I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Introduction

Triple 0 is the most critical service in our telecommunications system.

It is the number Australians call in their most desperate moment of need, when lives and safety are on the line.

Australians should trust that when they call triple 0 someone will answer and help will come.

But repeated failures by Optus in recent years, through which thousands of emergency calls failed to connect and lives were lost, has compromised that trust.

The Albanese government will always work to protect Australians, and we will hold those who fail to deliver their obligations to full account.

Optus—and all telecommunications carriers—have no excuses for triple 0 outages.

While the Australian Communications and Media Authority's independent investigation into the most recent incident continues, today I introduce the Telecommunications Legislative Amendment (Triple Zero Custodian and Emergency Calling Powers) Bill 2025.

What's happened so far

From the moment a person dials triple 0 into their phone, a chain of actions is set in motion.

The call passes through carriers, infrastructure owners and the emergency call person before finally landing with the relevant state and territory emergency service, who dispatch potentially life-saving resources.

And while telco outages may occur, the law is clear: carriers must always make sure that triple 0 calls still connect by being redirected to alternate mobile towers or infrastructure.

Despite this requirement, the Bean review found that a lack of overarching accountability over many years left the system vulnerable when coordination broke down.

That is why, in March this year, the Albanese government established the Triple Zero Custodian in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

So far, the custodian has worked closely with industry to understand the gaps in the triple 0 system.

Alongside the custodian, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has led a steering committee of industry, government and consumer representatives to establish a longer-term Triple Zero Custodian model.

I thank the participants in that steering committee for their contribution to this incredibly important work.

This bill cements into law the powers and functions of the existing Triple Zero Custodian, to strengthen the resilience and oversight of the triple 0 system.

And it builds on critical industry standards starting on 1 November.

From 1 November, telecommunications carriers will have to provide real-time reporting of outages to ACMA and to emergency services.

They will also have to test triple 0 during upgrades and maintenance, and ensure calls fall back to other networks if needed.

And within six months of the commencement of this bill, the custodian, through ACMA, will issue additional performance requirements to telcos to ensure best practice.

Telco providers know under the law they must provide reliable access to triple 0—that is their legal obligation.

That's why this morning I met with the CEOs of Optus, Telstra and TPG/Vodafone ahead of the approaching natural disaster season.

There are no excuses and I made that crystal clear earlier today.

Schedule 1—main amendments

Turning to the specifics of this bill, schedule 1 amends the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 to put the custodian on a statutory footing and equip ACMA with targeted powers.

Under these amendments, ACMA may issue directions to carriers, carriage service providers and emergency call persons.

These directions may require critical information to be provided, such as technical details of an outage, policies and processes affecting triple 0, or restoration plans.

They may also require specific actions to be taken, such as consulting with other stakeholders, sharing information with an emergency service organisation, or improving procedures to prevent a repeat failure.

During an outage event, where the custodian or ACMA reasonably believes access to triple 0 may be affected, ACMA can compel timely information on the outage's nature, scale, impacts and restoration.

Information gathered by ACMA will be provided to the custodian in a timely manner.

The custodian will use this material to support its ongoing, systemwide oversight of triple 0.

ACMA will also provide advice and analysis to the custodian to assist in identifying risks and improving preparedness across the ecosystem.

This arrangement strengthens ACMA as an active participant in triple 0, while maintaining the custodian as the central coordination and oversight function within the department.

The bill also establishes rules for the use and disclosure of custodian information.

This framework allows information to be shared with emergency service organisations, regulators and other relevant bodies to remediate problems before they cause crisis, and to respond during an outage of the triple 0 system.

Schedule 1 requires ACMA to report every six months to the minister on use of the new powers, with a copy provided to the custodian.

The minister may also cause a review of the custodian's effectiveness within two years of commencement. These provisions reinforce accountability and provide the flexibility to refine the framework over time.

For constitutional reasons, the powers of direction contained in the bill do not extend to state and territory emergency services organisations.

However, it is my expectation that the custodian will work constructively with the states and territories, to ensure the appropriate transfer of information.

Schedule 2—consequential amendments

Schedule 2 makes consequential amendments to the Telecommunications Act 1997.

It confirms ACMA's investigation pathway where matters are referred by the custodian and establishes civil penalties for contraventions of custodian directions.

This aligns with the penalty settings of other enforcement tools across the telecommunications regulatory framework and reinforces the seriousness of compliance.

Schedule 3—technical updates to emergency services references

Schedule 3 of the bill updates references to 'emergency services' so that the term is consistently defined across telecommunications legislation.

C onclusion

This bill acts on the lessons of past service disruptions by establishing into law the powers and functions of the Triple Zero Custodian.

It provides the Commonwealth with a permanent mechanism to oversee emergency call services, both during outages and in business-as-usual operations.

It will also give the ACMA the tools it needs to be proactive and forward leaning in pursuing a resilient, reliable emergency call service for the benefit of all Australians.

Going forward, I will repeat for the record what I said to the CEOs of Optus, Telstra and TPG before walking into this chamber.

The Albanese Government is committed to making the Triple Zero system better and more reliable for Australians.

Legislating a Triple Zero Custodian will help—but there is no silver bullet solution for corporate failure.

If a telco fails Australians—like Optus did—they will face significant consequences.

There is no excuse.

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.

On behalf of the Leader of the House, I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring in relation to proceedings on Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026:

(1) on Tuesday, 7 October:

(a) when Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026 is called on, the questions being put without delay or debate on any amendments moved to the motion for the second reading and on the second reading; and

(b) the bills standing referred to the Federation Chamber;

(2) when the order of the day for the further consideration of Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026 is called on in the Federation Chamber, consideration of the schedule being in accordance with the following order, and the question 'that the proposed expenditure be agreed to' being put for each portfolio in accordance with the timeframes indicated below, or earlier if no further Members rise to speak:

(a) Education Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 6 pm on Tuesday, 7 October;

(b) Defence Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 6.45 pm on Tuesday, 7 October;

(c) Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 7 October;

(d) Treasury Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 11.15 am on Wednesday, 8 October;

(e) Finance Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 12 noon on Wednesday, 8 October;

(f) Employment and Workplace Relations Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 12.45 pm on Wednesday, 8 October;

(g) Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 1.30 pm on Wednesday, 8 October;

(h) Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 4.45 pm on Wednesday, 8 October;

(i) Attorney-General's Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 5.15 pm on Wednesday, 8 October;

(j) Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 6 pm on Wednesday, 8 October;

(k) Industry, Science and Resources Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 6.45 pm on Wednesday, 8 October;

(l) Home Affairs Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 8 October;

(m) Social Services Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 11.15 am on Thursday, 9 October;

(n) Health, Disability and Ageing Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 12.15 pm on Thursday, 9 October; and

(o) Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio, at the first opportunity after 12.45 pm on Thursday, 9 October;

(3) any questions necessary to complete the consideration in the Federation Chamber of each of the bills being put immediately without debate;

(4) the bills returning to the House and, when reported, any question or questions necessary to complete the remaining stages of each of the bills to be put without amendment or debate; and

(5) any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.

In accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier, the Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026 and related appropriation bills stand referred to the Federation Chamber, and further consideration of this bill is made an order of the day for a later hour.

On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the following reports: Review of the listing of Terrorgram as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code and Advisory report on the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.

Reports made parliamentary papers in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—I rise today to present a report on behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for a review of the listing of Terrorgram as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code. Organisations can be listed under the Criminal Code, provided the minister is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the organisation is directly or indirectly engaged in terrorism or advocates the doing of a terrorist act. On 27 June 2025, the Minister for Home Affairs announced that the Australian government had listed Terrorgram, also known as Terrorgram Collective, as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code.

The committee's review examines the minister's decision to list this organisation. Section 102.1A of the Criminal Code provides that the committee may review a regulation which lists an organisation as a terrorist organisation and report its comments and recommendations to each House of the parliament at any time. In determining whether the regulations listing this organisation should be supported, the committee reviewed the merits of the listing with regard to the Minister for Home Affairs's explanatory statement and statement of reasons for the listing and other publicly available information. The committee also received a private briefing on the organisation from the Department of Home Affairs.

The statement of reasons makes clear that Terrorgram is a nationalist and racist violent extremist organisation, comprising a group of persons who use a network of various online channels based primarily on the online messaging application Telegram. Terrorgram's leaders and members create and distribute propaganda with the intent to inspire terrorist attacks on minority groups, critical infrastructure and specific individuals they deem to be against their values. The organisation advocates for and provides instructions on how to conduct terrorist attacks and has successfully inspired a number of terrorist attacks in the United States, Europe and Asia. The decentralised and encrypted online environment of Terrorgram allows the organisation to operate internationally with few barriers and with membership relatively easily attainable for Australians. A key concern is Terrorgram's frequent promotion and praise of the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack and perpetrator, which it uses as a propaganda tool to radicalise potential members, advocate terrorist actions and spread its violent extremist ideology.

The nature of this organisation is unconventional for a terrorist organisation as it is a decentralised, non-hierarchical network that primarily operates in online spaces. However, the committee is satisfied with the Australian government's assessment that Terrorgram is a distinct organisation with identifiable members and leadership figures. On the basis of the information available to it, the committee agrees with the Australian government's assessment that the organisation known as Terrorgram advocates the doing of a terrorist act. The committee is satisfied that the appropriate process has been followed and that the listing has been properly made. The committee therefore supports the listing of Terrorgram under division 102 of the Criminal Code in order to protect Australians and Australia's interests and finds no reason to disallow the regulations.

I also rise to present a report on behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for its review of the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. The bill amends the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979, the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 and the Crimes Act 1914 with the objective of ensuring key provisions operate as intended and supporting the proper administration of government, law enforcement, national security and criminal justice processes.

The bill consists of five schedules. Schedule 1 would permit network activity warrant information to be used, communicated and recorded to meet disclosure obligations or to be admitted in evidence where necessary to ensure a defendant is afforded a fair trial or to respond to any such information admitted by the defence. Schedule 2 would transfer the statutory function of the communications access coordinator from the secretary of the Attorney-General's Department to the secretary of the Department of Home Affairs. Schedule 3 would permit limited access to stored communications to allow agencies to undertake development and testing activities. Schedule 4 would address a technical issue with the operation of interception international production orders that has prevented orders from being given to US based prescribed communication providers in certain circumstances. Schedule 5 would clarify the threshold for authorising and varying controlled operations and subsequently the circumstances in which a participant is protected from criminal responsibility and indemnified against civil liability. The committee received five submissions to its review of the bill, most of which expressed support for it, in whole or in part.

These are technical but important amendments intended not to create entirely new laws or powers but to clarify existing obligations and ensure the workability of particular provisions within the telecommunications law that enable the crucial work of our national security agencies. The committee has recommended that the bill be passed without amendment. I commend both reports to the House.

I have received advice from the Chief Government Whip and Dr M Ryan, nominating members to be members and participating members of certain committees.

by leave—I move:

That:

(1) Ms Payne be discharged from the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories;

(2) Dr M Ryan be discharged from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights;

(3) Mr Burnell be appointed a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters;

(4) Ms Scrymgour be appointed a member of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories; and

(5) Ms Scrymgour and Ms Urquhart be appointed participating members of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters for the purpose of the committee's inquiry into the 2025 federal election.

Question agreed to.

I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025. The coalition acknowledges the intent of this bill, which contains a number of technical amendments to improve the efficiency of several important elements of our health system, including the allocation of Medicare provider numbers, the assignment of Medicare benefits processes and improvements to the private health insurance premiums reduction scheme. It also makes amendments to the Bonded Medical Program, with the aim of ensuring that penalties for noncompliance are fair and proportionate, particularly in light of the serious workforce shortages facing our healthcare system. The measures in this bill are intended to tidy up existing legislation, streamline administration and make sure the rules governing Medicare payments and bonded medical placements are clear and consistent. These are sensible objectives, and on that basis the coalition will not stand in the way of this bill in the House.

However, we will be seeking further information and scrutiny on this bill through a Senate inquiry, particularly in relation to the implications of the proposed changes to the Bonded Medical Program and the assignment of Medicare benefits for bulk-billing and simplified billing arrangements. We have significant unanswered questions that we believe it is important to seek answers to. It's vital these measures do not create unintended consequences or additional administrative burden for our hardworking health professionals, because right now it is undeniable that primary health care is in crisis under this government.

At the last election, we saw the Prime Minister wave around his Medicare card at every photo opportunity, declaring that under his government all you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card. He said that Australians can see a GP for free under Labor. He made that promise at least 71 times during the campaign. But the truth, confirmed by his own department, is very different. A department of health briefing obtained under freedom of information revealed that a quarter of GP clinics across Australia will not bulk-bill. This means millions of Australians still need their credit card as well as their Medicare card when they visit a doctor. Now the health minister is desperately trying to walk it all back, saying that Labor never said there would be 100 per cent bulk-billing. Well, the Prime Minister certainly did say that. He looked Australians in the eye and said, 'One card covers it all—not your credit card, your Medicare card.'

But today Australians are paying the price for the Albanese Labor government's disingenuous approach to Medicare. Whilst the Prime Minister was out there waving his Medicare card, Australian families were paying a combined $166 million in out-of-pocket costs at the GP in the month of the campaign, May 2025, alone. In the past year, Australians have paid over $2 billion out of pocket to see a GP—$2 billion charged to their credit cards, not covered by their Medicare cards. That is the Prime Minister's $2 billion lie. Since Labor was elected, Australians are now paying 75 per cent more out of their own pocket to see a doctor. So much for 'free to see a GP'!

Labor promised to strengthen Medicare, but it has only been weakened. Since the Albanese government came to power, bulk-billing has fallen from 88 per cent to 77 per cent. That's 40 million fewer bulk-billed GP visits in the past year alone. Medicare mental health funding has been slashed in half, and, despite all of Labor's false promises and misleading rhetoric, Australians are now paying the highest average out-of-pocket costs on record to see a GP. That is the stark reality of Labor's primary care crisis. More than 1.5 million Australians last year said they avoided seeing a GP because of cost concerns. That's 1½ million people forced to make a difficult decision about their health, a decision no Australian should have to make, because of Labor's primary healthcare crisis.

While Australian families are struggling to afford to go to their doctor, the Prime Minister seems completely out of touch, more interested in political stunts than ensuring all Australians actually have timely and affordable access to essential health care. Nowhere is Labor's neglect clearer than in mental health. When Labor tore away Medicare subsidised mental health sessions from 372,000 vulnerable Australians, it ignored the advice of its own review and the pleas of mental health experts right across the country. Since that cruel cut, access to Medicare mental health support has fallen to its lowest level in at least a decade, right at the time when demand has never been higher. Labor has cut Medicare mental health sessions in half, abolished the Mental Health Commission and even ripped away the Suicide Prevention Research Fund. Their neglect of mental health is so significant that the former chair of Mental Health Australia was forced to resign in frustration at the government's inaction. This is not the record of a government strengthening Medicare or supporting Australians' health and wellbeing. It is the record of a government that says one thing and does another.

Under the coalition, Medicare funding increased every single year, from $18.6 billion back in 2012-13 under Labor to more than $30 billion in 2021-22. Bulk-billing rose consistently through our term in office to a record more than 88 per cent when we left government. In our final year, Australians received 167 million free GP visits, which is 61 million more than under the previous Labor government. That's the coalition's record—delivering affordable, quality health care.

So, while the coalition acknowledge the technical objectives of this bill to ensure efficiency in several elements of our health system, we will not let the government use it as a smokescreen for its broader failures. We condemn the Albanese government's broken promises and appalling record on Medicare. Australians deserve a government that tells them the truth, not one that waves around a Medicare card while forcing families to reach for their credit cards. The coalition remains firmly focused on ensuring that all Australians can access timely, affordable and quality health care, no matter where they live.

I am thrilled to again be contributing in this place on our Labor government's commitment to Medicare. Medicare and universal access to health care is core to who we are as a Labor government. This legislation, the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025, is another important step in ensuring Medicare remains strong, accessible and ready for the future. It will help us deliver more bulk-billing, faster access to doctors, simpler billing systems and fairer treatment for medical graduates and overseas-trained practitioners, all so that Australians can get the care that they need when they need it and while only needing their Medicare card.

Medicare is who we are as a country. It's one of our nation's greatest achievements, built on our Australian values of fairness, equity and compassion. It's why our government is determined to strengthen Medicare, to make it easier and affordable to see your doctor, to support our healthcare workforce and to keep bulk-billing strong across every part of our community. This legislation makes important practical changes across the health system to help deliver a stronger Medicare, including more bulk-billing, faster access to provider numbers and better systems that will help doctors spend less time on paperwork and more time with their patients. This bill is a key part of the Albanese Labor government's ongoing commitment to not just strengthen Medicare but safeguard it now and into the future.

After a decade of coalition neglect and frozen rebates resulting in a rapid decline in bulk-billing and a healthcare workforce stretched to breaking point, Labor is doing the work to fix it, building a stronger, fairer and more modern Medicare. One of the most important parts of this bill tackles one of the biggest barriers that affect our healthcare workforce: the slow processing of Medicare provider numbers. When a new doctor, including an overseas trained practitioner, seeks to practise under Medicare, they have to apply for a Medicare provider number. It's a process that's still partly manual, often slow and frustratingly bureaucratic. The Kruk review found that overseas trained doctors can wait up to three months for a provider number to start work. These delays result in months of lost care for patients, and in some areas clinics struggle to keep up with demand.

This bill fixes that. It implements recommendation 2 of the independent Kruk review into Australia's regulatory settings for overseas health practitioners: to automate and streamline the issuing of provider numbers. Under these changes, the Chief Executive Medicare will be able to approve computer programs to automatically issue Medicare provider numbers for straightforward non-discretionary cases. That means that, when a practitioner meets all the eligibility criteria, their provider number can be issued quickly, efficiently and without unnecessary human delay. Importantly, any refusals or complex cases will still be reviewed by a human officer, ensuring accountability and fairness. We'll also validate all provider numbers previously issued by automated systems so there's legal certainty and no risk to practitioners who've already been approved.

In my local community, these changes mean doctors joining busy practices in Essendon, Moonee Ponds and Keilor East can start seeing patients sooner, reducing wait times and keeping care close to home. Just under a quarter of my electorate are aged over 65, a group that naturally requires more frequent access to health care as they age. These reforms will make a real difference for them, as well as for busy young families and students balancing study and part-time work, by giving everyone faster, easier access to the care that they need. By streamlining approvals and boosting bulk-billing, this bill helps local clinics operate more efficiently and focus on what matters: their patients. It means more appointments, more services and better care for every family across my community and right across Australia. This reform brings Medicare into the digital age and makes the system more efficient.

Simpler, faster and more reliable—that is what this legislation seeks to achieve by modernising the way private health insurance rebates are processed. Private health insurance plays an important role in supporting Australia's universal healthcare system. It gives Australians more choice and flexibility, helping people access the elective surgeries, specialist care and hospital services they need while reducing pressure on our public hospitals. At the same time, it works hand in hand with Medicare, ensuring that everyone continues to have access to essential care regardless of income. Every year, the Australian government reimburses insurers over $7 billion to ensure the private health insurance rebate is applied fairly and accurately to consumers' premiums. This rebate helps to keep private health insurance affordable for millions of Australians. When we came to government, we inherited a system that was inconsistent, error prone and woefully outdated. That is why we are seeking to modernise it.

This bill aligns registration with Services Australia systems, introduces self-assessment for insurers, ensures overpayments can be recovered even if errors occur, and allows computer assisted decision-making and the approval of forms by the Chief Executive Medicare. This legislation provides reassurance for local families in Maribyrnong, from young couples taking out their first policy to older residents managing chronic conditions. It's about ensuring that private health insurance remains affordable, reliable and accessible, giving people peace of mind that they can access the services they need. By streamlining the rebate process and improving efficiency of claims, the bill ensures that all insurers can pass on these benefits directly to their policyholders, reducing out-of-pocket costs and making coverage more predictable.

These reforms go beyond the technical fixes. They're about delivering real benefits for working people, reducing stress and ensuring Australians can get what they are entitled to under the law. That is what good government does. It identifies problems, consults experts and implements smart legislative fixes, rather than ignoring problems for years and leaving billions of dollars in rebate payments vulnerable to error or inconsistency.

Another key part of this bill is how Medicare benefits are assigned under bulk-billing and simplified billing. Right now, patients assign their Medicare benefit to their doctor, who then receives the rebate from the government. It's a system that has worked for decades, but it still relies on old paper based processes that can slow things down. Earlier this year, the Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits) Act 2024 laid the groundwork for digital assignment, making it faster and easier for doctors and patients alike. But before we flip the switch, we need to make sure Medicare practices, software providers and Services Australia are ready. That's why this bill delays the start of the new rules until 1 July 2026. This is a responsible move, giving everyone time to prepare, avoiding disruption, protecting patients ability to bulk-bill and making sure bulk-billing software works smoothly.

While we get ready for the digital future, Labor is investing today. Our $7.9 billion bulk-billing initiative, kicking off in November, will mean local GPs can see more patients, help more families and keep costs down. Just last week, I welcomed the health minister, Mark Butler, to Maribyrnong to visit the Moonee Ponds Super Clinic in Hall Street. We spoke with the practice manager and local doctors about what these new changes will mean on the ground. They told us how the government 's new bulk-billing incentives will help them see more patients, keep their doors open for longer and make sure that cost is never a barrier to care. They confirmed they will be moving to become a full bulk-billing service because of our initiative.

You can feel the difference this investment will make, not just for the clinics but for families right across my electorate. In Maribyrnong, around 27 per cent of people live with a long-term health condition that requires regular care and support. That's more than one in four people who rely on strong, accessible primary health care; people managing diabetes, heart conditions, asthma and other chronic illnesses who can't avoid delays or high out-of-pocket costs. That is why we're strengthening Medicare and that's why it matters so deeply to communities like mine. Your health is personal and looking after it can be stressful. The last thing anyone needs is a system that makes it harder to get the help that they need. Whether it's at the Moonee Ponds Super Clinic or your local GP practices, across Kensington through to Gladstone Park, this is about making Medicare work for everyone. Faster claims, fairer systems and less time on paperwork.

Schedule 4 reforms the Bonded Medical Program, ensuring fairness while keeping communities covered. The coalition imposed a six-year Medicare ban for doctors who failed to meet their obligations. Not only was this harsh and unfair, but it was also counterproductive. That policy risked depriving regional, rural and outer suburban communities of critical health services. Once again, Labor is fixing their mess.

This bill delivers three key changes that make the Bonded Medical Program fairer, more flexible and more effective. Under the old system, if a doctor could not finish their service obligation, they were punished twice: forced to repay their scholarship and then banned from billing Medicare for six years. It was harsh, it was unfair and it made no sense. That ban didn't just hurt the doctor; it hurt Australians as it meant fewer bulk-billing services were available. By removing that blunt penalty, we're keeping fairness and accountability in place without cutting our communities off from the care they need.

Many bonded doctors have already spent years working in our rural, regional and outer metropolitan communities, yet, under the old rules, that effort often did not count toward their obligations. This bill changes that. It ensures that the work done in the spirit of the program is properly recognised.

We know medical training is demanding and personal circumstances can change. Extending the grace period gives students more time to decide whether the program is right for them, supporting a smoother transition into the workforce and reducing unnecessary stress during study. This flexibility helps us attract more students into medicine, especially those who want to give back to their communities without trapping them in unfair or unrealistic conditions.

These reforms also send a clear message to doctors and healthcare workers: your contribution is valued, and we recognise the hard work you do. By removing punitive barriers and providing fairer conditions, the program encourages more young doctors to enter the workforce and consider service in areas that need it the most. It helps retain skilled practitioners, reduces burnout and ensures our health system is staffed with dedicated professionals who can provide the high-quality care every Australian deserves.

Labor understands that the strength of our healthcare system depends on the people who keep it running. Our doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and the support staff who show up every day for the communities they serve. Strengthening the workforce today means stronger, more reliable health care for communities tomorrow. The Bonded Medical Program is about building a pipeline of skilled and passionate doctors across the country, from our biggest cities to our smallest towns. It incentivises service in areas of need, supports workforce planning and ensures that every Australian, no matter where they live, can see a doctor when they need to.

What this bill shows is Labor in action, delivering reforms that build our promise to strengthen Medicare: faster onboarding of doctors; stronger support for private health insurance and rebates; modern, digital, simplified bulk-billing processes; and fairer rules for bonded medical graduates. For a decade, those opposite were focused more on the culture wars than on keeping our healthcare system running. When it comes to Medicare, they don't see green and gold; they see stars and stripes. They see Medicare American style: no bulk-billing, harsh penalties for healthcare workers and Australians paying more for the treatment they need. We are determined to fix their mistakes and keep our promise to strengthen Medicare for all Australians.

This bill makes our system fairer, more efficient and more reliable, ensuring Australians can access care when they need it. Australians voted for a Labor government that invests in them, invests in people, solves problems and delivers results. This bill does just that by strengthening the backbone of our health system and ensuring it keeps pace with the world around it. Automation provider numbers will get doctors working faster. Reform of private health rebate systems will protect taxpayers and patients alike. Modernising bulk-billing processes will make it easier for clinics and ensure digital integrity. Improving the Bonded Medical Program will keep more doctors where they're needed most. These are practical, forward-looking reforms, part of labour's broader agenda to rebuild Medicare after years of neglect. For the people of Maribyrnong, this means seeing a doctor sooner, fast approvals for new providers and strong bulk-billing at the local clinics across Keilor East, Tullamarine and Avondale Heights. It means fewer delays, more certainty and a fairer health system that puts patients first.

Medicare isn't just a policy; it's a promise—a promise that, no matter who you are or where you live, you will be able to get health care that you need without going broke doing it. I commend the bill to the House.

I too rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025. This bill, like so many other pieces of legislation introduced by the Albanese government, is like a scorpion. You start at the top and everything is fine. Then you get to the sting in the tail, not unlike the sting that many Australians are feeling when they need to pull out their credit card as well as their Medicare card. With that in mind, I'll start at the tail of this piece of legislation, and that refers to schedule 4, the Bonded Medical Program.

There simply is not enough detail in the bill, the explanatory memorandum or the assistant minister's second reading speech. The explanatory memorandum correctly explains that the Bonded Medical Program, first introduced in 2001, aims to address the shortage of medical professionals in regional, rural and remote areas, and, as shadow assistant minister for regional health, I am acutely aware of how important that scheme is. So we will be seeking further information and scrutiny on this bill through a Senate inquiry, particularly in relation to the implications of proposed changes to the Bonded Medical Program and the assignment of Medicare benefits for bulk-billing and signified billing arrangements. It is vital that these measures do not create unintended consequences or additional administrative burden for our hardworking health professionals.

Right now, it is undeniable that primary health care is in crisis under this government. While there have been several schemes over the decades, the fundamentals are the same: medical practitioners receive support from government in return for a commitment to work in regional settings. Under the current scheme, those who sign up receive a Commonwealth supported place, a CSP, in an Australian university medical course. In return, they make a commitment to work in eligible regional, rural or remote areas for a period of three years, or 156 weeks. This is referred to in the scheme as the return-of-service obligation, and participants have 18 years in which to complete this service obligation. The statutory Bonded Medical Program commenced in 2020 and replaced two legacy schemes. The Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship Scheme was from 2001 to 2015, and the Bonded Medical Places Scheme operated from 2004 to 2019. The legacy scheme participants are able to voluntarily opt into the Bonded Medical Program and receive a significant reduction in the return-of-service obligation and more flexible program conditions. In some cases, the length of time doctors are obligated to practise in areas of need in regional Australia is cut from six years to three years by opting into the current scheme. I can understand the reasons for wanting to streamline participation and administration to a single scheme, but we should also recognise the outcome is a significant cut to the amount of time those practitioners are required to practice in rural and regional areas to satisfy their return of service obligation.

I will remind everyone in this place that, still, doctors do not growing on trees. The bonded medical programs have played an important part for many years in delivering Australian-educated doctors to regional communities. The schemes have operated alongside similar schemes binding foreign-trained doctors to work in regional areas for a set period as part of their visa decisions. Schemes designed to address GP workforce challenges in regional and remote communities are already being undermined by changes that the Albanese government has made to Distribution Priority Areas. They've expanded the GP priority areas: 17 areas became more remote under the new Modified Monash Model classifications, but priority areas continue to extend into the fringes of capital cities; and 15 metropolitan areas gained DPA status, which allows for those areas to compete for overseas-trained doctors with the most remote and underserviced regions in Australia.

What we can't afford is further dilution of programs designed to get doctors into communities that most need them. Schedule 4 seeks to make changes to the Bonded Medical Program so that consequences for participants who withdraw from the program or fail to complete their return of service obligation—I emphasise that word 'obligation'—balanced the 'personal circumstances' of the bonded participant with the broader interests of the community. It is not clear from this bill, from the explanatory memorandum or the second reading speech, what that actually means in practice and what the implications are going to be for regional and remote Australia, who need these GPs. While a waiver is referenced, there's no detail to it. I can understand that, in some cases, there may be compassionate and compelling circumstances for a waiver to be applied, but the broader interests of the community are also very important, and these schemes can mean the difference between having or not having a local GP.

There is a third element here that's not addressed: the integrity of the scheme itself. Currently, breaches may be liable for financial penalties, such as repayment of the scholarship or CSP fees, and, in addition, former medical rural bonded scheme participants can receive a six-year Medicare ban. Without additional information gleaned through an inquiry—that's why we want to send it to a Senate inquiry—it's difficult to determine the impact of these changes. I'm a bit wary of any change that undermines the scheme and makes it easier for participants to on one hand receive the benefits but then not deliver the obligation under which they were given the benefits in the first place. We need doctors in the regions. You can wave your Medicare card as much as you want, even if you're the Prime Minister, but you won't be able to use it if there's not a doctor available.

There are alternatives are out there that I've seen work very successfully in getting medical professionals into regional areas. Initiatives of the previous coalition government are a great example of this. In my electorate of Nicholls the Murray-Darling Medical School Network—which moves Commonwealth supported places out to regional universities and regional campuses—school of rural health at the Shepparton campus of the University of Melbourne is a great example of this. The way the program works is that students will do a Bachelor of Biomedical Science—there are 15 places set aside at La Trobe University in this particular scheme, and 15 places from any other appropriate pre-requisite undergraduate course—and then the participants will go into the four-year Doctor of Medicine, which will be exclusively at the school of rural health in Shepparton, which is over the road from the hospital.

The students spend four years in a regional setting. The first graduates will come out at the end of this year, in 2025, and I'm really looking forward to the moment when they graduate. I know those students personally. They've already set themselves up in regional areas. Most of them were country kids in the first place. The reason the scheme was so attractive to them is that they were kids who, if they had to go to a university in Melbourne or Sydney to study medicine, they just wouldn't have studied medicine. They studied medicine because there was an opportunity to do it in a regional setting, close to their families, in an affordable way. So we have all of these kids who are going to be doctors who wouldn't have otherwise been. They are going to study in a regional location. They are going to be there for four years. They are going to put down roots. They've met people. In some cases, they have started families. In some cases, they are close to their existing families. I think, in some cases, people have already put down a deposit on a house. They are going to stay and practice in regional areas.

The Murray-Darling medical school is an example of really creative thinking by the then coalition government, saying, 'The evidence shows us that, if you train people in regions, they're likely to practice in regions.' We're about to yield in all regional areas, not just Shepparton but across the areas where the Murray-Darling medical school runs, the benefits of having those young people graduate and work in these regions. I think that we should look at expanding the Murray-Darling medical school beyond the Murray-Darling to other parts of regional Australia and to make sure that we contribute to that population balance by not just focusing a lot of our university courses in major metropolitan cities but moving them out to regional cities so that they grow and so that we grow Australia in an even way.

The Murray-Darling medical school, along with the bonded medical scheme and the programs that have required overseas doctors to practice in regional areas as part of their visa requirements, is an example of the government being creative and filling that need for medical professionals in regional areas. But, if you start watering down these schemes, as this bill may do—again, it's not clear—in relation to the bonded medical scheme, you are going to not only water down the scheme but water down the ability of regional communities to have access to GPs.

The other schedules in this bill seek to address regulatory and administrative issues. The coalition acknowledges the intent of this bill. It contains a number of technical amendments to improve the efficiency of several important elements of our health system. Schedule 1, for example, is on the automation of Medicare provider numbers. In my own electorate, my office has had to assist general practitioners facing extended delays on the issuing of a Medicare provider number. Schedule 2 refers to the private health insurance rebate premiums reduction scheme and schedule 3 the modernising assignment of Medicare benefits for bulk-billing and simplified billing.

Every government comes in and has a look at how things have worked. I think things worked well under the previous coalition government, but there's always room for improvement. If a new government comes in and finds ways to streamline because of new technology or new ideas then that's a good thing. I'm very supportive of that. But, once again, we are presented with a bill that has many reasonable elements but where we are concerned about one aspect. We need further explanation, further information and a Senate inquiry to interrogate those changes and make sure we don't end up with unintended consequences that leave regional and remote Australians even worse off than they are currently in relation to a trained, efficient and available medical workforce.

'478444X' probably means nothing to any of you here in this room, but it is very important to me. That was Medicare provider number that I got when I started my private practice, the same week that Medicare started, in 1984. It's the same provider number I use now, to this very day. Before the coalition gets too excited, I don't use it to bill Medicare. I use it because it's required for some procedures, such as referrals to specialists et cetera, and to make sure patients get access to some of the government schemes, such as the supporting kids with autism scheme, so they can get allied health approvals. I rise to speak on the public importance of the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No.1) Bill not just as a member of parliament but as someone with a deep understanding of the importance of providing efficient health care to everyone in an equitable manner and the firsthand experience of administrative bottleneck.

It took me weeks and weeks to get my Medicare provider number. Even though the scheme had been explained and well resourced at the beginning, it was a huge bureaucratic nightmare. The relief I got when I got my provider number was unbelievable. It's been the mainstay of my professional life since that time, over 40 years. I personally experienced the difficulties involved in obtaining a Medicare provider number, as have many of my colleagues, in particular my young medical students, once they finish their training and work as residents and registrars when they are looking to further their professional lives, either as general practitioners or as specialists.

Over many years there have been refinements to the scheme, but this bill is long overdue and is an important way of increasing people's access to medical care and increasing bulk-billing in ensuring the availability of doctors. In my electorate, which is outer south-western metropolitan Sydney, there are still huge difficulties in attracting doctors to work in our communities, both at a general practice and a specialist level. Improving access to Medicare provider numbers will help with that a lot.

The application processes can be quite challenging and processing time frames very lengthy, particularly for overseas health professionals, delaying them from commencing work in the Australian healthcare system and, I suspect, also preventing many from coming here. As at recommendation 2 of the Cook review, this bill will amend the Health Insurance Act to streamline the application process for health practitioners, enabling them to receive a Medicare provider number more quickly and provide healthcare services sooner.

Amendments made by schedule 2 to the bill will enable the chief executive of Medicare to approve the use of computer programs to make more-appropriate non-discretionary decisions to allocate Medicare provider numbers, whilst all decisions to refuse a provider number will continue to be checked and authorised by the chief executive at Medicare or their delegate. This bill will validate previously issued Medicare provider numbers that were issued by a computer program.

The department has been in consultation with the relevant agencies, who support the legislative component to support the automation of Medicare provider numbers and are supportive of this decision. We're working with state and territory governments, education providers and regulators to implement the recommendations of the independent review of Health Practitioner Regulatory Settings, led by the highly respected health administrator Ms Robyn Cruk AO.

This is a significant improvement made to the administration of our healthcare services to ensure that overseas doctors—who make up around 50 per cent of the doctors practising in Australia and do tremendous work providing quality care and play a vital role in easing our workforce shortage and have done for many decades—will spend less time navigating bureaucratic hurdles and instead be able to care for our most vulnerable in all areas of Australia, particularly in outer metropolitan rural and regional areas, and care for people who really need that care. Having the right skills is critical to the success of the government's agenda. We know that. This bill will make it easier for medical practitioners who are well qualified to get access to Medicare billing.

Schedule 2 of this bill will see the amendment of chapters 2, 3 and 6 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 to support the processes for claiming private health insurance rebates under the premiums reduction scheme. The Australian government reimburses private health insurers for the proportion of health insurance premiums that are reduced on behalf of consumers under the premiums reduction scheme. Each year, rebate repayments in excess of $7 billion are paid in this manner. The private health insurance rebate is an essential element to our healthcare system in order to make private health insurance more affordable for Australians by funding part of their premium. The premium reductions scheme allows eligible people to choose to get the rebate at the time they pay their private health insurance premium—and I'm certainly a beneficiary of that—rather than pay the full cost of the premium and then claim a deduction back through their tax return at the end of the financial year.

Under the scheme, the insurer reduces the premium payable by the policyholder by the amount of the rebate and then claims reimbursement of the amount through a system administered by Services Australia. Over time it's become clear that parts of the registration and claims process for the scheme haven't always lined up with the rules set out in the Private Health Insurance Act, resulting in some inconsistencies with its administration. To fix that, this bill is introducing some changes to help the system run more smoothly and support the operation of the registration and claims system—which is yet again another way this government understands health care and understands the importance of getting people access to health care, making the process more streamlined.

The chief executive of Medicare is now able, with this bill, to use automated systems to handle registrations and claims. These changes will make it possible to recover any overpayments caused by system errors. Changes were made to our healthcare system last year with the introduction of the Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits) Act 2024, which modernised and simplified how patients assigned their Medicare benefits. In a modernised era, the changes were made to align with the times and move away from paper based processes and to support a digital assignment option.

This bill supports the modernising of the assignment of Medicare benefits by addressing the limitations of the assignment of Medicare benefits and health insurance act and supporting regulations, allowing the ability for a patient to assign their Medicare benefits—which will underpin further increases in bulk-billing, particularly with our new supports for bulk-billing processes in the general practitioner field. We understand that these processes and changes can be tedious and time-consuming, but we have listened to the concerns of the IT vendors, state and territory governments, medical peak body groups and other stakeholders who have expressed concerns with the timeline of delivering rebate changes and also with the extension of provider numbers.

To provide sufficient time for medical and health industries—particularly the private sector, to allow for software updates to reflect new assignment benefit processes—this legislation is being introduced. The extensions of time will allow the health sector, medical industry providers and patients to prepare for any changes. Our government is committed to easing the cost-of-living pressures and ensuring people receive the care and treatment which they need, and our government has committed funding to implement these reforms, which will further streamline the process for patients and also for medical practitioners. We are ensuring that the passage of this bill will be a further string in the Albanese government's election commitment of $7.9 billion to improve bulk-billing incentive payments, to encourage increased bulk-billing rates and further ensure that more Australians can see a GP and their specialists for free.

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has been in consultation with all relevant parties for this amendment—from patient representatives, stakeholders, private health insurers and hospitals to state and territory governments—and has taken feedback and recommendations to provide a seamless transition. This is what Australians deserve, and it's the one thing that Labor governments have done: ensured that the Australian population can receive the health care it needs, making our healthcare system the envy of the rest of the world. Australians deserve to have fairer and affordable access to see a doctor when they need to. This bill, furthermore, will amend the Bonded Medical Program—a program which provides eligible students with a subsidised Commonwealth supported place in a medical degree at university in exchange for a commitment to working in a regional, rural or remote area after graduation.

There have been concerns about the bonded program for some time. Students sign up when they're very young and their circumstances often change. Sometimes it can be quite difficult with partners, when people get married or when families change to continue to work in a region they thought they were originally going to be bonded to. It can also affect specialist training positions that require people to work in tertiary- or quaternary-level hospitals to complete their specialist training, and that can be quite difficult if you're on a rural bonded scheme. We want to make sure that people can access extra training when they need to, so there are changes to the rural bonded scholarship scheme which will allow more flexibility. We want to make sure that we see sufficient health services across regional and rural areas, of course, and we have done many things to ensure that those living in the farthest areas of our country can access the same quality health care that they need and deserve. This bill will amend the Health Insurance Act to enhance the Bonded Medical Program by ensuring the consequences of breaching conditions of or of withdrawal from the program fairly balance both the personal circumstances of the bonded participant and the broader interests of the community. It will allow all work completed by a bonded participant in good faith, consistent with program objectives, to be counted towards their return-of-service obligation.

I recently met with one of my paediatric registrars, who was on a rural bonded scholarship and needed some extra time to complete some subspecialty training at a specialist children's hospital. The scheme previously was very rigid and wouldn't allow that to happen. This scheme will now allow that to happen, which will mean she will still deliver her service in the regional area she was committed to, while being allowed time to complete her training at the highly specialised unit. This is a very, very good thing, and I fully support it. I've been contacted by a number of medical students who face this predicament, and it's honestly a shame to see the stress that some of them have been put under. I'm glad that this bill allows more flexibility. We have seen significant workforce shortages because of lack of uptake of the rural bonded scholarships, and this will allow more of those scholarships to be taken up, improving access to really high-level health care in rural and regional areas.

Currently, students have the option to withdraw from the program without any consequences, and I think that there still should be some consequences. If they decide to withdraw after a specific date, they face a significant financial penalty, and I think that the Commonwealth will be able to encourage more people to take up the schemes if they know that there are rules in place. This bill proposes an important change. It seeks to extend the existing grace period from the HECS census date in the second year all the way through to the completion of the medical degree. This bill will also give the Minister for Health and Ageing new powers to create additional rules to recognise work already completed by bonded participants. This means we're in a alliance with the goals of the program. Work done even before transitioning to the statutory Bonded Medical Program can count towards fulfilling return-of-service obligations, and that's a very important change.

The Albanese government is committed to strengthening our healthcare system, as always. I'm very proud to be part of a government with a Labor tradition of supporting equitable access to health care. I commend this bill to the House, and I thank the minister and the assistant minister for bringing it to the House.

As we've heard from the previous speaker, securing and supporting Medicare's future is absolutely so important to the Albanese Labor government. We've delivered urgent care clinics right across the country, including one in Mount Waverley, in my own electorate. I know that, in the City of Stonnington area, which is in my electorate too, there is currently a tender out for another urgent care clinic, which is very welcomed by the community.

The Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 makes amendments to legislation in the health portfolio to make sure we strengthen Medicare. Of course, this is one of my favourite topics of conversation in this place, as indeed it is for everyone sitting on this side of the House. Schedule 1 of the bill will streamline the allocation of Medicare provider numbers under the Health Insurance Act, allowing practitioners to treat patients sooner. We know that the sooner people are able to access medical services, generally the better the health outcomes can be.

Amendments under schedule 1 will allow the Chief Executive Medicare to approve the use of a computer program to make appropriate non-discretionary decisions to allocate Medicare provider numbers in line with the review of Australia's regulatory settings for overseas health professionals. Decisions to refuse a provider number will continue to be checked and authorised by the Chief Executive Medicare or their delegate. Some Medicare provider numbers have already been allocated through the use of a computer program without any clear legislative support, and this bill will tidy up that process and validate previous computer issued Medicare provider numbers.

Currently an overseas health professional faces a wait time of up to three months for a Medicare practitioner number, delaying them from commencing work in the Australian health system and treating patients under Medicare. We all know how important it is that everyone has access to health professionals when they need them. Reducing the time it takes for Medicare numbers to be issued will absolutely support the growth of our medical workforce, which is a clear priority for the Albanese Labor government. Internationally qualified health practitioners currently supplement the domestic workforce and aid in addressing workforce shortages, making for a more sustainable health workforce overall.

Schedule 2 of this bill will amend the Private Health Insurance Act to support the process for claiming the private health insurance rebate under the premiums reduction scheme. This will ensure that registrations for the private health insurance rebate scheme and claims under the scheme are administered consistently under the act. This will also ensure that persons are validly registered as participants and that payments of rebates to insurers are lawful. The private health insurance rebate scheme is an initiative to help Australians cover the cost of premiums, supporting access to private healthcare services for participants. We know individuals who are eligible for the private health insurance rebate can claim the rebate as a premium reduction through their private health insurer or as a tax offset. Under the scheme, the private health insurer claims a reimbursement through a system administered by Services Australia and reduces the premium payable by the policyholder by the amount of the rebate.

Some elements of the registration and claims-processing system for the premiums reduction scheme have been administered inconsistently with the requirements of the Private Health Insurance Act. Schedule 2 of the bill will amend the Private Health Insurance Act to align the registration process in division 23 with requirements of the system operated by Services Australia, provide for self-assessment by participating insurers of the amount of rebate required to be reimbursed in division 279, require an insurer to provide information or documents to support their claim, ensure overpayments can be recovered despite any unintended system or process defects in division 282 and allow for computer assisted decision-making and the approval of forms and systems by the Chief Executive Medicare in division 333. Participating insurers will continue to be subject to regular post-payment compliance activities to ensure integrity of the payment process, and the amendments will support the existing registration and claims processes in such a way that there will be minimal impact on consumers and private health insurers.

Of course, strengthening bulk-billing is a priority of the Albanese Labor government, and schedule 3 of the bill will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to modernise assignments of the Medicare benefits process. Assignment of benefit is a longstanding requirement of the Health Insurance Act, and it underpins payments of Medicare benefits where the patient assigns their right to benefit to a medical provider, private health insurer or approved billing agent. Last year, as one of many measures our government has taken to strengthen Medicare, the parliament passed the Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits) Act 2024 with its changes to assignment benefits commencing 18 months from the day the act received royal assent. It streamlined the assignment process for patients, for medical providers, for private health insurers and for approved billing agents and also enabled digital assignment options. The bill before us now will build on those changes and address limitations of the assignment-of-benefits act. This bill will delay the commencement of the assignment-of-benefits act to 1 July 2026, which will support industry and consumers to comply with the new assignment-of-benefits requirements, and it will allow time for new processes to be developed and for IT systems to be updated. In the meantime, bulk-billing can continue under the current processes, including additional incentives for bulk-billed services which will start from 1 November this year in line with the government's election commitment.

Bulk-billing is vital for equitable access to health care. It helps with cost-of-living pressures and ensures every Australian receives the best health care they deserve. Our government is passionate about bulk-billing. The government has committed $15.2 million in 2025-26 to fund the implementation of reforms outlined in the assignment-of-benefits act and subordinate regulations. This includes updates to Services Australia's software systems and education and communications activities to ensure stakeholders are aware of and prepared for new digital arrangements. The passage of this bill will ensure that the Albanese Labor government's 2025 election commitment of $7.9 billion in bulk-billing incentive payments to encourage increased bulk-billing rates will not be adversely impacted by non-compliant business software.

Schedule 4 of this bill will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to ensure the consequences for Bonded Medical Program participants who withdraw from the program or fail to complete their return-of-service obligation are fair. It will balance the personal circumstances of the bonded participant and the broader interest of the community and allow all work completed by a bonded participant in good faith, consistent with program objectives, to be counted towards their return-of-service obligation.

This bill allows the Minister for Health and Ageing to make additional rules to ensure that past work completed by bonded participants delivering health services in regional, rural and remote locations in Australia, for instance, can count it to their return-of-service obligation where this is consistent with program objectives. Currently, former Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship Scheme bonded participants who fail to complete their return-of-service obligation within the allowed 18-year period or who have withdrawn earlier face repayment of their scholarship and a six-year Medicare ban. While the financial penalty is appropriate, subjecting these doctors to a Medicare ban will jeopardise continued service provision and access to care for Australians living in regional, rural and remote communities and in other areas of workforce shortage. Given those broader workforce shortages, a six-year Medicare ban is not in the interests of either the doctor or the Australian community. Students can currently withdraw from the program without consequence up to the HECS census date in their second year of study. If the student withdraws after that date, they incur a debt to the Commonwealth equal to the full cost of their Commonwealth supported place up to the date of the withdrawal. This will be in addition to their HECS-HELP liability.

Our government is squarely focused on strengthening Medicare and on ensuring that we have a strong health workforce. That means that Australians, no matter where they live, are able to access high-quality medical care when they need it. This is part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen Medicare, to fight for Medicare and to ensure that bulk-billing is accessible and equitable. I'm really pleased to support this bill in the House today.

I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025. When we talk about Medicare, what we know about Medicare is that it is the embodiment of Labor values. It is who we are, and it represents what we care about when it comes to health, which is ensuring that it doesn't matter what's in your pay packet. No matter what you earn, you and your family should have access to world-class medical care with just your Medicare card. And this is not something that we just say. This is not something that we just talk about. This is something that we do every single day. We do it when we talk about the institution of urgent care clinics. We do it when we see urgent care clinics—more and more of them—pop up around our suburbs to make sure that people have the care they need close to home. We do it when we open up more Medicare mental health clinics, and we have one coming to the south side in Brisbane very shortly. We do it when we invest in bulk-billing so more people can access critical GP services, again closer to home. We created Medicare, and Labor works every day to make it even better.

Medicare is a vast system. I don't think that any of us, when we hand over our little green card to the medical receptionist, think about how far the services stretch and how the system is administered. That is understandable, because after all, when you visit an urgent care clinic with your injured child, you have other things on your mind, and, when you go to your bulk-billed GP because you're feeling under the weather, you're not thinking about the back-end systems behind your visit. You're just grateful, as you dig into your pocket for your Medicare card, that you have one less bill to pay. This is the foundation of Medicare—that, when you and your family are affected by illness or injury, you shouldn't have to break the bank to receive high-quality health care. But it is worth looking at the system as a whole. It helps to put into context just how valuable Medicare is to Australians. In 2004-05, the value of Medicare services delivered was $475.2 million. The total amount of benefits paid in the same period was $32.4 billion, and this is for services ranging from GP visits to obstetrics, diagnostic imaging, optometry, allied health and radiotherapy—and the list goes on and on.

I'm incredibly proud to be part of a Labor government that believes in universal health care and continues to strengthen Medicare to ensure the scheme is both robust and sustainable. At times, that means fine-tuning of Medicare's administrative systems, and that is what the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 does. It will ensure better administration and delivery of the system that we all rely on.

As its name suggests, the bill covers a range of reforms. The first is implementing the automation of Medicare provider numbers. This is the second recommendation in the Independent Review of Australia's Regulatory Settings Relating to Overseas Health Practitioners, otherwise known as the Kruk review. The review was commissioned by National Cabinet in September 2022, with the aim of recommending measures to streamline and simplify health practitioner regulation. The overarching goal was to decrease the skills shortages in vital health professions while maintaining required quality and safety standards. In short, we need our health professionals to have stronger skills and to have the support to do it. The resulting report in August 2023, from Robyn Kruk AO, acknowledged persistent shortages in the registered health practitioner workforce, and these shortages led to some communities not having access to a GP, a nurse led clinic or a dental or mental health service within a 60-minute drive. Other negative effects of the shortages included critical health services such as maternity or dental being closed down in some places and wait times for specialists blowing out, in some cases to as long as four years.

The issuance of Medicare provider numbers is currently part of the lengthy and time-consuming process of registering to provide Medicare services. An MPN enables the health practitioner to claim, refer or request Medicare services, and health practitioners require an MPN for each practice location. MPNs are currently allocated by the Chief Executive Medicare via the Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973. The report recommended automating the issuance of MPNs to speed up the approval processes and result in more practitioners being available to provide services more quickly, and that's what this is all about—making sure that we have more practitioners and that they can provide services to the communities that need them most in an efficient and effective way. This bill will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to establish the function of allocating MPNs within the act, enabling the Chief Executive Medicare to approve automation, and will also validate MPNs previously issued automatically. What this means in practice is that the Chief Executive Medicare can approve the use of computer programs to allocate MPNs. However, it's important to note that a decision to refuse a health practitioner an MPN must be reviewed by a qualified employee of Services Australia.

The second focus of this bill is streamlining private health insurance rebate payments. Each year, over $7 billion is reimbursed to private health insurers under the premiums reduction scheme. This rebate helps reduce the cost of health insurance premiums for Australians, making private health care more accessible and more affordable. However, Services Australia and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing identified that some parts of the registration and claims processing system have not been operating consistently with the requirements of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 since the scheme began. The bill will amend the Private Health Insurance Act to correct the operation of registration and claims systems. It introduces a self-assessment model for insurers claiming reimbursements. It will also align the registration requirements for individual participants with the current system requirements. The Chief Executive Medicare will be empowered to introduce automated decision-making capabilities to manage registration and claims more efficiently and more effectively. The bill also implements a safeguard, with assurance that any overpayments resulting from system errors or process issues can be recovered. These reforms are designed to uphold the objectives of the premiums reduction scheme and will ensure that participants are properly registered and that rebate payments are made lawfully.

The third part of this bill will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to resolve key legal and operational issues and delay the commencement of changes introduced by the Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits) Act. The concept of assignment of benefit has long been a cornerstone of Medicare. It allows patients to assign their right to a Medicare benefit to a medical provider, private health insurer or approved billing agent, enabling the government to make payments directly on their behalf. The assignment of benefits act was introduced to strengthen the integrity of this process. It streamlined how benefits are assigned and introduced digital options to replace outdated, paper based systems, because this is a system that we all care about and it's a system that needs to be kept up to date as technology moves forward and as that technology allows people who need Medicare to access it more effectively and more efficiently. These reforms were essential to modernise Medicare and ensure it remains responsive to the needs of patients and providers alike. Importantly, the bill will delay the commencement of schedule 1 of the assignment of benefits act, which was originally set to begin in January 2026. The new start date of 1 July 2026 will give both industry and consumers the time they need to prepare and adapt to the changes, particularly where private sector software must be updated to reflect the new assignment processes. Bulk-billing will continue under current arrangements, with additional incentives commencing from the 1st of next month for bulk-billing services. These reforms are supported by $15.2 million worth of funding in 2025-26, and this is being directed towards updating Services Australia's systems and delivering education and communication to ensure stakeholders are ready for the transition to digital assignment.

This bill safeguards the Albanese Labor government's $7.2 billion commitment to bulk-billing incentive payments. It ensures that these incentives will not be undermined by non-compliant business software or administrative delays. It ensures that these amendments are here to stay. The bill's final amendment to the Health Insurance Act 1973 enhances the Bonded Medical Program. This program provides a Commonwealth supported place in—

Order! I do apologise to the member for Moreton. The debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 43. The debate may be resumed at a later hour. The member will be given leave to continue speaking when the debate is resumed.

Today I rise to applaud the recently launched Australian renewables truth map by Steven Nowakowski and Rainforest Reserves Australia. It has taken three years of voluntary work to collate the information to create this website, and it's not an easy task to find and then map it for everybody in Australia to view and use. With over 1,200 projects proposed across the country, this should have been on the radar of our own environmental department, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. After all, they're the ones signing off on the vast amounts of clearing to allow half a billion solar panels and more than 31,000 wind turbines to be imported and installed across Australia.

The mapping has allowed the real costs of the projects to be calculated, and it's not free energy. It is an astonishing $1.38 trillion to industrialise Australia with intermittent and unreliable power, clearing over 44,000 kilometres of new access roads—up to 60 metres wide—to allow for blades and infrastructure around 100 metres long. These are the real costs. There are over 90 of these projects in the Flynn electorate, including Moah Creek. The project directly affects significant amounts of flora and fauna, including ancient cycads that should be protected under the EPBC Act. These landscapes must be preserved.

I rise today to lend my very strong support to a community led campaign to formally name the Carrington Bridge in honour of the late Neil Pitt. Carrington Bridge is the gateway that connects this proud peninsula community to the rest of Newcastle. It's a vital part of Carrington's unique identity and the close-knit community spirit that binds its residents together. The proposal to name the Carrington Bridge after Neil Pitt is a fitting and enduring tribute to his life of selfless service.

Neil was an extraordinary Novocastrian, a tireless volunteer, a passionate advocate and a deeply loved and well-respected member of the Carrington community. His passing has been felt profoundly by all who knew him. Each morning on his walk to the local shops, Neil would call in on his neighbours, dropping off items that people needed, checking in and generally lifting community spirits wherever he visited. He gave so much of himself to others, especially to those in aged-care residences—which I know he visited for a number of decades, offering a friendly smile and a listening ear.

Neil embodied the very best of community spirit. That's why I'm backing this petition. Every person who crosses the bridge at Carrington would be reminded of his remarkable contribution to the heart and soul of Carrington. I commend the organisers of this petition for their commitment to preserving Neil's legacy, and I encourage all members of our community to add their voices of support.

Last month I had the privilege of welcoming to Parliament House students and teachers from Mount Magnet District High School, who were travelling from the red dirt of Mount Magnet—one of WA's original and longest serving gold mining towns—to the heart of our nation's democracy. This school in the Mid West region educates around 90 students from kindergarten to year 10, guided by a simple but powerful set of expectations: 'We are respectful, we are responsible, we are achievers.'

With a strong Indigenous student population, the school weaves culture into the curriculum, keeping students connected to their heritage whilst preparing them for the future. I asked the students what they would do for their town if they were Prime Minister for a day. They said more houses, hospital upgrades and even an X-ray machine—practical solutions to the challenges that their families face. Others spoke about accessibility—wheelchair access at their school, a new arts centre, basketball courts, a swimming pool, a motocross track and even a dog park.

I'd like to thank the students for their very thoughtful ideas. With a town population of around 450, their voices remind us that small regional communities must be heard, not ignored. I urge the government to listen to communities just like Mount Magnet and invest in the infrastructure and services that give each child, no matter where they live, the opportunity and chance to thrive.

Last week, I had the pleasure of spending three days at HMAS Cerberus in Hastings, visiting the Navy's national training base, which sits in the neighbouring electorate of Flinders. The purpose of the visit was to meet the staff and the new recruits, a number of whom live in Dunkley, and to better understand the different elements of the training the recruits complete.

I wasn't just a visitor. I was put through my paces alongside them. I participated in the swim trial, attended classes and enjoyed mealtimes with these young men and women to discover why they joined, what they learnt and what the most difficult part of the training was. The recruits and staff were passionate about being part of the Navy and committed to serving their country. That pride and dedication has been reflected with sign-ups increasing over the past 12 months. To all of the staff, including Commander Cameron Eastman OAM, who coordinated our visit: thank you for your passion in delivering quality education and care to the recruits. To all of you: thank you for stepping up, for your representation and for your service to Australia. You are all legends. I walked away proud and inspired by our Defence Force. Well done.

The Northern Beaches Hospital in Mackellar is the last public/private partnership hospital in New South Wales—but not for much longer. The private operator themselves conceded in April that it is best for patients, staff and the community that the Northern Beaches Hospital be transitioned to NSW Health to administer. The good news is the New South Wales government is currently working towards this transition. The transition of the public hospital means it will now be eligible for the same staff-to-patient ratios, junior doctor levels, IT systems and resourcing that is available to all other public hospitals across New South Wales.

The issues with the Northern Beaches Hospital were never about the staff. The medical professionals, nurses, midwives, allied health and administrative staff are all incredible and have worked tirelessly to deliver the best-quality care possible. However, there is a complexity with the transition, and that is that many of the public and private services are intermingled and will be tricky to untangle. But it is absolutely imperative that the transition does not impact the delivery of private healthcare services at the hospital.

In Mackellar, 77 per cent of adults have private hospital cover, so the people of the northern beaches need an assurance from the New South Wales health minister that the new model of care at the Northern Beaches Hospital retains the current level of private healthcare services, including the full complement of inpatient beds. (Time expired)

This month marks three years since the devastating floods that hit Rochester and parts of my electorate in October 2022. Yesterday was the three-year anniversary since the rain started falling, which would go on to lead to Victoria's worst flood disaster on record, impacting 81 per cent of the state's local government area. In my electorate of Bendigo, towns such as Heathcote, Huntly, Axedale, Marong, Campbells Creek and Rochester all experienced floodwaters above the floorboards. In the area of Rochester, the majority of the town's 3,000 constituents were displaced, with many forced into temporary accommodation. Three years on, some residents still can't return home. I acknowledge them today in this speech. This is due to ongoing insurance disputes, and building delays, and it's unacceptable that, as I stand here today, they still are not in their homes. This has resulted in continued emotional, mental and financial distress for these families.

Three years on, it is a call to action. Whilst we at the federal level continue to work with local and state governments to improve flood mitigation to reduce disaster risk and build long-term resilience in our communities, we must also work collaboratively with the insurance industry on finding a better pathway not just for the constituents of Rochester but for all constituents. (Time expired)

The Medical Research Future Fund was established with the promise of $1 billion a year to support Australia's world-class medical research sector. For 10 years, it has supported high-value research projects, investigating innovative solutions and translating them to real-world use. But, despite the Parliamentary Budget Office advising that the fund can now deliver $1.4 billion a year, less than half of that is being distributed by this government. While the fund keeps growing, it is bloated with unrealised opportunity. We have an opportunity to support brilliant research, but many high-quality projects and clinical trials never get off the ground because of lack of funding. Whole areas of chronic disease are undersupported, and we risk falling behind on developing technologies like proton therapy and AI. At the same time, we could right now be benefitting from the administrative instability in the US by recruiting world-leading researchers to swell our ranks. This government has no excuse—no reason—not to unlock the extraordinary potential of our medical researchers and our universities by supporting them with the funds of taxpayers that have been put aside for that very purpose. I would argue that the government has a duty to do so, and it should do so immediately.

After an extraordinary 59 years of service to Rhodes Fire Station, including more than 40 years as captain, Greg McIlwaine has hung up his helmet and retired. Greg's name is synonymous with fire safety in our community. His leadership, commitment and deep local knowledge have protected generations of families across Rhodes and the City of Canada Bay, from hazardous industrial sites to high-rise developments and from Concord Hospital to Rivendell School. Greg's dedication to fire prevention and rescue as well as pre-incident planning has been second to none.

Over his distinguished career, Greg has accrued a long list of honours. He's been awarded the Australian Fire Service medal, the National Medal with four clasps, the long service and good conduct medal, the New South Wales Premier's Bushfire Emergency Citation and the National Emergency Medal. But Greg's legacy runs deeper than that. The McIlwaine family name has been part of Rhodes Fire Station since it began 104 years ago. The fire station was founded by Greg's grandfather, Captain Charles McIlwaine. Greg is also a proud member of our local Labor family. His Labor values have never wavered, and he's handed out for the party on more occasions than can be counted. Greg, thank you for your service and leadership in our community.

I rise today on what is a wonderful day here in Canberra, but it's an even better day in Queensland because we have been extremely successful with our sporting teams. I should give a shout out to the Brisbane Lions, who won back-to-back premierships.

Boo!

As for my friend here, the member for Casey, sadly, his Collingwood Magpies were defeated in the prelims. But we went on to win back-to-back premierships—to Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews, coach Chris Fagan and, of course, Will Ashcroft, the Norm Smith medallist on the day. On the weekend, we saw the Brisbane Broncos, who are now the NRL champions. I've been on the Broncos bandwagon since they started back in 1988, and it was a classic decider against another Melbourne team. Sorry about that to all my Melbourne friends! The captain is Adam Reynolds, the coach is Michael Maguire and, Gold Coaster born and bred, the Clive Churchill Medal winner is Reece Walsh.

But that wasn't enough. The women, earlier that day—the Brisbane Broncos NRLW team—also won the premiership. To coach Scott Prince, captain Ali Brigginshaw and Karen Murphy, congratulations on what you did. Of course, earlier this year, to complete it all, we won another State of Origin series. So Queensland really is the sporting capital of Australia.

I rise today to congratulate Lane Cove journalist Jack Kelly on his nomination for a Walkley Foundation Mid-Year Media Prize in public service journalism. Jack reports for In the Cove, a local news outlet that so many in our community turn to for trusted grassroots reporting. In the Cove also run the local chat group, the source of brilliant posts about all sorts of things, including 'breadgate', the mysterious bread saga of River Road. I digress though; back to Jack and his nominated story, 'Cabling Cowboys'. This uncovered serious risks posed by cabling operators in the Lane Cove community. It was thorough, fearless reporting that shone a light on a problem few knew about but many were affected by.

Jack's work didn't just inform the public; it actually helped deliver change. After personally reading his coverage, I was able to raise it directly with the then Minister for Communications. That led to direct engagement with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, who opened an investigation into provider delays and poor customer service. Importantly, because of that extra attention, many of the issues uncovered by Jack and In the Cove's journalism was fixed.

The Walkleys are a gold standard of Australian journalism. For a young reporter like Jack to be recognised at this level is an extraordinary achievement, and it just shows how important local media like In the Cove is to our democracy. On behalf of Bennelong, thanks to Jack and thanks to In the Cove. (Time expired)

It was great news to hear that close to $56.5 million in funding has been allocated to three aged-care providers in the Parkes electorate through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program. Notably, Southern Cross Care received $50.66 million for a new 94-bed residential care home in Broken Hill, a facility that is desperately needed; the Lilliane Brady Village Hostel in Cobar was allocated just over $1.5 million; and the Cooinda aged-care facility in Coonabarabran has been allocated $4.3 million.

We're all aware that Australia's population is ageing. The Australian Human Rights Commission notes that an ageing population is one of the major forces shaping Australia's future. In addition, the Australian Electoral Commission notes that rural and regional electorates, such as the Parkes electorate, have higher proportions of people over the age of 50. Our ageing population deserves security of housing and they deserve security of care.

Having said that, I know the competition is fierce for the limited funding that is only going to get more competitive. So much time, resources and effort go into applying for funds needed to provide these essential projects with no guarantee of success. Well done to the aged-care providers in Broken Hill, Cobar and Coonabarabran as well as to all of those who applied and weren't successful. Providing enough funding to keep up with aged-care needs for those who have given so much to our communities must remain a high priority for government.

Mental health, housing, AI, social cohesion and the future of work—these are issues year 11 students in my electorate tackled head-on at the Swan Young Changemakers Conference. Students brought bold, thoughtful ideas grounded in lived experience. They may be too young to vote, but they are not too young to be heard. To the delightful baby that we have in the gallery: you are never too young to be heard on the floor of the parliament!

This is a generation that has a unique insight on known challenges, such as balancing good pay and pursuing your passion, and newer issues like having quality online content as opposed to 'AI generated slop'; making social media work for connection and social good, not advertisers' profits and social harm.

This was the second youth conference that I've hosted at the amazing Pawsey supercomputer centre. Behind us, machines were processing data from the stars. In front of us, young humans' minds were processing the future. I look forward to presenting these ideas to my ministerial colleagues. And a special thanks to my team; the young mentors and facilitators; Aditi, Mark and the Pawsey team; Senator Whittaker and Senator Walker; and of course the amazing students themselves.

I rise to acknowledge that October is National Mental Health Month. This month reminds us all of the opportunities we have to start conversations that can save lives, to ask 'Are you okay?'. And it reminds us that good mental health is as important as good physical health.

I want to take this opportunity to recognise the vital role of those on the front line supporting Australians who need it most. Thank you for the enduring difference you make to people's lives. However, we cannot ignore that access to mental health services is not the same everywhere. Unfortunately, you have greater access to mental health support in Mongolia than you do in regional South Australia. And if you can find it, there are long distances to travel, limited specialists and, in many cases, months of waiting. This is an unacceptable reality for many people in my electorate of Grey.

I note the work of the former coalition government, which delivered record mental health funding, opened headspace and Medicare mental health centres in Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Pirie and created the Head to Health support service. By contrast, Labor has cut the services and left Australians paying more out-of-pocket costs than ever before, yet the Prime Minister told us that this Medicare card is all we will need under Labor. Australians deserve better than the broken promises and lies of this government.

A local organisation in my electorate of Hasluck making a real difference is Midland Meals. Food insecurity is a reality faced by too many people across Australia. That's why the work of Midlands Meals is so vital. Every week, Midland Meals provides around 870 meals to those living in Midland, Ellenbrook and Bassendean—that is seven days a week, 365 days a year. That commitment is extraordinary. Last week, I had the honour of joining the team to serve dinner. What struck me was the sense of dignity, respect and care that every person received. It's not just about a meal; it's about community, compassion and hope.

I would like to acknowledge the vision and compassion of Pastor Loren Pratt. Loren saw people in need, and he decided to act. From humble beginnings, Midland Meals has grown to the incredible organisation that it is today. As their local member, I'm proud to stand alongside Midland Meals. They are one of 25 organisations in Hasluck that have received grant funding through the 2024-25 Hasluck Volunteer Grants. The Midland Meals volunteer grants went towards purchasing two laptops for volunteer coordinators to use to roster the more than 300 volunteers. This is money well spent. While today I focus on Midland Meals, each of the 25 organisations that received grants are serving our community in unique, creative and very impactful ways. (Time expired)

Thursday, 9 October, is headspace Day—an annual day dedicated to the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians. I'd like to thank the dedicated teams at headspace Lilydale and headspace Knox for the work they do in supporting young people in our community. But, in an electorate that spans over 2,700 square kilometres, we undoubtedly need more services available. The sad reality is that suicide remains the leading cause of death for young Australians aged 18 to 24. Too many young Australians are struggling with wait times, the expense of appointments and the ongoing stigma that leaves many afraid to reach out for support.

My community in Casey has felt acutely the government's failure when it comes to mental health support. The former Liberal government funded the Lilydale Youth Hub but, when the Albanese Labor government won the 2022 federal election, they cut funding and forced the hub to close down. The government has also slashed Medicare-funded mental health sessions from 20 to just 10, halving the spots available for young people in need. I've met with headspace in my community, and I know they are at capacity. Our community needs access to alternative local mental health supports, and I'll continue advocating for the mental health supports our community deserves and needs.

Another day, another Hunter success story in hospo! I'm proud to stand here and talk about a local gem from back home that is punching well above its weight. EXP.Restaurant, right in the heart of the Hunter Valley, has been named a finalist for the Regional Restaurant of the Year award in the Sydney Morning HeraldGood Food Guide. It's not just about fine dining; it's about passion, community and telling the Hunter story one plate at a time. For a full decade, Frank and Emma Fawkner and their talented team have been serving dishes that showcase the very best of our region: produce grown in the Hunter soil, wines poured from Hunter vineyards and native ingredients that remind us we are lucky to live in the best part of Australia.

EXP have become more than a restaurant; it's a true destination. People come to the Hunter to experience their creativity, their hospitality and to see why the valley is known worldwide for food and wine. It's also brought out their commitment to sustainability, their support for local growers and giving visitors a genuine and authentic taste of home. To Frank, Emma and the whole EXP team, congratulations. You are proof that, when it comes to great food and great wine, the Hunter always leads the way. There's nowhere you'd rather be than right there in the Hunter. Cheers!

It's unparliamentary to be called a lunatic, but today it's a badge of pride. Last year, Team Lunar from Brighton Grammar School came third at the world STEM racing championships in Saudi Arabia. STEM racing is a global multidisciplinary challenge where teams test a miniature F1 car powered by CO2 canisters. Last week, Team Lunar made Australia proud, beating 1.8 million participants and 83 teams worldwide to win the 2025 Aramco STEM Racing World Finals in Singapore. Led by team manager Leo Jansen, Team Lunar included CAD engineer Ollie Chernikeeff, CAM engineer Liam Jones, engineer director Max Zylberman and enterprise director Max Zhao. Congratulations, lunatics.

Ad Astra from BGS also competed, making the semifinals in the knockout round, led by manager Ethan Davis. He was supported by an incredible team: Bill Wang, Gianlucca Stavros, Darsh Shah, Max Henley, Jack Tan, Reggie Cooke and Sam Hevey. Thank you also to their support team of family, friends and sponsors, in particular the teachers Jamie Watson, Thivi Athipar and Mathew Steed, their adviser Jenson Galvin and their headmaster Ross Featherston. We're immensely proud of your achievements and everything you've done to put Goldstein and BGS on the map and to make Australia successful.

I'm delighted to share a moment of inspiration during a visit to Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land last week. I was visiting in my capacity as the special envoy for defence and northern Australia. I caught up with 15-year-old Darwin local Jennifer Hunt, who is about to start the final leg of her 21-day solo circumnavigation of Australia by air along with her loyal copilot, her puppy Bella, a little golden retriever—beautiful thing! At just 15, Jennifer has flown herself around the entire country, starting in Darwin and following the entire Australian coastline counterclockwise, including Tasmania.

Jennifer has become the youngest female to circumnavigate Australia solo, which speaks volumes about her courage, skill and determination, so I want to really acknowledge Jennifer Hunt's incredible achievement and acknowledge also her parents, Geoff and Kylie, whose support for their daughter has been unwavering. Thanks to Air Frontier, Darwin Flight Training and the many supporters around the country who made Jennifer's journey possible. She's made history. She's made us very proud in the Territory and around Australia, and she's shown what Territory grit and spirit can achieve. In Jennifer's own words, 'Follow your dreams.'

Whether you're on the benches, in the gallery or anywhere across Australia, when you call triple 0 in your greatest time of need, you expect your call to be answered. But, sadly, three weeks ago people's calls were not answered, and four people have died. There have been many questions of Optus over these last three weeks, but there are also questions of the government. Why did the minister appoint ACMA the regulator and then choof off to New York?

Here we are three weeks later, and all of a sudden it's so urgent for us to rush through legislation to protect Australians. ACMA should not be the investigator in this case. ACMA was part of the failed process. ACMA heard of the Optus outage on Thursday, but the minister says she did not know about it until Friday. Why is that? Why is the minister appointing ACMA as the investigator? Australians deserve a thorough independent investigation into the whole triple 0 network. We should also have an assurance that there's transparency in the system. There needs to be a register that records every single triple 0 outage so Australians can have confidence that, when they pick up the phone in their greatest time of need, they get an answer. Right now, the government should be protecting every single Australian, not spending their time on overseas jaunts.

The Last Post are a local South Australian based team of veterans dedicated to capturing the untold stories of those who have served. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with Steven Lockwood to discuss their journey of remembrance and reconnection. Starting this month, three veterans, including Michael Djoric, Jack Rainy and Locky, will set out on a 15,000-kilometre journey around Australia on humble Honda CT110—albeit modified—postie bikes. Along the way, they'll meet with veterans and their families to listen, learn and share their experiences of resilience and life beyond the uniform. These are the stories that deserve to be heard—stories that reveal the strength and the heart that carry our servicepeople through the hardest of times.

The Last Post is for veterans and first responders, their families, and every Australian who believes that service should be seen, heard and honoured. If you would like to donate to this cause, please visit the Australian Cultural Fund and search for 'The Last Post'. Every dollar counts when telling an important message like this. To follow them on their journey, you can find them on Instagram at the_last_post. Lastly, to Lochy, Michael and Jack and their support crew: best of luck, stay safe, and I'll see you all for stepping-off day at 0700 hours on 18 October at the Freeling Coffee Co.

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.

The seventh of October 2023 was a day of pain and terror for Jewish people around the world. When our parliament first gathered in the aftermath, the shock of what Hamas terrorists had perpetrated was still raw and growing with each new and devastating detail. Their attack on a music festival that promoted 'friends, love and infinite freedom', an event attended by so many young people, underlined a core truth: Hamas stands in opposition to all humanity and all that we value as human beings.

Two years on, we remember those who were lost on that day, the largest loss of Jewish life on a single day since the Holocaust—over 1,200 lives taken without mercy. We remember Australian Galit Carbone, who was tragically among them. Galit's brother, Danny Majzner, joins us in the gallery today, and I will meet with him tomorrow. I say to him: we hold you in our hearts. We also hold in our hearts all who are still being held hostage—those who remain alive and those who tragically had not only their freedom stolen from them but their lives as well. We stand with their families and all those who wait. We stand with all those who endure loss. We stand with all those who endure hope—all who have had to hold this two-year vigil, which must feel like an eternity. Even now, as President Trump presents us with an opening to peace, we owe it to all of them to never forget what was done. Hamas sought to kill and to terrify. They planned a nightmare of scarcely comprehensible cruelty and made it a reality. The Australian government stands with Jewish people around the world who feel the cold shadow of history's darkest chapter in any act of antisemitism. We will always stand against antisemitism, as should everyone. We must break this cycle of violence and build something better.

Australia has consistently been part of the international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza, for the return of the hostages, for aid to flow and for a two state solution. Australia welcomes President Trump's plan to bring peace to Gaza after almost two years of conflict and a devastating loss of civilian life—a plan that calls on Hamas to lay down its arms and to immediately release all remaining hostages. In our original motion here in 2023, carried with the support, bipartisanly, of both parties of government or potential government, we explicitly recognised that Hamas does not recognise the Palestinian people or their legitimate needs and aspirations. We have never wavered from that stance. That is the only path to enduring peace and security in the Middle East—a future without Hamas and a future that encompasses two states, the State of Israel and the State of Palestine, living side by side within internationally recognised borders and recognising each other's right to live in peace and security. That is the possibility of the future that is before us. It is our duty to do everything in our power to seize it.

Two years ago, the world was changed as one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in modern history was perpetrated against the people of Israel. Women were raped; children were massacred; the frail were struck down and tortured. The violence unleashed by Hamas, backed by the Iranian regime, was deliberate and merciless. October 7 was a brutal reminder of the depths of human cruelty and of the evil that flourishes when hatred is armed.

On this day, two years ago, a clear blue October sky was punctured by rockets from Gaza as festival goers at the Nova music festival welcomed the sunrise. The celebration and unity of that moment would be torn apart as Hamas gunmen breached the border and cut off escape routes. Gunmen encircled the festival and fired, killing over 360 people. This nightmare played out across the region as Hamas targeted towns and homes. By sunset, 1,200 people had been murdered as the attack resulted in the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. Thirty-eight children were killed and 20 more orphaned. Over 250 people were taken from their homes, bound and gagged, thrown into the trays of utes or forced onto motorcycles and taken into Gaza. And, as the terrorists forced these hostages into tunnels, the terrorists were welcomed home with cheers, not condemnation.

October 7 is the deadliest per capita terrorist attack in modern history, with over one person killed for every 10,000 Israelis. This is as if 50,000 Americans had died in the 9/11 attacks. This was an attack on Israel, but it was an attack on the world too. Almost 80 foreign nationals were killed, including Australian Galit Carbone, whose brother, Danny Majzner, a survivor of the Kibbutz Be'eri attack, is in the parliament today. It was a privilege to meet with him earlier. October 7 has rent the world apart. Sparking a new cycle of hate, division and violence was the objective of Hamas on October 7, both in the Middle East and across the world.

I wish that today, as we mark this dark milestone, I could reflect on the strength of Australia's response. I wish I could say that Australia did all it could to help release the hostages, end the violence and dismantle the terrorist group Hamas, yet to do so would be a lie. To our great shame, under the leadership of the Albanese Labor government, Australia has not stood with the people of Israel nor with the United States as they have sought to dismantle Hamas and establish the conditions for peace. To our great shame, the Albanese Labor government dragged its feet listing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

Two years on, we stand apart from our friends in this time of their greatest need. Two years on, Australia has failed to stand firm in the face of terror. Australia has been lauded by Hamas and condemned by Israel and the United States. Australia could have stood firm, and to their great credit millions of Australians have, but those Australians and our Jewish community have been failed by their government. We have allowed hate to take root onto our streets and into our communities. As homes still smouldered in Israel, here in Australia protesters hijacked a vigil at the Sydney Opera House with cries of, 'Where are the Jews?' As Jewish Australians sought to find solace in their moment of grief, they were confronted by hate.

In the years since, the tide of antisemitism has risen across Australia. We see it in the armed guards that stand at Jewish childcare centres, and we have seen it in the Jewish businesses that have been boycotted and harassed and in the synagogues and businesses that have been firebombed. We see it in the horrific antisemitic terror attack in recent days in Manchester too. We see it in the hateful graffiti sprayed in Fitzroy this morning. I make this clear to all Australians: Hamas is a listed terrorist organisation. Supporting Hamas is not free speech; it is a crime. Those responsible must face the full force of the law. All Victorians deserve to feel safe in their own community. The AFP and ASIO should support Victoria Police to track down those behind this disgraceful act and bring them to justice.

To our great shame, there are people today in this country seeking to hold protests this week. We cannot and should not allow the Sydney Opera House to be used as a backdrop to hate. To those seeking to protest, heed this simple message: stop. Seeking to use October 7 to advance your political agenda is abhorrent and un-Australian.

Today cannot be only about words. As we mark October 7, we must recommit ourselves to taking action to stamp out antisemitism and affirm our support for the existence of Israel, the world's only Jewish state. The Albanese Labor government must get off the fence and enact the recommendations of their own antisemitism envoy, to stamp out antisemitism.

Today, as we mark this moment and reflect on the horror of October 7, there is hope too. There is hope for a path to peace, thanks to the efforts of the US administration. We must stand with the US and with Israel and give our support to this process. To Israel, to survivors, to the Jewish people everywhere: you are not alone. We stand with you in grief, in solidarity and in the unbreakable hope that life will triumph over terror. Am Yisrael Chai—the people of Israel live.

I inform the House of the death on 18 September 2025 of James Henry Snow, a member of this House for the division of Eden-Monaro from 1983 to 1996. As a mark of respect for the memory of Jim Snow, I invite all present to rise in their places.

Honourable members having stood in their places—

I thank the House.

The House transcript was published up to 14:10. The remainder of the transcript will be published progressively as it is completed.