastructure to run these programs as well. They had the plans, they had the ideas, they had the grassroots engagement, support and volunteers, but they just needed a space. Finally, we were able to open up a first class location for this wonderful community to continue with their important work. The students were so excited and, I have to admit, encouraged by the Minister for Education, to test the acoustics of this fantastic new facility. I'm pleased to say that the windows were able to withstand that pressure of that uniquely high-pitched screaming you get from someone around the age of six or seven. It certainly tested the limits of my own ears, but it was just a thrilling moment with such powerful energy in the room. After the assembly, Principal Gilbert took us for a more thorough tour, and it was amazing to see how genuinely proud and thrilled she was of the new fantastic facility—just beaming the entire time. And she was right to be proud because she had engaged in long-term advocacy for years and years and years. This was a discussion we were having back in 2021. It was a long-held plan. It seemed like mission impossible, and to see a project like that come to life is so thrilling. It also showed the power of a community neighbourhood public school as a hub for community resources. This is a perfectly located facility, right over the road from the shopping centre where we often see young people hanging around and causing a little bit of concern. But it actually provides us with an opportunity to run programs that engage them in sporting and pro-social activities, to actually intervene and make a difference to their lives while addressing concerns in our community as well. It's win, win, win, win—and that is ideal when we invest in a piece of infrastructure. It's great to see that, when we invest in schools, we're also investing in the community more broadly, and the benefits of this facility are going to be massive. We had representatives of the Chin community from Burma, or Myanmar, there also. They were thrilled by what they saw. They could see the potential of this new facility to provide a place where our young people can be brought in, can be safe, can connect—not only with one another but with other groups in our community—can engage with community policing and other government services and where they will have supports to engage in pro-social activities and use their time in exciting and productive ways. I'm incredibly excited for the community. I congratulate Principal Gilbert for her wonderful advocacy. This is just part of the work we're doing in Croydon. We're spending millions on infrastructure in Croydon, and I can't wait to speak about that in the coming days. McPherson Electorate: Community Events 73 16:40 Mr REBELLO 316547 McPherson I rise this afternoon to share with the House the privilege that it was to recently welcome the new Leader of the Liberal Party, Angus Taylor, and the new Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, Senator Jane Hume, to my electorate of McPherson on the southern Gold Coast. Both visits occurred within the first 10 days of their election to these leadership roles. I believe that that says something important. It shows that the coalition does not take the southern Gold Coast for granted. It shows that the people of McPherson are being heard and that they do have strong representation in Canberra. When the Leader of the Liberal Party visited McPherson, we started the day bright and early in true Burleigh fashion—a morning run along the beachfront. After the run, we grabbed coffee with an enthusiastic group of young supporters. Locals came up to us to wish Angus very well and share their views on the direction of the country and the issues that matter to them. Those conversations were thoughtful, and they were candid. People spoke about the rising cost of living, the pressures facing small businesses and their hopes for the future. We visited Saul Wiseman and his impressive young team at Cadetshop in Burleigh, a fantastic local business that exemplifies the ingenuity of Australian manufacturing. Cadetshop has built a strong partnership with the Australian Defence Force, producing specialised equipment and items that support our cadets and ADF personnel. We also visited Aussie Chiller, another outstanding small business at Burleigh Heads. It was an opportunity to hear from Dan and Lauren about their remarkable story and how they've scaled up their family business to exporting their products from Burleigh to the world. But, like so many businesses across the country, they spoke about rising costs, workforce pressures and the need for policies that support and reward enterprise. Our final stop was—my favourite—Blackboard cafe in Varsity Lakes, where we held a roundtable with young women and their families to discuss cost-of-living pressures and choice in child care. I thank Jen Fleming from Childcare Choice for helping to organise that roundtable. It was a valuable discussion. Families spoke openly about the need for policies that give them and, in particular, women choice and the opportunity to get ahead while balancing work and childcare commitments. A few days later, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, Senator Jane Hume, to McPherson as well. We began the day at one of my regular listening spots, the beautiful Tallebudgera Creek. As Senator Hume observed that morning, 'Even in paradise, it's clear that people are doing it tough.' People told us that the cost of everything has gone up—groceries, energy, insurance and housing—while their standard of living is going backwards. Senator Hume and I also attended a special event at the Coolangatta branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association—the heritage listing of their beautiful hall in Coolangatta. The hall has long been a centrepiece of community life, and it will now be an enduring home for the QCWA and the broader southern Gold Coast community. I'd like to congratulate President Karen Howell and the ladies of the QCWA, who continue to strengthen women and their families across our community through their tireless work. We also visited Fin Design & Effects, where Andrea Hearn and the team showed us their world-class visual effects studio that is based in Burleigh. It was fascinating to see how films recognised across the globe, including Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Elvis, have had their visual effects created right there on the southern Gold Coast. To round out the visit, Senator Hume and I stopped in at Mr Consistent in Burleigh, where Jeremy Davidson and his team have built an impressive local business producing cocktail mixes now recognised across Australia and beyond. It's exactly the kind of entrepreneurial success that the Gold Coast is known for, creating jobs, supporting families and contributing to our local economy. There is no doubt that, in the first 10 days of the new leadership team, we put McPherson firmly on the map. The visit sent a clear message: the coalition values the southern Gold Coast, and the people of McPherson have a strong voice in Canberra. I will continue to advocate strongly in this place and across the country on behalf of my community, standing up for our small businesses, for our families, for our young people and for the organisations that make the southern Gold Coast such a truly special place to call home. Online Safety 74 16:45 Ms LAWRENCE 299150 Hasluck As you well know, at Federation, women did not have the right to vote. Once granted the right to vote, it took until 1943 to see the first female representatives in this parliament. Even then, the legal and economic barriers facing women were profound and long-lasting. We couldn't open a bank account until 1971 without a male guarantor—may well you laugh. For decades, women in the Commonwealth Public Service were subject to so-called 'marriage bar', which required them to resign from their jobs when they married. We couldn't even get a loan or a mortgage until 1984. It was only with legislation such as the Sex Discrimination Act in 1984 that discrimination on the basis of sex became unlawful in workplaces and public life. In 2023, Australia fully decriminalised abortion across every state and territory. That was only three years ago. These restrictions are not ancient history. They exist within living memory for millions of Australian women. But now, in 2026, we are at the precipice of real change. The median gender pay gap sits at just 16.4 per cent, the lowest it has ever been. Women are now being paid superannuation on their Paid Parental Leave, further closing the retirement savings gap that has historically left women with significantly less financial security in later life. Women will not pay more than $25 for birth control or menopause support on PBS prescriptions. These changes matter because the cost of health care should never be a barrier to women's wellbeing. Australia is now ranked 13th globally for gender equality by the World Economic Forum, our highest ranking ever. Just a few years ago, in 2022, we sat at 43rd. It is proof that representation matters and I'm proud to be part of Australia's first woman-majority government party room, and across the country women are increasingly present in leadership roles in business, education and public life. But make no mistake, this progress has been achieved by having women at the table, by women being directly involved in the decisions that shape their futures. Australia needs to have a serious conversation with itself. There is an online undercurrent that is sweeping some young men away. The 'manosphere' is a loose network of largely predominantly online groups that, sadly, in many cases, are promoting misogyny and in some cases are radicalising men towards violence against women. These groups are united in their opposition to feminism and in their holding of very traditional views of gender roles. They misrepresent men as victims of the current social and political climate. They describe the hard-fought equality that women have achieved over many years as 'things having gone too far', as if you can have too much equality. Some of these misogynists use terms like 'female humanoid organism', an insult meant to suggest women are not only less than men but less than human. There are also self-proclaimed pick-up artists, who teach members how to coerce and manipulate women into sex and who openly mock the idea of sexual consent. Research and reporting from Australia's eSafety Commissioner has warned about the way social media algorithms can funnel young users towards increasingly extreme misogynistic content. What can begin as curiosity can quickly become radicalisation. This content infects our children. They are exposed to it online. One school teacher described her experience of working with children who had fallen into this trap, saying, 'I had a year 9 boy complete a creative writing exercise that basically described an act of gang rape towards me.' These attitudes are not harmless online bravado. They have real-world consequences. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in four women has experienced violence from an intimate partner. When young men are taught to see women as objects, or enemies or less than human, those statistics become more likely not less. The Labor government is working to protect our children from this radicalisation. We have introduced new online safety codes, on the back of the under-16s social media ban, to limit children's access to the R-rated material that is often used as a hook by these groups. Governments can and should act, but government alone cannot solve this problem. Support must also come from inside the home, and I implore everybody to take a role and to work hard to combat the rise in misogyny. Teal Independents, Gender and Sexual Orientation, Energy 75 16:50 Mr SMALL 291406 Forrest This week, the teals have been revealed in this place, because, whilst the parties of government were debating very serious matters of our border security and the rights of those who hold visas to come to our country, we saw an unbelievable stunt. Where the government of the day had taken the very serious decision to deny arrival en masse to Australia to those who hold temporary visas but were located in parts of the world undergoing conflict and crisis, the teals moved an amendment to that very serious piece of legislation that would have seen a humanitarian visa issued for every single one of those visas denied in such serious circumstances. It just goes to show that, when it comes to protecting Australians and protecting Australians' way of life, the teal movement cannot be trusted. In the lead-up to the last election, we saw and defended Liberal MPs and the Liberal Party making claims that the Greens and the teals had very similar voting records. Indeed, we tabled information that showed that, more than 80 per cent of the time, teal MPs vote with the Greens. I wonder now whether we are seeing the teal movement exposed as more extreme than even the Australian Greens, because it was the teal MPs in this place who sought to amend a bipartisan piece of legislation that sought to keep Australians safe, to protect Australians and to protect our way of life. That is something that I cannot forgive nor forget. Family policy is in focus because the fertility rate in Australia is collapsing. The number of children born to every woman in Australia is now just 1.4, well below the replacement rate of 2.1 live births per woman. But it does raise the very curious question of 'what is a woman?' In my home state of Western Australia, the Western Australian government now issues a handheld pregnancy record to mothers-to-be, and it includes this fascinating insight: 'This handbook has information about the reproductive cycle and uses sexed language to avoid confusion.' So far, so good, but it continues, saying: 'Words such as "mother" and "woman" also include people who do not identify as women but have given birth to the infant they may be breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or have a new baby and do not identify as a woman or mother, please share your preferred pronouns with your healthcare team so that they can talk to you using words that are comfortable to you.' That is the Western Australian healthcare handheld pregnancy record. To me, in a country where we need to promote childbirth, celebrate families and support those same families to raise the next generation of Australians, the last thing that we should be focused on is the pronouns in use. We shouldn't be asking questions as to whether or not, indeed, it is a woman who gives birth to children in our country. Those seem to be quite self-evident facts to those of us on this side of the House. Finally, when it comes to energy security, we deserve a very serious debate in this country. The so-called rules based order on which the liberalised world has effectively relied for many decades now, since at least the end of World War II, is indeed broken, and it makes no sense to play by the rules based order when there are actors around the world who would seek to subvert the interests of democracies, like Australia. So we come to the point of seeing the Strait of Hormuz closed to shipping, with some 15 million barrels of oil a day MIA from global markets. Pipelines across Saudi Arabia and, indeed, to the port of Fujairah, which I went to as a sailor, have replaced some six million barrels of that, and the IEA's unprecedented release of 400 million barrels of oil at four million barrels a day has replaced that, leaving a gap of five million. That's why we need to have a serious conversation about resilience and the ability of Australia to once again be an energy independent nation. Business 76 16:55 Mr GEORGANAS DZY Adelaide I would like to take a moment to talk about one of the people in my electorate, someone whose experience reflects the challenges that many Australians face every day when dealing with large service providers, big multinational companies, big corporations, financial institutions, call centres—businesses that have robotic answering services and automated computer messaging. This is the story of Mr Sacha, and through it, I'm sure, is the story of countless Australians and others who quietly struggle with essential services when they fall short. Mr Sacha's experience is, unfortunately, familiar to many when every day Australians reach out for support, particularly in moments of stress, to these companies when something has gone wrong with the service that they are supposed to be provided with. They often find themselves confronted with long delays, unclear communication or responses that feel very impersonal, do not address the issue and are very dismissive. It leaves people feeling powerless, especially when the issue affects their work, their family and their sense of security. Back in November 2020, Mr Sacha, who lives in my electorate, purchased on an Optus plan two new mobile handsets that he needed for his job and to stay in touch with his elderly parents, who depended on regular communication. Not long after he'd purchased this particular service and had signed up to Optus, the local telecommunication tower in Prospect, which was the area that he lived in, went down and there was no communication on these particular phones. He was told repairs could take up to three weeks. For many people, three weeks may seem manageable, but when your livelihood depends on that service, as did Mr Sacha's, three weeks is a long time. When vulnerable family members rely on you for support and you need to communicate with them, three weeks feels like an eternity. For Mr Sacha, it created deep stress and real disruption in his life and, more importantly, in his business. Understandably, he tried to return one of the handsets—it was unopened, unused, still sealed in the box—hoping for understanding. Instead, he encountered a brick wall. He encountered rigid contractual language and a response that left him feeling unheard. He was told that he would have to pay a $1,000 fee and was discouraged from seeking help through the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. No-one should ever feel pressured or intimidated when simply trying to resolve a legitimate concern. Australia has complaints pathways for a reason. They're there to protect people like Mr Sacha, to ensure fairness and to prevent large organisations from overwhelming the individual they serve. Behind the policies, procedures and call centres are real people, like Mr Sacha, who are trying to stay connected to their families, support their work and navigate everyday pressures. Mr Sacha came to our office and reached out for help. Within hours we had the issue sorted out for him. But why does it have to come to this? Why could they not deal with their customer in a way that was fair and equitable? Why did it have to come to the point where he had to visit his federal MP? We were very pleased to help him, but we had to intervene, and then, all of a sudden, the problem was fixed. These people need to be heard. They need to be able to have the confidence that the service providers that we're paying money for are there to assist them when things go wrong. Most of all, Mr Sasha's story highlights a deeper truth, which is that many Australians do not have the time, the confidence or the resources to challenge these large corporations. Some feel intimidated, some feel overwhelmed and others simply give up. I'm sure all of us in this House deal with constituents who come to see us about services that they've paid for but are not getting for whatever reason and they cannot navigate a way through to get recompense or to ensure that the services are provided to them. Today I want to acknowledge Mr Sacha for his courage in sharing his story and experience. By doing so, he's helped shine a light on the importance of fairness, accountability and compassion in the services that people rely on, whether that be telecommunications, banking or financial services. I'm very pleased that the Assistant Treasurer is here in the chamber. He is one of the ministers responsible, and I know the work that he's putting into this area. We really appreciate it. House adjourned at 17:00 The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Boyce ) took the chair at 09:30.

Thursday, 12 March 2026

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Boyce ) took the chair at 09:30.

CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS 77 CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS Health Care 77 09:30 Mr REBELLO 316547 McPherson I rise today to speak on this government's failures when it comes to health care. Australia is fortunate to have one of the strongest healthcare systems in the world, and that's a system that's been built and strengthened through the efforts of both sides of politics. But what good is a strong system if people in my community can't access the care when they need it? During the last election campaign, the Prime Minister promised more than 71 times that visits to a family doctor would be free, but the reality in my community tells a very different story. Across the southern Gold Coast, bulk-billing rates have fallen by 12 per cent under this government, and the reason for that is quite simple. It's increasingly not financially viable. GPS across my community are incredibly committed to providing the best possible care for their patients, but, like any small business, they must also keep their doors open. The costs of medical supplies, subscriptions, software, rents, electricity, insurance, staff and taxes continue to rise, and, as a local doctor told me, there's no billable item in the Medicare rebates for those expenses. When the numbers simply don't add up, practices are forced to make difficult decisions just to stay viable. I recently saw a letter written by a Labor member of this House to a local GP practice which read: 'My constituents have shared their disappointment that your practice is currently not a fully bulk-billing clinic. I encourage you to move towards a 100 per cent bulk-billing model as it would better serve the community.' With respect, that is not health policy. An instructive letter does not reduce the cost of running a medical practice. Good policy does. Local doctors in my community have explained the realities that they face under the current system. Under the current bulk-billing model. Many described the pressure to deliver what they call six-minute medicine. This means shorter consultations, higher patient volumes and, in some cases, quick fixes even when a patient's condition requires more time and careful investigation. Take something as simple as high blood pressure. A doctor could spend two minutes writing a prescription and move on to the next patient, but a thorough GP will take the time to investigate underlying causes, risk review factors and ensure that nothing serious is missed. The problem is that, under the current system, the doctor who takes 15 minutes to properly investigate the issue may receive the same or even less than the one who rushes through it. As one local GP put it to me, the thorough doctor becomes the poor doctor, and that is the wrong incentive to build into our healthcare system. Our healthcare system should support careful, high-quality care, not rushed appointments and treating patients like numbers. If this government wants to truly restore bulk-billing, it needs to stop writing letters and start delivering the policy settings that make quality general practice sustainable. Because, as we all know, when GP practices cannot survive, it is our communities who ultimately pay the price. Disaster and Emergency Management 77 09:33 Mr DREYFUS HWG Isaacs I rise today to acknowledge the selfless work of first responders in my electorate of Isaacs. Our community relies on Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria and the volunteers of the Country Fire Authority and the Victoria State Emergency Service. I'd like to acknowledge their tireless work that protects lives and property through coordinated responses, including firefighting, rescue operations, medical care, evacuation support, traffic management, and protecting homes and local infrastructure. We saw that work during the flash flooding along the Great Ocean Road earlier this year and the floods in Mildura and surrounding areas. We saw it again during the recent heatwave and major bushfires across Victoria. Behind each of these events and many others are the people who leave home at short notice not knowing what they will find when they arrive. It means long hours, clear judgement under pressure and a strong sense of duty to the community. For many it begins with a call that comes without warning while they're at work or with their families or in the middle of the night. Often they do not know whether they will be gone for an hour, most of the night or days. They arrive when the rest of us are trying to leave or calling for help when we need it the most. They carry the weight of responsibility before they even step out. Most of the time we only see the end results: roads reopened, houses protected and families moved to safety. What we don't see is the danger and devastation first responders walk into: unimaginable bushfires, floodwaters carving through homes, roads and properties, and destructive winds tearing down trees, powerlines and buildings. I extend my sincere thanks to all first responders in my electorate of Isaacs and across Australia. I've seen their professionalism and the readiness that sits behind every call-out. Your service—the service of all first responders—protects lives and property and is deeply valued by the communities that you serve. Ryan Electorate: Infrastructure 78 09:36 Ms WATSON-BROWN 300127 Ryan Brisbane is being sold off, and we are getting absolutely nothing for it. Labor and the LNP are using the Olympics to enrich their big developer mates. Here are six pieces of public land that are being given away to private developers (1) the Brisbane athletes village at the RNA Showgrounds has been sold off to corporate developer Lendlease, (2) the $2.3 billion Gabba arena has been funded by a giant asset sale of nine hectares of public land, (3) the 7.1 hectare Visy site has been sold or leased to private developers, (4) the 100 hectares of public land at Hamilton Northshore have been sold off or leased to private developers, (5) the Gold Coast athletes village and Sunshine Coast athletes village will receive a share of $3.5 billion in public funding to subsidise private developers, and (6) the LNP council are privatising the Brisbane Riverstage. We're already seeing the Olympics driving up house prices. Locals are paying more rent than ever and getting outbid at auctions by property speculators, but Labor and the LNP say they can't do anything about it. Banks, property developers and property speculators—that's who the major parties really care about—are making more money than ever off everyday people. Talking of bad development, Brisbane Airport's draft 2026 master plan is very bad news for Brisbane. It forecasts a huge increase in flights, making noise and emissions impacts on residents even worse. It also includes longer term plans for more overnight freight operations and flying taxis that will clog our skies. It forecasts a 70 per cent increase in total aircraft movements by 2046, including more than doubling the number of international flights, which are usually on larger and noisier aircraft. This far outpaces predicted population growth. It will also double the number of flights during peak periods, exacerbating the very worst impacts of aircraft noise. There are no plans to address the larger noise impact created by the massive increase in aircraft movements. Brisbane Airport and Airservices Australia are already managing noise very poorly, as found by independent assessors, so the lack of any plan for this is absolutely appalling to see. The plan also includes plans for vertical take-off and landing aircraft, also known as flying taxis. Who is asking for this? It's certainly not the people of Brisbane, who do not want these vehicles further clogging our skies for the convenience of the ultrawealthy. The minister must reject the master plan and send Brisbane Airport back to the drawing board. Barton Electorate: Community Events 78 09:39 Ms AMBIHAIPAHAR 315618 Barton Bravo to Jahnava Tevita of Earlwood District Girl Guides, who has been awarded the highly acclaimed Baden-Powell Award. Unfortunately, I could not attend Jahnava's ceremony. Because of that, I want to celebrate her award here with you all in the Australian parliament. The Baden-Powell Award recognises guides who have outstanding commitment to the Girl Guide promise and law, outdoor skills, service to others and leadership within their unit. I'm told that Jahnava has gone above and beyond in demonstrating these values, having been an active member of Earlwood District Girl Guides since she was six. She's a girl after my own heart, completing this award without fuss, all by herself, whilst lifting up her peers. Jahnava, your perseverance, your humility and your leadership are going to take you very far. A special shout-out to her leader, Rosalie Nunn, too who has supported Jahnava along the way. Congratulations to Hurstville Community Garden. Not only has this fantastic community group pulled off a very successful Clean Up Australia Day; they are also going to open their own permaculture garden. Green spaces are so important to metro communities like Barton. They give us a space to escape the daily grind, connect with nature and, more importantly, meet like-minded neighbours. But they only happen when community members take time out of their busy schedules to chip in. I'm excited to cut the ribbon for this beautiful space which will open this Saturday. I will also get to plant a beautiful native, one of many that will thrive in this beautiful space. Thank you to Charlotte Mullins, Gemma Palmer, Daniela Wheatley and the whole Hurstville Community Garden's team for making this space come to life. Last year I attended the Raise mentee graduation ceremony at Kingsgrove High School. Raise is a not-for-profit organisation that runs youth mentoring in our local high schools. It partners keen local volunteers with students who need a little bit more support during their high school journey. In doing so, the program provides a trustworthy, empathetic mentor to each student. This creates a safe and welcoming space for the student to chat through the challenges they may be experiencing at school and in their personal life with a champion who will back them 100 per cent. This sees the student grow in confidence and get through the difficult years of high school. I want to take this chance to thank Kingsgrove High School, to congratulate its students and, most importantly, to give a huge shout-out to the local mentors, like Andrea, who put their hands up to be a mentor. You are making such a difference to these young people's lives. Lyne Electorate: Roads 79 09:41 Ms PENFOLD 248895 Lyne While regional Australians and regional businesses are dealing with the problems of getting access to fuel, they're also dealing with the state of the road network. Regional Australia is facing some of the worst roads in this country. Today I want to take this opportunity to mention a small corridor at the southern end of my electorate that thousands and thousands of constituents of mine have to contend with every day. I'm talking about Italia Road, Bucketts Way and Medowie Road intersections with the Pacific Highway. This isn't the first time that I've stood in this chamber and raised this issue. The reason I'm doing it is that for every day of delay in governments, both state and federal, addressing the problem at this intersection, we are a day closer to a very serious accident. When I came into this place last year, I took the opportunity to go and see the minister for infrastructure—I'm very grateful to her for her drop-in sessions—about a $12 million commitment to do design and planning work at the Bucketts Way intersection. It's a commitment, I must say, that we—as in the coalition—also made at the last election. In fact, she stood at the intersection in my electorate with the member for Paterson and made the commitment. I was grateful for that too. I said to her: 'What's happening? This is an important commitment you made.' The answer was: 'I know nothing about it. Go and talk to the state minister.' She made the commitment, but didn't know anything about it. So I wrote to the state minister for roads. Three months after writing to the minister, having written to her twice, in addition, to ask her for a response, I finally got a response. It's a very interesting one. I specifically asked what the timeframe is. People are contending with very, very dangerous intersections where they're crossing traffic going at 100 kilometres to 110 kilometres an hour. There are caravans, there are trucks and there are school buses trying to get across this intersection. I asked for a timeline on this work. I didn't get a timeline. What I got were two things. Firstly, I actually got a lie from the minister, claiming that it was Labor governments that made a $7.2 million commitment to do some work at the grade intersection at Italia Road and Medowie Road. That was, in fact, a coalition commitment. Secondly, as I've said, no timeframe for a grade separated interchange at Medowie Road and Bucketts Way—that is the only solution that will fix the problems my constituents are facing. Cocks, Ms Helen 79 09:45 Dr ALY 13050 Cowan Today I want to recognise a remarkable member of the Cowan community, Helen Cocks. She has dedicated two decades of service to supporting residents through her work at the Hepburn Centre where she serves as the executive officer. Over those two decades Helen has played an extraordinary role in strengthening the centre as well as the many community groups and individuals who rely on the centre. Helen first joined the organisation as a part-time staff member, and through her dedication, her leadership and her genuine commitment to helping others she quickly became an irreplaceable part of the Hepburn Centre, and today she's widely regarded as the glue that holds the centre together and as someone who ensure that residents and community groups across Cowan feel welcomed, supported and connected to each other and to the services that are there for them. Community centres like the Hepburn Centre play an incredibly significant role in our suburbs. They are places where people come together to access services, to participate in activities, to build friendship and to support one another, and they help foster this really important sense of connection and belonging that really, really does hold together communities and that is the very basis of what our nation can be when we come together in these ways. I've attended several events at the Hepburn Centre, ranging from community gatherings to days dedicated to bringing together a range of services for those in need, including homeless people. I'm really proud to have been able to support the centre over the years as the member for Cowan. Those who work alongside Helen often speak about her unwavering dedication and her willingness to step in wherever help is needed, and I can certainly vouch for that. She rarely says no to a request, and she consistently goes above and beyond to support the centre and, importantly, the community and the people who rely on that centre. Twenty years of service—that is an extraordinary milestone, particularly in community work where compassion, patience and commitment are essential. I dare say it takes a special kind of person, a person like Helen, to dedicate 20 years of their life to this kind of service. Our community is stronger because of people like Helen, and it really is a privilege to be able to recognise her in this place here today. Pollard, Mr Sean, Economy 79 09:48 Mr SMALL 291406 Forrest I want to place on the record the extraordinary courage and achievements of a Forrest resident and, indeed, the captain of the Australian Paralympic Team for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Sean Pollard. In 2014, he was surfing on the south-west coast of WA and was attacked by a 3½ metre great white shark. The attack cost him his left arm and his right hand, creating circumstances of unimaginable difficulty for a young man. Yet, in the face of this life-altering adversity, Sean demonstrated remarkable resilience. Most of us take for granted our ability to complete the simplest of daily tasks, but Sean had to relearn the basics of life, no doubt gaining a powerful sense of perspective along the way. Through what was, no doubt, a long and arduous rehabilitation, Sean turned to snowboarding, which is perhaps an unlikely pursuit for someone living in Bunbury, but it was one that he took to with astonishing speed and talent. Within a year of the attack, he began competing at the elite level, and just a year after that he made his Australian debut in parasnowboarding. In a social media piece with Qantas, Sean expressed a massive thank you to the community and the people of Bunbury who have rallied behind Sean. Having represented Australia at the Paralympics in Milano Cortina, we're looking forward to welcoming Sean back as a true hero of Bunbury. You've already made us immensely proud. Australians are feeling the full force of inflation running rampant in this country under the Albanese government. When they spend more, you pay more, and the best barometer of this is the humble Bunnings snag. Let's break it down. The gas bottle costs more because production and transport energy prices are up some 38 per cent in four years. The barbecue itself costs more as steel manufacturing and freight are absorbing higher power bills as well. The sausage meat costs more as farmers are having to pay extra for diesel, fertiliser, refrigeration and many other costs, whilst the same goes for the onions. The sauce is costing more because every ingredient must be grown, processed and bottled using energy that is unaffordable under Labor's net zero ideology. Even the price of bread—with its milling, baking and distribution costs—is rising through the roof, forcing Australians to pay more. So every single part of the humble Aussie snag has been squeezed by rising costs fuelled by this government's spending habits and its net zero approach at any cost to energy. We hear plenty of smug commentary dressed up as economic analysis from the Treasurer, but Australians shouldn't judge the Australian economy by political spin; they should judge it by the humble Bunnings snag. The verdict is clear: we are cooked. Superannuation 80 09:51 Mr SOON 298618 Banks In October last year, I spoke in this House about the changes the government was making to the superannuation system to better serve the interests of working people, particularly low-income workers. It is why I was so pleased to see the Labor government's latest reforms to the superannuation system passed the parliament this week as part of the building a stronger and fairer super system legislation. As a result of this government's ambitious agenda, the low-income superannuation tax offset will be raised from $310 to $810, and raises the eligibility threshold to $45,000 from 1 July next year. This timing is deliberate, aligning with the third round of the Labor government's cost-of-living tax cuts for every taxpayer, ensuring that low-income workers receive a fairer tax concession on their contributions. These workers will receive a boost of up to $810 to their superannuation account, depending on the size of their contribution, with an average increase of $410 for affected workers. Over the course of someone's career, this can add up to around $15,000 by the time they retire. Recent analysis by the Super Members Council showed that the proposed changes to the LISTO would benefit more than 1.2 million Australians, including 9,321 hardworking constituents in my electorate of Banks. Indeed, when looking at the estimated number of beneficiaries among electorates in New South Wales, Banks comes in at sixth. And when looking to the average additional super, Banks ranks fourth, with each of those nearly 9½ thousand constituents ending up an average of $438 better off. And when it comes to total estimated benefit, low-income workers in Banks are $4.1 million better off, and on that metric my electorate ranks second in New South Wales, behind only my good friend the member for Parramatta. This is a significant win for the people of Banks. Much has been made by those opposite about these changes, but the truth is that 14 times as many people will have improved their tax position under these changes compared to those that will be adversely affected. This is what real reform looks like. It maintains favourable tax treatment of superannuation while making the system better and fairer, by making a dignified retirement possible for hundreds of thousands of Australians, including 9,321 constituents in my electorate of Banks. Child Care 80 09:54 Ms PRICE 249308 Durack The current state of child care in regional Western Australia is dire. Economic and social wellbeing of communities is under threat because of the lack of affordable, accessible care. My electorate of Durack is not immune from this. In Kununurra, dozens of families have been left without child care for the past three months, following the sudden closure of the town's only childcare centre in December. Couples running businesses, working full time, without family support are now taking extended unpaid leave to care for their children. This affects every industry in Kununurra. In Western Australia, Durack has been the hardest hit in attracting and retaining qualified childcare workers. On Monday, the Australian Childcare Alliance WA told the West Australian newspaper that the Mid West, Port Hedland and Kununurra had the greatest staffing difficulties due to high attraction costs, housing shortages and rising rents. The recent federal inquiry into child safety concerns in early learning was told that nearly 700,000 people are living in areas with little or no access to child care. Families around Australia are driving several hours to neighbouring towns for child care, or they're turning down full-time work because care is simply not available. These problems have been created by the Albanese Labor government's approach to child care. Their view is that child care should be universal—not just universal but 'one size fits all' and all centre based. This is simply not possible, especially in regional towns like those in my electorate of Durack. Every family is unique. Cultures, work patterns, faith, traditions and support networks—well, they all vary. Some families rely on grandparents; others prefer in-home or family day care. A system that is built around a universal method does not represent Australia or the diversity needed within the system. In contrast, the coalition believes that parental choice should drive childcare policy. Government should be empowering families with real choices and options, not forcing them into an approach that suits Canberra bureaucrats. Currently, these choices are not available to these families. Whether it's the current fuel shortage, the banning of live sheep exports, the firearm law changes in Western Australia, changes in Western Australia impacting our fishing families or a poorly designed childcare system, Labor governments are, time and time again, demonstrating that they either don't understand regional Western Australia or simply don't care about regional Western Australia. This issue of child care is just another example of regional Western Australians being treated with disrespect and disregard by the Albanese Labor government. Solomon Electorate: International Women's Day 81 09:57 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon There's been a lot of rain in the Northern Territory. I want to give a shout-out to everyone dealing with those conditions—those that have been impacted and also those who are responding to help our fellow Territorians out in their time of need. The member for Lingiari won't be here today, because she's on the ground back in the Territory with her constituents. There has been a lot of rain for a long time, but it didn't stop Territorians coming together to celebrate Territory women. On International Women's Day last weekend, in the pouring rain, we gathered out the front of Charles Darwin University's Danala campus and we did a block of the CBD. Together we all celebrated how proud we are of women in the Territory and the important role, the vital role, that they play in community, in families, in society and in the economy at large. I also went to some other events, after that, with the Tamil Society. They celebrated their incredible women, who are not only honouring their culture, from where they came, but contributing so much to our community, professionally and with their families. I did the same with the Sri Lankans. Well done to SLAFA. They also acknowledged their awesome women in that event, as did the Country Women's Association. That was a fantastic event. I want to shout-out Judy Anictomatis—the outgoing president now—Mary Pocock and Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris. Thank God the chief judge is our back-up administrator in the Northern Territory. We were raising money for TEWLS, the Top End Women's Legal Service. Well done to Sue Phoo for her presentation and also the work that they do every day helping Territory women when they need it most. I want to congratulate Rachael Shanahan, who is the new president and did an awesome job bringing that event together, and, of course, Lizzie T—Liz Trevaskis—from the ABC, who was the MC and did a fantastic job. Many Territory women approached me at this range of events—which also included a United Nations Association of Australia NT branch event, and well done to Kate Heelan and her team—concerned about the closure of maternity services at Darwin Private Hospital and the strain on maternity services at Royal Darwin Hospital. While I'm at it, I want to thank the hardworking staff at RDH. My wife, Kate, and I were blessed to have our two kids at Royal Darwin Hospital. I want to thank all the staff there, but they do deserve better than what they're getting at the moment. Our government is working closely and collaboratively with the Northern Territory government to strengthen maternity services and ensure that public maternity— (Time expired) Artificial Intelligence 81 10:00 Ms SPENDER 286042 Wentworth I'm here to talk about AI, particularly how it's going to affect not only Wentworth but, actually, our country. AI is a huge opportunity, but it is going to be disruptive, and I do believe some of this disruption is going to be felt in my electorate. Many people in my area work in the knowledge economy, and we know that that is going to be particularly affected by AI. At the same time, we have some of the greatest tech entrepreneurs and venture capital in the country as well. So I think it is going to be a time of great change, and it's up to us in this parliament and in this country to seize the opportunities and manage the downsides and risks. I want to raise the issue that I have in the parliament, which is that we are not talking about AI. So far, in question time, we've had four questions on AI this parliamentary term—three of those from the crossbench, one from Labor, none from the opposition. That is a challenge, because this is going to transform this country. We need to be talking about it here. The government has released an AI strategy. I think that's great. It took them three years. That's too long, and that strategy—which I think is solid—doesn't have KPIs, and it doesn't have timelines. We need those because this is really going to matter. This is going to transform our economy. There are five things I think that I would like to see the government move much faster on right now, and this is both for my community and for the country. Firstly, we need to make sure the benefits are shared. That means we need to make sure that AI is helping us in health care, in education, in the areas where it can actually really transform the daily lives of Australians for the better. Those benefits need to be captured. We also need to back Australian companies in this AI revolution. We need to make sure that Australia benefits too, and that means starting with government procurement. Government procurement should be procuring from innovative companies and leading on AI so that AI systems and AI companies build up their capabilities here in Australia and then sell to the world. We need to get capital unlocked for the companies that will benefit. The government has started to work on Your Future, Your Super and RG 97, which, really, stop superannuation capital investing in innovation. It needs to go faster on this. That capital needs to be unlocked now to back innovation. There are the regulatory responses from the government. They have acknowledged there is slowness; it just has to move faster. I'll give you an example. I have a drone company in my electorate. They compete with helicopters, because they do unmanned drones and helicopters are the alternative. They can't actually bid on things at the moment, because it is so slow to get an answer from CASA, the regulator, in terms of whether or not they can fly. That is unacceptable. Finally, we need to bring in the skilled labour in AI, those who are really talented. We can grow our own talent and bring it in as well when we need it. The visa processing on skilled labour is far too slow. These are some of the things that the government needs to do now to help us manage AI. Maribyrnong Electorate: Community Organisations 82 10:03 Ms BRISKEY 263427 Maribyrnong Over the past few weeks, I've had the absolute privilege of spending time with some grassroots organisations, local schools and sporting clubs that truly represent the best of my community. I want to start by acknowledging the phenomenal team at Wingate Avenue Community Centre. We know that, right now, households are under significant pressure, and food insecurity remains a very real challenge for many families. But it is during these challenging times that our community's capacity for compassion truly shines. Recently, I had the opportunity of visiting Wingate to see their fantastic Farm to Families program in action. I got to spend time volunteering, handing out fresh, healthy food to local families who are doing it tough. Seeing the direct impact of getting fresh produce straight to the people who need it most is both humbling and deeply inspiring. Community led organisations and support like this make a genuine, tangible difference in people's lives, and I want to say a big thank you to Foodbank Australia for their support. I want to place on record in this place my special thanks to Donna Scott and Angie Courtenay and the entire team of volunteers at Wingate. Thank you for inviting me down and thank you for the vital services, activities and events you provide. You are a lifeline to so many, and we are so proud of the work that you do. Looking to the future of our community, I recently had the joy of visiting two outstanding local schools in my community. First, I give a huge shout-out to the year 10 students at Rosehill Secondary College. They kindly invited me to speak with them about how this very parliament works, my role as their federal MP and the importance of Australian democracy and civics. Let me tell you, it's always inspiring to engage with young people who are so curious, so switched on and so eager to understand how they can participate in shaping our nation's future. Knowing that these students are our future leaders gives me immense optimism. I also had the pleasure of attending the St Bernard's College high achievers assembly, a wonderful celebration of student excellence and hard work right across the board. I was deeply honoured to present my community leadership award to an outstanding student, Matthew Skidmore. Congratulations Matthew for your outstanding service. Visiting our local school communities, meeting their terrific teachers and celebrating amazing students is undoubtedly one of the best parts of this gig. Finally, what is a weekend in our community without local sport? A few weekends ago, I got to spend a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon down at the Strathmore sporting club. I was warmly welcomed by the club's president, Ash Martin, along with some of the club's amazing volunteers, players and sponsors. The first XI team was out in the field giving it all against Plenty Valley, and it was a joy to watch the action live. During my visit, Ash and the team proudly showed me around and also talked about the frog box that they got through a stronger communities grant. This is really making a difference for this local club, and it was wonderful to be able to get down there and see it in action. It is such an amazing opportunity to represent the wonderful community of Maribyrnong in this place. It is great gig. Cost of Living 83 10:06 Mr THOMPSON 281826 Herbert I rise today to speak about something that has been felt in homes, streets and community centres right across Townsville. Our local support organisations are doing everything they can, but the pressure on them is growing every single month. North Townsville Community Hub is now giving out four to five tonnes of free food every month. That is food that keeps local families going when there's nothing left in the cupboard. Their emergency relief program is seeing around 240 people in crisis each month, and that number doesn't include the people they simply don't have room to see. Families tell them the same thing over and over again: food costs are up, housing costs are up, and they are struggling. The hub isn't funded for housing, yet they are helping between 30 and 50 families and individuals every month with the basics of food, showers, laundry, somewhere to charge their phone, mental health support and help covering temporary accommodation or rent. These are frontline workers stepping up because this government isn't and someone has to. St Vincent de Paul is seeing the same shift. In Townsville, they have supported more than 16,000 companions in just 12 months. That's not a statistic; that's thousands of locals who need a helping hand. They have provided more than $931,000 in direct assistance, much of it going straight to rent, car expenses and electricity—and soon to be fuel. On top of that, furniture and voucher support has reached more than $535,000. There is a clear trend: more people are asking for help with the basics, with their food, with bills and with keeping their household functioning. Importantly, they are seeing more first-time help seekers—people with jobs, people who simply can't keep up with the rising rents, energy bills, groceries, the cost of fuel. People who once were able to stand on their own two feet are now needing the support. Those who only needed help occasionally are coming back more often. Vinnies are also seeing the impact through their retail store, which is experiencing strong growth. When household budgets tighten, people look for value. These stories are of families stretching their budget, trying to save everything they can, spreading the money further. They also help fund this charity that supports those doing it tough. These organisations show enormous heart and commitment, but the reality is that the demand is rising and they are under enormous strain. The challenges facing Townsville are real. They deserve the full attention of this government. Shellharbour Community Awards 83 10:09 Ms BERRY 23497 Whitlam I rise today to recognise Jarrad Borg, who in January this year was named Shellharbour City Council's Citizen of the Year. Jarrad received this award because he has transformed the landscape of refereeing in the Shellharbour region through his role as President of the South Coast Group 7 Referees Association. Group 7 covers the southern Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales, which includes many areas in my electorate of Whitlam. Jarrad attended Warilla High School, which is in the heart of the Whitlam electorate, and began refereeing when he was just 13 years old. His commitment to developing junior referees, securing major sponsorships and creating strong pathways has set a new benchmark for excellence. In today's world, it is notoriously hard to attract people to referee in any sport, yet under Jarrad's leadership, the number of referees in group 7 has grown from 80 members in 2022 to 175 in 2025. Last year, he became the youngest life member in the referees association's 100-year history, and he also received the New South Wales Rugby League Referees Association's Denis Braybrook Award for his outstanding contribution to refereeing and culture. I was delighted to meet Jarrad in January when he was named Citizen of the Year at the Shellharbour Community Awards and Australia Day Awards. I congratulate and thank Jarrad for his contribution and the contribution he will continue to make to his community. I rise today to recognise Tahlia Bonanno, who was recently named Shellharbour City Council's 2026 Young Citizen of the Year. Tahlia received this award because she exemplifies passion and community spirit through her tireless volunteering and leadership. This is not the first time Tahlia has been recognised for her qualities and skills. She was named 2025 Young Rural Ambassador for the Albion Park Show, and in that role she has supported local shows across Albion Park, Kiama, Robertson and Dapto. Recently, it was announced that Tahlia has been selected as the 2026 Young Rural Ambassador for the Robertson Show. I've met Tahlia on a number of occasions, and she is a remarkable young woman. She plays a key role as vice-president of the Ag Group, known as TAG, inspiring youth involvement in agriculture and local organising committees. Tahlia runs school agriculture programs and has earned multiple awards for poultry showing. She volunteers for Illawarra Convoy, a major fundraising event in our region. Tahlia not only competes at elite levels in karate; she mentors young athletes in that martial art. Tahlia is described by her peers as caring and committed, and a young woman who embodies the values of active citizenship. I congratulate Tahlia for achieving so much at such a young age and for being a wonderful role model for everyone in the community. Mental Health Sector Expo 84 10:12 Mr PIKE 300120 Bowman The timing couldn't have been any better. Just a couple of days after being appointed as our new shadow assistant minister for mental health, I had the opportunity to attend the Mental Health Sector Expo here at Parliament House. This event brought together more than 50 organisations like Beyond Blue, headspace, Lifeline Australia, Lived Experience Australia and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. These organisations do incredible work every day to support Australians experiencing mental health challenges. Events like this are incredibly valuable because they provide parliamentarians like us with the chance to hear directly from people on the frontline of mental health care. It means we can hear from those who are delivering services, advocating for patients and supporting families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Through the expo, I met a wide range of organisations who shared information about the services they provide and how they are helping communities across Australia, including communities like mine in the Redlands. From early intervention programs for young people to crisis support services, suicide prevention initiatives and programs focused on improving long-term recovery outcomes, it was clear just how much dedicated work is happening across the sector and in all corners of the country. Many of these organisations also spoke about the challenges they continue to face. A consistent theme was the growing demand for mental health support services and the pressure this places on providers. Many highlighted the need for stronger workforce capacity. Others spoke about the importance of early intervention and ensuring that young Australians can access support before challenges escalate into more serious mental health conditions. Schools, community programs and youth focused services all have a critical role to play in that space. The expo provided a valuable opportunity to learn more about these organisations, and it also provided important feedback about where the federal government could strengthen support to ensure that no Australians fall through the cracks when it comes to mental health support. I want to thank Carolyn Nikoloski, the CEO of Mental Health Australia, and all of the organisations who took the time to travel to Canberra to provide an opportunity for parliamentarians to learn from their insights on the front line. Their work is incredibly vital, and their advocacy helps to ensure that mental health remains a topic of discussion within this building. It needs to be a national priority; it should be a national priority. The Productivity Commission estimates that the economic cost of poor mental health in this country is $220 billion per annum. Can you imagine the impact that we could have by just making incremental improvements to the mental health and wellbeing of Australians? It's not just a health challenge; it's a huge economic challenge for this nation, and the more focus that parliamentarians have on it, the better this country will be. South Australian State Election 84 10:15 Mr BURNELL 300129 Spence In just nine days, South Australians will have their time to decide who will govern the state for another four years. We have been blessed over the last four years to have Premier Peter Malinauskas, more affectionately known as Mali, lead our state and reinvigorate our state's economy. Just in the last four years we've brought back the V8 Supercars and LIV Golf and just secured MotoGP, and we've had the Gather Round, the premier weekend package for those who love Aussie rules. It has reinvigorated our economy to the point where people want to invest in our state, and they are lining up to do so. It is a fantastic opportunity for people looking to make South Australia their home. So it is with great pleasure that I will now go through the list of fantastic candidates that we have in and around my electorate. But, firstly, I want to congratulate the outgoing member for Elizabeth, Lee Odenwalder, on his 16 years in state parliament. He's made a fine contribution to his local electorate and community, and I wish him all the best for the future. Another retiring member is Tony Piccolo, who has been the member for Light and will be contesting the seat of Ngadjuri. He has been a fantastic stalwart in the Gawler area for decades, and I'm sure he will do a fantastic job in the Ngadjuri seat moving forward. My predecessor, Nick Champion, will be recontesting the seat of Taylor, and he has been leading the way in the planning and housing portfolio for the last four years, delivering on significant housing growth not just in my electorate but across the state and helping to take the pressure off our housing crisis. Zoe Bettison, the member for Ramsey and the state Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs, will be recontesting and doing a fantastic job there around Salisbury. Rhiannon Pearce, the member for King, up around Golden Grove, has been doing a stellar job over the last four years but is also a first-term minister. So congratulations to Rhiannon. To John Fullbrook, my long-term friend: all the best, mate, in the seat of Playford. You've put your community first. You've worked really hard over the last four years, and you've had your fair share of challenges—all the best on Saturday week. To James Agness, James Rothe, Ella Shaw and Matt Marozzi, who are all good friends running in their seats as new candidates: Go well. I know you've put in the hard yards, and you definitely deserve the vote. Best of luck on Saturday week. Fuel 85 10:19 Mr PASIN 240756 Barker Across my electorate of Barker, communities are confronting the consequences of a fuel crisis that this government has failed to manage. In town after town across regional South Australia, the simple act of filling up a tank has become a lottery. Communities that rely on fuel to function are now being told there's none left. In the Mallee town of Karoonda, the bowsers ran dry five days ago. The town's only service station has run out of both petrol and diesel and can't say to its community when a delivery will arrive. Residents are being forced into very long travel to simply fill up their vehicles. In Springton, in our nation's iconic Barossa, locals are reporting similar problems. Pumps have run dry and the community is being told supplies are uncertain. Across Barker, many service stations have multiple bowsers closed because particular types of fuel have run out. This is not an inconvenience—in Barker, and across regional Australia, it's a threat to daily life. Let me give you an example of that. In Karoonda, I'm advised by the school that the school bus will run out of fuel today. Without fuel, children cannot go to school. Without fuel, emergency services can't operate. I can only hope and pray that the good volunteers of the ambulance service and the CFS had the wherewithal to fill up those vehicles before we ran out of fuel. Diesel powers tractors. It sows our crops. It harvests our crops. It powers the machinery that keeps Australian agriculture moving. Without diesel, farms grind to a halt. Let me read directly from a constituent in Loxton. Her name is Nicolle. She wrote this to my office: OTR Loxton had no diesel left late Friday afternoon. Our farm ordered 10,000 litres two weeks ago for spraying after the recent rain and to begin seeding. Only 1,500 litres … arrived … It was rationed and will be gone by lunchtime tomorrow— That's today now. We were told by the supplier they cannot get the supply into the country because it is being held in the city where there are more voters. Here it is. We've got an election in South Australia in 10 days, and it's no surprise to me that fuel is being directed to the cities and not the regions. That's the reality on the ground in regional Australia. While regional communities are running out of fuel, Australians are also being slugged with skyrocketing prices. In recent days, petrol prices have surged by as much as 40c a litre in regional South Australia, pushing prices beyond $2 a litre, and they're still climbing. This is adding to the cost of food. High diesel prices increase the cost of planting crops, harvesting crops and transporting goods. Those costs don't go away. They get passed down the supply chain. And guess where they land? They land in the shopping trolleys of Australian consumers. As they're walking down the aisles, they can be reminded—with every item they purchase—that this government has failed them. Moreton Electorate: Environment, Discrimination 85 10:22 Ms CAMPBELL 312823 Moreton I recently took an unusual walk with my local councillor, Steve Griffiths, in my south-side electorate of Moreton. We walked underneath Toohey Road in Salisbury, from one side of the forest to the other. Toohey Forest is a beautiful part of Brisbane, if you've never had the privilege of being there before. It's 10 minutes away from Brisbane's CBD. It covers about 260 hectares and it's home to over 400 species of native wildlife: birds; amphibians; reptiles; fish; and mammals, including koalas, wallabies, squirrel gliders and echidnas. Those animals just got a shortcut underneath Toohey Road, because the Albanese Labor government has funded $3 million for a new underroad crossing that improves access to food and resources for wildlife while providing safe movement between habitat areas within Toohey Forest. I want to thank Minister Plibersek and Minister Watt for their great work in making it a reality. This morning we heard an incredibly powerful speech from Minister Aly on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. I thought that this was an appropriate time to spotlight one of my local communities: the Kuraby Mosque community. It's led by Imam Gamal Fouda, and it's the centre of the Muslim community in the southern suburbs of Brisbane. It's an incredibly multicultural mosque that has up to 40 different ethnicities, with many different life experiences and backgrounds. They're incredibly community minded. Whether it's clean-up days, or whether it's community days inviting everyone into the mosque, what's clear is that the Kuraby Mosque is some of the best of what Australia has to offer. It's important at this time to remember that—regardless of your skin colour, regardless of your faith—as Australians, we need to stand up to make sure that no-one is treated differently. Almost one in five Australians have Asian ancestry—I'm one of them—and only one in 18 lawyers is an Australian of Asian heritage. Asian Australians are strongly represented at junior levels, but that diversity is absent in senior roles, such as at the bar, in partnerships and in the judiciary. In fact, there are more judges named Michael than there are Australian Asian judges, and the current rate means it will be a long time before we see that change. These are the findings of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association's report into cultural diversity. I will leave you with the words of some of their key members. Her Honour Judge Sharon Burchell says: Diversity does not soften the law—it sharpens its sight. And Jerome Martin says: Diversity in leadership matters because it broadens the lens through which decisions are made … (Time expired) South Australian State Election, Grey Electorate: Infrastructure 86 10:25 Mr VENNING 315434 Grey We have a state election pre-poll starting this coming Saturday. I'd like to discuss the incredible candidates running in the state seats around Grey. Sam Telfer is the current member for Flinders. He's a local farmer and across both the issues and the enormous opportunities on the west coast. Under an elected Liberal government, they'll commit $5 million to the start of a Doppler radar service on the Lower Eyre Peninsula. Sunny Singh is the incredible candidate for Giles. He and his wife came here with nothing in their pockets, and now they run a successful business in Port Augusta. He's a councillor and he'll be a fantastic representative for Giles. My good friend Leon Stephens is a community man and a business owner and is whip smart. He'll be a great advocate for Port Pirie and of course the outback. Giles now represents 66 per cent of South Australia. My good friend Tania Stock in the Yorke Peninsula where I live is such a hard-working, sensible and good person. We've seen her already as a councillor on the Yorke Peninsula for some time now. She'll be a great representative for the Yorke Peninsula and parts of the mid-north. And finally Penny Pratt is the hardest working politician in Australia—now the member for Frome as it moves into Ngadjuri. We must support Penny Pratt. I certainly will be this coming Saturday in Clare. As I said in this place last week, recent torrential rain brought devastating flooding to rural and regional South Australia, and remote communities are now suffering the consequences. I've been in contact with affected councils, and they've been crying out for help. Take Mount Remarkable council. Approximately 51 kilometres of road have been damaged across 20 different roads. They estimate the cost of repair at $2.3 million. Flinders Ranges Council said this flooding is the largest event since 2007. Much of their road network is still inaccessible for the council even to assess the damage. They estimate repair costs of $7 million to $10 million. These communities have been pleading for support for financial assistance to get their roads back to standard. And, finally, I'm pleased to share some good news as of this morning. Following my meetings with Emily Bourke, Catherine King and Kristy McBain, as well as strong engagement from the impacted councils, the South Australian and Commonwealth governments have activated disaster recovery funding arrangements for recent flooding events. That is for the APY Lands and the local government areas of Barmera, Berri, Ceduna, Cleve, Coober Pedy, Flinders Ranges, Orroroo, Carrieton, Peterborough and Port Augusta. It was disappointing to see Mount Remarkable council not included in that area; I'll do my best to have that included. Thank you to everyone who reached out with their stories, photos and their images of road damage. It all helped build the case. We still have challenges ahead, including liquidity of some of these small councils, but this is a good start. I'll keep fighting for the small regional councils. Bendigo Electorate: Community Organisations 86 10:28 Ms CHESTERS 249710 Bendigo I recently had the pleasure of being part of a special book launch at the Bendigo Library. Imagine a Place, a story about going to playgroup, was launched at the Bendigo Library during a very special rhyme time. Imagine a Place tells a story about the kinds of things children, their parents and carers enjoy about going to playgroup. This book was created out of a partnership between Communities for Children and Kids' Own Publishing. Communities for Children is based at Anglicare Victoria and is funded through the federal Department of Social Services. Communities for Children commissioned artists from Kids' Own Publishing to partner with three local organisations and playgroups, including the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 10:29 to 10:37 Ms CHESTERS 249710 Before the suspension, I was speaking about a project that was commissioned by artists from Kids' Own Publishing, who partnered with three local playgroups, including BDAC, to convey the positive impact that playgroups have for children and their grown-ups. Congratulations to all involved. It is a beautiful book, and I'd like to thank the families for their generosity in sharing their experience of being involved in such a positive project. I'd also like to give a shout-out and congratulations to the Long Gully Community Garden, which was commissioned by the Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre. The group recently benefited from a grant from round 9 of the Stronger Communities Program. The grant of $17,500 went towards electrifying various aspects of the garden to help improve energy to the site and move away from their dependency on fossil fuels. The Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre has installed solar panels on the roof and a storage battery, which will enable the kitchen to run and provide power to the site for their sheds and pumps. Garden facilitator Jonathan Ridnell said, 'We now have a solar system which is pretty much a power station to the site.' They are pumping water to the garden, which enables them to grow the produce, which is then part of the pantry that the neighbourhood centre has. The garden is incredibly important to the community, as what is produced is then picked and bottled and goes to the neighbourhood centre to boost supplies at their pantry. Funding also went towards upgrading garden tools to lighter and more user-friendly electric garden tools. All of the projects that were funded in the recent round of Stronger Communities Program are being delivered, and I want to congratulate communities like the Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre for what they've achieved with the funding that they've received from us through the Stronger Communities Program. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 299964 In accordance with standing order 193, the time for members' constituency statements has concluded. STATEMENTS ON SIGNIFICANT MATTERS 87 STATEMENTS ON SIGNIFICANT MATTERS International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 87 10:39 Dr GARLAND 295588 Chisholm Harmony Week is a time when we recognise the many cultures, languages and traditions that make Australia the best place to live in the world. Importantly, it is also a moment to reflect on the values of inclusion, respect and belonging that allow people from different backgrounds to feel part of the same national story, because they are. Harmony Week reminds us that diversity is one of the defining strengths of modern Australia. We should be very proud of the country that we are because of our diversity. Harmony Week must be more than just a celebration. It should serve as a reminder to us all that harmony must be more than symbolic. It requires effort, commitment and responsibility every single day and every single week. It requires us to actively build a society where every person feels valued, because they are valued; where every community feels that they belong, because they do belong; where one is kind to their neighbour, as a fellow Australian; and where no-one is defined by the colour of their skin or by their heritage. My electorate of Chisholm is one of the most diverse communities in the country, and I'm very proud to represent my electorate here in this place. Chisholm is a thriving example of multicultural Australia. People from many cultures, languages and faiths live and work together in our community, making enormous contributions. The diversity enriches our neighbourhoods, our workplaces, our schools, our sporting clubs, our other community groups and our neighbourhood houses. The diversity in my community strengthens connections between people and it makes our community stronger. We are all privileged to share this country too with the world's oldest continuing culture. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have cared for this land and built communities for more than 60,000 years. Their cultures, knowledge and traditions form the foundation of the Australian story. Our national story continues to grow through the many cultures and histories that contribute to modern Australia. I am so privileged to represent a community where people proudly share their culture with their neighbours and contribute each and every day to the evolving story of our nation. I wouldn't be here in this place if it wasn't for multiculturalism and the embrace of communities in Melbourne of Italians who migrated here after the Second World War. Like that of so many people in my community, my family's story is connected to migration, with my Italian family being among the more than 7.5 million people who've migrated to Australia since the end of the Second World War. My father's family came to Australia in the 19th century to find fortune on the goldfields. All these stories reflect the experiences of millions of Australians whose families came here seeking opportunity, safety and a better life. Our identities often reflect more than one cultural heritage too. Those identities all shape who we are and how we understand the world today. My Italian heritage and my father's five generations of Australian identity are both part of the person that I am today. We are fortunate in Australia to be a country where multiculturalism is embraced and where people are able, and encouraged, to celebrate the cultures that shape them. When people come to Australia, culture is something that they contribute. It's not something they erase when they make that journey to become Australian citizens and contribute to our communities. Harmony Week highlights the enormous contributions made by migrant communities across Australia, reminding us that diversity has strengthened our nation in almost every single way—economically, culturally and socially. This celebration is really important, but it's also essential that we continue the work of building a truly inclusive society. Again, we don't do this just in Harmony Week; we do this every single week and every single day. We need to take these moments as a call to action for us to recommit ourselves to the work that we all need to do in our communities to make sure that diversity is valued and cherished and that we see our neighbours as fellow Australians. We've seen some truly awful events over the summer in Australia, unfortunately, where people have been attacked for who they are, the religions that they practice and the places that they come from. We must all, both in and outside this place, commit ourselves every day to building a society where every person is respected and where everyone has equal opportunity. Harmony Week does, as the Minister made very clear in her statement this morning, coincide with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and it is important that we recognise of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and, indeed, the origin of what has become Harmony Day and Harmony Week. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination carries deep historical significance, reminding us that racism is not abstract and harmless. It's not just words, although words do matter. The day was established following a tragic event that shocked the world. On 21 March in 1960 thousands of people gathered in Sharpeville, South Africa, to peacefully protest the apartheid government's pass laws. These laws forced black South Africans to carry documents restricting their movement within their own country. The protest was organised as an act of non-violent resistance. Participants deliberately presented themselves without passports to challenge the discriminatory system. Instead of responding peacefully, police opened fire on the crowd, with 69 people killed and more that 180 people injured. Many of those shot were fleeing the scene. This massacre, the Sharpeville massacre, became one of the most defining moments in the global struggle against apartheid, and the international reaction was appropriately profound and immediate, with the United Nations declaring 21 March the International day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1966. The declaration called on the international community to redouble its efforts to combat racism, prejudice and discrimination, and we must continue that work. As was mentioned, again, by the Minister this morning in her comments to the House, it's also important to remember that the concept of Harmony Day was introduced by the Howard government in 1999. That reframed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in a way that softened the original meaning of the day and shifted it towards a general celebration. Of course we should celebrate diversity and the different cultural heritages that make Australia such a wonderful country, but we should also confront division at this time. Real harmony is something that must be built and defended through real action. Real social cohesion takes work and commitment, and it means that we must first eliminate racial discrimination. This means a fair go for everyone, and that is what it really means to be Australian. Committing to the value of opportunity for all and the hope and protection that Australia offers is our best offence against division and racial discrimination. Of course, Australia's success as a multicultural nation did not happen by accident. It was due to clear policy direction from the Whitlam government, driven by the fact that the White Australia policy was not appropriate for modern Australia. We do need to acknowledge the existence of the White Australia policy to acknowledge and counter racial discrimination in this country and to see that legacy that was something that was counter to true multiculturalism and diversity. Generations of Australians from all over the world built a country that has become confident enough to welcome people from every corner of the world. Again, that wasn't always the case, and we should all be proud that it is now. We must acknowledge the work that migrant communities have done over many years, working hard to build lives, uprooted from what they've know, building successful businesses, enriching our communities and contributing in every single way to our lives. Today Australia is home to people from more than 300 different ancestries, a nation of many languages, cultures and faiths. Australians celebrate Christmas and Easter, Lunar New Year, Hanukkah, Diwali, Ramadan, Holi and so many other celebrations, and I'm always very grateful as a representative of a very diverse community to be included in these celebrations and to learn from my neighbours in my community. It is really important that when we celebrate Harmony Week and Harmony Day we commit ourselves to doing everything we can every single day to make sure that every person in our community really does count and that we take steps to eliminate racial discrimination and violence when they do occur so that we can continue to be the best example of multiculturalism in the world. 10:49 Mr NG 316052 Menzies I rise today to speak on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We must never forget that this day has its origins in one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century. On 21 March 1960, in the South African township of Sharpeville, thousands of people gathered to peacefully protest the apartheid pass laws that controlled and restricted the movement of black South Africans. Police opened fire on the crowd. Sixty-nine people were killed, and more than 180 were wounded. Many were shot in the back as they fled. The Sharpeville massacre rightly shocked the world, but it did not happen in isolation. It was the most egregious symptom of a system built upon racial discrimination and white supremacy—a system that did not recognise the inherent equality of all people, regardless of race. In response, the international community took a stand. The United Nations declared 21 March the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: a day to remember those who lost their lives and that renewed our commitment to building societies free from racism and hatred. The day stands as a stark reminder of the ultimate consequences of failing to be vigilant against racism, of perpetuating inherently racist systems, of not questioning those institutions that dehumanise people from backgrounds different from our own. Also, 21 March is Harmony Day, a day that was created by the Howard government. Harmony Week, which was created around it, spans 16 to 22 March. In our suburbs, Harmony Week is usually celebrated in our kindergartens and in our schools and in our workplaces. People from different cultural backgrounds have the opportunity to celebrate their cultures and to share their cultures with their workmates, with their classmates—and there is value in this. There is value in people being able to celebrate their cultures and pass them on to the wider community. But we must never forget that 21 March is the international day for the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. We can celebrate, but we must also guard against the worst consequences of racism. Sadly, we are in a period where racism and prejudice are growing, both in Australia and around the world—where prejudice, discrimination and hatred are increasingly directed at people because of who they are, how they look, where they come from and what they believe. I recently had a conversation with Rana at the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network, who shared a study showing that young people are experiencing increasing racism in schools at higher rates than past generations did. Now, I believe that children are born without prejudice. If you ever speak to a kindergartener or someone in primary school, they don't know the difference between the different races of friends. They just approach them as fellow human beings, as we all should. Prejudice is something that people are taught. In recent months we have seen too many instances of the ultimate horrific consequences of racism. We've seen the antisemitic Bondi terrorist attack, Australia's worst terrorist attack, where 15 innocent members of the Jewish community lost their lives. We've seen an alleged attempted white supremacist terror attack against Aboriginal people, where a bomb was thrown into a peaceful Invasion Day rally. We've seen Neo-Nazis attack Camp Sovereignty in Melbourne. And we've seen letters threatening violence sent to Lakemba Mosque. As I have said in this parliament before, prejudice comes in waves, and bullies will always target the most vulnerable. We've seen Muslim Australians targeted. We've seen Jewish Australians face hostility and fear. And, of course, we know that our First Nations people have carried the burden of discrimination for generations. Australia has always been shaped by migrants, people who bring their languages and traditions and faiths and experiences, and those experiences enrich our nation. Together, these stories have built the country that we share today. We've seen British migrants and Afghan cameleers and Chinese miners, Sikh Anzacs, Persians, Greeks, Italians—people from every country on earth. Our modern Australian identity is one defined by diversity. Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world. I'm a product of this multicultural Australia. My father, John, is a Chinese Singaporean immigrant. He came to Australia in the 1970s and has worked as a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer. He's only retired this year, although he'll still take the occasional shift because he can't help himself. Like many migrants of this generation, he arrived with skills and determination and a belief that this country offered an opportunity and a fair go. That is what it has delivered, and he is extremely grateful for all the opportunities that Australia has provided. My mum is an Anglo-Celtic Australian, and my wife is Japanese. So I know that multiculturalism works because I live it every single day. My life has been enormously enriched due to my connection with British culture and Chinese culture and Singaporean and Japanese cultures. That's why I joined the then department of immigration and now Department of Home Affairs and worked in migrant and refugee settlement and multicultural affairs for over a decade. I know that multiculturalism works, but I know it's also something that we need to work on—that social cohesion doesn't just happen, but it's something that we have to back up both in our words and also in our actions as a government. I also love our institutions of government, and I think we as a country don't celebrate them enough sometimes. In my career, I've been fortunate enough to work across the three arms of government. I've worked in the executive as a public servant, in the judiciary as a judge's associate and as a lawyer, and now I'm fortunate enough to be able to work in the legislature. We in Australia were one of the first countries in the world to give women the vote. We invented the secret ballot—in other parts of the world known as the 'Australian ballot'. We have a compulsory system of voting that means that we must speak to the middle of Australia—to the majority of Australians—and it also encourages all Australians to have their say. These are institutions that we can celebrate and also that we can rally around regardless of our backgrounds. In my electorate of Menzies, the success of multiculturalism is visible everywhere. Around 44 per cent of people living in the electorate were born overseas, and around 58 per cent of people have a parent born overseas. It's one of the most diverse electorates in the country. Within a few suburbs, you'll find people of Chinese, Malaysian, Singaporean, Italian, Greek and Iranian backgrounds and from many other parts of the world. This diversity shapes our community. You can see it in our schoolyards, where kids of all backgrounds play together; in small businesses, where the Manningham Business Network has people from a range of backgrounds coming together to collaborate; and in our community organisations. It shapes the language spoken at home and the festivals that we celebrate in our local streets. It also is a constant reminder that modern Australia is a diverse Australia and that Australia works if we work for it. At the 2025 election, Australians across the country voted overwhelmingly for a parliament that reflects the diversity of modern Australia. If you look at our side of the parliament, we're beginning to reflect that diversity. It's not just about tokenism; it's that people from different backgrounds bring different skills, different cultural knowledge and different language skills. That allows us to better govern for all Australians regardless of their background. That is why we have a dedicated Minister for Multicultural Affairs who is sitting in cabinet for the first time. It's a clear signal that we value diversity and recognise that it's central to who we are as a nation. In my first speech, I also spoke about the effect of Pauline Hanson's maiden speech on me. Even though as a child and as a young person I'd experienced isolated instances of racism that were enough to remember, they didn't make a significant impact on me. Pauline Hanson's maiden speech made me feel, for the first time, like I was a second-class Australian—that I wasn't as Australian as others in some people's eyes. There are some in this place who maybe aren't as overt as Pauline Hanson is now to this day but who will dog-whistle. I warn those people who might engage in that type of politics, who might imply racism or hint at discrimination for political advantage, that, for people of a migrant background, a dog-whistle is a megaphone. We know what you're saying. We hear what you're saying. It doesn't go past us. There might be some parts of the community that you reach, but we in multicultural Australia are modern Australia. This is what Australia looks like now, and we govern for a modern, multicultural Australia in all its diversity. 10:59 Mr LIM 300130 Tangney A few weeks ago, I was asked about my migration to Australia and whether I faced any discrimination when I first migrated to Australia in 2002. I was in my early 40s when I migrated with my wife and three young children. My English was broken. Even today I have a strong accent. My heritage is Malaysian Chinese. My ancestry is one of the 162 ancestries that we have in my electorate of Tangney. I reflected upon this question. If I had said no, I would have been lying. But I also have tried to focus on all the positive people who make my family and me feel more Aussie—neighbours like Uncle Bruce Baker, who I have talked about before; my friends; my English teacher Sarma Gough; and my police brothers and sisters, especially Inspector Don Emmanuel Smith and my mentor, the late John Harty. Australia made me who I am. The police force accepted me into the police force. The community accepted me campaigning to be a member of parliament, to be a parliamentarian. Now I'm here as a second-term member of parliament for Tangney. I generally focus on positives. I talk about the success we have in multiculturalism and all the positive progress I have seen since migrating here more than 20 years ago. I talk about the good work that I see happening in Tangney, from the work of the WA Multicultural Lions Club to the culturally responsive aged care provided by Chorus and Chung Wah Community Care. I'm proud of our 13 community language schools in Tangney and of bilingual schools like Oberthur Primary School. Our Tangney community welcomed my family and me all those years ago, and we continue to embrace people like me with warmth and love and welcome them. But as I praise our community's strengths, I also know the other side and the racial discrimination that happens far too often. When I was a police officer during COVID, I had many people from the Australian-Chinese community approach me. They reached out because they were being targeted. They were being racially abused and blamed for COVID. They had racist remarks yelled at their faces and written on their driveways, including their cars. They were scared to leave their houses, especially some of the migrants who did not have good enough English and were unable to talk back. Most of them didn't want to report these incidents, but, because I looked like them, they were comfortable talking to me in police uniform. My colleagues and I made a project, asking our police officers to let us know when there was a racially motivated attack, and together we worked to put a stop to what was happening at that time. Every year on 21 March, we observe the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On that day, in 1960, 69 people were killed during a peaceful demonstration in South Africa against the apartheid pass law, which restricted the movement of many black South Africans. Next week is also Harmony Week, which closes with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. As Australia marks both moments, I want to reflect on both. I have conversations with my constituents about the racism they face in their daily lives and the assumptions based on how they look or their names. A long time ago, a friend of mine could not get a job, so he decided to change his name on his CV to something that sounded more white and less Chinese. Eventually he got a job, and now he has moved up the ranks and is very senior in his role. I have spoken about some of the really ugly displays of racial discrimination that I saw during COVID when I was a police officer, but the example above is one of the acts of racial discrimination that happens every day. I have seen and heard constituents have their accents questioned, their capabilities challenged and their loyalty disputed. Racial and ethnic discrimination happens daily, and it hinders progress for people in our community, especially in Tangney, across Australia and around the world. Racism has no place in our world. It is a challenging time right now—the Bondi attack, the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment and the terrorist attack in Perth. I speak with Tangney constituents who tell me they are frightened by what they see happening around them. Some people talk to me about how they feel unwelcome or no longer welcome. Others have reached out to me and talk about how they feel the social contract is disappearing. They ask that we find ways to hear each other and respect each other, including our political and civic leaders, even when we disagree—especially when we disagree. I want to contrast this with some of the recent events in my electorate that I have attended. Last weekend I attended the Australian Sikh Heritage Trail in Riverton. The trail provides visitors with information about the history and heritage of Australian Sikhs, as well as information about Whadjuk Noongar culture and the Canning River. The people participating in this event had so much respect for one another. It was an opportunity to learn more about Sikh culture and the history of Sikhs in Australia, a story that is not always well understood. I thank the organisers for sharing this experience with me. Tangney is one of the most multicultural electorates in Australia. A few weeks ago I also attended an event on mental health that was jointly organised by WA Multicultural Lions Club and the Melville Baha'i Community. The guest speaker was Tangney resident Nick Titov AO. We had people from all ancestries and backgrounds in that room, sharing their experiences and learning from each other. It was an everyday event that shows how we deliberately work to build harmony and a community where everyone belongs. These events, and those across Tangney, remind me of how multiculturalism is a strength of our community, of our country. The decision to choose to live, work and play together across all races, languages, religions and culture is the strength of our community. As I said in my first speech as a member of parliament a few years ago, peace, love, unity, respect—four simple words that I choose to live by, four simple actions that we need more of in this world. 11:09 Ms MASCARENHAS 298800 Swan On 21 March 1960, black South Africans were gathered at Sharpeville. They came to protest apartheid pass laws, which controlled where black people could live, work and walk. Police opened fire on these innocent people. Sixty-nine people were killed, more than 180 were injured and many were shot as they fled. In response, the United Nations marked 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a reminder of the cost of racist laws and policies, and our duty to oppose them. This day isn't just a date in your calendar. It is a day that calls us to act, to listen and to change. Recently, we have seen the cost of hate in Australia. In Bondi, on 14 December, 15 innocent people were murdered in a targeted antisemitic attack. This was the worst terrorist attack Australia had ever seen, and it was motivated by hatred directed at a community for their beliefs. This is not the Australia I know. Across our country, racism has been rising: antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Asian and anti-Black hatred, hostility towards First Nations people and attacks on migrants. This is leaving communities feeling unsafe and unheard. Our neighbours have been targeted. Our institutions have felt the strain. We cannot accept this as normal. I've said it in this parliament before and I say it again today: modern Australia is a multicultural Australia. This is our strength. In modern Australia, there is no room for racism, whether it be online, on a mine site, in a bar, in an office, in our schools or in Parliament House. I grew up in Kambalda, a nickel mining town in regional WA. People came from every corner of Australia and every corner of our globe, and everyone worked together to build a living and raise their children. I had an extraordinary childhood where we looked after each other's backs and I felt like I belonged. In fact, everyone felt like they belonged. This is the Australia that I know. This is multiculturalism in practice. Guess what? The modern Australian Labor Party looks like modern Australia. I'm here with the member for Tangney. I was very proud to be elected with you in 2022. We have been able to achieve some incredible things over the last two elections. It is amazing to be a part of the most diverse government in history. This is a government that is reflective of the cultural and linguistic diversity that has enriched Australia for generations. This representation matters. When our decision-making bodies reflect our communities, trust grows and belonging deepens. Policy can then do what it should: include. To any little boy or little girl out there who wants to be a member of parliament or even the Prime Minister when you grow up, know that you belong here. I was the first person of colour to be elected to the seat of Swan, and I will not be the last. Harmony Week starts on Monday 16 March and builds towards the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the 21st. It is a week that asks us to practise respect, to listen and to reflect on our past. Our national story began tens of thousands of years ago with the world's oldest continuous culture, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Sixty thousand years is an amazing history. This is our shared inheritance. But this past is still present, and truth-telling shows us that. In fact, the member for Bonner shared an amazing story of Uncle Bob here in this place. What we need to continue to do is face our history because honesty and truth-telling make room for healing and justice, and justice strengthens our social fabric. As one of the elders in my community says, you need to know where you're from to know where you are going. I have seen the power of people being seen and heard. When communities share their experience of racism, when institutions listen with humility, we see that understanding grows, and so does connection and so does cohesion. When harm happens, we need to make sure that we let people know what the standard is. I like to reflect on who we are as Australians. The thing that I see in Australia is that we are one of the most egalitarian societies. We actually hate hierarchy and power dissonance; we have this fundamental belief in a fair go for all. So when I say 'all' I mean all. We need to make sure we let people know what these Australian standards are. If racism is ignored, it does not fade. What happens instead is it mutates and escalates. It finds new outlets in online platforms and in bystander silence. Preventing the next generation from learning hate matters even more. Listen to this: children are not born with hate; they learn it. It is our job to interrupt that cycle with clarity, courage and leadership. I welcome the work of the Attorney-General in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, as it recognised that those who teach hate to children harm our society and harm children in their care. Alongside this measure, the government's new laws against hate, extremism and antisemitism creates penalties for hate crime offences, and new frameworks to list organisations as prohibited hate groups as well as prohibiting hate symbols. We have also introduced new visa cancellation powers for people who spread hate or extremism. I also want to highlight our amazing Minister for Multicultural Affairs. She has spent her life helping communities stand strong against fear, and is backing that work with real structures and real supports, including the new Office for Multicultural Affairs, which is about inclusion, coordinating settlement services, community grants and a lot more. What's pretty extraordinary is that in the 48th Parliament we have a minister for multicultural affairs at the cabinet table. This is an example of structural changes that governments can make to ensure we are thinking of ways that we can be more inclusive. The minister is also incredibly well-qualified, and has done amazing work in deradicalisation. She has shown that people caught up in hate have a pathway to re-orientate themselves. We have the responsibility as a society to help put people on the right track. The work that we're doing is not just about representation and celebration; it's about delivering policies that actually invest, listen and include. This representation matters. When our decision-making bodies reflect our communities, trust grows and belonging deepens. Policy can do exactly what we want it to do. And government has a role. Community has a role. We're investing in initiatives that build respect, connection and resilience, and we're strengthening the organisations that bring people together. Inclusion is nation-building, and human rights are Australian values. We need to make sure that we continue to invest in them, especially during the tough times. If you talk to any parent, they want their kids to be safe, whether that is safe in their uniform, safe in a headscarf, safe in a yarmulke or safe online. Safety starts with us, with the words that we choose and what we refuse to let pass. Talk to any young person. They want to belong; they want to be seen on our screens and in our parliament. And when they see themselves, they see the future. This day begins in grief, but our response must be action. If you hear a slur, don't look away. If you see exclusion, make space. If you hold power, open the doors wider. If you have a platform, lift others. If you're unsure, listen first. Make space in meetings, on panels, at the microphone. If you hold a chair, share the chair. Know the history of where you stand. This is an incredible country. We can continue to eliminate this. 11:19 Ms STEGGALL 175696 Warringah I'd like to start by acknowledging the traditional elders and owners of the land on which we meet, and pay my respect to elders past and present—acknowledging, of course, that we can't talk about racism without acknowledging that incredible custodianship of First Nation Australians. We don't talk about racism enough in this place, I would say. When we do, too often we talk about it in the abstract, when racism in Australia is still structural. It's persistent and it causes real harm. It damages health. It drives exclusion. It distorts who gets heard, who gets hired, who gets believed, who gets care and who gets punished. The Australian Human Rights Commission has been explicit: racism in health care is a public health emergency, and racism in Australia remains a whole-of-society problem requiring reform across law, justice, health, education, workplaces, media and data collection. This day cannot just be about moral statements and symbolic outrage. It actually has to follow with action. March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and should force some honesty in this parliament. The truth is, Australia doesn't do enough to celebrate our multiculturalism. It likes to celebrate it, but it's still far too reluctant to confront racism with the seriousness it deserves and really call it out when it's occurring. Australia is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Nearly half of all Australians are born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. More than one in five Australians speak a language other than English at home. This continent is home to the oldest continuing culture on earth: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. That diversity is one of our great strengths. But diversity is not justice, and diversity means very little if institutions continue to entrench racist barriers and norms. Today should not just be about condemning racism in principle and talking about the small things that can be done. We actually have to talk about eliminating it in practice. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed on 21 March, and it's important to acknowledge why that date has been selected. It's a day marked in tragedy. It's the day when, in 1960, police in Sharpeville in South Africa killed 69 people at a peaceful protest against apartheid laws. Since then, there have been many more incidents of murder and killing around the world based on racism and racial hatred. Last year marked the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which is the treaty that commits states to take immediate and effective action to eliminate racial discrimination. It's a day, as I said, that comes from bloodshed. It comes from the recognition that racism can be embedded in law, normalised by institutions and protected by silence. That history matters in Australia. Racism here is not incidental to our national story. It sits inside the story of dispossession, the White Australia policy, exclusion, overpolicing, undertreatment and political scapegoating. More than half of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people surveyed in the 2024 Australian Reconciliation Barometer said they had experienced racism in the past six months, and 56 per cent believe Australia is a racist country. Among younger First Nations adults the numbers are worse: 63 per cent of the 18- to 24-year-olds and 68 per cent of the 25- to 34-year-olds surveyed reported experiences of racism. In workplaces, new research released this week found that almost 60 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees experience racism and, at the current rate of change, it could take 118 years before Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers no longer hear racial slurs and jokes at work. I mean, that is just ridiculous. In universities, the Human Rights Commission's Racism@Uni study found that racism is widespread and systemic across the sector. Almost 70 per cent of respondents reported indirect racism, and 15 per cent reported direct interpersonal racism. Trust in complaint systems was found to be extremely low. Clearly, in the university sector, these are major issues that need resolving. In our justice system, First Nations people remain grotesquely overrepresented. We are absolutely failing on this front. As of the December quarter of 2025, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accounted for 37 per cent of all prisoners in Australia, despite making up a smaller part of the population. The imprisonment rate for First Nations men was 4,774 per 100,000—so much higher than for any anyone else. Racism is not only about individual prejudice; it's institutional, and we can see that through our state and territory laws. They are, at their heart, racist in how they are looking at the incarceration of young people. We know Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are overrepresented, and, once engaged with the criminal system, incidence of recurrence is much greater and the likelihood of being able to change someone's life's direction is so much less. Racism is not a fringe issue; it shapes health outcomes, education outcomes, justice outcomes, employment outcomes and social cohesion. The Australian Human Rights Commission delivered the national antiracism framework in November 2024. I have in fact spoken about that framework a number of times in this place. It contains 63 recommendations across legal reform, justice, health, education, workplaces, media and arts and data collection And yet—I say to members of the government—we have not had a response. The government must publicly respond to the national antiracism framework and commit to an implementation plan with timelines, accountability and funding. I've heard great sentiments and great contributions in this place from members of the government; what we haven't heard is a commitment from the government to implement the recommendations or to fund the implementation of the recommendations. We see some groups obtain results much quicker, yet this antiracism framework has sat there on the shelf for two years now. The recommendations are clear; what's missing is the commitment and political will of the Albanese government to implement them. We can't keep commissioning reports, thanking people for their lived experience and then shelving the implementation. A framework without delivery is not reform; it's just delay with better branding. Leadership also means refusing to exploit race, religion or ethnicity for political gain. Too often in this place, that is what we see. Leadership means treating all racism seriously—antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Aboriginal racism—because the statistics are too ugly to avoid. It's about treating all incidents with the same urgency and seriousness. I was appalled by the delay in the consideration of the attempted terrorism attack on the Invasion Day rallies in Western Australia, the delay in calling that what it was and the continuing double standards in how different acts of racism are treated. Leadership means calling out racist conduct inside this parliament as well, not just outside it. As I said just recently, the immigration law amendments by the government are racist policy. They are seeking to classify people as a whole and treat them as a group on the basis of race or nationality. When racism is tolerated in this building, it sends a message to all Australians watching that abuse is normal. It can't be. I'm calling on the government to publicly respond to the national antiracism framework and commit to an implementation plan with timelines, accountability and funding. In health, that means embedding cultural safety standards, antiracism training, interpreter access and community led services. The commission's review on health inequities could not be clearer. Racism in the health system contributes to poor health, chronic illness, mistrust and premature death. In justice, it means legislating a federally consistent age of criminal responsibility so we stop locking up children. It should be 14. We have signed on to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is unacceptable that we continue at the federal level to pass the buck down to states and territories and allow them to lock up children as young as 10. Overincarceration, deaths in custody, punitive youth justice settings and the failure to address systemic bias show our systems are broken. In workplaces and universities, it means complaints systems people actually trust. It means leadership accountability, workforce diversity, proper data and consequences for repeated failure. In politics, it means ending the cynical use of fear, division and coded rhetoric for political gain. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination asks whether we are serious about eliminating racial discrimination. On the evidence so far, we're still far better at naming racism than ending it. So I urge everyone in this place to do better. 11:29 Mr HOLZBERGER 88411 Forde I appreciate this opportunity to talk today about the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. As a white guy in society, this is one thing I can say I have never personally experienced—maybe a little bit as a kid with the name of Holzberger, but it's nothing compared to a story that I want to tell in a second about somebody very close to me and the experiences that she had growing up in the 1970s in Australia. I would like to respond to a couple of things that were brought up while I was present during this session. The member for Swan talked about Australia being a country that values not having a well-established hierarchy. Whenever I'm trying to explain Australian politics to people, I refer them to that video of former prime minister Scott Morrison trying to hold a press conference out the front of somebody's house. You may be familiar with it. It was when the guy came out and said: 'Oi! What are you doing? Get off my lawn. I've just reseeded it.' The former prime minister had to apologise as he shuffled back with the media gaggle behind him. I think there is no better description of what Australian politics and Australian society is than that short clip. A young Afghan friend of mine told me about how, when the Afghan community saw that video, they were horrified that it could happen. They were horrified for the guy's safety. If that person had said that in Afghanistan, then he would have been carted off for some serious re-education. In Australia we value that equality. The other thing that I want to reflect on is the member for Warringah's comments regarding institutional racism. Racism is not just words, slights or offensive comments. It is where laws lead to that discrimination. Obviously, the biggest example is where this day comes from, where the laws related to apartheid resulted in the Sharpeville massacre. In Australia, more practically, they result in, as the member for Warringah pointed out, disproportionately high—jeez, what an understatement that is—incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It's also in the access that migrant communities have to government services, such as the NDIS. It's pretty obvious, when you look at the numbers, that there are barriers to multicultural communities' participating in the NDIS or in aged care. Even though these are not designed to be like this, this is the end result. There is no way that you could describe them other than as being institutional problems. Where I think racism is at its most destructive, on a personal level, is when people treat you differently because of the colour of your skin or where you've come from or your name or whatever. I haven't discussed this with her, so I don't want to say who it is—if you could hear her words, you would cry. Her father was an African man who came out to Australia on an educational program to do a degree in the seventies and met a white Australian woman, so she was born an African Australian dark-skinned girl in Australia in the 1970s. From her earliest memories, she encountered racism. The stories that she told about being excluded in the playground conjured up an image for me of this little girl being bullied and excluded as a five-year-old. If you could hear it from her, it would break your heart. At the heart of this is remembering the truly corrosive nature of racism on an individual and also the dehumanising that it does to the abuser as well. At the heart of this, there are individuals to be considered. In Forde, the seat that I have the great privilege of representing, you've got the oldest continuous culture in the world, the Indigenous culture, that has been there for tens of thousands of years. You've got communities like mine with the name of Holzberger, where my ancestors got off the ship somewhere around the 1870s and set up to work around Beenleigh, where they set up thriving cane farming and dairy and timber businesses. Also you have in Logan in the northern Gold Coast one of the most multicultural communities in the world. The local mayor, Jon Raven, always makes a joke that there's only one city with more cultures in it than Logan, and that is a little place you might have heard of called New York. We are one of the most diverse and vibrant communities that you could hope to find. Forde very much is, to me, ancient Australia and old Australia and modern Australia. It is that community that I think of today when I talk about eliminating racial discrimination. I think there is a lot of division in Australia today. In many ways, I tend to think that, though you see the rise of One Nation, at its heart, it is not because Australia is a fundamentally racist country. I think that most of the division that we see comes about from the economics that governments have got wrong over the last couple of decades. I think it's been an agenda of privatisation and economic rationalism. It has been a failure to build public housing. It has been a failure to share equitably the wealth which Australia has undoubtedly created over the last couple of decades. To refer back to the member for Swan, that's where people see a threat to our egalitarian society—that Australia, which prided itself on egalitarianism, sees such economic challenges. That's where I think the true heart of division is because in the hearts of Australians is a very welcoming and very accepting people. There's one thing, and I would like to take issue with this one. It's when people say that Australia is a Judeo-Christian culture. I went looking for the Obama quote, which I can't find. That might be good for two reasons. One is that whatever I say and however I say it are going to be nowhere near as eloquent as Obama. So you're not going to be able to compare it. You may be surprised! The other is that I can pass it off as my own quote because, if I couldn't find it, there's a chance you're not to be to find it anyway. Whatever he said really inspires me to say this, which is that what makes Australia exceptional is not that we haven't had flaws; it's that we are a country which has emerged out of the enlightenment based on science and reason. While religion had an enormous civilising impact and acted as a cradle for knowledge and while the social justice aspect of the Judeo-Christian tradition is so powerful, it is a fact that Australia is a country that believes fundamentally in human rights. If you can apply those human rights across laws, across systems, across institutions, if you can always keep in mind that you've got another human being on the end of the conversation or the Facebook comment that you're going to make—that is how I think that we that we wipe out racial discrimination. Today is both a commemoration of a massacre and a celebration of a future. 11:39 Mr WOOD E0F La Trobe I'm going to take the words of Reverend Tim Costello. I remember I was at a multicultural event with him a number of years ago, and he said that racism always starts with lack of understanding then fear, then hate. The more we work on that in Australia, the better it's going to be. I had the great privilege of looking after multicultural affairs for three years under former prime minister Scott Morrison, and then also under opposition leader Peter Dutton. Overall, can I just say, Australia is a country which does embrace multicultural communities. I go to my local cricket teams in La Trobe, and a number of years ago you wouldn't see a Sri Lankan or Indian kid there, and now the clubs are booming with the Indian and Sri Lankan cricket players. It makes a huge difference to get involved. When it comes to sport, sport is one of the key things which bring everyone together. The AFL, I must admit, has had their issues over the years, but they've taken a very strong stance now. If anyone in the crowd racially abuses a player, they're not only kicked out of the game but normally banned for some time. I also think it's important, when I talk to multicultural groups, to say to them how important it is to keep the mother language at home when they speak to their children. Make sure that the mother tongue is the language they speak at home. The reason is it helps the youngster keep that traditional spirit alive. In fact, in my home the No. 1 language is not English; it's actually Cantonese. My daughter is only 11, and she speaks Cantonese fluently and Mandarin. I always know when I'm in trouble; when I hear the name 'Daddy' or 'Jason' mentioned in Cantonese, I've done something wrong! But it's great to have that in the household. I must admit, when I first started going out with my wife, Judy, I tried to impress her relatives in Hong Kong by speaking a bit of Cantonese. I tried to say, 'She's a beautiful young woman', which is 'leng lui', but I said 'leng lou', 'She's a beautiful old man.' It's very important to get language correct. When it comes to discrimination, we had that awful terrorist attack in Christchurch a number of years ago. I acknowledge the work of former prime minister Scott Morrison, who gave me the great task of looking after the community safety fund for places of worship. When it came to Jewish communities, we put funding towards the synagogues and the schools. Even back then I was shocked when I went to some of these schools. In particular, I think it was in Western Australia, I could feel the fear in those communities when I met with them. The great news was that we ended up delivering funding for those groups. It was the same with mosques. I also intervened on the Islamic Museum of Australia in Melbourne. I must admit I was a bit annoyed when the Labor Party took me to the Auditor-General because I intervened to actually assist the mosques and a number of Indian Sikh groups. A lot of these groups couldn't put in the application; they didn't have the money to pay the high-level consultants. But when you went and met them, you realised there was fear. In particular, there was fear for the Buddhist community. Their religious leaders were staying back overnight and sleeping at the places of worship. You had, I might say as a former police officer, druggies breaking in there and stealing the collection boxes and potentially putting the religious leaders in danger. That funding worked very well in ensuring those places were protected. More always needs to be done. Again I come back to sport and my daughter. It's great when you see the kids play together. They don't know the difference between nationalities or backgrounds. Kids just want to play. I think sport and children are the way forward. I'll leave it there. Again, it's very a important day, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 11:44 Mr GILES 243609 Scullin I rise to make some brief remarks on a very important topic which should be debated in this parliament to recognise the significance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This pays tribute to the victims of an awful racist attack recognised by the United Nations. But it's not about looking back; it's about looking at our country today and recognising the good and the challenges. It's also about looking forward. I'm inspired by the words said in the chamber earlier today by my friend the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Anne Aly, who looked at our country squarely but optimistically, seeing the extraordinary opportunities that are before us. For me, they fall broadly into two categories. I do think that the greatest success of modern Australia is the multicultural society that we have built—its strength and its diversity at so many levels. It drives our economy and it makes our communities so special. I'm here with my friend the member for Chisholm, who sees this absolutely every day in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. That's one bit. The other bit, of course, are the 65,000 years of continuous culture that we have the privilege of sharing. These two things together make our country special, and it's something that I think all of us should celebrate. But, in celebrating these things, we can't take them for granted or ignore the threats. An insidious threat is the ongoing prevalence of racism and other forms of hate. In our country, everyone should be proud of who they are and proud to be Australian everywhere. We know, sadly, right now that isn't the case. All of us reflect on the awful act of terror that was committed in Bondi and its repercussions that continue in our communities around the country. We reflect also on the act committed by an Australian in Christchurch years ago, another act born of hate. In my own community, I think about the attack last year of two women at the Epping plaza shopping centre because of how they were dressed—visibly Muslim women. Of course, in a short time we will also be recognising the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. With our First Nations people, we think about not only the pain inflicted directly on people in Perth on 26 January but also how that reverberates. I know that these incidents do not reflect how Australia is. But all of us here in this place and in our communities need to be absolutely unequivocal in condemning racism and hatred in all of its forms. I recognise the work in my own community, particularly the work led by Whittlesea Community Connections in finding better answers to address the pain and the hurt of racism. I think about the work we can all do to foster a closer sense of belonging and understanding through interfaith networks and through listening to each other more carefully. For all of us in this place, and all of us who occupy positions in public life, perhaps we can work on thinking about the words that we use and reflecting more on their impact on others, and thinking about how, through our words and our deeds, we can help build a society where mutual respect and a sense of belonging are nonnegotiables. I firmly believe that our diversity is our greatest strength as a community. It's something I see every day and take inspiration from. I think there's so much to celebrate in the cultural festivals. But, to paraphrase what Minister Aly said today, it's one thing to celebrate these things, but we shouldn't celebrate them if we're not prepared to defend them. That's the very idea of a country in which everyone is respected and everyone belongs. Fundamental to doing that is dealing squarely with racism and other forms of hatred wherever they form, and recognising that where racism is present, it harms individuals. I think all of us recognise that, but I think it's more insidious than that. I think the existence of racism hurts us as a society too. On this day we should all commit ourselves to eliminating this ugliness from our national life. 11:49 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon My colleague the Minister for International Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Small Business, the Hon. Anne Aly, spoke today honouring the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Next week, from Monday 16 to Sunday 22 March, Australians will mark Harmony Week. This year Harmony Week holds a much more sombre note, coming three short months after the horrific antisemitic Bondi terror attack and two racially motivated planned attacks in Perth that were intercepted by the police. I want to give a shoutout to our police, whether they are at the state and territory level or the federal level, for the work that they do. I also acknowledge the Islamophobic incident at an iftar dinner in Ballarat last night. As the Prime Minister has said really clearly, we've got a really heightened environment at the moment and people need to dial it down. This is why Harmony Week must be a call to action. Harmony Week does not stand alone. On 15 March, we will acknowledge the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, where we stand against discrimination in all its forms. The United Nations General Assembly, with the sponsorship of 60 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, adopted a resolution designating 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. This date commemorates the tragic Christchurch mosque attacks, the deadliest act of terrorism against Muslims in our region. It marks the solemn remembrance of the gravest act of terrorism against Muslims in our region. This year the anniversary coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, a period of deep spiritual and heightened communal activity for Muslims. I want to acknowledge the Islamic Society of Darwin for the Ramadan grand iftar and dinner that I attended recently and spoke at. I couldn't attend, but my staff represented me at the UMNT annual interfaith iftar dinner that was titled 'Shoulder to Shoulder: Standing with Australian Muslims, Upholding Australian Values'. I want to acknowledge some of our community leaders—I haven't got time to acknowledge more—the Islamic Council of the Northern Territory and ICNT chairman Mr Sadaruddin Chowdury, who I work with and speak with a lot; the Palmerston president Qasim Mujahid; Darwin president Michael Katab Mohammad; and the UMNT president Mr Mohammed Raziuddin. The Australian Muslim community has in recent times experienced an alarming surge in Islamophobic and anti-Muslim hate incidents that not only threaten the safety of Australian Muslims but also undermine the principles of diversity, inclusion and social cohesion. Reports from community bodies indicate a troubling rise in threats, in hate correspondence directed at mosques and Islamic centres and in incidents of verbal and physical abuse, particularly targeting visibly Muslim women. Addressing Islamophobia is not solely a matter for one community. It goes to the heart of who we are as a nation. Protecting Australians from hate motivated violence and intimidation is essential to safeguarding our democratic freedoms, our social cohesion and our national stability and security. When any community feels unsafe, the strength of our national fabric is weakened, and connection is what we need right now both in Australia and all around the world. Moments like iftar are precious because they allow people to come together and connect over a meal, in conversation and in mutual respect. I want to give a shoutout to my good mate, the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and the member for Kingsford-Smith, who attended an iftar dinner last night with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and members of the diplomatic corps. It's not rocket science to look at our own communities and the diversity within those communities but also to look at our region in the Indo-Pacific and further afield to understand that these issues are important to our neighbours and to our friends. Harmony Week culminates with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, which is a day that reminds us that racism is not abstract. It is not just historical, and it is not harmless. Racism is an evil. While this day always falls within Harmony Week, this important international day, as all honourable members know, is a day born of tragedy. On 21 March 1960, peaceful protesters in Sharpeville, South Africa, gathered to demonstrate against the apartheid government's oppressive pass laws, which restricted the movement of black South Africans. Police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people and injuring more than 180. That massacre at Sharpeville became one of the most defining moments of the struggle against apartheid and has become emblematic with the struggle against racism generally. I want to wish our communities across Australia all the best for Harmony Week. I'll be attending events in my electorate, as I'm sure all honourable members who want to stand against racism and promote harmony as an important role for us as local members will also do. ADJOURNMENT 97 ADJOURNMENT Fuel 97 11:56 Mr JOYCE e5d New England I want to start by reading something that I've just received. I'm getting lots of these: As of today, the main Shell truck bowsers in Tamworth are empty— of fuel— yet still pumping air and charging us for the privilege. This unmanned site has now created a significant administrative burden. We cannot get confirmation about restocking timeframes, and we are told refunds may take 24-48 hours. It's left our staff to cross-check and reconcile what fuel, if any, our trucks actually received. … one of our trucks—fueling from two separate bowsers—accumulated over $200 on the meter before the driver realised the pumps were empty. There is a fuel crisis. It's happening. It's rolling out, and we have got to have a plan if you want to stop panic. There is no plan. Here is another one for those in the cattle game. There was a truck from Betts Transport. It did a number of runs—ran out to Ebor up to Dorrigo, back to Caroona Feedlot, which is near Quirindi, and then to the Gunnedah saleyards. Those B-doubles take 1,800 litres of fuel to fill up. They have about 90 head of cattle. Gunnedah saleyards had 6,500 head that day. That means you have about 72 B-doubles worth of cattle, and 72 B-doubles worth of cattle and fuel is about 130,000 litres. It wasn't there. The fuel just was not there. This is what happened. The truck goes in and realises it's down on fuel, and because it's not getting to them in bulk amounts, because they can't buy it in bulk amounts, they go to the fuel stations. Guess what happens there. They run the fuel stations out of fuel. Then the people driving up the road, trying to get somewhere, get to these towns, and they're not going anywhere because there is no fuel. There are no charging facilities either, so forget about that. What happens then is that the prime mover with 90 head of cattle has to disarticulate. It's got a little bit of fuel left, and it just goes driving from petrol station to petrol station, which are also empty. And, when it does load up, it's going to run that village out of fuel. In the end, they couldn't find fuel. So there's 90 head of cattle sitting on a truck. This just gives you an example of what is happening. We've got to understand it and take it seriously. People are getting so furious out there. They're watching question time, and they're not seeing people take their problems seriously. As I said, that was a big operator. They're starting to move groceries. They said: 'It's going to run out. If we don't have fuel, we are not able to run the groceries to the supermarkets.' There has got to be a plan. The plan may entail saying to people in the cities: 'Sorry, there's only so much fuel you can use so that we can have fuel in the country, because, if the trucks stop moving, your food stops moving. And, if your food stops moving, you'll only need a couple of supermarkets to run out and then you really will have panic. You'll have it big time.' So get in front of the situation and deal with it. It is not in One Nation's interests, in Labor's interests, in the Liberals' interests or in the National's interests for this nation not to realise what is happening right now. I've written to the Treasurer, just so people know. I've actually handwritten him a note because I know how it works—those ones get read. These independent operators are not bad people. They just said they've got to get a chance to sit down with the Treasurer. They're not saying, 'Oh, we hate the Labor Party.' They're saying, 'Give us a chance to sit down with the Treasurer and the ACCC, because the information you're getting is not the reality we're living.' A lot of the big fuel suppliers, your BPs and your Shells, are quite happy if some of these independents go under, because they'll just take their market share off them. So this is a lot more complex, and it's rolling out. Every day we don't get on top of this, it gets worse and worse and worse. I'm getting more and more of these letters coming to my office. These are from rational, sane, serious business people. They're dealing in multimillion-dollar businesses, and we're showing the naivety of this building if we don't start taking these people seriously. The best way to take them seriously is to say: 'Okay, come on down. We'll have a meeting in the Treasurer's office or the Minister for Finance's office. Let's see if we can sort this out.' It's in nobody's interests if the trucks that deliver to the supermarkets stop moving. Chisholm Electorate: Community Events, Cheaper Home Batteries Program 98 12:02 Dr GARLAND 295588 Chisholm I think, when we look around our communities and see the optimism of the young people in electorates right across Australia, we can all see that Australia's future is bright because they are just so passionate. Every time I visit a school in my community of Chisholm, it fills me with even more conviction to act on that optimism in this House, delivering a better future for them and the generations that will come after them. I want to really thank St Justin's Parish Primary School in Wheelers Hill for having me along to talk about our democracy and system of government. And what a knowledgeable group of young people they were. The variety of questions from their cohort was so impressive. From ideas to support Australia becoming a clean energy superpower to questions about the quirks of being a federal parliamentarian, their enthusiasm for the future and their eagerness to understand how we arrived at our democracy as we know it now made for an incredibly uplifting and very fulfilling experience. I also want to take this moment to congratulate Anahera and Oliver on their election as school captains. Their passion and commitment to their peers was so obvious and truly inspiring. Our future is bright, with quite a few students there set to join us as future members, I'm sure. I've had a very busy few weeks in the time that I've been able to spend in Chisholm between parliament sittings. I want to wish everyone in Chisholm a very happy Holi. It was great fun to join so many friends—including the Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, local MP Steve Dimopoulos—and families for another amazing Rang Barse, Festival of Colours, at Brickmakers Park. The colour run is always a highlight and full of energy. It is a really important celebration all about the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil, and every year I reflect on how important that message is for all of us to bear in mind. I'd like to thank Yogesh, Meenu and other organisers from Bhakti Tarang for coordinating this event, and I acknowledge the support offered by the City of Monash, Hum Tum Task Force and Dr RnB Entertainment to the event too. I'd also like to take this opportunity to pay special tribute to Arvind Kumar Shrivastava, who passed away last December. Whilst it was an incredible event, a true celebration of light over darkness, it did feel different without his presence. I want to thank him for his contribution to making our community so strong, and I send my love and support to his family, who continue his legacy. Without the contribution of these individuals, community organisations and our local governments, these outstanding cultural events would not take place and we would all be so much poorer for it. May this year bring happiness, positivity and new beginnings into the lives of those who celebrate Holi. The Albanese Labor government is powering Australia's future with over a quarter of a million households, small businesses and community organisations having installed a bill-busting battery under the Albanese government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program and around half of those installing new or upgraded solar systems at the same time. What this means in Chisholm is that 1,655 families and local businesses have embraced energy upgrades that save them money and make their homes and businesses much more energy efficient. These results show our community is getting on with it—taking up batteries and backing a cleaner energy future that is made from Australia's abundant renewable resources. My constituents are embracing this. They don't want slogans; they want bills that are easier to pay and a cleaner, better future through a plan that delivers and is accessible for them. That's exactly what this program is. I was really pleased to have Minister Chris Bowen visit my electorate a little while ago when we announced this particular program. I know from speaking to so many people in my community that they were so excited to see this program get underway. I'm thrilled to see the uptake in my community and I'm sure that it will continue because, like me, my community really does care about both the environment and making sure that we can do what we can to ease cost-of-living pressures on households every day. Fadden Electorate: Fuel 99 12:06 Mr CALDWELL 306489 Fadden We couldn't really close the Federation Chamber this week without talking about the big topic of the week, and that is fuel supply and fuel prices. There is absolutely no doubt that this is hurting some sectors more than others. We know that our farmers, our fishers and our friends in the bush are really struggling, but, in my local area, it's even small businesses that are really starting to struggle. I was contacted this week by a mobile welder and fabricator who's been stood down from work. It's not because there's not enough work or not enough demand. The reason for him being stood down is the uncertainty of the diesel supply needed to run the generator that's used for the mobile fabrication work. We know that many of our tradespeople rely on diesel powered equipment to keep working each day. What happens when the fuel supply becomes uncertain, prices go up and supply just disappears is that businesses can't plan, they can't deliver and ultimately workers lose work. This is having real consequences in our local community. Overnight, we saw diesel hit about $2.55 a litre in the local area. That's shot up from about $1.55 when I last filled up the tank before I came down to Canberra. So $1 per litre is the price spike on diesel just in the local area. This is really causing major dramas, particularly for our transport businesses. I was contacted by Danielle from the local area in response to a Facebook post I put out this morning. She welcomes enforcement action, but truthfully she says: 'That is of no help to small businesses, who have to pass on the fuel increases as a levy to their customers, whether that be business to business or consumers. I'm in the transport industry, and it's not able to be absorbed.' What this means, of course, is that the cost of everything goes up because, when fuel prices go up, the cost of transport, generators, refrigeration—all of it—goes up. We're already in difficulty with inflation. The RBA is not happy with where we're sitting. They had already forecast that inflation was probably going to get to about 4.2 per cent, but this fuel crisis is now putting even more pressure on that inflationary number. We saw just in the last couple of days reports that Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser has said that he expects inflation will smash through that 4.2 per cent and could maybe stop short of 5 per cent. Those numbers are way outside the RBA's comfort zone. In those circumstances, the RBA has only got one lever that it can pull, and that's to lift interest rates. What that means is higher mortgage repayments for households. It means higher rents because the costs that houses are to hold will go up. Each and every mortgage holder who has an average mortgage in Australia is paying about $23,000 a year more now than they were when the coalition was in government. Every incremental increase to rates makes it that much harder to keep a roof over your head. Had we been in a circumstance where the Treasurer had us well-prepared for these kinds of events, where inflation was under control, where inflation had actually turned the corner and where the Reserve Bank was satisfied with where inflation was at, we might be better prepared to deal with these world shocks. But, at the moment, we are badly exposed to world events. We are adding these events on top of already high inflation data. We are shockingly exposed, and this is just one example of the mismanagement of the economy by this treasurer. Another thing that I'll point to, which many Australians don't know, is that we are about to tick over a trillion dollars of national debt, which means we are servicing interest of $72 million a day. This type of management must end. Public Libraries, Arts and Culture 100 12:11 Mr FRENCH 316550 Moore In times of uncertainty, when households are feeling the pressure of rising costs and when the pace of events around the world can sometimes feel unsettling, it is often the arts that quietly help carry us through. They give us stories that help us make sense of the world, they create moments of joy and connection and, importantly, they provide opportunities for people to learn, create and experience culture without needing deep pockets. In my electorate of Moore, we are fortunate to have a vibrant cultural community supported by outstanding local institutions. One of the most important of these is our local library network. Across Moore, we have four fantastic libraries: Duncraig, Joondalup, Whitford and Woodvale. Every day, they provide something incredibly valuable: free access to knowledge, culture and creativity. I can report that, this morning, I signed up for the City of Joondalup's library services online. It only took a few minutes, and I immediately unlocked access to a remarkable range of digital resources. Libraries today are not what people imagine them to be. The old stereotype of quiet buildings full of dusty shelves has long since passed. Modern libraries are dynamic, digital and deeply connected to the communities they serve. Through the City of Joondalup's library system, residents can access an extraordinary range of online resources entirely free of charge. Platforms like Libby allow people to borrow ebooks and audiobooks from home. Kanopy provides access to thousands of films and documentaries. Hoopla offers movies, music, comics and television shows. Ancestry.com allows residents to explore their family history and discover the stories that shaped the generations before them. At a time when subscription services seem to multiply every year and monthly bills quickly add up, these resources offer genuine value for families. Importantly, the library ensures that everyone can access them. If the technology feels daunting, residents can simply book an appointment with the library's friendly team, who will sit them down and show them how to download an ebook, stream a film or start exploring their family history online. Libraries across Australia are evolving this way. In fact, earlier today, I was fortunate enough to visit the National Library of Australia, just a short walk from this chamber. The visit was a powerful reminder of just how much libraries have evolved. While the National Library continues its vital role in preserving Australia's written history, it now also provides vast digital collections, photographs, oral history, archives and research materials for all Australians. As a member of the Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Library, I see firsthand how important modern information services are in ensuring Australians can access knowledge in new and evolving ways. The arts are not only found in libraries. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Joondalup Festival at the Joondalup Contemporary Art Gallery. The opening exhibition featured rare photographs of David Bowie by Christine de Grancy and was a powerful reminder of the way art captures moments in time and tells stories that resonate across generations. The Joondalup Festival itself has become one of the cultural highlights of Perth's northern suburbs. Importantly, it includes a wide range of free community events and outdoor performances, ensuring families can come together to experience the arts without having to worry about costs. Recently, I also had the opportunity to host Susan Templeman, the Special Envoy for the Arts, in Joondalup, bringing together a cross-section of our local arts community. What stood out was the extraordinary talent, passion and commitment that exists in our community but also the very real challenges that the sector is facing. There was also a strong and clear message about the importance of fit-for-purpose cultural infrastructure as our region continues to grow. Joondalup is increasingly recognised as Western Australia's second CBD. If we are serious about that vision, we must also invest in the cultural infrastructure that brings a city to life. As I said in my inaugural speech, culture is infrastructure too because, in times like these, the arts do more than entertain. They bring people together, they strengthen communities and they help remind us that, even in uncertain times, creativity and culture help carry us forward. Gun Control 101 12:16 Mr CHAFFEY 316312 Parkes Earlier this year, in this place, we witnessed an act of parliament that showed how far we have strayed from the democratic process. The terrorist attack at Bondi Beach by Islamic extremists was turned into a circus targeting the one million Australians who lawfully own and use firearms. With no time to consider the revised gun bill, it was brought before the parliament by the Albanese Labor government, with the support of the Greens in the Senate. It was an echo of what occurred on Christmas Eve at the hands of the New South Wales Labor government, who pushed through gun law reform that is already, hugely, having a detrimental effect on regional Australia. With phone call after phone call, letter after letter and email after email, I'm getting angry residents throughout the Parkes electorate telling me that people do not want this gun law reform. They have pointed out that our country already has some of the toughest regulations in the world. They have argued that the problem was not farmers controlling feral animals. It was not sporting shooters developing their skills. It was not those who use firearms as part of their job. This terrible act of terrorism happened in one of our largest cities at our best known beach at the hands of Islamic extremist terrorists. My electorate, the seat of Parkes, is a regional electorate. There are vast tracts of land managed by very few people. Pest animals flourish if the land is not managed. They can destroy land, livelihoods, ecosystems and species. The federal government's and the New South Wales government's new laws will diminish farmers' ability to keep the number of guns that they have for specific purposes. Sporting shooters have voiced their serious concerns about the impact on their sport and the lack of consultation. Just a few weeks ago, at Broken Hill, I met with law-abiding gun owners at the Broken Hill sporting complex and heard firsthand the frustrations these people are facing with the new laws. I've also spoken to a number of small businesses throughout the Parkes electorate who specialise in supplying firearms, ammunition and accessories. They repeated to me one simple message—that these reforms could mean the end of their business. David and Nancy Thwaites own and operate Walgett Hunt Camp Fish, a small business in Walgett, and have shared that their business has been at a virtual standstill, with a huge fall in revenue since the changes were made. They said: One of the biggest grain growing regions in Australia faces huge crop losses and massive cost increases in utilising professional pest eradicators instead of free recreational hunters. In Dubbo, Marty and Nicky Bourke, owners and operators of GunPro, their family business that's been trading for more than 16 years, have shared the devastating news that earlier this year they cancelled orders for $2 million worth of goods because of these rushed, misguided gun laws. About 40 per cent of their stock can no longer be sold, and firearm sales are down 90 per cent. This business is also a supplier to government agencies, including NSW Police and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. In Moree, small-business owners Sam and Sharnah Tomlinson from 2 Rivers Guns & Ammo shared that their business dreams have now become an absolute nightmare. Their staff members have been forced to find work elsewhere, and this couple are left to contemplate their future. They said: None of these changes stop or will ever stop what happened, but the government will never admit its own faults. It will only ever pass them on to people like me. In Broken Hill, the story is the same. Gerry from Silver City Guns & Ammo told me that now he must look seriously at the future of his generational family owned business. The Labor-Greens coalition forced this gun buyback program onto all Australians without the details on how it will work. They simply committed $1 billion and quoted that the states and territories would be required to match that funding. Since then, we've heard that Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory will not participate, leaving more questions than answers. The Albanese government must commit to fair market value compensation for all firearms, redundant ammunition and accessories, and a financial support package for impacted small businesses and sporting shooters clubs affected by the legislative changes. This is what a lack of consultation can lead to—farmers concerned about their futures, sporting shooters left in confusion and small-business owners whose dreams have now turned into nightmares. Australia-Cyprus Achievement Awards, Chinese Australian Services Society 101 12:21 Mr THISTLETHWAITE 182468 Kingsford Smith Last month I joined the Cyprus Community of NSW for the Australia-Cyprus Achievement Awards honouring achievement, service and shared heritage between Australia and Cyprus. It was a celebration of the significant contribution that the Cypriot community has made to our nation. Many of them arrived after the Second World War. They were young, they didn't speak English, they found our food boring and tasteless, they had little but the clothes on their back. But they worked hard, they maintained their faith through the Greek Orthodox Church and community, they had families and they made a life of it in Australia. And hasn't our nation, and indeed our community, benefited because of that. Many settled in Marrickville, Kingsgrove, Bankstown, Kingsford and, of course, Maroubra. They brought with them the institutions that sustain community life—afternoon schools, theatre groups, dance troupes, sporting clubs, bakeries, churches and the wonderful Cypriot Club that was in St Peters. There were places of belonging, identity and continuity, and they helped shape the multicultural character of the suburbs that we know today. The Australia-Cyprus Achievement Awards reflected that legacy. Among the major honourees was Neophytos Stavrou, recognised for a lifetime of service to commerce, culture, faith and philanthropy. Then there's my good mate Con Theocharides and his family, who were honoured for their exceptional humanitarian leadership through their charity, A Touch of Kindness, that feeds the homeless and those displaced each week in Sydney. It's one of Australia's largest charitable support missions. The 2026 Australia-Cyprus Achievement Hall of Fame awardee was Professor Richard Green, recognising his outstanding contribution to classical and Cypriot archaeology and his pivotal role in advancing Australia-Cyprus scholarly relations. The Australia-Cyprus Achievement Award (Youth) was presented to Jacquelene Tsovolos, recognising her work in encouraging civic participation among young Cypriot Australians. The Cyprus Community of NSW forms a living bridge between Cyprus and Australia, and it stands as a reminder that Australia is enriched by every culture that now calls our wonderful country home. I congratulate all the award recipients and commend the community for its outstanding contribution to Australian society. I'd also like to acknowledge and congratulate the Chinese Australian Services Society, commonly known as CASS, on its 45th anniversary. CASS is an organisation that has played a vital role in supporting migrants, particularly from China, strengthening communities and contributing to Australia's multicultural success story. It was founded to meet the needs of those who arrived in Australia seeking opportunity and a sense of belonging. For many who left their homelands behind, organisations like CASS provide not only practical assistance, but also the reassurance that they are not alone as they build new lives in this country. I want to also acknowledge the broader contribution of Australia's Chinese community, who have had a presence in and have made a contribution to Australia for more than 170 years. Chinese Australians have helped shape our national story through their work in business, science, education, the arts, community and service to public life. For 45 years, CASS has delivered services that reach deep into that community. Their programs supports more than 8½ thousand families each week. These services span settlement support, health programs, child care, ageing and homecare assistance, disability services, vocational training and language classes. Each of these programs has helped Australians participate fully in social and economic life, but the contribution of CASS extends beyond service delivery. It fosters that wonderful sense of community that sustains people through every stage of their migration journey. By nurturing cultural traditions and supporting intergenerational connection, CASS strengthens not only Australia's Chinese community, but the broader Australian story. It's also reflected in the organisation's longevity. I recently attended a CASS event to celebrate Lunar New Year. Zhong Qiu Jie is a festival that we also celebrate with them at Kensington. It's a wonderful opportunity to bring our community together. I want to thank Professor Stephen Li, the chairperson of CASS, and all the wonderful staff and volunteers of the organisation who have contributed to building CASS into the wonderful organisation that it is 45 years later. I thank CASS for this milestone anniversary. I commend them on their work to empower and support communities, particularly the Chinese, across our nation. Question agreed to. Federation Chamber adjourned at 12 : 27