Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill 2025

Member for Moreton

Presentation

Bitcoin

El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as legal tender and began buying in September 2021. Coinciding with social reform, El Salvador has begun a new economic growth phase, reflected in their GDP.

US companies are now following El Salvador's lead, buying Bitcoin to be used as collateral for future growth opportunities.

The US president-elect has recently promised to institute a US Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. This will act similarly to the Gold Reserves held by central banks around the world, but will be fully auditable simply by sharing the US government's public wallet address. This transparency and accountability helps foster trust in their financial system.

The US Bitcoin Reserve is already in motion in states like Wyoming, and has already found support from massive companies such as Blackrock.

By having the Australian Treasury adopt a similar strategy, the Australian economy can be insulated from the devaluing influence of its geopolitical contemporaries. The sovereign fund can help foster trust in both the national economy and monetary system, by boosting collateral (for borrowing) and transparency (by proving our sovereign assets on- chain).

If Australia moves expeditiously, we could capture a huge portion of the capital growth surge that will coincide with the US adoption, netting huge capital growth similar to El Salvador.

The faster Australia moves with this wave, the better.

We therefore ask the House to legislate the creation of a Sovereign Bitcoin Fund and begin purchasing Bitcoin to quickly build a national holding, then dedicate a percentage of annual Budget surplus to continued monthly Bitcoin purchases.

from eight citizens (Petition No. EN6893)

Cybersafety

The social media ban is very rushed and broad. The major stakeholders (teens) haven't been properly consulted or given a chance to comment.

We therefore ask the House to delay legislation until we have had a chance to have a national discussion to come up with a solution to the challenges social media presents. We request for teens to be included and their input to be considered in the social media ban.

from 26 citizens (Petition No. EN6896)

Australian Embassy: United States of America

The relationship between Australia and the United States of America, while significant, must be rooted in honesty, accountability, and mutual respect. The role of the ambassador is not to appease political figures but to represent Australian values and interests. Having an ambassador like Kevin Rudd, who has demonstrated a willingness to speak out on important global issues, reflects Australia's commitment to principled diplomacy.

We therefore ask the House to uphold Kevin Rudd's appointment as the Ambassador to the United States. His presence in this post, even as President Trump takes office, is a testament to Australia's independence and ability to stand firm on its principles. Removing him would send a message of weakness, undermining the integrity of the relationship we have carefully cultivated over the past century.

from nine citizens (Petition No. EN6902)

School Student Broadband Initiative

Currently, eligible students of low-income families receive free broadband internet through the School Student Broadband Initiative, something undeniably essential to success at school in today's digital world. This initiative is set to run until December 2025, with students who receive internet (who likely cannot afford the facility) then either having their service cancelled, or made to switch to a paid plan after the month.

We therefore ask the House to ensure that this program is extended into the future, and ensure students who face financial disadvantage are not further left behind without adequate access to digital services.

from 71 citizens (Petition No. EN6903)

Litchfield National Park: Invasive Species Management

Scientists say that Litchfield National Park is heading towards "ecosystem" collapse and potential risk to visitor safety, due to the spread of invasive gamba grass and the very hot wildfires it brings (Rossiter-Rachor et al, 2023 "The cost of not acting: Delaying invasive grass management increases costs and threatens assets in a national park, northern Australia"). They say that every year action is delayed makes it more and more costly and difficult to address this problem.

These scientists propose a gamba management option for the Park which they say would protect it's most precious biodiversity and tourism areas from this threat. This would involve a five-year eradication strategy within a prescribed area, which they cost at $7m (which scientists note may be reduced if aerial herbicide spraying is used). However after this five-year eradication program, annual gamba control costs within the Park would drop significantly to $111, 000 (close to the amount the NT Government has been allocating for this purpose in recent years .

The previous NT Government never responded to the scientists' report, and we are concerned that the new NT Government (elected in August) will not invest sufficiently to protect the future of Litchfield. That would mean the impending loss of a key northern Australian biodiversity and tourism asset, also important for local Indigenous people.

We therefore ask the House to urge the Australian Government to urgently seek negotiations with the NT Government to support funding of the five-year gamba grass eradication program proposed by scientists.

from 186 citizens (Petition No. EN6909)

Cost of Living

I want to know how many people in Australia (who lodge an annual tax return) have earned less than the $18,200 tax free part? Can the govt officially publish these figures for the tax years ending 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 to see the extent of the problem.

What use is the govt's cost of living relief like tax cuts, Medicare levy relief & low income Offset relief etc, if a person earning less than $18,200 cannot benefit from it?

These people earning less than $18,200 cannot survive in these circumstances.

We therefore ask the House to pass legislation to publish the figures requested above & increase the Family Assistance & Carer payments Allowances dramatically, so families can survive.

from 45 citizens (Petition No. EN6912)

Telecommunications

Background:

Coomera Waters is a tranquil and picturesque community, home to approximately 5,000 residents. Despite its status, our connectivity infrastructure falls significantly below acceptable standards, leaving residents frustrated, isolated, and at risk.

Key Issues:

Unreliable Internet Services:

The estate relies on Opticomm, a private fibre network, which frequently experiences outages lasting hours.

There is no NBN available, and while costly upgrades are possible, they fail to resolve the core reliability issues.

Alternative solutions, such as Starlink, are unavailable in South East Queensland due to capacity constraints.

Limited Mobile Reception:

Telstra is the sole mobile service provider, but its signal strength is weak, often leaving residents with one bar or requiring them to stand in driveways to make or receive calls.

With Telstra undergoing maintenance, many residents risk losing mobile coverage entirely.

Community Impact:

Residents are unable to make critical calls during emergencies due to poor mobile reception.

Families face significant challenges with remote work and online education due to constant internet disruptions.

These issues undermine the livability and safety of a community that prides itself on being a premium suburb.

We therefore ask the House to respectfully request that the Federal Government and relevant authorities take immediate action to:

1.   Advocate for urgent upgrades to internet and mobile infrastructure in Coomera Waters.

2.   Work with service providers like Opticomm to explore sustainable solutions or facilitate the transition to the NBN network.

3.   Ensure reliable mobile coverage by engaging with Telstra and other providers to improve signal strength and capacity.

from 133 citizens (Petition No. EN6913)

Early Childhood Education

Children under five with disabilities in the Australia are being failed by the early education system.

Discrimination is widespread as centre's lack the funding, training, and resources needed to support these children. Families are turned away or forced to settle for inadequate care because many educators are unprepared to meet the needs of diverse learners. This exclusion violates fundamental principles of equality and denies children with disabilities their right to early education, a critical foundation for lifelong learning.

Current funding does not address the additional requirements of children with disabilities, leaving centre's unable to provide specialized staff, adaptive tools, or integrated therapy. Without urgent action, this inequity will persist, depriving countless children of the chance to reach their full potential.

We therefore ask the House to eliminate discrimination in early education by addressing funding and resource gaps in Australia. Increase funding for early learning centre's to hire specialized staff, provide adaptive resources, and integrate therapy services for children with disabilities. Mandate and fund comprehensive training programs for early educators to ensure they can effectively support diverse learners. Strengthen accountability measures to enforce anti-discrimination laws and ensure equitable access for all children.

Introduce a targeted support package for families, including financial assistance and access to early intervention services. These actions are essential to creating an inclusive education system that upholds the rights of all children and reflects Australia's values of equality and opportunity. Every child deserves the chance to thrive—this begins with equitable early education.

from 185 citizens (Petition No. EN6914)

Mental Health

Mental health medication has seen a dramatic increase of price under the Labor Government. Since Labor has been in power the Health Minister has been praising about how Labor is making medication more affordable. This has been the complete opposite for medications to treat mental health conditions such as venlafaxine a common antidepressants have seen a rise of up to $10 a month. Antidepressants and other medications for mental health aren't included on the 60 day prescription plan. With the rising number of people who have been diagnosed with mental health conditions over the past few years, more people need to rely on medication, yet it is unaffordable for some.

We therefore ask the House to have an immediate investigation into the supply and price of mental health medication. We call the health minister look into more funding to lower the price of medication to treat mental health conditions as this problem has been ongoing for nearly 3 years now.

from 53 citizens (Petition No. EN6918)

Taxation: Tobacco

Australian government has risen the tobacco tax to be the most expensive in the world pushing its people to buy illegal cigarettes that we do not know how it's made and we're its made and other products like vape products and weed is actually cheaper today than tobacco most of stealing happening and other crimes including drug selling and drug taking are always linked to spike in cigarette price the government should end this by halfing its taxes this should be done

We therefore ask the House to actually do this most kids today are using vapes and others mixing tobacco with herbs just to smoke and 70% of the market tobacco is illegal tobacco were its not from a real manufacturer and no government inspection ever went thru today Street drugs are cheaper than Australian cigarettes this has a end 2025 were government has to half its tax's to stop criminal activity either from overseas to Australia and many other will have a change we see staff that you cannot see while sitting in the chair we hear what you cannot hear in the parliament house your windows are closed after this all vaping products should be banned not taxed! We can wait for other countries to see the long run affect we know the affect of tobacco but we don't know the affect of vape and cheap made cigarettes and chop chop ingredients.

from 56 citizens (Petition No. EN6919)

National Disability Insurance Scheme

Allow Neurodivergent Individuals With Multiple Disabilities and Complex Needs To Choose How They Spend Their NDIS Social and Community Support Funds Without Blocking Essential Activities Needed For Their Physical and Mental Wellbeing Demonstrated By Their Medical Professionals.

We therefore ask the House to Restore The Previously Awarded Rights To Neurodivergent Individuals Regardless of New Legislation Bill

from 51 citizens (Petition No. EN6920)

Electoral Reform

This significant electoral reform bill demands thorough examination due to its potential far-reaching impacts on our democratic processes. Rushing such complex legislation without proper scrutiny could undermine public trust and confidence in our electoral system.

While we acknowledge the urgent need to address the influence of substantial financial contributions on our democracy, we believe that a bill of this magnitude requires rigorous analysis and expert input. The current form of the bill may not effectively achieve its intended goal of curbing the impact of large donations in politics, as it contains potential loopholes allowing substantial contributions to political parties above the proposed annual donation cap.

Furthermore, the bill in its present state could inadvertently strengthen the advantage of major parties and incumbents while having disadvantages for independent and challenger candidates. This outcome could potentially erode, rather than enhance, the fairness of our democratic system.

We therefore ask the House to initiate a parliamentary inquiry to ensure that any changes to our electoral system are carefully considered, thoroughly vetted, and ultimately serve to strengthen the integrity and fairness of our democracy.

from 82 citizens (Petition No. EN6924)

National Disability Insurance Scheme: Music Therapy

Music therapy provides essential, evidence-based support to NDIS participants, assisting with communication, emotional regulation, and social connection—unique benefits that often cannot be fully met by other therapies. Removing NDIS funding for music therapy would deprive many individuals with disabilities of a therapeutic service that significantly enhances their quality of life. This decision will prevent participants from accessing a service that helps them achieve meaningful milestones, build confidence, and thrive in ways that promote long-term well-being and growth. Beyond the impact on participants, this change will result in the loss of countless jobs for Registered Music Therapists across Australia, eliminating a whole sector of allied health. As a result, access to music therapy will be severely restricted, limiting this critical resource for both current and future NDIS participants.

We therefore ask the House to recognise the invaluable role of music therapy within the NDIS framework and to not remove Music Therapy as an NDIS funded support which is to occur on 2nd December 2024. We ask you to consult with The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA), to consult with those with disabilities who have benefited from music therapy and understand the therapeutic benefits of music therapy.

from 16 citizens (Petition No. EN6926)

Domestic and Family Violence

Every day, domestic violence devastates families, leaving lasting scars on individuals and communities. It's time to take action. Clare's Law (also known at the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme—DVDS) is named after Clare Wood, who tragically lost her life to domestic violence. The law provides individuals with the right to access vital police information about a partner's history of abuse.

Proven effective in countries like the UK, New Zealand, and Canada, Clare's Law empowers individuals with knowledge to make informed decisions and seek safety. Despite its success abroad, this life-saving measure is yet to be adopted nationwide in Australia.

We therefore ask the House to

Work with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) or its replacement, the National Cabinet, to develop a national framework for Clare's Law.

Provide funding or resources to support states and territories in implementing Clare's Law (DVDS).

Advocate for uniform adoption of Clare's Law (DVDS) across Australia.

from 913 citizens (Petition No. EN6927)

Medicare: Allied Health

The aim of this petition is to gather support for people who have undergone breast reconstruction after mastectomy and who would like to have intradermal colouration of nipple or areola or both (medical tattooing) performed by a qualified, registered Paramedical Tattooist with a higher Medicare rebate.

We therefore ask the House to consider allowing the integration of qualified and regulated Paramedical Tattooists into the Australian Medicare system and raising the rebate from the current $191. By including these highly trained professionals, we can ensure that high standards of aesthetically pleasing and artistically rendered medical tattoos, such as 3D nipples, are achieved. This can significantly enhance the quality of life and mental health outcomes for patients compared to the results often seen with hospital-performed tattoos where most haven't been given adequate training to perform to an acceptable standard and comfortably execute such an important closure of someone's breast cancer experience, leading to negative psychological and emotional outcomes.

from 914 citizens (Petition No. EN6928)

Domestic and Family Violence

Many victims of domestic violence are wrongly identified as perpetrators due to inadequate investigative practices and manipulation of the system by true aggressors. This misidentification causes severe trauma, criminalization, and legal repercussions for victims, while the real perpetrators evade accountability.

This failure undermines the goals of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032, which emphasizes victim-centered justice, holding perpetrators accountable, and protecting children. Misidentification perpetuates cycles of abuse, damages public trust in the justice system, and leaves children vulnerable to ongoing harm by remaining in the care of the true perpetrators.

Addressing this issue is critical to ensuring justice for victims, deterring the misuse of domestic violence protections, and upholding the integrity of Australia's response to family violence.

We therefore ask the House to

Develop a national database to track and address victim misidentification in domestic violence cases.

Introduce legislative reforms mandating thorough investigative protocols to prevent misidentification and ensure victim-centered justice.

Implement criminal penalties for true perpetrators, including those who manipulate the system through false accusations.

Provide training for law enforcement and judiciary on identifying primary aggressors and understanding domestic violence dynamics.

Establish mechanisms to clear records of misidentified victims and provide restitution and support, ensuring alignment with the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.

These actions will protect victims, hold true perpetrators accountable, and restore public confidence in the justice system.

from 20 citizens (Petition No. EN6935)

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Legacy media is dead, and tax payers should not be funding the ABC.

We therefore ask the House to defund the ABC

from 25 citizens (Petition No. EN6937)

National Disability Insurance Scheme: Music Therapy

The Minister for NDIS has allowed the Australian Music Therapy Association to block holders of the Bachelor of Music Education degree from using what they are trained for, to teach ADD, ADHD and all Special Learners' needs.

As such, the NDIS Minister through provisioning the AMTA to exclude Ba Mus Ed is effectively dismissing a university qualification specifically for this field.

A qualification that also requires thousands of dollars in HECS.

Even though until recent changes, NDIS recipients under teachers of Ba Mus Ed in Music Therapy achieved effective service and outcomes.

We therefore ask the House to

Acknowledge that the Ba Mus Ed degree encompasses ADHD and Special Learning methods.

Allow Bachelor of Music Education holders to be recognised by the NDIS for Music in Therapy.

To join the Australian Music Therapist Association

from 171 citizens (Petition No. EN6939)

Bill of Rights

This petition of concerned citizens of Australia highlights the urgent need for a Bill of Rights. We believe this is crucial for several reasons:

Protection of Freedoms: Enshrining civil liberties ensures legal protection for all Australians, including freedoms of speech, assembly, and religion.

Equality and Justice: It provides a framework to combat discrimination, ensuring dignity and respect for everyone.

Democratic Strength: Recognizing rights empowers citizens and fosters active participation in society. Legal Clarity: It offers clear guidelines for courts and lawmakers, enhancing trust in our legal system.

Global Leadership: Demonstrates Australia's commitment to human rights and sets an international standard.

We request immediate action to draft and implement a comprehensive Bill of Rights, reflecting our shared values for a fairer Australia.

We therefore ask the House to act decisively in enacting a Bill of Rights. The absence of such a document leaves Australians vulnerable to inconsistencies and injustices that undermine our democratic values. This is an opportunity to affirm our commitment to equality, justice, and freedom for all.

Let us lead by example, demonstrating our dedication to human rights and setting a global standard. This is not just a legislative necessity; it is a moral imperative. Together, let us ensure every Australian can live with dignity and security, making Australia a beacon of hope and fairness in the world.

from 51 citizens (Petition No. EN6943)

Illicit Drugs: Cannabis

Cannabis in brownies doesn't cause cancer and it doesn't ruin the environment. Smoking is legal and it causes a lot of cancer, has killed more people than war, and illicit drugs and has worse effects than overdosing on cannabis. If taken correctly and responsibly cannabis is not as dangerous as alcohol or over the counter medicines and less dangerous than food. Those who do blame cannabis for mental illness are already predisposed to getting mentally sick and are gullible into thinking their unique brain chemistry is the result of illicit drugs. Lots of those who do have mental illness have never done drugs therefore it's safe and those who are weak should just stay away from drugs and junk food. It would bring in a lot of money and make Melbourne a more fun place to be. If there were cafes like they have in Amsterdam and only sold to eighteen year olds then Melbourne could greatly benefit just as Amsterdam has. They could look forward to an increase in hundreds of millions of dollars of profit and would boost the economy .

We therefore ask the House to legalise cannabis cafes

from 49 citizens (Petition No. EN6950)

Defence Personnel

They are risking their lives and getting rid of threats to our country and they should be paid more for doing that. Their life is worth just as much as anyone else's. We need to appreciate the sacrifice they make for others. Tax payers wouldn't have a job or a life without them and they deserve to thank them for their duty, service and sacrifice or else none us of would be alive.

We therefore ask the House to get tax payers to pay more taxes for soldiers

from six citizens (Petition No. EN6951)

Political Advertising

With the ban of children under 16 from Social Media, your petitioners wish to make it unlawful for any politician to use or post any images of children, including their own, on any form of social media. Posting images of children with politicians would prompt children to use social media to view or download these images and would constitute a breach of the The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024. A Politician posting images that include children could be in breach of 63C (1) Where the platform is the page run or managed by that politician for the purposes of advertising a political message. In the Voller decision, the High Court confirmed that administrators of Facebook pages may be considered the 'publishers' of posts made by its members and therefore may be held personally liable.

We therefore ask the House to place a blanket ban on all politicians from using children under 16 for the promotion of policies and of self-promotion of themselves using children as a port for their self- promotion.

from 12 citizens (Petition No. EN6953)

National Disability Insurance Scheme: Art Therapy

It took me 5 years to find an Art Therapist who would travel to my rural area. I have just found an opening in her long local list. I am isolated because of my rural location and cannot get to the city to access this service. Art Therapy gives me practical expression of my mental health issues and I find I remember more of the mental health solutions by expressing them through art during the therapy sessions. Losing Art Therapy would be a huge disadvantage to me and many other disabled people with mental and physical therapy needs.

We therefore ask the House to ensure Art and Music Therapy remain on the NDIS list of approved therapies.

from 163 citizens (Petition No. EN6958)

Glyphosate

Glyphosate has been linked to numerous health issues, including cancer and liver disease. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans". Despite this, its use remains largely unregulated in Australia.

We call on the Australian government to immediately ban the use of glyphosate in all farming and agricultural practices. We cannot sit idly by and watch our health deteriorate simply because of a lack of adequate regulation. Please sign this petition to protect our health and our home.

We therefore ask the House to immediately ban the use of glyphosate in all farming and agricultural practices.

from 43 citizens (Petition No. EN6962)

Drug Abuse and Addiction

Australia faces a critical challenge with substance abuse, impacting individuals, families, and communities nationwide. Despite the availability of evidence-based harm reduction and treatment programs, many Australians are unable to access these services due to underfunding and limited resources. This has resulted in preventable health crises, including overdose deaths, the spread of diseases like hepatitis C and HIV, and long-term social and economic consequences.

Comprehensive harm reduction services, such as needle exchange programs, opioid substitution therapy, and safe consumption spaces, have proven to significantly reduce health risks. Similarly, expanding access to residential rehabilitation centers and community-based treatment programs offers people struggling with substance abuse a genuine pathway to recovery. Addressing this issue is not only a moral imperative but also a cost-effective strategy to improve public health and strengthen communities.

We therefore ask the House to allocate increased federal funding to evidence-based harm reduction programs, including needle and syringe exchange, opioid substitution therapy, and safe consumption facilities. We further request expanded investment in residential rehabilitation centers and community treatment programs to ensure accessibility across all regions, particularly underserved and remote areas.

Additionally, we urge the government to launch a nationwide education and prevention campaign to inform Australians about the risks of substance misuse and available support services. By taking these steps, the federal government can save lives, reduce harm, and empower communities to combat substance abuse effectively.

from 10 citizens (Petition No. EN6964)

Telecommunications

This petition opposes the construction of an NBN telecommunications tower that will overshadow and encroach upon the Old School community site, negatively impacting its landscape and character.

The Scenic Rim Regional Council (SRRC) is breaching its own telecommunications code, which requires protection of important views and ridgelines, prohibits obstructing views from roads or public spaces, and mandates a 200-metre buffer from childcare centres, community hubs, schools, or parks.

The community site, gifted by the SRRC, hosts vital activities such as a café, markets, craft and art groups, fitness classes, children's educational events, and a community garden. It is also a designated night landing site for emergency helicopters.

For over 50 years, hang gliders and paragliders pilots from around the world have soared our skies and this tower poses a significant safety risk, as their launch and landing area is within 1km.

Additionally, this area is home to endangered species like Red-tailed black cockatoos, Glossy black cockatoo and Richmond Birdwing butterflies, which would be adversely affected.

The World Health Organisation recognise potential long-term health effects, such as DNA disruption hence this underscores the need to reject this proposal. The tower will diminish property values with its visual pollution and environmental and health impact. Our residents have invested their life savings and years of hard work into their homes and land such as organic farming.

We urge the SRRC to honour its commitments to community and environmental protection.

We therefore ask the House to cease this development on this community site.

from 85 citizens (Petition No. EN6973)

Property Valuation

Common sense is not being used by valuers when completing a valuation for a client or bank. Over the many years I have been in finance, I have sat on meetings where valuers have been guest speakers advising finance brokers to supply photos and sales evidence (which is their job) when requesting a valuation (so what do they do for their fee?).

Generally some banks asborb the cost however some banks charge this on to the client with some valuers also charging a further $110 to sometimes $1500 above standard fee which is a money grab.

Furthermore, the valuation comes back with irrelevant or outdated sales evidence and amounts varying from $25k to $1M and when you go to challenge this with the valuer, they generally say "we are not changing this".

How can we have such a huge variance when they should all be qualified. If the valuation is not aligned to estimate or they cannot substantiate the cost or variance, a refund in fee to the bank or client should be considered as brokers can only challenge this with supporting sales evidence.

We therefore ask the House to have some regulation around valuers so they are accountable for their actions rather than not care about the clients and banks they are working for, and also be charged for fee to be refunded if inadequate value or supplied outdated information to support their values.

from 31 citizens (Petition No. EN6974)

Banking and Financial Services

Banks ripping everyone

We therefore ask the House to establish a community bank. Run by the government . The bank system is rip off everyone a community bank with no unessesery fees should be established

from 20 citizens (Petition No. EN6975)

Banking and Financial Services

You should not be able to charge people to withdraw their own money from their own bank. Most people in this country pay interest or fees to banks for their credit cards or loans, why should they be charged a fee to access their own money?

We therefore ask the House to ban banks from charging customers to withdraw their own money from bank branch ATMs

from 80 citizens (Petition No. EN6976)

Mental Health

Mental health is an enduring problem in Australia and one that requires our attention.

Last year, over 3,000 Australians or 9 Australians each day died by suicide.

This is not okay. We need to change this statistic.

Behind every statistic there is a grieving father, a grieving mother, a grieving son, a grieving daughter and grieving friends. Every life matters.

Despite a growing wealth of emerging evidence about the harms social media has on particularly young adolescent, teenage minds, these companies have not contributed and paid their fair share to mental health support services and suicide prevention workshops.

We therefore ask the House to levy the net profits of social companies operating and earning an income by doing business in Australia.

Please call Life Line on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 if this petition has raised any emotions or concerns with your own mental health.

from 11 citizens (Petition No. EN6977)

Animal Welfare

Animal testing is a growing problem throughout Australia and the world. Although it has its benefits there are more negative reasons than positive. When people are testing on animals it results in the generation of chemical waste, which if not disposed of correctly it has long term impacts on the environmental landscapes and feature like the water and soil. The impact it is having on the animals' lives, our live and the globe will only be growing larger and larger if no action starts to happen. If we start a plan for action now than we can start a global change and help us and future generations have a better world to live in.

We therefore ask the House to start taking action against the use of animals for animal testing.

from 46 citizens (Petition No. EN6979)

Electoral Reform

Change the voting guidelines to allow under 18s who have a higher iq than me to vote. Cause what's the difference between them and me? We are both the same height, weight, but their smarter than me, have a higher iq than me, and have a larger capacity to learn than me, their iq will develop as they age mine will stay the same, I've been intellectually stunted, just cause I have more wrinkles and more organ damage and my organs have been aging and rotting longer doesn't mean I'm better or smarter than them. Just cause I've been awake longer than then doesn't make me superior.

They have better judgment than me, make better decisions than me, and should be allowed to vote. They fast learners and I am not.

We therefore ask the House to allow under 18s to vote

from five citizens (Petition No. EN6982)

Paid Parental Leave

There have been improvements in Parental leave in recent times, but Australia still significantly lags behind countries it would deem itself superior to in many other facets.

Children who have access to both parents in the first year of life, have been shown to reduce mortality rates, reduced the likelihood of medical conditions, improve the opportunity for bonding, breastfeeding, educational support and even help with parent to parent relationship balance.

From a macro-level, the economy can benefit with leave for both parents. Japan for example has the fourth largest economy in the world, yet allows both maternity and paternity for the first 12months of the child's life.

The challenge up to and beyond this is societal, but it seems logical to provide a benefit even if it doesn't get fully taken up. The option to parents to combine and take 6 months each for instance would support women re-entering the workforce and support men who want to take more hands on roles with their family's development.

We therefore ask the House to consider extending the parental leave period beyond the current threshold of 18+2 weeks.

Match the Japanese approach of 67% of base salary for 6 months and 50% from 6-12 months regardless of maternity or paternity.

Empower families to make the decision and trust that this will build a stronger future for Australia and healthier families for generations to come.

from 39 citizens (Petition No. EN6984)

Operation COVID-19 Assist

I am starting this petition to urge the government to honor all service members, particularly junior ranks, who participated in Operation COVID-19 Assist by issuing a dedicated medal. For three months, I and many others worked tirelessly in aged care homes and other critical settings, providing essential support during a national crisis. While we were initially promised medals, that commitment has since been withdrawn for junior ranks, even though high ranking officers have been awarded recognition.

This decision not only undermines our contributions but also highlights the inequities within the military awards system. Junior ranks were at the forefront, performing challenging, high-risk tasks in vulnerable environments. Despite this, the government has refused to issue the National Emergency Medal (NEM) or any equivalent recognition for our efforts. This decision is profoundly unfair and sends a disheartening message that the work of junior ranks is undervalued.

Medals are more than just decorations; they symbolize gratitude, respect, and the acknowledgment of service. It is unacceptable that only high ranking officers receive such recognition while junior ranks, who played an equally critical role, are overlooked.

This petition seeks to call on the government to issue a medal specifically for those who served during Operation COVID-19 Assist. Fair recognition should not depend on rank. All who contributed during this operation deserve equal acknowledgment for their dedication and sacrifice.

We therefore ask the House to ensure the government issues a medal recognizing all ranks for their contributions during Operation COVID-19 Assist, addressing inequities in the current awards system.

from nine citizens (Petition No. EN6997)

Human Rights: Afghanistan

Restore Girls' Education in Afghanistan

We therefore ask the House to I am writing to express my deep concern about the Taliban's ban on girls' education in Afghanistan. The Taliban's ban on girls' education is a blatant violation of human rights and international law. This is having a devastating impact on the lives of Afghan girls and women.

I urge the Australian Parliament to take immediate action to support the restoration of girls' education in Afghanistan. This includes:

Furthermore, we condemn the Taliban's efforts to indoctrinate children with extremist ideology, which is a form of psychological abuse and a threat to global security.

I respectfully request that the Australian Parliament consider this matter and take concrete actions to support the rights of Afghan girls and women to education.

I would like to start an e-petition on this issue, and I request that the Parliament consider the following petition:

Petition Request:

Title: Restore Girls' Education in Afghanistan To the Honourable Members of the Australian Parliament,

We, the undersigned, urge the Australian Government to take immediate action to support the restoration of girls' education in Afghanistan.

Publicly condemn the Taliban's ban on girls' education and call for its immediate reversal.

Encourage the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the Taliban's crimes against humanity, including the denial of education to girls and the indoctrination of children with extremist ideology.

We believe that education is a fundamental human right, and that all girls and women should have access to education without fear of persecution or discrimination.

Thank you for considering our petition.

from 100 citizens (Petition No. EN6998)

Cybersafety

The psychological effects that social media is having on society is ripping our world apart in many areas of crime, suicide, hatred, gangs, addictions, depression, terrorism, brain washing and so much more. We are experiencing the damage right in front of our faces. Day in and day out we put our future generations at high risk of living in a world of hate, torture, mental health issue, psychological issue, self esteem issues, and no1 is doing anything about it because of the buisness's that profit having such a big influence over our economy.

Money is more important then our kids psychological state and future

We therefore ask the House to totally stop any access to social media platforms for humans under 16 years of age

from seven citizens (Petition No. EN6999)

Insurance Industry

Insurance has become too unaffordable, as a result many home owners are breaking their mortgage contracts etc.

We therefore ask the House to pass legislation to provide free govt insurance cover (no conditions attached) to every occupied house in Australia, (regardless of family incomes). We need a basic insurance safety net so every home is protected regardless.

from 27 citizens (Petition No. EN7000)

Sydney Jewish Museum

We, the undersigned citizens of Australia, are deeply concerned about the recent allocation of $8.5 million to the Sydney Jewish Museum. Given that the Jewish population in Australia constitutes less than 0.5%, approximately 91,000 people, such a disproportionate allocation raises serious questions about the equitable distribution of public funds. This level of funding appears excessive when compared to the size and needs of the broader Australian population.

Recent diplomatic pressures and high-profile international criticism may have unduly influenced this decision, creating the perception of external interference. Public funds must be allocated fairly and transparently, without favouritism toward any single community. Significant investment in such a small population risks dividing Australians and undermines trust in the government's commitment to equality.

This allocation highlights ongoing concerns about government spending favouring smaller groups while larger communities, such as Catholic Australians— who constitute nearly 20% of the population—are often overlooked for similar targeted support. Ensuring proportionality in public spending is essential to fostering inclusivity and trust across Australia's diverse communities.

We therefore ask the House to review the allocation of $8.5 million to the Sydney Jewish Museum and ensure that future funding decisions are made with greater transparency, fairness, and equity. We further request that the House consider measures to establish clearer guidelines for public funding allocations to prevent perceptions of undue influence and to reflect the diverse needs of Australia's cultural and faith-based communities.

from 30 citizens (Petition No. EN7004)

Australian Flags

Peter Dutton has said that he will not stand with the three flags, Aboriginal, Australian and Torres Straight Islanders, saying it's divisive. However, Australian citizens wish to stand united and show respect to all three. We, the undersigned, respectfully request that a ruling be made to continue to display all three flags.

We therefore ask the House to make a definitive ruling to keep all three flags displayed, including the Sydney Harbour bridge and anywhere else the flags are displayed.

from 145 citizens (Petition No. EN7005)

Nuclear Energy

We call on the Australian Government to explore the integration of nuclear power and sustainable manufacturing practices by enabling the use of seawater for cooling nuclear power plants and repurposing the resulting brine to produce sea salt. This innovative approach would:

Maximize resource efficiency by utilizing byproducts of nuclear power for commercial applications.

Foster economic growth through job creation in both energy and food production industries.

Promote sustainability by reducing waste and supporting a circular economy.

Decrease transportation costs and carbon footprint by situating manufacturing facilities near power plants.

We propose a pilot project to co-locate a nuclear power plant with a sea salt production facility and a food manufacturing plant (e.g., a chip factory). This initiative would serve as a model for sustainable industrial practices, contributing to economic growth while addressing environmental challenges.

Your support is crucial to champion innovative, eco- friendly solutions that balance Australia's energy needs with long-term sustainability goals.

We therefore ask the House to support a feasibility study and pilot program for integrating nuclear power with sustainable sea salt production. This initiative would explore the use of seawater cooling in nuclear plants and the economic benefits of repurposing brine for commercial food production.

from 20 citizens (Petition No. EN7007)

Bangladesh

Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari (aka Chinmoy Prabhu), the 39-year-old Hindu monk, President of Pundarik Dham, and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, rose to prominence for his outspoken protests when Hindus and their temples came under fierce attacks in Bangladesh, as the most others were suppressed and silenced. Unfortunately, his courage made him a target. On 25 November, Chinmoy Prabhu was detained at Dhaka Airport without identification or a warrant and later transferred to the Detective Branch. He was denied bail in the court on the following day. He faces baseless charges of "disrespecting the national flag," which have been widely discredited. Yet, Chinmoy Prabhu's legal rights were repeatedly violated—lawyers threatened, cases fabricated, and no legal representation allowed at his bail hearings. This is a clear violation of human rights.

This also constitutes a gross violation of the citizen's rights enshrined in Bangladesh's Constitution.

We therefore ask the House to engage diplomatically with Bangladesh to urge Chinmoy Prabhu's release, demand accountability for these human rights violations, and advocate for the protection of all human rights defenders in Bangladesh.

from 1,143 citizens (Petition No. EN7008)

Donations to Political Parties

We believe that democracy cannot function freely whilst the influence of corporate bodies over political parties remains.

We therefore ask the House to place a ban on all forms of donations from corporate bodies to politicians, political parties or groups.

Restrict the amount an individual can donate to $10k per year, and ensure total public transparency of donors names recipients names, and amounts.

from 6,676 citizens (Petition No. EN7009)

Cybersafety

Australia lacks a legislated, fixed minimum age for data consent, leaving children vulnerable to premature exposure to data collection and exploitation. Current laws under the Privacy Act 1988 rely on subjective assessments of a child's capacity to consent, creating inconsistencies and insufficient protections.

Tech companies, such as Google, allow children as young as 13 to independently manage their accounts, opting out of parental supervision. This exposes them to targeted advertising, inappropriate content, and data exploitation without adequate safeguards. Research shows children under 16 lack the cognitive maturity to fully understand the long-term consequences of sharing personal data.

Many countries, including those in the European Union, enforce a minimum age of 16 for data consent under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Australia must align with these global standards to ensure the safety and privacy of its youth.

We therefore ask the House to :

Amend the Privacy Act 1988 to establish a legislated minimum age of 16 for consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data.

Require parental consent for individuals under 16, with robust verification mechanisms.

Introduce meaningful penalties for companies that fail to protect children's privacy.

Protecting young Australians online is a critical issue. Stronger legislation will ensure their mental well-being and digital safety while fostering trust in Australia's commitment to safeguarding children's rights in the digital age.

from 12 citizens (Petition No. EN7010)

Menopause and Perimenopause

The long-running shortage of oestrogen and combination oestrogen-progesterone patches has been distressing and debilitating for Australian women of various ages who rely on the medicine to treat a range of menopausal symptoms such as anxiety, memory loss, mood swings, disturbed sleep, joint pain and post cancer treatment for early onset menopause. Request:

We therefore ask the House to increase domestic manufacture, and invest in supply chains to make sure Australia receives the medicines we need.

from 88 citizens (Petition No. EN7012)

Human Rights: Kurdish People

The Kurdish people, numbering over 40 million, represent one of the largest stateless nations in the world. Despite their cultural identity, historical heritage, and significant contributions to regional stability, they have faced decades of marginalization and conflict.

Kurdistan, as a homeland for the Kurdish people, has demonstrated a strong commitment to democratic principles, equality, and the fight against terrorism, particularly during the war against ISIS. The Kurdish people have sacrificed greatly for peace, security, and human rights in the Middle East.

Recognition of Kurdistan as an independent state would acknowledge the Kurdish people's right to self- determination, as outlined in international human rights conventions. It would also affirm Australia's role as a leader in supporting oppressed peoples, fostering stability in the Middle East, and strengthening diplomatic and economic partnerships.

We therefore ask the House to formally recognize Kurdistan as an independent and sovereign state and advocate for its recognition within the international community. By doing so, Australia will contribute to justice, peace, and the self-determination of the Kurdish people while fostering stronger bilateral ties with the Kurdistan Region.

from 10 citizens (Petition No. EN7014)

Ukraine

The Australian Government is spending millions of dollars of taxpayers money to assist Ukraine. This money should be used in Australia, as per what tax payers want, not what the government chooses.

We therefore ask the House to fully withdraw from Ukraine and to stop using tax payers money to assist Ukraine.

from 24 citizens (Petition No. EN7016)

Universities: Financial Support for Postgraduate Students

Currently, mainstream Doctorate studies and all Masters by research programs are not approved courses for Youth Allowance or Austudy. Therefore, students conducting important and impactful research are not eligible for financial assistance.

Full-time research students are required to dedicate 40+ hours per week to research, in addition to writing, data analysis, and administrative tasks. This intensive workload leaves little to no time for job applications or part-time work to support themselves financially.

Research students play a critical role in driving innovation, advancing knowledge, and solving real- world problems across various fields. Despite their contributions to society and the economy, they face significant financial hardship due to the lack of government support.

It is essential to recognize and address this gap by approving Doctorate and Masters by research programs for Youth Allowance and Austudy. Supporting research students means investing in Australia's future.

We therefore ask the House to approve research students for Youth Allowance and Austudy.

from 66 citizens (Petition No. EN7022)

Australia Day

Every year Australia Day causes angst and division throughout the Australian community. Instead of celebrating it on the 26th January we could change it to the third Monday in January. The date will change every year so the day isn't connected to any political or historical events. Australia Day means many things to different people and removing any political connection can allow all communities to rejoice in celebrating what Australia Day means to them personally. No one misses out on a public holiday and the focus will purely be on celebrating what it means to be Australian to you. This way we can truly celebrate the day not the date.

We therefore ask the House to consider changing the public holiday from 26th January to the third Monday of January every year.

from 141 citizens (Petition No. EN7023)

Animal Welfare: Online Safety

residents of australia draws to the attention of the House the continuing explosion of online torture of animals on social media platforms which has a devastating effect on the mental health of children and other internet users. Social media sites must not be used as platforms to promote the sadistic and harrowing actions of some deeply depraved internet users. Current laws are weak with the failure to comply with a blocking or removal notice punishable by fines of up to $156,500 for an individual and $782,500 for a corporation).

We therefore ask the House to increase protection for animals against online torture and protection for Internet users by upgrading current laws to be in line with those offered by the UK under the Online Safety Bill. We ask the House to enforce tougher new laws for social media platforms to proactively remove illegal activity or face fines of up to 35 million dollars or 10% of global income for companies, in line with UK laws and to fine individuals $300,000. We ask that even if the activity takes place outside of Australia but is seen by users in Australia that tech companies will be made to take it down as part of a zero tolerance policy with increased fines. We ask for a taskforce be deployed to monitor online torturers to fast track the implementation of this law and to educate the public how to report in the face of increasing online animal torture.

from 32 citizens (Petition No. EN7025)

Cybersafety

Several experts have released advice to the government of the risks of the under-16s social media ban and why it will damage the mental health of young people because it disconnects young people from family and friends and the world. This ban denies young people the freedom to have free speech and denies their freedom to the outside world.

We therefore ask the House to consider the advice from several experts and the human rights Commission on the under-16s social media ban and to change the age from 16 to 14

from nine citizens (Petition No. EN7029)

Asbestos

1 in 3 Australian homes still contain asbestos. Asbestos poses a serious health risks such as cancer and asbestosis. Between 700 and 800 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in Australia each year.

The Australian Government is now up to Phase Three of the Asbestos National Strategic Plan (2024—2030) which focuses on proactive asbestos removal.

However, only owners of rental and commercial properties are able to claim tax concessions for testing, removal and replacement of asbestos containing materials in their properties (TR 2020/2). This means owner-occupiers are unable to access the same level of financial support to remove asbestos from their homes.

We therefore ask the House to

Immediately extend the asbestos removal and replacement tax deductions that are currently available only to owners of commercial and rental properties to all homeowners (owner-occupiers).

Investigate the feasibility of a grant scheme/ further tax concessions for all owners of homes with asbestos containing material to remove and replace asbestos containing materials from their homes.

from 775 citizens (Petition No. EN7030)

Broadband

The nbn FULL FIBRE FOR STRATA-MANAGED BUILDINGS program is unfair and short sighted and blatantly discriminates against people renting by removing their agency. Houses in an FTTP upgrade area are offered a "free" upgrade for a nominal plan commitment. If there are.4+ dwellings on a block of land the only upgrade path is the nbn FULL FIBRE FOR STRATA-MANAGED BUILDINGS program.

This program forces all premesis to be upgraded at once and requires the owner or strata to pay a fee for each premises (listed as $275 per premises but often more) regardless of whether or not they have a current FTTN connection or if they want to upgrade to FTTP. The owner/strata then makes the application to NBNCo who then come and provide a quote—in many cases significantly more than $275 per premises—which has resulted in some owners and strata deciding not to proceed.

In the event they agree—given the current rental shortage—these costs will very likely be passed on as rent increases to all tenants, even those without an FTTN connection and those who don't want to upgrade to FTTP.

The cost of maintaining the FTTN network rises every year while revenue from it is capped and for those stuck on FTTN alternatives like Starlink are more enticing every day.

We therefore ask the House to ensure renters have the opportunities to upgrade to high speed FTTP as their neighbours do.

from 10 citizens (Petition No. EN7032)

Pensions and Benefits

Centrelink banning leaves the homeless without money for food. Then reliant on Non for Profit support groups for food and washing.

We therefore ask the House to make it Australian legislation to not ban Ceñtrelink unless in jail.

Employment Agencies are to suggest counselling and other support compliance groups.

from 17 citizens (Petition No. EN7035)

Cybersafety

There is and increase of explicit material being posted across TikTok and other social media's. Theses media's are used primarily by people under the age of 18. We need to take a stand.

We therefore ask the House to enforce more control over the social media's.

from eight citizens (Petition No. EN7036)

International Students

Inclusivity and Diversity: Allowing students over 35 to apply for the post-graduate visa promotes inclusivity and diversity within the academic community. Many individuals seek to further their education later in life, and this change would support their aspirations.

Economic Benefits: Mature students often bring a wealth of professional experience and skills that can contribute significantly to the Australian economy. By enabling them to stay and work in Australia after completing their studies, the country can benefit from their expertise.

Addressing Skills Shortages: Australia faces skills shortages in various sectors. Allowing older students to apply for the post-graduate visa can help address these shortages by retaining skilled graduates who are ready to enter the workforce.

Encouraging Lifelong Learning: This change would encourage lifelong learning and professional development, aligning with global trends and the evolving nature of the workforce.

We therefore ask the House to consider this petition and make the necessary amendments to support the educational and professional goals of students over 35.

from 33 citizens (Petition No. EN7039)

Artificial Intelligence

Recently, there has been an increasing rise of AI use in creative based industries, including acting, filmmaking, art, music and more. Those apart of these industries have henceforth felt concern and worry in regards to this expansion, as we fear that their craft could be rendered obsolete and force them out of employment, and additionally could see a great facet of Australia as a whole scrubbed away in favor of tasteless and poorly crafted content.

We therefore ask the House to protect these areas of employment by banning any usage of AI in creative industries to protect those who work in them and the Australian creative scene at large.

from 50 citizens (Petition No. EN7040)

Workplace Safety: Second-hand Smoke

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) has been consistently identified as a public health hazard and cause of disease for many hospitality workers ex: (non smokers hospitality employees in the casino gaming areas in Australia). As a hospitality employees, and a non smoker, we need to support the SHS of the customers at work inside the gaming area.

We therefore ask the House to find a way that can help with the smoke free work environment for non smoking employees in the casino gaming areas, or to create designated smoking rooms only for the smoking customers, prior to enter the gaming room.

from 11 citizens (Petition No. EN7045)

Family Law

The current child support system is outdated and unfair. The whole system needs to be updated and to be made fair.

Remove overtime hours from child support assessment

Cap on child support per child.

If a parent cannot see their children why should they have to pay child support.

Stop parental alienation

Just to name a few things that need addressing. These issues are a huge contributor to suicide and domestic violence.

I believe that addressing the outdated and toxic system that is currently in place will save lives.

We therefore ask the House to review and updated the current child support system.

from 232 citizens (Petition No. EN7048)

1st Armoured Regiment

In its 75th year, 1st Armoured Regiment, the Army's senior combat unit, has been relegated to a non- combat role; essentially removing it from the Order of Battle. Rather than crewing tanks to destroy the enemy and provide intimate fire support to infantry … it will be tasked with testing new technologies. The sole rationale for this is to minimise the cost of relocating personnel to Townsville (from Adelaide).

This is at odds with the fact that it is service and regimental pride that lies at the heart of an Army's fighting spirit. It is especially heart-breaking to veterans when the loss of heritage and tradition established during the unit's service since 1949, can so easily be avoided.

Rather than 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Townsville commanding two tank and two reconnaissance squadrons, 1st Armoured Regiment could command the two tank squadrons. No new facilities would be required. Given that morale is part of the Army's combat power, any cost would be offset by the morale boost achieved.

We therefore ask the House to urge the Defence Minister, Richard Marles, to reinstate 1st Armoured Regiment as the nation's tank regiment, overturning the Department of Defence's decision to remove the Royal Australian Armoured Corps' oldest and most decorated regular army unit from the ORBAT.

We seek this so as to honour the service and sacrifice of tank crews during the past 75 years, creating an inspirational legacy worthy of being passed on to those serving today.

from 176 citizens (Petition No. EN7051)

Service Industry

Increasingly, the service industry is attempting to introduce USA-style tipping (gratuity) into Australia. This may be in the form of "default gratuity" that you need to ask to have removed, "optional gratuity" where the customer must select a percentage tip (even if zero is an option), or similar.

In Australia, we expect business to fairly compensate their workers, and for the cost to do so to be included in the purchase price for the goods or services. It is not the responsibility of the customer to decide how much compensation a worker should receive by paying gratuity, nor is it the responsibility of the worker to need to guilt the customer in order to receive their salary.

We therefore ask the House to forbid businesses operating in Australia from having "default" or "optional" gratuity, or from having any other "tip"-like options that require customer intervention to avoid and/or are non-zero by default.

from 124 citizens (Petition No. EN7052)

Israel: Hilltop Youth

We, a group of concerned citizens of Australia, respectfully urge the House to consider a discussion on the removal of sanctions imposed on the seven members of the Israeli Hilltop Youth.

These young individuals have faced significant scrutiny and, we believe, have been disproportionately affected by these sanctions. We acknowledge that Israel has a robust and independent legal system capable of addressing any concerns regarding their actions based on available evidence.

Interfering with their due process may not be conducive to fostering strong ties with our allies in Israel.

Furthermore, a lack of comprehensive understanding of the complexities on the ground can lead to misunderstandings within our community and may contribute to a distorted narrative in media reporting.

We therefore ask the House to remove these sanctions to promote fairness and strengthen our diplomatic relations.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

from four citizens (Petition No. EN7054)

Australian Constitution

State Governments have played a key pivotal role in Australian history over our first 100 years of federation. However as a nation we have not evolved and in 2025 still operate under a colonial model of governance.

With concern to the current cost of living pressures, multiple layers of legislation, cost duplication of service delivery as well as inconsistent rules it makes sense to consolidate a level of governance as a country.

We therefore ask the House to consider holding a referendum to:

Abolishing/Sunsetting the state government layer under the constitution and transfer law making authority and service delivery management for all states and territories to the federal government. Or alternatively as an intermediary step removing one of the house for each state similar to the Queensland model.

Resulting implications:

Increase council management of services and scope of delivery with councils reporting line direct to the federal government.

Consolidation and review of commonwealth monies spending and laws to provide a consistent approach across all states and territories.

from 39 citizens (Petition No. EN7059)

Australian Currency

Steve Irwin is a national treasure and needs to be represented more. The $5 note would be a perfect way to honour him.

We therefore ask the House to remove the queen from the $5 note and put a true blue Aussie on there to represent us.

from 52 citizens (Petition No. EN7063)

Biosecurity

Australia is home to many unique animals, including marsupials, monotremes, and arthropods, including threatened species of butterflies and other native species. Australia is considered malaria-free and Australia has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world.

Any company or organisation who releases any Genetically modified insect or animal, or any insect or animal which is used to carry any medical treatment or has the intent of releasing any GMO or Lab DNA modified insect or animal into Australia, without the express will of the people, agreed to by a National Referendum for each application, should be an offense pursuant of Subdivision A of 307 of the Criminal Code (Cth)

We therefore ask the House to introduce into law the offence of: Attempting to or the deliberate release of any GMO or Lab DNA modified insect or animal into Australia shall be an offence pursuant of Subdivision A of 307 of the Criminal Code (Cth) and such an offence involving release of any quantity of GMO or Laboratory DNA modified insect or animal carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and carries a minimum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.

from 77 citizens (Petition No. EN7068)

Cybersafety

Our democracy is under siege, and the culprit is lurking in our pockets. X, formerly known as Twitter, has become a breeding ground for mis and disinformation, extremism, and foreign interference. It's time we take a stand against this digital menace.

From amplifying conspiracy theories to reinstating banned accounts spewing hate, X has shown a blatant disregard for our online safety and the integrity of democratic processes. The platform's algorithms are designed to feed us a toxic diet of falsehoods, while its owner openly propagates far-right ideologies.

Remember the Voice referendum? X played a significant role in spreading misinformation that contributed to its failure. With the federal election on the horizon, we can't afford to let it be bought by billionaires the same way Elon Musk bought the US election.

Brazil has already taken the bold step of banning X. It's time for Australia to follow suit. Sign this petition to urge the government to implement an Australia-wide ban of X and other socially corrosive platforms that knowingly spread hate, mis and disinformation, facilitate bullying, and the radicalisation of users under the guise of free speech.

Take action to protect Australia from these devious networks who gain either financially or politically by manufacturing societal division. Your voice matters! Request:

We therefore ask the House to implement an Australia- wide ban of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

from 242 citizens (Petition No. EN7075)

Pensions and Benefits

Australians deserve dignity, safety, and independence. Yet the current welfare system ties financial support to a partner's income, leaving many struggling to survive or trapped in unsafe relationships.

Under current rules, payments like the Disability Support Pension (DSP) are reduced when a partner earns over $372 per fortnight and cease entirely at

$1,516.40. This policy assumes all relationships are safe and equitable, but for many, this is not the case.

The impact is severe:

46% of disabled Australians cannot work and rely solely on DSP.

DSP pays just $24,636 annually, far below the average income of $55,310.

Financial dependence increases vulnerability to economic abuse, trapping individuals in unsafe situations.

One supporter shared how Centrelink complications forced her to return to work during cancer treatment because her husband's income disqualified her from adequate financial support under JobSeeker. Despite her health struggles, she had no choice but to risk her recovery to survive.

The government's National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children emphasises financial independence as a pathway to safety. Yet these rules undermine that goal, leaving vulnerable Australians without the resources to escape hardship or abuse.

We therefore ask the House to abolish partner income tests across all welfare payments, raise DSP rates to meet basic living costs, and implement safeguards to protect welfare recipients from economic abuse.

These reforms are essential for dignity, safety, and equality for all Australians.

from 19,026 citizens (Petition No. EN7076)

Nuclear Energy

We face an urgent need to phase out electricity production powered by fossil fuels. Renewable energy is unable to provide reliable base load power. CSIRO estimates that in 2050 13% of electricity will still be generated by gas. The CO2 produced will be captured and stored. Hence net zero not real zero. The Canadian CANDU reactors have been operating safely and reliably for many years. The Koreans were able to build the Wolsong-3 reactor in only four years. A total of seven CANDU reactors built between 1996 and 2007 were built within budget without any cost blowout. The CANDU reactor runs on unenriched uranium and does not pose a proliferation risk. The construction costs can be met by a levy on coal and gas exports. A carbon solution levy could raise 100 billion dollars in its first year according to one study. The polluters should pay so it won't cost the taxpayer a cent. This part of the electricity network will be owned by the government and with capital costs eliminated will provide very cheap electricity.

We therefore ask the House to to

Start replacing all coal fired power stations right now with CANDU nuclear power stations

Finance their construction with a levy on all coal and gas exports.

Complete this process by 2035.

from 29 citizens (Petition No. EN7078)

Housing

The 491 visa holders are skilled migrants on a pathway to permanent residency in Australia. They contribute to regional communities by addressing labour shortages and driving economic growth. Treated as tax residents, they pay taxes at the same rates as citizens and are eligible for benefits such as Medicare, reflecting their integration into Australian society.

However, when purchasing a home, 491 visa holders face significant financial barriers. Classified as foreign residents, they are excluded from first-home buyer benefits and are subject to high Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) fees, additional stamp duties, and stricter deposit requirements from banks.

These challenges impose undue strain on individuals and families working to build stable futures in Australia and contradict the intent of the 491visa program, which aims to support skilled migrants in settling and contributing to regional areas.

We request the House to consider the above and include 491 visa holders in the benefits available to first-home buyers. Extending these benefits will reduce financial pressures, facilitate their settlement journey, and encourage long-term stability. Recognizing their contributions aligns with the principles of fairness and inclusivity, reinforcing Australia's commitment to supporting skilled migrants who enrich its economy and communities.

We therefore ask the House to include holders of the Subclass 491 visa in the benefits and concessions provided to first-home buyers in Australia, including exemptions or reductions in Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) fees, additional stamp duties, and eligibility for government-supported schemes such as reduced deposit requirements.

from 277 citizens (Petition No. EN7079)

Banking and Financial Services

This petition of concerned Australian citizens draws the attention of the House to the lack of transparency surrounding credit card surcharges. Currently, credit card surcharges are not uniformly disclosed in a manner that allows cardholders to easily understand how much they are spending on these fees. This lack of transparency may lead to financial strain for individuals and inhibits informed decision-making when managing personal finances.

We therefore ask the House to:

Mandate the disclosure of credit card surcharges on monthly statements: Require credit card issuers to provide a clear total of surcharges incurred during the statement period.

Ensure consistent and standardised reporting: Develop guidelines for the uniform presentation of surcharge information across all credit card statements, making it easy for consumers to identify and understand.

Improve consumer awareness and financial literacy: Encourage credit card issuers to include explanatory notes about surcharges, helping cardholders understand how these fees are calculated and the circumstances under which they apply.

By implementing these measures, Australian consumers will be empowered with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their credit card usage, reduce unnecessary expenses, and better manage their personal finances.

We therefore ask the House to take action on this matter.

from 44 citizens (Petition No. EN7085)

Numurkah: Government Services

Numurkah faces challenges due to limited access to services, including public transport. A Services Australia kiosk in Numurkah would greatly benefit the community by providing essential government services locally. Access to government services is crucial for residents in need of assistance with Centrelink, Medicare, or other government-related matters.

Without a local kiosk, residents have to travel to access these services, causing inconvenience and financial strain, especially for those with limited mobility or financial resources. Numurkah's limited public transport exacerbates the issue, making it difficult for residents to reach nearby towns with Services Australia kiosks. This lack of accessibility disproportionately affects vulnerable populations such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and low-income families who rely on these services A Services Australia kiosk in Numurkah would improve accessibility and promote community engagement and empowerment. It would encourage residents to take advantage of available government support programs, fostering inclusion and support within the community. Considering that other community houses in the Moira Shire have kiosks, it highlights the disparity faced by Numurkah residents.

Equal access to essential services is a fundamental right, and establishing a kiosk in Numurkah would align with the government's commitment to ensuring equitable access to services for all Australians, regardless of their location. A Services Australia kiosk in Numurkah will provide services conveniently and equitably.

We therefore ask the House to approve the establishment of a Services Australia kiosk in Numurkah to address the challenges posed by limited public transport and to ensure that all residents have access to vital government services.

from 198 citizens (Petition No. PN0634)

Cobar: Government Services

The town of Cobar is remotely located in far west New South Wales. There have been no Centrelink and Medicare customer services in Cobar for many years, and customers are forced to travel to Dubbo or Bourke to access face-to-face customer assistance. The large number of aged persons in Cobar (and the surrounding area) are unable to make these trips and as a result are severely disadvantaged. Other Centrelink and Medicare customers (disabled and unemployed) are similarly disadvantaged by the lack of service delivery in Cobar. Request

We therefore ask the House to in the next Budget cycle, to delegate dedicated Centrelink and Medicare customer service hours (on a face-to-face basis) in Cobar on a regular basis (at least 2/3 days per week).

from 443 citizens (Petition No. PN0635)

Middle East

We thank the Australian Government for its restoration of aid to the UN Relief and Works Agency and for voting to recognise Palestine as qualified to join the United Nations. In the name of peace, we ask that it take further steps to support the safety, human rights and self-determination of the Palestinian people.

We therefore ask the House to call upon the Australian government to:

Recognise Palestine as a full UN member state;

Advocate for an immediate ceasefire with the deployment throughout Palestine of international peace-keeping and reconstruction forces;

Advocate for independent negotiations to secure the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the more than 9000 Palestinians held by in Israel;

Ban the export of weapons and military components to Israel from Australia, both directly and through third countries;

Expel the Israeli Ambassador if Israel continues its assault on Gaza.

from 1,188 citizens (Petition No. PN0637)

Cost of Living: Education

Dear sir,

There are so many struggling families in australia at the present moment, families are already struggling to put meals on the table for their kids and pay the bills.

Now the stress of getting the kids back to school with all the items they need, not mentioning the rise in prices of the products.

It is unfair that families have this stress as it is your government that made it mandatory to attend school, there needs to be more support for helping acheive that requirement. Its not fair on families to have this stress added on top of everyday stresses we all have in our lives.

More needs to be done

Kind regards

Sallie hammond

( member of the public)

We therefore ask the House to consider giving a helping hand to families

from 11 citizens (Petition No. EN7125)

Skilled Migration

Thousands of Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa applicants face distress due to prolonged processing delays, breaking the promises made during the visa's introduction. The extended timelines significantly impact the mental health, professional growth, and well-being of skilled migrants actively contributing to regional Australia. The 491 visa was introduced with the assurance of faster processing and a clear pathway to permanent residency. However, current timelines suggest a 5-7 year wait for eligibility for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence Visa, plus another 2 years for government benefits. This prolonged uncertainty imposes emotional strain, anxiety, and financial hardship on applicants who uprooted their lives in good faith to support Australia's regional development.

Restrictions preventing full use of their skills further compound these challenges. The delays undermine the visa's core purpose of addressing regional skill shortages and risk eroding trust in Australia's immigration system. If not resolved, Australia may lose the goodwill and contributions of thousands of skilled migrants vital to regional growth.

We therefore ask the House to urge the Department of Home Affairs to:

Prioritise Subclass 191 visa processing to reduce backlogs.

Increase transparency with realistic processing timelines.

Streamline the pathway to permanent residency.

Provide mental health support for affected onshore applicants. Skilled migrants have invested in Australia's future.

The government must honour its commitments and ensure a fair, efficient visa process to restore trust and support these individuals and families wo are awaiting for grants for their loved ones to live together in mentally sound environment.

from 518 citizens (Petition No. EN7127)

International Students

Unethical Blackbox of an Expensive Australia Student Visa for research students with unjustifiable delays and no explanation jeopardises the lives, careers, and Australia's future as a knowledge-based economy.

Extraordinary visa processing time, non-transparent process and unresponsiveness for PhD applicants of visa subclass 500 has significantly undermined researchers' career, Australia's Economy and research Flourishment. While some recent applications are being finalised in short times, many applications lodged very long ago (even more than one year ago) remain unfinalized.

Whether applications from engineering students are being processed or not just thrown away is really doubtful.

We therefore ask the House to Provide Timely Decisions: Establish clear deadlines for visa processing, with updates provided regularly, even if the decision is a rejection.Give decision within respectful time even if you have to reject, So applicants can look for other options.

Clear the backlog: Please announce decision on VISAs which are waiting for more than 4 months.

Enhance Transparency and Time-bound decisions: Allow applicants to track the status of security checks and other assessments. Enforce a deadline to complete the security checks in respect of applicants' life, skills, and money that he paid.

from 15 citizens (Petition No. EN7129)

Bill of Rights

Citizens of Australia need a bill of rights to protect them.

We therefore ask the House to start an inquiry into a bill of rights to protect the Australia citizens. Rights that no council or state governments can break. Rights that protect its citizens . From unjust means .

Example. Rights to stop trespassing on private property.right to bear arms. Right to self defense without fear of consequences

Right to travel . Right to a home above foreign people.right to employment above foreign people. Citizens deserve to feel safe.

from 51 citizens (Petition No. EN7131)

Banking and Financial Services

86400 was only available as an app. There was no website or phone banking. When the app broke there was no access to banking

digital banks have no branches they must ensure there is sufficient access to dispense cash through cash machines, Australia Post and retailers

Ubank demanded all customers download their app for KYC survey threatening suspending accounts rather providing webform online

Macquarie is forcing customers to app with by drastically reducing payment limits online after a period of inflation.

Banks force people to be continuously connected and tracked with apps to authorise transactions. There should be minimum of multifactor alternatives to ensure accounts are not locked out e.g. phone, SMS, MMS, secure SMS, security tokens.

Provide a channel that can be physically secured. Whilst an app may have enhanced security; mobile phone is not physically secure like PC or landline locked securely in house

We therefore ask the House to provide minimum standards for digital banking that ensure:

Ubiquitous access, including internet and phone options for all functions.

Sufficient access to cash via third parties like cash machines, Australia Post and retailers

Provide all services through every channel.

Ensure banking services are always available by providing alternative support channels.

Provide a consistent service across all channels.

Provide a minimum number of alternative multi- factor authentication methods that ensure accounts are always accessible.

Provide a channel that can be physically secured in the home independent of mobile solutions

from 10 citizens (Petition No. EN7132)

Grocery Prices

Prices in shops. Specials and different in price on shelf and checkout

We therefore ask the House to investigate shop pricing system of shops like Cole's Woolworths Aldi. And others…. The price advertised compared to special.

Advertisement then. Checkouts.

from 13 citizens (Petition No. EN7133)

Skilled Migration

The 191 visa was introduced as fast processed visa back in 2019.

Claire O'Neil said (and was right by saying it) that "the immigration system is broken", and it still be really unfair for some skilled migrants these days.

The current 191 visa processing time is 10 months. It used to be up to 2 months, which was acceptable at the time. Seeing this processing time increasing every month is totally unacceptable. Some migrants which applied or are going to apply to the 191 visa have already been in Australia for around 10 years, with temporary visas, considered as foreigners by the Australian government, then with a 491 visa, which was sometimes granted 29 months after applying to it !!!

And now the same people have to face again this long wait, not really being able to live normal lives, because they can't get a mortgage or the work they are supposed to be doing because of their current visa restrictions… They are not eligible to get child subsidies, they're facing high school fees to universities.

We therefore ask the House to prioritise the 191 visa processing and make the hard working "provisional" workers proud to become Australian permanent resident, not tired !

from 103 citizens (Petition No. EN7134)

Human Rights: Gender and Sexual Orientation

I urge the parliament to take immediate action to amend the regulations to include the United States of America as an applicable country for this visa and, crucially, to explicitly recognize sexual orientation and gender identity as valid grounds for seeking protection.

Currently, the Subclass 866 visa offers protection to individuals who have a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country. This vital pathway to safety is currently restricted to a specific list of countries, excluding the United States. This exclusion is deeply concerning, particularly given the increasingly hostile environment faced by some individuals within the US, including but not limited to the LGBTQIA+ community.

The rise in discriminatory legislation, hate speech, and violence targeting specific groups in the US, coupled with the weakening of legal protections for vulnerable populations, demonstrates that a genuine risk of persecution exists for some individuals. These individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, may find themselves in situations where their safety and fundamental human rights are severely threatened.

These amendments would send a clear message that Australia stands with those who are oppressed and that we will not stand idly by while vulnerable individuals are persecuted. It would also align Australia's approach with the best practices of other nations in protecting LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers.

We therefore ask the House to Include the United States as an applicable country, and explicitly recognize sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for protection, Australia can demonstrate a true commitment to human rights and global responsibility.

from 17 citizens (Petition No. EN7135)

International Relations: Australia and the United States of America

The USA is previous times has been an ally against fascism. No longer since Trump became President of the USA. He admires and wishes to emulate dictators and fascist leaders around the world. He is no longer interested in being allies with democratic countries.

You can no longer use our alliance with the USA in previous wars, to excuse a continued alliance and access to our country. The current leader of the USA is no longer an ally or a protector of democracy.

We therefore ask the House to deport all US service people, shut down all US military bases and weapons systems. Dismantle all US intelligence services and hardware/software being used on Australian soil.

Australians will NOT support a Fascist leader of foreign heritage. We fought against Hitler and we will fight against Donald Trump, in support of our allies in the EU, Denmark, Panama etc.

from 29 citizens (Petition No. EN7136)

Middle East: Media Coverage

Many Australians are aware of the conflict in Isreal and Palestine. The human casualties in this conflict seems to be weighed far to heavily upon innocent Palestinian people. The balance of view in this conflict seems to subdue the outrageous actions by the Israeli Defence Force which can often be described as horrific. It is therefore essential that further scope and unbiased reporting on this matter by ABC news outlets exposing more of the harm done to the Palestinian people be reported.

We therefore ask the House to intervene with the sub- standard of balanced reporting and openly declare that the actions of the Israeli Defence Force may be concidered as inhumane and actions akin to genocide. The vast bombing of hospitals and schools are evidence of adhoc aggression by the Israeli forces and these issues must be exposed to stop the slaughter of innocent civillians and children. The ABC news broadcasts must be monitored st all times on this topic to ensure balanced and factual reporting continues after this ePetition is reviewed in Parliament.

It is also required to investigate who is the "gatekeeper" of this news content and their role be further reviewed as to their appropriat appointmen within the ABC news services.

Further more, a Senate Enquirey may be required to deal with this matter, as important as it is.

Thank you.

from 16 citizens (Petition No. EN7138)

International Relations: Australia and the United States of America

Australia has a concerning reliance upon the United States which compromises both the safety of its citizens and the sovereignty of the nation.

The United States has elected a President that does not believe in the rule of law, social cohesion, the value of diversity and tolerance and exhibits a posture of isolationism and expansionism that is not in the best interest of Australia and its people.

We therefore ask the House to immediately pause all alliances, agreements and cooperation with the United States until Parliament is able to adequately assess whether our countries share values and that existing relationships between the nations are considered in the best interest of Australian citizens.

from 2,109 citizens (Petition No. EN7139)

Consumer Protection

We urge the Australian Parliament to take immediate legislative and regulatory action to protect land /home buyers from financial misconduct and enhance oversight of property sale process and transactions that involve instalment contracts, as well as financial institutions involved in lending.

The collapse of Qartaba Homes Pty Ltd has exposed significant gaps in consumer protection, leaving hundreds of Australian families financially devastated. Qartaba Homes sold residential land through instalment contracts, taking buyers' life savings and superannuation but wrongfully mortgaged the land to lenders without purchasers' consent. This led to $200 million in loans at interest rates as high as 26%, which Qartaba did not pay back, causing severe financial distress for the affected families. Hundreds of families across Australia have lost their life savings and lands as mortgagees are taking possession of the lands and selling them, while instalment purchasers helplessly watch the lands being sold which they had purchased many years ago and had paid the full price.

The liquidation of Qartaba Homes in October 2024 and ongoing investigations highlight systemic regulatory failures that allowed fraudulent practices and predatory lending to go unchecked. Urgent reforms are needed to prevent similar incidents and ensure justice for affected Australians.

We therefore ask the House to :

Strengthen consumer protection in property sales under instalment contracts, and coordinate among States to update their legislation related to such sales

Amend insolvency laws to prioritize consumer claims over institutional lenders involved in deceptive practices.

Enhance ASIC's capabilities for expedited actions and investigations into such misconduct.

from 1,550 citizens (Petition No. EN7142)

Education

religious god-preachers from all types of religions- groups, are illegally using god-religious artificial intelligence controlled by hypnosis-prayer, to create their never-lived (living image) of their god (into a living thing) which is now legally called out to be' fraud by deception.

We therefore ask the House to legislate this Australian Federal Education Bill: Amend our Federal Education ACT: Educate all Australian Children in all cultures and categories of gender, about anatomical changes to their body organisms over millions of years, the evolutionary process that created all Humankind; so for the future of Humanity we ask the Australian Federal Government to introduce one (Federal Human-evolution Education law) to hold authority over one (Compulsory Separate Federal Human-evolution Education Curriculum) in grades 1 to 12, for all Australian Students in all States and Territories to receive (Human-evolution Education).

from 10 citizens (Petition No. EN7143)

Metaldehyde

Metaldehyde, a toxic chemical commonly used in slug and snail baits, poses significant environmental and health risks to humans and pets that warrant its ban in Australia. One of the primary concerns is its impact on non-target wildlife. When metaldehyde baits are used in gardens or agricultural settings, animals such as birds, amphibians, and native mammals can ingest the bait, leading to poisoning. As these creatures are often crucial to local ecosystems, the poisoning of such species can have long-lasting consequences on biodiversity.

In addition to wildlife, metaldehyde is a direct threat to pets, particularly dogs, which are attracted to the bait. The ingestion of even small amounts can be fatal, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, seizures, and in most cases death.

Metaldehyde also presents a danger to human health. While its direct toxicity to humans is less pronounced, accidental ingestion or inhalation of its dust can cause poisoning, particularly in children or those who handle the product without proper safety precautions.

Furthermore, safer, more sustainable alternatives to metaldehyde exist for pest control. These alternatives do not carry the same environmental and health risks, making the continued use of metaldehyde unnecessary. Banning its use in Australia would protect ecosystems, wildlife, and human health from its harmful effects.

We therefore ask the House to ban for sale and use all products containing metaldehyde

from 808 citizens (Petition No. EN7144)

Child Safety

To many children are left in hot vehicles due to not being dropped off to a child minding facility because parents have forgotten. To many children have died and there's a simple solution!

We therefore ask the House to make absentee phone calls mandatory for all facilities where children are present if prior notice of absence hasn't been given.

from 15 citizens (Petition No. EN7145)

Groundwater: Chemical Contamination

Australia is at risk of massive contamination of our Artesian Basins, the freshwater underground lakes across NT, QLD, NSW, SA, from oil and gas industry underground drilling. Our leading scientists tell governments, but they are ignored.

Stop approving new gas fields and pipelines.

Methane is a volatile and potent greenhouse gas.

Current gas production and Exports exceed Australia's international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

We therefore ask the House to Ban new oil and gas Fracking.

We ask the House to audit current oil and gas infrastructure and pipelines for leaks. This can now simply be done by Bureau of Meteorology analysis of satellite data across Australia and territorial waters.

from 95 citizens (Petition No. EN7146)

Environmental Conservation

Restrictions on Outdoor Activities:

The expansion of national parks has restricted cherished activities such as hiking and four-wheel driving etc, which promote health and well-being.

Lack of Consultation:

Decisions by the FNPW often lack adequate consultation with communities and stakeholders. An inclusive approach is essential for sustainable conservation.

Actions by a minority are often amplified by the media, leading to decisions that shut out the majority instead of managing the behavior constructively.

Transparency and Accountability:

We urge the FNPW and similar agencies to provide greater transparency about their; funding, decisions, and initiatives' impact.

Clear communication is crucial for building trust and ensuring effective conservation.

Closing parks doesn't solve offending behavior; education and management do.

Offenders should be managed, not the responsible majority excluded.

We therefore ask the House to Review and Amend Policies:

Review current policies related to national parks and protected areas to balance conservation with the rights of outdoor enthusiasts.

Enhanced Community Engagement:

Mandate the FNPW and relevant agencies to actively engage in meaningful consultation with local communities, outdoor enthusiasts, and stakeholders before implementing new initiatives.

Encourage collaboration and dialogue to find mutually beneficial solutions.

Increased Transparency:

Require the FNPW and relevant agencies to provide regular updates on their projects, funding sources, and outcomes.

Ensure information is easily accessible to the public.

By addressing these concerns, the government can foster a balanced approach to conservation that respects the rights of every Australian.

Immediate action is needed to preserve our natural environment for future generations without compromising healthy lifestyle choices and valued Australian outdoor traditions.

from 73 citizens (Petition No. EN7147)

National Diabetes Services Scheme

We request that the Australian Government amend the eligibility criteria of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) to ensure that all individuals diagnosed with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) have equitable and lifelong access to essential diabetes management support. This includes subsidised access to blood glucose monitoring devices, insulin pumps, and continuous glucose monitoring systems, as well as a streamlined application process to remove unnecessary administrative barriers.

We therefore ask the House to ensure equitable access to the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) for individuals with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) throughout their lives. CFRD is a serious and complex condition that requires lifelong management, including continuous blood glucose monitoring, insulin therapy, and specialised nutritional support.

Currently, individuals with CFRD are only eligible for NDSS support until the age of 21, leaving adults with cystic fibrosis to face significant financial and logistical challenges in accessing essential diabetes care. This inequity places an undue burden on individuals and families, limiting their ability to maintain optimal health and quality of life. By ensuring ongoing access to the NDSS, the government can help prevent avoidable complications, reduce healthcare costs, and uphold the principle of health equity for all Australians living with cystic fibrosis.

from 1,892 citizens (Petition No. EN7148)

National Disability Insurance Scheme

Australia's disability support system is shifting responsibility from the NDIS to other government programs. While the intent is to ensure proper funding, participants are being removed before alternative supports are functional. This is not just a bureaucratic issue—it is a policy failure with real-world consequences.

People with disabilities should not be caught between state and federal funding disputes. What matters is ensuring they don't lose access to essential supports due to uncoordinated decisions. Services outside the NDIS remain underfunded and overstretched, with foundational supports still in development.

Mainstream services face wait times, workforce shortages, and funding gaps, and aren't yet ready to support additional participants. The government must ensure these systems are fully operational before moving people off the NDIS.

We therefore ask the House to call on the Australian government to immediately cease removing NDIS participants until the necessary systems and supports are fully in place. Specifically, we ask the government to:

Conduct a national audit of services to assess their capacity to meet the needs of people with disabilities, identifying gaps and developing a plan to address them before removing participants from the NDIS.

Implement a structured transition plan that ensures no one is left without support, including case management, clear referral pathways, and oversight mechanisms to monitor transitions.

Ensure reforms align with Australia's Disability Strategy, ensuring changes do not reduce access to essential supports and are co-designed with people with disabilities, their families, and representative organisations.

Until these protections and systems are in place, no participant should be removed.

from 153 citizens (Petition No. EN7149)

Asylum Seekers

This petition of citizens of Australia draws your attention to the thousands of Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers on Bridging Visas, who have been waiting in limbo for more than a decade for a decision through the "fast-track system" of the "legacy caseload". After seeking safety in Australia, many have assimilated into society and now contribute to our economy and multicultural nation in ways that mirror Australian citizens. Yet, they have the burden of a restrictive Bridging Visa barring them from becoming permanent residents in Australia through ordinary means.

These individuals pay income taxation, embody Australian values, fulfil skill shortages, keep small businesses alive and are ready to be recognised as Australians. It is not a "fair go" to wait this long for an outcome. It causes despair, and trauma and worsens mental health issues. There are grave concerns in the community due to the psychological damage and trauma this situation may cause in conjunction with the trauma caused by persecution and fleeing their home country. The recent death of Mr Mano Yogalingam, a man who spent eleven years on a bridging visa, is enough to highlight the gravity and urgency of this situation.

We therefore ask the House to through this petition, to act with humanity and kindness, and grant permanent residency to those in the "legacy caseload" who have waited far too long and deserve certainty of their future.

from 208 citizens (Petition No. EN7150)

Broadband

The National Broadband Network (NBN) was intended to provide Australians with fast, reliable, and affordable internet access. Unfortunately, many users experience slow speeds, frequent outages, and poor customer service. These issues affect both urban and regional areas, with regional Australians often left with substandard connectivity that limits their access to education, employment, and essential services. In an increasingly digital world, reliable internet is critical for individuals, businesses, and communities to thrive. The current state of the NBN is holding Australia back and causing frustration for countless citizens.

We therefore ask the House to

Conduct a comprehensive review of the NBN's infrastructure, addressing technical deficiencies and prioritizing upgrades to ensure consistent, high-speed internet for all Australians.

Provide additional funding to improve internet services in regional and remote areas, ensuring equitable access across the country.

Introduce measures to hold NBN service providers accountable for service quality, including penalties for failure to meet speed and reliability standards.

Explore opportunities for transitioning to more advanced technology, where feasible, to future-proof Australia's internet capabilities.

from 55 citizens (Petition No. EN7086)

Renewable Energy

Australian residents request the Federal Government to urgently halt the processing of renewable energy development applications.

These large-scale developments threaten irreversible harm to critical habitats for koalas, rock- wallabies, frogs, bats, birds, reptiles, greater gliders, raptors, insects and other threatened and endangered species. Heavy industrial equipment including bulldozers, explosives & haulage trucks, is required for these extensive energy complexes.

Extensive clearing for infrastructure including transmission lines, substations, concrete batching plants & battery storage systems are fragmenting Australia's critical habitats. Leaving irreversible impacts to the Great Dividing Range and catchments of the Great Barrier Reef.

We request decision-makers adhere to the precautionary principle, employing independent science and data in their assessments.

The EPBC laws should eliminate offsets, as they are deceptive and against the national interest. The 'renewable' energy industry lacks transparency, and independence. Governments are downplaying the significant environmental costs of fast-tracked development. This absence of accountability leaves communities feeling sidelined, as approvals are granted without adequate consultation.

It is projected that over 118 million hectares of land will be required to achieve net-zero targets. This includes vast areas of the Great Dividing Range, leading to industrial wastelands and an acceleration of wildlife extinctions. The fragmentation of critical habitats lacks social license.

Vast taxpayer-funded subsidies to multinational corporations is an unending transfer of wealth, undermining the national interest.

'Renewable' energy is not compatible with biodiversity, ecotourism, land care, and regional community values.

We therefore ask the House to immediate halt the processing of renewable energy development applications.

from 2,188 citizens (Petition No. EN7087)

Skilled Migration

We are raising urgent concerns about the prolonged delays in processing the 191 Permanent Residency Visa for 494/491 visa holders in Australia. Over the past 8 months, processing times have dramatically increased from 1 to 10 months, leaving thousands in limbo. Despite meeting all requirements, we are still waiting for a resolution, causing significant financial and emotional hardship.

In addition to these delays, many 494 visa holders are still bound by outdated TMSIT from 2021 or 2022, which limits career opportunities. The restrictions on remaining with the same employer and occupation add further pressure, making it difficult to progress professionally or financially.

Furthermore, it feels unfair that other visa subclasses are prioritised while 494/491 visa holders—who have supported Australia's economy, especially during the pandemic—continue to face significant delays in processing. This issue is not only causing uncertainty but also undermining our ability to fully contribute to the Australian workforce and build a stable future in the country.

We therefore ask the House to visa applications and expedite processing times by allocating more resources.

Provide flexibility for 494 visa holders to transition to new employers or occupations while waiting for their 191 visa, particularly given many are still under outdated TMSIT from 2021 or 2022.

Ensure equal treatment by prioritising 191 visa applications, especially for those who have contributed to the economy during the pandemic.

We respectfully request that the Australian Government take action to resolve these issues promptly.

from 6,285 citizens (Petition No. EN7088)

Middle East

We, the undersigned, bring to the attention of the House the ongoing violence, widespread persecution, and targeted atrocities in Syria, which constitute acts of genocide against certain communities. These actions have devastated the Syrian people and impacted many Australian families with loved ones trapped in dire conditions. International bodies, including human rights organizations, have documented war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic targeting of civilians, underscoring the urgent need for official recognition and action.

We therefore ask the House to declare these atrocities as genocide, call on the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, and implement expedited family reunification pathways to protect affected Australians and their loved ones. We further request a parliamentary debate on this crisis and support for measures ensuring accountability for perpetrators under international law.

from 4,174 citizens (Petition No. EN7090)

Climate Change

We should follow our alleys like the USA where Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw from the agreement. It will save the USA over 1 trillion dollars, so we can estimate that Australia will also save a similar amount. Its obligations disproportionately harm our industries, jobs, and energy costs, while allowing major emitters like China and India to increase their greenhouse gas emissions without similar constraints.

Our key concerns:

Compliance with the Paris Agreement threatens the vitality of Australia's key industries, including mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. The restrictions on emissions and energy usage risk substantial job losses and economic decline, especially in regions dependent on fossil fuel production.

The transition to renewable energy sources mandated by the agreement significantly increases electricity prices, placing undue strain on Australian households and businesses.

The agreement limits Australia's ability to set its own energy and environmental policies in response to our unique economic and environmental circumstances. We should have the freedom to prioritise our national interests without external interference.

While Australia is a minor contributor to global emissions, the agreement gives major polluters like China and India a free pass to expand their emissions. This creates an uneven playing field that unfairly disadvantages Australian businesses.

The measures required under the Paris Agreement are unlikely to achieve meaningful reductions in global temperatures, raising questions about its overall effectiveness and fairness.

We therefore ask the House to reconsider its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and adopt policies that place the interests of Australian Citizens first.

from 104 citizens (Petition No. EN7093)

Visa Refusal or Cancellation

we need to have a chris brown concert to cure all of australian citizens depression

We therefore ask the House to let chris brown come into australia

from seven citizens (Petition No. EN7094)

Antisemitism

Over the past few months Australia has witnessed the raise of antisemitic attacks. It began with the celebration in the very streets of Sydney suburbs on October 7th when Hamas attacked Israel and took many innocent civilians as hostages.

These acts are not an identity of this nation. Australia boasts in the anthem "We are one", however, this has been tainted with such awful acts of hatred. No religious places or suburbs were vandalised when Israel was attacked. But now, the Jewish community is being targeted in this nation, which is meant to be a safe haven for its citizens.

The latest attack on the daycare centre was absolutely devastating. Our kids are exposed to such antisocial behaviour. Targeting synagogues, centres or Jewish homes is not a an act of a brave heart but one that of cowardice.

Australia is a beautiful nation but it needs to be strong acting to curb these attacks. The government should act rather than holding to mere words of promises. Our Jewish friends need the assurance from the government and support from our communities during this time.

Take responsible action and stop antisemitism.

We therefore ask the House to consider taking immediate steps to stop attacks on Jewish communities in Australia.

from 79 citizens (Petition No. EN7095)

Taxation

Making all overtime tax free will boost the economy, and near eliminate cost of living crisis. More homes will be built and people will have hope again in this failing economy.

We therefore ask the House to remove all taxes from overtime to all jobs.

from 162 citizens (Petition No. EN7096)

Housing

With the exponential surge in housing prices across the country since the Covid-19 pandemic, home ownership has become increasingly elusive for many Australians, particularly the younger generation who have been unfairly disadvantaged due to their birth year. This growing housing affordability crisis, exacerbated by inadequate policy responses, threatens to undermine the social contract between Australia and its citizens. The repercussions of this trend could be far-reaching, including a decline in future birth rates, social cohesion, and ultimately the fabric of Australian society. To address this crisis, we urgently recommend that the House consider implementing measures such as capping residential ownership of investment properties, amending negative gearing rules, increasing the minimum lease agreement for rental properties, and penalising owners of vacant residential properties, among others. These proposed measures aim to promote a more equitable and sustainable housing market for all Australians.

We therefore ask the House to implement the following measures:

Cap investment property ownership at five standalone/townhouses and five apartments or a combined worth of $7.5 million.

Apply negative gearing rules only to new builds to encourage new housing investment.

Increase minimum lease agreement to 36 months for rental properties.

Penalise owners of vacant residential properties if Residential Vacancy Rates fall below 2.5%.

Implement a ban on short-term rentals where regional Residential Vacancy Rates fall below designated thresholds for each property type (e.g. 2.5% for 4- bedroom, 2% for 3-bedroom, and 1.5% for 2-bedroom).

These measures address the root causes of the housing affordability crisis and promote a more equitable and sustainable housing market for all Australians.

from 194 citizens (Petition No. EN7099)

Crime: Real Estate Industry

Money laundering through real estate poses a significant risk to the Australian economy and housing markets. Criminal organisations exploit weak regulations to launder illicit funds, inflating property prices and making housing less accessible for average citizens. Inadequate transparency in ownership structures and insufficient due diligence by industry professionals have created loopholes for these illegal activities to thrive.

This lack of regulation undermines public trust in the real estate market, perpetuates corruption, and facilitates the flow of dirty money into our communities. Moreover, it diverts legitimate investments away from industries that contribute to economic growth. Countries with robust anti-money laundering (AML) regulations in real estate have seen improved market stability and fairness.

By introducing stronger measures, we can protect housing affordability, ensure compliance with international AML standards, and prevent exploitation of the real estate sector by criminal enterprises. Failure to act now risks exacerbating these issues, further compromising housing accessibility and economic equity for future generations.

We therefore ask the House to the following actions to prevent money laundering in real estate:

Mandate disclosure of beneficial ownership for all property transactions.

Enforce enhanced due diligence on buyers, sellers, and cross-border transactions.

Ban cash payments over $10,000 and require reporting of such transactions.

Establish an independent body to audit and monitor real estate compliance.

Prohibit anonymous shell companies from holding property.

Implement mandatory AML training and certification for real estate professionals.

Impose substantial penalties for non- compliance, including license revocation.

By enacting these measures, we can safeguard the integrity of the real estate market and ensure it serves the public good.

from 86 citizens (Petition No. EN7100)

Economy

"We, the people, will no longer tolerate being treated as second-class citizens in our own land. Politicians and bureaucrats hoard wealth through extravagant pensions and privileges while ordinary Australians are left struggling. It is time to place YOU on the minimum wage, abolish your pensions until the standard retirement age, and hold you accountable for prioritising corporate interests over public welfare." Request:

We therefore ask the House to to fix Your exploitation of Australia's resources while offering minimal return to the people is unacceptable. We demand royalty schemes that give back to the Australian people—those who own this land. The era of unchecked profits at the expense of ordinary citizens is over."

from 51,351 citizens (Petition No. EN7101)

Climate Change

The Paris Agreement imposes significant economic burdens on Australia, particularly on industries critical to our economy, such as energy and mining. The commitments under the agreement risk increasing energy prices, limiting job opportunities, and affecting Australia's economic growth. Furthermore, Australia's emissions contribute minimally to global totals, yet the obligations disproportionately affect our country.

Exiting the agreement would allow Australia to implement its own environmental policies that better align with our national interests, while still addressing climate change through innovative and locally suited solutions.

We therefore ask the House to take the necessary legislative and diplomatic steps for Australia to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and regain full sovereignty over its energy and environmental policies.

from 344 citizens (Petition No. EN7104)

Pakistan: International Humanitarian Assistance

Parachinar Pakistan is under seige from the last 4 months from every sides . There is no Medicine for elders and kids and Almost 200 kids died because of non Availaiblity of life saving drugs.This is really a humaintarian issues facing by Citizens of Parachinar Pakistan.

Please come forward to send an emergency Aid ( medicine) through Red cross or by other means and make sure Pakistani Govt should take immeditae actions to open the roads and make it safe for Everyone living there. Thanks

We therefore ask the House to please come forward and take immediate actions to save kids of Parachinar Pakistan.

from 128 citizens (Petition No. EN7108)

Taxation: Cryptocurrency

Australia has some of the worst and convoluted tax laws regarding cryptocurrency. Not only is the tax rate one of the highest in the world (up to 45% when selling), there are also excessive taxes when utilising cryptocurrency in any form—i.e. swapping one crypto asset for another. This creates an immense backlog of paperwork as it is common for thousands of swaps to occur in a financial year. Inevitably, this means that it is near impossible to create an accurate tax filing for most crypto users.

Also, crypto sales are classified as capital gains. This means that to receive a tax break from an excessively high rate to a more modest rate, the user must hold the asset for 12 months or longer. While this may make sense in the property market, it is antithetical to the nature of cryptocurrency where holding an asset for too long may result in a net loss—and where swapping out of the asset or selling it under 12 months of acquiring it triggers a large taxable event under current laws.

Cryptocurrency is a growing industry in Australia which offers stability in a nation wrought with runaway inflation. Without laws to help foster in a fair and fertile ground for it, many young Aussies will migrate to countries with more common-sense tax rules.

We therefore ask the House to reform cryptocurrency taxes—simplify taxes by instituting a single 10-15% tax when converting crypto to fiat currency, with no additional taxes.

from 55 citizens (Petition No. EN7109)

Superannuation

Australian tax payers look forward to being eligible for their superannuation funds to become available, some of us , wish to retire early , and some wish to retire as late as possible , some of us have life plans , and would wish to withdraw a lump sum to complete a big purchase that may have been unachievable during working life, for example, a brand new car , or a property overseas etc..

We therefore ask the House to reconsider the restrictions imposed upon the taxpayer , resultant of the new superannuation laws recently passed

from 40 citizens (Petition No. EN7112)

Democratic Republic of Congo: International Humanitarian Assistance

The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces a severe humanitarian crisis due to ongoing conflict. The rebel group M23, reportedly supported by Rwanda, has launched attacks, displacing thousands of civilians who face food shortages, lack of medical care, and constant threats. This situation demands urgent international action.

As a nation committed to global peace and humanitarian causes, Australia has the capacity and moral obligation to assist. Our experience in providing aid and diplomatic support in conflict zones positions as to make a significant impact. The people of Goma urgently need food, medical supplies, and safe shelter. Diplomatic efforts are crucial to bring about a ceasefire and create conditions for lasting peace.

We therefore ask the House to Increase humanitarian aid to Goma, focusing on emergency food, medical supplies, and shelter for displaced persons.

Use diplomatic channels to advocate for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful resolution to the M23 conflict. Collaborate with international partners to support long- term peace-building efforts in the region.

Provide additional resources to Australian NGOs working in the DRC.

Raise awareness about the Goma crisis in international forums, highlighting the role of external support to M23, and encourage global support.

By acting now, Australia can alleviate immediate suffering, contribute to long-term regional stability, and demonstrate its commitment to global humanitarian leadership.

from 57 citizens (Petition No. EN7113)

Commonwealth Criminal Code

The term 'gender apartheid' is increasingly used to describe the institutionalised and systemic oppression of one gender group against other gender group/s, such as is currently the case in Iran and Afghanistan.

At the international level, Australia has been supporting the draft codification of gender apartheid under the Draft Articles on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity at the Sixth Committee of the Unted Nations (UN). But that treaty is not due to be finalised until 2029.

Australia has a comprehensive legislative framework on crimes against humanity under Division 268 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code, which includes the crime of apartheid based on race. In line with Australia's international support for criminalisation of gender apartheid, there is an urgent need to amend the relevant division of the criminal code to include gender apartheid.

Such an amendment would be aligned with Australia's obligations under the Women, Peace and Security Agenda of the UN Security Council resolution 1325. As well as the principle of justice outlined in Australia's second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

Australia's criminalisation of gender apartheid under its national legislation will strengthen Australia's efforts at the international level and will be a crucial step towards recognition and criminalisation and under the forthcoming crimes against humanity treaty.

We therefore ask the House to incorporate gender apartheid into the current crime against humanity of apartheid in the Commonwealth Criminal Code, updating section 268.22 'Crime Against Humanity of Apartheid' of the Criminal Code Act (1995).

from 64 citizens (Petition No. EN7118)

First Nations Australians

As a First Nations individual, my experience with racism has been painful and far too common within our communities. From racial attacks to being denied employment due to bias, systemic racism impacts every aspect of our lives. First Nations people face unemployment rates nearly double the national average, a direct result of these inequities.

We ask policymakers at all levels of government to recognize and address these injustices. The dismantling of systemic racism requires meaningful action, starting with enforcing equal employment opportunity laws and holding those accountable who perpetuate discrimination.

Your support is crucial in pushing for these necessary changes. Together, we can create a fairer, more just society for all, particularly for First Nations communities. We urge you to sign this petition.

We therefore ask the House to This petition calls on the Australian government to act swiftly on issues impacting Aboriginal communities, particularly concerning Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. It urges the implementation of the 339 recommendations from the Royal Commission, focusing on mental health, addiction treatment, and justice reforms. Key recommendations include providing mental health and addiction care within justice institutions (Recommendation 150), restoring Medicare and PBS access, and creating culturally appropriate addiction treatment centres (Recommendation 287). The petition also supports the United Nations Mandela Rules, which advocate for education, employment, and housing for prisoners (Rules 104 and 105). Additionally, it calls for a duty of care in justice institutions (Recommendation 122) and addressing homelessness with Elder-supervised camping grounds and increased housing for Indigenous communities.

from 135 citizens (Petition No. EN7119)

Migration

As an Australian citizen and doctor, I humbly request your assistance in allowing our beloved mother to permanently reside with us under a Humanitarian Visa. Our mother resides in Brisbane with us and currently holds a 10-year medical visa. This visa for her health issues, was granted under Ministerial Intervention by Hon Peter Dutton in 2016. Our mother is unable to return to Kiribati as all her children and grandchildren live in Australia. Also, the absence of dialysis facilities, her return would result in her death within a matter of weeks.

We therefore ask the House to allow our loving mother to stay with her family indefinitely in Australia under Humanitarian Visa. She is a widow with three daughters, all of whom are Australian citizens/residents and actively contribute to society. I have dedicated my 20-year medical career to Australians, providing essential medical services. In the past three years, I worked only in Aboriginal Medical Services, where I actively work to bridge the gap for Australian Indigenous people. My two sisters both working in aged care are dedicated to assisting the aging population in Australia. We sincerely hope not to burden the Australian Government, and we diligently strive to ensure that our assimilation efforts are productive and meaningful. However, we do wish this elderly widow access to Medicare and the healthcare services she requires in Australia. Given her limited life expectancy, we kindly request that her children and grandchildren cherish the remaining time she has with them in Australia

from 1,636 citizens (Petition No. EN7121)

Parliamentary Standards

Members of Parliament are required to report on potential Conflicts of Interest. However, current COI standards are too narrow and do not carry harsh enough penalties for MPs who fail to adequately disclose such information, and should require them to publicly and visibly report on any meetings or non- monetary favors from People or Corporations of Interest (Industry leaders, CEOs, billionaires, lobbyist, etc).

Too many MPs have used misleading language, doublespeak and misrepresentation of motions presented to Parliament to pass bills that directly benefit industries and companies that then hire them after they leave their government position.

The people of Australia have a right to honesty, integrity and transparency from their representatives.

We therefore ask the House to :

Enforce public and visible reports on meetings and non-monetary gifts/favors (Eg. Dinner invitations, reservations to exclusive venues, prioritization of Members of Parliament and family/friends on waiting lists, etc)

Impose harsher penalties on Members of Parliament who fail to adequately disclose potential Conflicts of Interest, including but not limited to fines and potential disbarment from current and future government positions.

Require Members of Parliament to disclose relevant lobbyists or Persons of Interest they have discussed potential legislation with who stand to benefit from the presented bill and/or motion.

To impose penalties for use of misleading language or outright misrepresentation of proposed motions and/or motions and supporting evidence and data.

from 175 citizens (Petition No. EN7122)

Petitions received.

Responses

Climate Change

Dear Chair

Thank you for your referral of 20 June 2023 of a petition for creating a federal community of scientists to research climate change (EN5101). I appreciate the time you have taken to bring this matter to my attention.

The Albanese Labor Government accepts the scientific facts of climate change. The Government receives its primary advice on climate science from the Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The scientific advice from these agencies aligns with information provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other trusted national and international organisations, such as the Australian Academy of Science, the World Meteorological Organization, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

These world-leading scientific organisations have found that the Earth's climate is changing and that humans are primarily responsible, due to emissions of greenhouse gases from the combustion of fossil fuels and land use change. These findings are informed by long-term, real-world scientific observations of air temperatures, atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, the heat content of the ocean, changes to vegetation, glaciers, ice sheets and sea ice and many other climate variables.

The IPCC is a trusted source of scientific advice, and its work continues to inform the Government. The recent IPCC sixth Assessment Report provides an update on the latest t climate science, and options for mitigating and adapting to climate change. In this report, the IPCC notes that deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are required to meet the Paris Agreement goals of keeping global warming to well below 2°C above pre- industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. They further note that this would lead to a discernible slowdown in global warming within around two decades, and also to discernible changes in atmospheric composition within a few years.

The world's leading scientists agree emissions must reach net zero by 2050. We are working with countries around the world to achieve this.

Thank you for bringing the petitioners' concerns to my attention.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Mr Bowen

Renewable Energy

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 12 February 2024 regarding petition EN5680, which asks to commit to a moratorium on all large-scale wind, solar, pumped hydro and related transmission projects. I appreciate the time you have taken to bring this matter to my attention, and I apologise for the delay in responding.

The development of new renewable energy generation projects is essential to the stability and sustainability of Australia's energy system as aging coal-fired power stations reach end of life and are retired. The rollout of renewable energy such as solar and wind are the cheapest and most efficient pathway to replacing the aging power stations that can no longer meet Australia's long-term needs. This transition to renewable generation will contribute to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and is part of a global transition to ensure the decarbonisation of energy systems.

The Australian Government expects renewable energy infrastructure essential to the clean energy transition to be well-planned, built in suitable areas, and to benefit affected communities.

Accordingly, the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner's (AEIC) primary role is to identify and promote best practice relating to the planning, development and operation of renewable energy projects and new transmission, facilitate the referral and resolution of complaints from concerned residents, and provide greater transparency on information and knowledge relating to renewable energy infrastructure and major new transmission.

New renewable energy projects are also required to conduct extensive environmental assessments and may need approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Experts within the Nature Positive Regulation Division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water review these assessments. Where the Department and the Minister for the Environment and Water are not satisfied the studies submitted are adequate or do not demonstrate a project will be able to avoid or mitigate environmental impacts to an acceptable level, approval under the EPBC Act will not be provided and a project will be unable to proceed.

The Department believes effective community engagement is paramount to meeting government requirements and community expectations. Community engagement mitigates potential risks to affected communities and ensures the benefits of the energy transition, including affordable energy, are distributed equitably.

In 2023, I successfully sought a change the National Energy Rules (NER) to enhance the community engagement practises of Transmission Network Service Providers. The new rule change was approved on 9 November 2023. In recognition of the unique challenges created by transmission lines, the department also developed the 'National Guidelines for Community Engagement and Benefits for Electricity Transmission Projects' to encourage better practice in community engagement, impact management and benefit sharing for new transmission infrastructure. These guidelines were published on 19 July 2024.

To advise on how to improve community engagement by developers, I commissioned the AEIC to conduct the Community Engagement Review (the Review), which was publicly released on the 2 February 2024. The Government has accepted all nine recommendations in principle. The. Review report and the Government response are available at

www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/community-engagement-review.

The Government is working through the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council (ECMC) to progress the Review recommendations. The ECMC response to the Review considers and highlights the broad range of initiatives already being progressed by the Commonwealth, states and territories, and through the National Energy Transformation Partnership, and how these can be built on to further enhance community outcomes and engagement on renewable energy and transmission infrastructure projects. The ECMC response and Schedule of Activities can be found here: www.energy.gov.au/energy-and-climate-change-ministerial-council.

The Review identified key areas for improvement, many of which are relevant to the concerns noted in petition EN5680, such as:

Establishing a national developer ratings scheme to incentivise better engagement by developers

Encouraging best practice and selecting reputable developers for new projects

Reducing unnecessary and onerous community engagement by improving the way project sites are selected

Making engagement more efficient by revising planning and approval processes

Improving complaint handling processes

Keeping communities informed about the transition—its goals, benefits and requirements

Sharing the benefits of the transition equitably.

In the most recent budget, the department received funding for several measures stemming from the Review:

The AEIC will transition to a non-statutory Ministerial appointment and hire additional staff, enhancing its independence and ability to address anti-renewables misinformation, support First Nations peoples and improve complaint resolutions.

A developer rating scheme will be developed to encourage best practices and foster transparency and trust between developers and communities, with input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including funded assistance from the Clean Energy Regulator (CER).

The Department is exploring options for delivering bill relief and distributing additional benefits equitably in regions most affected by renewable energy developments.

Further information on the renewable energy transformation is available at www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/supply.

Thank you again for bringing the petition to my attention.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Mr Bowen

Human Rights: Occupied Palestinian Territories

Dear Chair

Thank you for referring petition EN6472 regarding Israel's actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

I know the conflict in the Middle East is deeply distressing for many Australians, including the many Australians with a connection to the region and loved ones directly impacted.

Australia respects the independence of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the critical role it plays in upholding international law and the rules-based order. The Prime Minister has publicly called on Israel to respond substantively to the ICJ's advisory opinion of 19 July and ensure accountability for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, reverse the record of expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and work towards a two-state solution.

The Albanese Government has been firm and consistent that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace. I reiterated this position in a statement on 25 July 2024 and in the Senate on 4 July 2024, where I also expressed Australia's opposition to the Netanyahu Government's approval of new settlement construction in the West Bank. We continue to press Israel, publicly and privately, to cease its settlement activity.

We condemn the ongoing settler violence in the West Bank and are taking action against perpetrators. On 25 July 2024, the Australian Government imposed Magnitsky-style targeted sanctions on seven Israeli individuals and one entity for their involvement in the abhorrent settler violence terrorising Palestinian communities. The Australian Government will also deny anyone identified as an extremist settler a visa to travel to Australia. I reiterate Australia's call on Israel to do more to protect the Palestinian civilian population.

Australia remains steadfast in our support for a two-state solution—a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, living side by side in peace and security within internationally recognised borders.

I trust this information will be of assistance to the petitioners.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong

Corporate Governance

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence originally directed to the Treasurer, the Hon Dr. Jim Chalmers MP, concerning Petition EN6483 on Incy Interiors Pty Ltd's (lncy Interiors) and requesting the House to bring Incy Interiors' conduct to the attention of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and other relevant government agencies. Your correspondence has been referred to me as the matter falls within my portfolio responsibilities.

I note the petitioners' concerns around Incy Interiors' failure to fulfil its consumer obligations under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

The ACL prohibits businesses from engaging in conduct that is unconscionable, misleading, or deceptive, and from accepting payment if they do not intend to supply the product or service. The ACL also provides consumers with statutory rights called consumer guarantees, which are intended to ensure consumers get what they paid for. Where a consumer guarantee has not been met, consumers are entitled to request a remedy from the business which may include repair, replacement or refund. The ACCC and consumer protection agencies in each state and territory enforce compliance with the ACL.

I understand that Incy Interiors entered liquidation on 30 January 2024. When a business enters liquidation, consumers' ordinary legal rights can be affected. This restricts the ability of regulators to take action under the ACL. Further information on how insolvency affects consumers' legal rights can be accessed at www.accc.gov.au/consumers/stay-protected/when-a-business-goes-bust.

The ACCC is aware of issues regarding Incy Interiors. The ACCC understands that Incy Interiors sold assets to another company, Impressive Imports Pty Ltd (Impressive Imports), which is continuing to trade using the "Incy Interiors" business name, website and contact details. The ACCC understands that the report of the liquidator for Incy Interiors noted that the sale contract to Impressive Imports required it to fulfil outstanding orders consumers had made with Incy Interiors.

If consumers who had made orders with Incy Interiors pre-liquidation continue to have issues receiving their outstanding orders, and cannot resolve these with the business directly, they should contact the appointed liquidator of lncy Interiors, Mr Darrin Paine of TI Group (NSW) Pty Ltd, on 1300 844 679 or at dpaine@tigroup.net.au.

If consumers have made orders with Incy Interiors post-liquidation and have issues, they should try to resolve the issue directly with the business. If they are not able to do so, they can report the issue to their local state or territory consumer protection agency, which may be able to assist them.

The ACCC is also aware that NSW Office of Fair Trading has engaged with Impressive Imports about outstanding orders. Consumers who have paid for their order with a credit card, debit card or through a secure payment provider such as PayPal may wish to submit a chargeback claim to their payment provider as soon as possible (noting there are time limits on raising a chargeback).

I further note the petitioners' concerns on Incy Interiors' involvement in potential illegal phoenix activity. Illegal phoenix activity is when a new company is created to continue the business of an existing company that has been liquidated to avoid liabilities, including trade debts, taxes and employee entitlements.

I can assure you that allegations of this magnitude are treated with the utmost concern. Treasury has forwarded your letter to the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) Phoenix Taskforce. The intelligence gathered will be shared as appropriate with members of the Phoenix Taskforce, which is a cross-government taskforce dedicated to stamping out illegal phoenix activity and prosecuting offenders.

I would also encourage impacted individuals to also report any potential illegal phoenix activity via the ATO on 1800 060 062 or through an online form available at www.ato.gov.au/forms-and-instructions/tax-evasion-reporting-form.

In addition, liquidators have an obligation to investigate the financial affairs of the company and lodge reports with ASIC about possible offences and misconduct by officers and directors of the company (including potential involvement in illegal phoenix activity). Liquidators also have a range of mechanisms to address incidents of phoenix activity, including making an application to reverse unreasonable payments to directors, uncommercial transactions and creditor defeating dispositions.

Impacted individuals may also wish to report any instances of misconduct by company directors/officers and registered liquidators directly to ASIC at:

www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/contact-us/reporting-misconduct-to-asic/make-a-report-of-misconduct-to-asic/.

In determining which matters to pursue, either for further investigation or prosecution, ASIC considers a broad range of factors. These considerations include the likelihood that the alleged misconduct may have occurred, the nature and seriousness of the allegations and whether a prosecution is likely to be successful.

ASIC is an independent statutory authority established under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (the ASIC Act) and is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Corporations Act 2001. Under the ASIC Act, the Minister is specifically precluded from giving ASIC a direction about its policies or priorities in relation to a particular case. This is to ensure that ASIC's decisions and actions are independent of the political process. As such, I am unable to direct ASIC or otherwise intervene in the circumstances raised in this petition.

I trust this information will be of assistance to you.

Yours sincerely

from the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Mr Jones

Department of Veterans' Affairs: Allied Health Rebates

Dear Ms Templeman

PETITION NUMBER: EN6526

Thank you for your referral of petition number EN6526—'Treating DVA patients is sending Australian physiotherapy private practices broke' of 8 October 2024, which requests that the House consider legislating an increase in fees paid to private physiotherapy clinics treating Veteran Card Holders. I apologise for the delay in responding. The Australian Government recognises the expertise and continued dedication of physiotherapists in delivering high-quality services to the veteran community.

The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) monitors access to health services and how this might be impacted by a range of factors, including the level of fees paid to providers. In 2023-24 there were over 13,300 physiotherapists who accepted the Veteran Card as full payment for their services, which is an increase of 5 per cent from 2022-23.

In the 2023-24 Budget, the Albanese Labor Government made changes to indexation arrangements for various programs, including DVA health care arrangements, which represented the largest increase to indexation in 30 years. This meant fees for DVA health services were indexed by 3.6 per cent in July 2023, with an additional adjustment of 0.5 per cent on 1 November 2023. This new methodology continues to be applied to indexation of DVA provider fees each year, including on 1 July 2024 when provider fees were again indexed by 3.5 per cent.

As you would be aware, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Final Report recommended increasing the DVA fee schedule so it is aligned with that of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) (recommendation 71).

On 2 December 2024, the Albanese Labor Government released its Response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission. The Government noted recommendation 71 for further consideration by the Taskforce being established in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to consider detailed implementation for those recommendations which were agreed in-principle or noted. The Government response to the Royal Commission is available via the DVA website at www.dva.gov.au/documents-and-publications/governments-response- royal-commissions-final-report.

Thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to my attention. I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours faithfully

from the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, Mr Keogh

Domestic and Family Violence

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 3 November 2024 enclosing Petition EN6552 regarding domestic violence (DV), and requesting the House implement accountability measures to hold individuals who knowingly make false DV accusations accountable.

The Australian Government is firm in its view that family violence is unacceptable, and is committed to an Australia that is free from violence against women and children, where women are safe and respected at home, in the workplace and online.

It is not the role of the family courts to determine the criminal guilt or innocence of a party with respect to allegations of family violence, criminal offences and the criminal justice system more broadly. Such matters are heard by the State and Territory criminal courts and are appropriately a matter for the police, child welfare and prosecuting authorities.

The issue of managing false allegations of DV within family law proceedings remains a role for the courts and specifically, for family law court judges, to consider the evidence presented, including allegations of family violence, and determine the weight it should be given.

If a party is dissatisfied with a decision of the court, the only way to challenge that decision is through the appeal procedures set out in the Family Law Act 1975 (the Family Law Act). An appeal enables a person involved in legal proceedings to challenge a decision of a court. The appeal process is a fundamental part of our legal system in that it affords people the right to challenge decisions which affect their legal rights. Further information on the appeal process can be obtained from:

www.fcfcoa.gov.au/fl/appeals.

The Family Law Courts have broad powers to order costs against a party if false allegations or false denials are proven in court. In addition, a witness in proceedings who wilfully makes a statement significant to the proceedings which they know to be false, or do not believe to be true, may have committed the offence of perjury.

Where there is an allegation of perjury, the court may refer the allegation to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for investigation. The AFP is operationally independent of Government and has authority to make decisions about whether or not to investigate an alleged Commonwealth offence.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has broad powers to manage the conduct of proceedings and can make orders to prevent misuse of court processes, including the power to summarily dismiss all or any part of proceedings that it considers frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process.

You and the Petitioner may be interested to know that the Attorney-General's Department (the department) is currently leading a number of measures such as:

Enhancing law enforcement responses to family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) through the development and delivery of a national training package for the use of Commonwealth, state and territory police. This is funded under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women & Children 2022—2032 (National Plan).

Working with the States and Territories through the Family Violence Working Group of the Standing Council of Attorneys-General, the Australian Government is developing options for improving the family safety competency of legal practitioners, including opportunities for professional development for those working in the family law and family violence systems.

Co-funding measures with the States and Territories to improve the family safety competency of judicial officers, such as the delivery of the Family Violence in the Court training program, and the development and maintenance of a National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book. The Bench Book contains a section on unmeritorious, harmful or vexatious proceedings, which recognise the abuse of process to cause detriment or other wrongful purpose used by perpetrators in the course of legal proceedings.

Thank you again for bringing the Petitioners' request to the Government's attention. I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely

from the Attorney-General, Mr Dreyfus KC

Charitable Organisations: Coercive Control

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 3 November 2024 regarding Petition EN6576 (the Petition) about the criminalisation of coercive control by an organisation, particularly within cult-like organisations.

The Australian Government recognises the seriousness of coercive control and the detrimental impact it can have on individuals. The Australian Government and State and Territory governments recently developed the National Principles to Address Coercive Control in Family and Domestic Violence (National Principles), which outline a shared understanding of coercive control and its impacts (available at www.ag.gov.au/coercivecontrol). The National Principles acknowledge that coercive control can be perpetrated in the broad context of gender-based violence and other circumstances where there are unequal power relationships.

I understand the Petition specifically requests the criminalisation of coercive control by organisations. Whether coercive control should be a specific criminal offence, and the form this may take, is a matter for individual state and territory governments.

I also note the Petition's concerns about the Shincheonji Church. While I note these concerns, section 116 of the Australian Constitution prevents the Commonwealth from passing laws establishing any religion, imposing any religious observance or prohibiting the free exercise of religion. All Australians are free to choose their religion, and are entitled to express and practice their religion and their beliefs, without intimidation and without interference, as long as those practices are within the framework of Australian law.

Should an individual believe the actions of the Shincheonji Church, or any other individual or organisation, breach any criminal laws, evidence should be provided to local state or territory police. Police operate independently of government and the decision whether or not to investigate an alleged offence is a matter for their determination.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely

from the Attorney-General, Mr Dreyfus KC

Defence Procurement

Dear Ms Templeman

Thank you for your correspondence of 4 November 2024 presenting Petition EN6580—Cancel the AUKUS Agreement. I have given careful consideration to the matters raised in the petition.

The Albanese Government recognises that the first responsibility of a government is to provide for the safety and security of its people. The AUKUS partnership is a core pillar of the Albanese Government's national security policy to protect our nation, its interests and security. We confront the most challenging strategic circumstances since the Second World War, and we do so at a time when Australia's economic connection with the world has never been greater.

These observations are at the core of our 2024 National Defence Strategy, which the Government delivered in April last year. It reaffirmed that our strategic environment has continued to deteriorate, consistent with the trends identified in the 2023 Defence Strategic Review. To meet the strategic challenges Australia faces, the Government is investing in a generational uplift in Defence's capabilities to deter any potential adversary from succeeding in coercing Australia through force; to support regional security and prosperity; and to help uphold a favourable regional strategic balance.

The Albanese Government also recognises that we must contribute to the collective security of the Inda-Pacific because our security and prosperity depend on the stability and security of our region. Yet we need to contend with the reality that our region is witnessing the largest conventional military build-up the world has seen in decades. We do not question the right of countries to invest in and develop defence capabilities, but this must be done transparently and with strategic reassurance. We need to ensure the Inda-Pacific remains a region where all countries—big or small—are able to act in their sovereign interests to shape their own future free from coercion.

The acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines will enable Australia to better contribute to a sovereign and resilient Inda-Pacific and to deter aggression more effectively. These submarines will be owned, operated, maintained and regulated by Australia and under Australian command. For a maritime trading nation like Australia, maintaining a submarine capability advantage over potential adversaries is vital. Closing or blocking sea lanes would have a devastating impact on Australia's economy and security, and on partners in South East Asia, the Pacific, and globally. By investing in these high-end capabilities, Australia is contributing to a more stable, secure and prosperous region, and is better placed to protect our national interests.

We recognise the investment in Australia's conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarine program is significant. This will be one of the greatest industrial endeavours Australia has ever undertaken, supporting industry, jobs and infrastructure. We plan to invest over $30 billion in Australian industry alone as part of this program, which will support over 20,000 jobs over the next three decades.

Thank you again for forwarding Petition EN6580 for my consideration.

Yours sincerely

from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Mr Marles

Youth Justice

Dear Ms Templeman

Thank you for your correspondence of 03 November 2024 regarding petition number EN6598 urging the Australian Government to reform federal legislation on 'child-on-child sexual abuse', which is also referred to as harmful sexual behaviours displayed by children and young people.

I note this petition primarily focuses on improving protections and support for victims of child on child sexual abuse and to ensure that offenders are held accountable for their behaviour.

I want to reassure you that child safety is a key priority for the Australian Government. Every child and young person has the right to be safe from child sexual abuse. It is our collective responsibility to protect them and ensure that strong frameworks are in place to create safe environments for children and young people in all settings.

The Australian Government is leading a significant program of work to protect Australian children from child sexual abuse and related harms including under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 (National Strategy)—https://www.childsafety.gov.au/resources/national-strategy-prevent-and-respond-child-sexual-abuse-2021-2030. The National Strategy is a nationally coordinated, strategic framework for preventing and responding to child sexual abuse. The National Office for Child Safety (National Office) within my department is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the National Strategy.

Federal laws concerning the minimum age of criminal responsibility for sexual offences:

I note your petition requests a review and amendment of the federal laws concerning the minimum age of criminal responsibility for sexual offences. As noted in your petition, currently, the principle of doli incapax applies in all jurisdictions for children aged at or above the minimum age of criminal responsibility but below 14 years. The principle of doli incapax means these children cannot be held criminally responsible for an offence, unless it is proven that they knew (or had the capacity to know) what they were doing was seriously wrong at the time of the alleged offending.

The Commonwealth Criminal Code contains a robust child sexual abuse offence framework, and is complemented by offences across state and territory jurisdictions. For the most part, state and territory governments have responsibility for justice responses to criminal offences relating to harmful sexual behaviours. Responses will vary depending on legislation within each jurisdiction.

For Commonwealth offences, my consent is required before commencing proceedings in relation to certain offences, where a defendant was under 18 years of age at the time of the alleged offending (for example, offences contained in Division 272—Child Sex Offences outside Australia, and Subdivision D—Offences relating to use of carriage service for child abuse material). Other offences (such as those in Division F—Offences relating to the use of carriage service involving sexual activity with, or causing harm to, person under 16) require the alleged offender to be at least 18 years of age at the time of the offence.

Under the National Strategy, my department is reviewing existing Commonwealth child sexual abuse offences. This review is expected to progress in 2025 and may look at legislative reforms to make sure offences remain current and reflect emerging trends. Further information about this review can be found in the National Strategy Second Annual Report 2024.

The National Strategy has a strong focus on improving prevention and responses to children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours. Responding to harmful sexual behaviours should prioritise the safety of all children and young people, their families, carers, kin and the wider community. It is acknowledged that some behaviours will require a criminal justice response. However, alongside any criminal justice response, I note that a therapeutic response can contribute significantly to preventing these behaviours reoccurring or escalating. The work under the National Strategy aims to ensure children and young people will have timely access to evidence-based therapeutic support at the onset of concerning or harmful sexual behaviours, to help prevent these behaviours from escalating or reoccurring.

Psychological and emotional supports for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse:

I note your petition raised the importance of providing psychological and emotional support services to victims and survivors during the criminal justice process. Part IAD of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (the Crimes Act) sets out protections for vulnerable persons in Commonwealth criminal proceedings. The Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Act 2024 (Cth) (the Act) amends the Crimes Act to strengthen these protections and received royal assent on 10 December 2024. The Act implements trauma-informed measures that better support vulnerable persons when appearing as complainants and/or witnesses in Commonwealth criminal proceedings. Under the Crimes Act, vulnerable persons include a victim or witness who is under the age of 18.

There are also a number of Australian Government-funded legal support services for children and young people. For example, Youth Law Australia (YLA) has been funded to operate an online chat service to deliver free legal assistance to children and young people experiencing or at risk of harm. This is part of the Enhance and Expand Legal Assistance Services for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse program under the National Strategy. YLA's online chat service includes information about other available options for assistance outside of business hours, and identifies that support from a social worker or counsellor is available through the online chat service where required.

Under the National Strategy, knowmore Legal Service has also been funded to expand its national specialist trauma-informed legal service outside the institutional context. Clients engaging with knowmore are offered counselling and social work services as well as cultural support and referrals if required. More broadly, knowmore is funded to provide legal support services for survivors engaging with the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

It is critically important that victims and survivors of child sexual abuse can access support when they need it, noting that they may seek help from a range of support services at different points in their lives. There are psychological and emotional support services available throughout the country, the vast majority of which are low cost or free. These services provide a wide range of support including therapeutic support, legal advice, advocacy or other support services. Individuals can find a list of national services on childsafety.gov.au or find locally-run services by searching in their relevant jurisdiction.

Under the National Strategy, the Australian Government is establishing a national information and referral service to assist victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, practitioners and the general public to navigate the service system and to access help and information. The service will include a national website, national helpline and specialist child sexual abuse service navigators, and offer a central point of access to information, resources and referrals to targeted and broad support services. The National Office anticipates the new national information and referral service will commence by the end of 2025.

I want to reiterate that the Australian Government is committed to protecting children from sexual abuse. As part of this, the National Office is working to ensure that children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours understand the consequences and impacts of their behaviour, while also being provided therapeutic support to stop behaviours from recurring or escalating.

Please be assured that child safety is a key priority of the Australian Government. We know there is more work to do to protect children and young people from sexual abuse and related harms in Australia, and to better support victims and survivors. Child sexual abuse is preventable and it requires collective effort to ensure children and young people in Australia are safe from harm.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely

from the Attorney-General, Mr Dreyfus KC

Goldmining: Dittmer Project

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence in relation to Petition EN6605, concerning investigations being undertaken by Ballymore Resources Pty Ltd (Ballymore) into reopening the inactive underground Dittmer Gold Mine in Dittmer, Queensland. The petition raises concerns held by members of the public over various potential impacts of reopening the mine.

I note that some of the concerns raised in Petition EN6605 relate to matters of national environmental significance protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). These include the endangered Proserpine Rock Wallaby and the Great Barrier Reef (Marine Park, World Heritage Property and National Heritage Place). Some other matters, such as the protection of local waterways and the allocation of water resources, are the responsibility of the Queensland Government.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has met with Ballymore to inform them of their obligations under the EPBC Act. The Department has advised they are confident that Ballymore understands these obligations. At this stage, neither I nor the Department have given Ballymore any directions, approvals or assurances in relation to the Dittmer Gold Mine.

I and the Department have noted the contents of Petition EN6605 for reference in any future dealings with Ballymore in relation to the Dittmer Gold Mine.

Thank you again for your correspondence.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for the Environment and Water, Ms Plibersek

International Relations: Australia and Nicaragua

Dear Ms Templeman

Thank you for your email on behalf of the Standing Committee on Petitions concerning petition EN6648.

The Australian Government is gravely concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in Nicaragua, including the suppression of academic freedom and reprisals against civil society organisations, Indigenous leaders and the media. We have publicly called on the Nicaragua Government to adhere to its human rights obligations, including at the United Nations.

For example, on 13 September 2022, Australia led a statement on behalf of 46 countries at the 51st Session of the UN Human Rights Council calling on Nicaragua to, inter alia, end suppression of universities and the media.

Australia has made statements during interactive dialogues at the UN with the High Commissioner on Nicaragua (16 June 2022) and the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (6 March 2023), where we called for an end to repression of political opponents, human rights defenders, journalists and the clergy.

Australia is a traditional co-sponsor of the Human Rights Council resolution on the promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua (most recently at HRC52, April 2023). This resolution expressed profound concern at the repression of civil society organisations, universities and independent media outlets and called on Nicaragua to restore the independence and academic freedom of universities.

On 1 November 2024, Australia joined a statement at the 352nd Session of the International Labour Organization Governing Body condemning human rights violations and abuses across Nicaragua through the non-observance by Nicaragua of Conventions No 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise), 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargain), 111 (Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation) and 144 (International Labour Standards).

Most recently, at the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review of Nicaragua on 13 November 2024, Australia made a statement calling on Nicaragua to restore the citizenship and assets of people stripped of their citizenship and provide guarantees for their safe return without reprisal; reinstate legal status to civil society organisations, religious and other associations as a matter of urgency; and conduct free and transparent elections in 2026.

The Government will continue to call on the Nicaragua Government to return to democracy and fully respect human rights and academic freedom.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong

Road Safety: CB Radio Operation

Dear Ms Templeman

Thank you for your correspondence of 18 November 2024 regarding Petition EN6662—request to influence states and territories to mandate hands-free citizen band (CB) radio operation with 895 signatures. I apologise for the delay in responding.

I am deeply saddened by the death of Katrina Roberts and the impact this has had on her family. As the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, I have a deep sense of responsibility towards my role, which includes road safety, as it has a real impact on the lives of all Australians, from the cities to the country.

Under Australia's federal system of government, states and territories are responsible for the governing and enforcement of their own road traffic regulations, which includes the use of CB radios whilst driving within each jurisdiction.

Therefore, I have requested my colleague, Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm, who is responsible for the road safety activities and initiatives within my portfolio, to write to his road safety state and territory ministerial counterparts, suggesting that they review CB radio regulations in their jurisdictions and consider mandating the use of hands-free CB radio.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me on this matter.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Ms C King

Middle East

Dear Ms Templeman

Thank you for your letter regarding EN6683 on the protection of Jewish people.

The Australian Government is unequivocal in its condemnation of Hamas' abhorrent attacks on 7 October 2023 and ongoing acts of terror. The Australian Government lists Hamas as a terrorist organisation in its entirety under the Criminal Code Act 1995. Since October 2023, Australia has coordinated with partners to apply additional sanctions against Hamas, as well as Hizballah and others for their terrorism.

The Australian Government has repeatedly called for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. I have pressed countries with influence over Hamas to help secure their release. Australia sees no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza. A future Palestinian state cannot be in a position to threaten Israel's security.

Australia supports the ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza and urges all parties to respect the terms of the agreement and for all phases of the deal to be implement in full, including to secure the release of the remaining hostages.

Australia affirms Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international law. International law includes the United Nations Charter that allows countries to defend themselves—and the Geneva Conventions that protect civilians during wars.

We condemn antisemitism in Australia. Every Australian, no matter their race or religion should be able to enjoy their life in any Australian community, without prejudice or discrimination. We understand incidents of antisemitism can leave communities feeling targeted, threatened, and vulnerable.

Since October 2023, the Australian Government has awarded $78.6 million to Jewish organisations nationally to enhance security at Jewish community sites, including places of worship, schools, pre-schools and Jewish community centres.

We will not tolerate crimes that undermine Australia's security or our inclusive way of life. The Australian Federal Police will lead Special Operation Avalite to investigate threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians.

The Government is also seeking to strengthen, and build upon, legislative protections against hatred and extremism with the Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill, which was introduced to the Parliament in September 2024. The Bill would address significant increases in antisemitism and lslamophobia in Australia by criminalising the most serious kinds of hate speech involving force or violence. This builds on reforms last year that created criminal offences for publicly displaying and trading in Nazi and terrorist organisation symbols, performing the Nazi salute in a public place, and dealing with violent extremist material.

As part of the Australian Government's ongoing efforts to improve social cohesion in Australia, including fostering inter-faith dialogue, the Government has appointed a Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Ms Jillian Segal AO, and a Special Envoy to Combat lslamophobia, Mr Aftab Malik. The Special Envoys are listening and engaging with stakeholders, including communities, academics and other experts, to better understand, identify and address the drivers of Antisemitic and lslamophobic behaviour. The Government has also appointed Peter Khalil MP as the Special Envoy for Social Cohesion.

Inclusion, respect and other shared values that keep our communities strong and cohesive are more important than ever during difficult periods such as these.

We will continue to work across the community to foster greater social cohesion, greater understanding and inclusion of all communities that contribute to our vibrant and resilient multicultural society.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong

Melbourne Airport

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 18 November 2024 enclosing Petition EN6689, with 226 signatures, concerning my decision to approve the development of a third runway at Melbourne Airport (M3R).

My decision to approve the M3R Major Development Plan (MDP) was not taken lightly. Throughout my consideration of the M3R MDP, the needs of the local community were front of mind.

I draw your attention to the comprehensive set of conditions I imposed for the construction and operation of the new runway. These represent the most comprehensive set of conditions for a project of this type, including:

Melbourne Airport providing a legally-enforceable commitment to restore the length of the existing east-west runway to maximise the opportunities for noise sharing;

Design and implementation of a noise sharing and airspace plan that prioritises sharing of aircraft noise between affected areas;

Implementation of a noise amelioration program in the communities most impacted; and

Conducting a Community Health Study into the impacts of noise before and after the establishment of the third runway, recording baseline data in the lead up to and for the first 20 years of the operation of the third runway.

The conditions of my approval will reduce the impact of aircraft noise on communities as raised in Petition EN6689. The full set of conditions as well as a statement detailing the reasons for my decision are available at:

infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/airports/ministerial-decisions.

The new runway will bring Melbourne Airport into line with Sydney and other globally-competitive airports. It will allow Melbourne Airport to cater for the demand of a growing city, providing better access for freight and passengers, and driving economic growth for years to come.

I note that under section 242(1) of the Airports Act 1996 an application can be made to the Administrative Review Tribunal (the ART) for review of my decision. The ART is currently considering two applications concerning my decision to approve the M3R MDP.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me on this matter.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Ms C King

Jervis Bay Territory: Christians Minde

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence in relation to Petition EN6711, concerning heritage management of Christian's Minde Settlement in the Jervis Bay Territory.

Christian's Minde Settlement is a Commonwealth Heritage listed place protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Christian's Minde Settlement is managed by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA).

I note that this petition requests a range of actions aimed at improving the preservation of Christian's Minde Settlement's heritage values, including both built heritage and First Nations cultural heritage.

In relation to the endorsement and adoption of the 2015 Heritage Management Plan by Godden Mackay Logan, I am advised that this plan requires updates to reflect the current condition and maintenance requirements of Christian's Minde Settlement. I understand DITRDCA is taking steps to update the Heritage Management Plan and to address the lease and maintenance issues raised in the petition, ensuring the ongoing protection of the Commonwealth heritage values of the Christian's Minde Settlement.

Thank you again for your correspondence.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for the Environment and Water, Ms Plibersek

Medicare: Allied Health

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 10 February 2025 regarding a petition on the reinstatement of the Health Insurance Rebate (Rebate) eligibility for Bowen therapy.

I note the issues raised in petition number EN6717 and trust that the following information will be of assistance.

Bowen therapy is classified as an excluded natural therapy in the Private Health Insurance (Health Insurance Business) Rules 2018 made under the Private Health Insurance Act 2007. The Minister for Health and Aged Care and authorised delegates from the Department of Health and Aged Care can make and amend these Rules.

In 2019, the Rules were changed, and 16 natural therapies were excluded from the definition of private health insurance general treatment and became ineligible for the Rebate. This included Bowen therapy.

The exclusion of the 16 natural therapies was based on the outcomes of the 2015 Review of the Australian Government Rebate on Natural Therapies for Private Health Insurance. This review was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), which examined scientific literature about the effectiveness of the 16 natural therapies.

However, it was noted that many members of the community found these therapies beneficial, and that there may be more recent evidence of their clinical effectiveness. In response, in 2019 a further Natural Therapies Review (Review) of the excluded natural therapies was announced by the former Government.

The Review, led by Professor Michael Kidd AO, is examining additional evidence which has emerged since the previous review and will provide advice on whether any of the natural therapies should be covered by private health insurance. This coverage would make the therapies eligible for subsidy through the Rebate.

All evidence evaluations undertaken for the Review have been finalised with input from the Natural Therapies Review Expert Advisory Panel and the NHMRC's Natural Therapies Working Committee. Evidence evaluations for all the natural therapies in the Review will be considered by Professor Kidd, as Chair of the Review, in drafting his final report. It is expected he will finalise and provide his report and advice to Government shortly.

Thank you for bringing the concerns of the people signing this petition to my attention.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mr Butler

Vexatious Litigation

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 10 February 2025, referring to petition EN6729 regarding the protection of domestic violence victims from strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP).

The Australian Government takes concerns about the misuse of the legal system by perpetrators of family and domestic violence very seriously. Following the National Cabinet meeting on 6 September 2024, the Government announced an audit of key Government systems to identify areas where they are being weaponised by perpetrators of family and domestic violence in order to stamp out opportunities for systems abuse. The audit is currently underway across government to identify key system vulnerabilities, their impact on victim-survivors and options for reform. The audit is leveraging existing reviews underway across the Government that seek to strengthen systems. It also will build on existing research and evidence that has indicated where systems are being misused.

The Government is also taking steps to improve the competency of professionals working in the family law system to identify, understand and respond appropriately to family and domestic violence, including systems abuse. The Government has co-funded measures with states and territories to improve the competency of judicial officers through the development and maintenance of a National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book and delivery of the Family Violence in the Court training program. These initiatives form part of a $12.6 million package provided by the Government in the 2022-23 Budget for accredited sexual and family violence response training for frontline workers, legal practitioners, the judiciary, and the criminal justice sector.

In relation to protecting victims that report matters to police, I note that in September 2023 Commonwealth, state and territory Attorneys-General approved amendments to model defamation law to extend the defence of absolute privilege to matters disclosed to police. This amendment to model laws aims to alleviate concerns that such reporting could lead to defamation claims. Defamation law is primarily the responsibility of state and territory governments which are at varying stages of implementing the model law amendments.

While the Government is not currently considering express anti-SLAPP legislation, there are existing mechanisms in place to assist with preventing the misuse of court processes. For example, the federal and family courts can make orders to prevent misuse of court processes, including by making vexatious proceedings orders. Vexatious proceedings include proceedings that are an abuse of process, instituted without reasonable grounds, or instituted or conducted for a wrongful purpose including to harass, annoy, cause delay or detriment.

The court may also prohibit a person from instituting proceedings or make other orders it considers appropriate. The court may make a vexatious proceedings order on its own initiative or after receiving an application from a person who has an interest in the matter.

Family courts can also make harmful proceedings orders which would prevent someone instituting proceedings under the Family Law Act 1975 without first seeking the court's agreement. Harmful proceedings are proceedings that may result in harm to another party, or to a child. The kinds of harms could include major mental distress, psychological harm or oppression, behaviour which causes a detrimental effect on the other party's capacity to care for a child, or financial harm. The court may make a harmful proceedings order on its own initiative or after receiving an application from one of the parties to a matter.

I note also that the Civil Dispute Resolution Act 2011 requires parties to civil proceedings in a federal court, unless an exception applies, to file a statement of the sincere and genuine attempts that have been made to resolve the dispute before proceeding with litigation. Under this Act, the court may take such statements into account when exercising its powers and performing its functions, including when exercising its discretion to award costs.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely

from the Attorney-General, Mr Dreyfus KC

Judiciary

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 10 February 2025, referring to me petition EN6746 which relates to the establishment of a federal judicial commission to investigate complaints made about federal judicial officers.

The Australian Government is committed to integrity, fairness and accountability across all public institutions. One of the key pillars of the Government's broader integrity agenda is reinforcing public trust in the judicial system.

I note that the Government agreed in-principle to the recommendation of the Australian Law Reform Commission that the Government should establish a federal judicial commission (Without Fear or Favour: Judicial Impartiality and the Law on Bias, ALRC Report 138, recommendation 5).

A taskforce was created within the Attorney-General's Department to undertake scoping work and consult on the merits and design of a commission. The design and timing of the establishment of a federal judicial commission continues to be under consideration by the Government.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely

from the Attorney-General, Mr Dreyfus KC

Obesity

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 10 February 2025 regarding Petition EN6747 seeking to list Wegovy (R) (semaglutide) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for obesity.

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring Australians have access to affordable medicines by listing medicines on the PBS that have been recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). The PBAC is an independent and expert body, comprising doctors, health professionals, health economists and consumer representatives. Under legislation, a medicine cannot be listed on the PBS unless the PBAC makes a recommendation in favour of listing.

When considering a medicine proposed for PBS listing, the PBAC is legally required to consider the comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the medicine compared to other available therapies. The PBAC's consideration is generally initiated when the pharmaceutical company responsible for a medicine applies for PBS listing for specific conditions. Pharmaceutical companies usually hold scientific data and other information necessary to inform the PBAC's consideration.

The PBAC has previously considered applications to list Wegovy on the PBS. At its March 2022 meeting, the PBAC did not recommend listing Wegovy on the PBS for obesity. The PBAC recognised the high burden of disease in Australia and welcomed input from a stakeholder forum held prior to the PBAC meeting. However, the application had poorly justified the eligible population, the modelled benefits were highly uncertain, and the listing was not considered cost-effective at the requested price. The PBAC considered that PBS listing of Wegovy would require an extremely high investment with very uncertain implications for the PBS and broader health budget.

At its November 2023 meeting, the PBAC considered a resubmission to list Wegovy on the PBS for the treatment of severe obesity despite prior participation in an appropriate lifestyle-based weight management intervention. The PBAC again did not recommend listing Wegovy on the PBS. The PBAC considered the resubmission did not provide a strong clinical rationale for the proposed PBS population and did not identify patients most likely to experience relatively large reductions in weight or long-term benefits from weight loss.

The PBAC acknowledged the high and urgent unmet clinical need for effective weight loss strategies for severe obesity, but considered that Wegovy was not cost-effective at the price proposed. The PBAC considered several issues remained outstanding, including that the resubmission had not provided new trial data on the cardiovascular benefits of Wegovy. The PBAC considered that the value of this therapy is for patients at high cardiometabolic risk who are most likely to achieve long-term benefits from weight loss. The PBAC offered the sponsor a solution-focused workshop with one or more members of the PBAC, prior to it making a resubmission.

Further information about the PBAC's consideration and outcome is available in the Public Summary Documents (PSDs) for these items. The PSDs set out the specific detail of the PBAC's consideration, and are published on the PBS website at:

www.pbs.gov.au/pbs/industry/ listing/elements/pbac-meetings/psd, searching by product or meeting date.

A PBAC outcome does not necessarily represent the PBAC's final views on the merits of a medicine. The PBAC meets regularly and would consider further applications from Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd concerning PBS listing of Wegovy for obesity. Pharmaceutical companies are private entities, and each company makes its own decisions about availability of its medicines, pricing of its medicines in the private market (outside the PBS), and whether it will apply for PBS listing. The Government cannot compel companies to submit applications.

On 6 March 2025, I wrote to the Chair of the PBAC to request that the PBAC provide advice to the Government on equitable access to medicines for the treatment of obesity in Australia. This may include, but not be limited to, the Australian population cohorts most likely to benefit from the potential future availability of Wegovy, or other anti-obesity medications such as tirzepatide, through the PBS. I also requested advice from the PBAC on the optimal duration of subsidisation, noting the limited long term safety data on the use of these medicines, and on whether these medicines are effective standalone therapies or best used in combination with other interventions, such as bariatric surgery or supporting models of care to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

The PBAC has previously recognised that equitable access to pharmacoptherapy is only one aspect of the necessary public health response to obesity in Australia. The availability of consistent, standardised models of care and wraparound allied health services is essential. The advice that I have requested will assist sponsors in making future submissions to the PBAC for anti-obesity medicines and in PBAC's consideration of those submissions.

Thank you for writing on this matter.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mr Butler

Family Law

Dear Ms Templeman

Thank you for your email dated 10 February 2025 to the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, concerning petition number EN6752, which raises matters relating to child support. The Minister has asked me to respond to you on her behalf.

The Australian Government shares the concerns raised in the petition about the lives that are lost each year to suicide in Australia. The National Suicide Prevention Office ensures the coordination of whole-of-government capability to deliver a national approach to reducing suicide rates in Australia.

Lifeline provides confidential online, phone and face-to-face crisis support and suicide prevention services for persons experiencing a personal crisis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available throughout Australia and can be contacted on 13 11 14 or online at lifeline.org.au.

I acknowledge the request in the petition to exclude overtime from the calculation of child support assessments. Generally, child support assessments are based on a parent's adjusted taxable income for the last relevant year of income. Where a parent's income has decreased by 15 per cent from their adjusted taxable income for the last relevant year, they have the option to lodge an estimate of income for the current financial year to reflect their current financial circumstances.

Child support legislation also allows for the exclusion of additional income for a period of 3 years from separation to assist either parent with re-establishment costs. Parents may earn this additional income from a variety of sources, such as overtime or taking on a second job. This provision is subject to a 3-year time limit because parents will generally achieve greater stability in their arrangements the longer they have been separated.

I also note that where a parent considers their assessment is unfair due to the special circumstances of their particular case, they have the option to seek a change of assessment. The change of assessment process allows Services Australia to examine the broader financial circumstances of both parents and vary the rate of child support where appropriate.

These policies reflect the Government's position that the Child Support Scheme (the Scheme) should be based on the principle that parents support their children in line with their financial capacities.

The Government is committed to improving the Scheme over the longer term and is progressing key recommendations made by the Joint Select Committee into Australia's Family Law System. The Government has established the Child Support Expert Panel and commissioned costs of children and related research as part of a review of the child support formula to ensure the Scheme continues to meet the needs of Australian families.

The Minister appreciates you bringing this matter to her attention.

Yours sincerely

from the Assistant Minister for Social Security, Ms Thwaites

Endometriosis

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 10 February 2025 regarding petition number EN6754, which requests the House to consider Newcastle as a site for an Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic (EPPC).

On 9 February 2025, the Australian Government announced a $573.3 million strengthening Medicare women's health package to provide additional support to women via a suite of measures. Part of this package was the announcement of an expansion of the EPPCs, that includes the provision of funding to establish 11 new EPPCs. This funding will be directed to ensure there will be at least one EPPC in each Primary Health Network (PHN) across Australia, making it easier for women and girls to get the care and support they need closer to home.

As the Hunter New England and Central Coast (Hunter) PHN does not currently have an EPPC, it will be eligible to apply for a new EPPC under this expansion. For new EPPCs to be determined, the Hunter PHN will be invited to nominate existing GP practice(s) in the region to apply for a grant opportunity. The nominated GP practices should already be specialising in women's health services, with the purpose of this funding aimed at improving provision of diagnosis, treatment and management of endometriosis, menopause and pelvic pain in a primary care setting.

You can find more information about the existing clinics, including their locations, at:

www.heaIth.gov.au/our-work/ endometriosis-and-pelvic-pain-clinics.

Thank you for writing on this matter.

Yours sincerely

from the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ms Kearney

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 10 February 2025 regarding Petition Number EN6801 to reduce the cost of assessment for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The Australian Government recognises that people with, or experiencing symptoms of, ADHD and autism should be able to access high quality evidence-based assessment, treatment and support.

You may be aware that the National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People (Autism Health Roadmap) was released on 25 February 2025 which can be found on the Department of Health and Aged Care website at www.health.gov.au. The Autism Health Roadmap was developed over the past two years in close collaboration with many autistic people and autism community members. The Autism Health Roadmap sets out concrete steps that recognise what will make the Australian health and mental health system provide better care for autistic people, with six focus areas with specific outcomes and actions.

The Autism Health Roadmap forms part of the National Autism Strategy, which is intended to improve outcomes for all autistic people in Australia by coordinating a national approach to services and supports. This includes access to services, health care, education and employment. This Roadmap represents the Government's commitment to improve the health and mental health outcomes of autistic people.

The Government's response to the report into the assessment and support services for people with ADHD was tabled on 12 December 2024 and outlines what the Government is doing and future plans to address the 15 recommendations the committee has made. You can access the ADHD Senate Inquiry and Government Response through the Parliament of Australia website at:

www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/ADHD.

The Government subsidises services through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to help people with a professional diagnosis for autism and/or ADHD. MBS time-based attendance items for psychiatry include higher benefit items for longer consultations to manage more complex issues. These services can also be provided by telehealth and replicate the same fees and Medicare benefits as the face-to-face items.

The Government understands that paying large out-of-pocket fees for treatment can cause significant financial hardship and stress. Whilst the Government is responsible for setting Medicare benefits to assist with access to privately rendered medical services listed on the MBS, it has no direct power to determine the fees charged by doctors or their billing practices. Doctors are encouraged to consider the personal circumstances of their patients when determining the fees they charge, and many do so.

The Medicare safety net assists patients with out-of-pocket costs by providing additional benefits once an annual out-of-pocket limit is reached. The Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) provides an increase in benefits of up to 80% of out-of-pocket costs (once the annual threshold has been reached). All out-of-hospital out-of-pocket costs contribute to the EMSN. Further information about the EMSN is available from the Services Australia website at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au by searching the term 'Medicare Safety Nets' or on the MBS Online website at www.mbsonline.gov.au by searching the term 'Medicare Safety Net Arrangements-1 January 2023'.

The Government recognises that the MBS is only part of the solution and is investing in complementary models of mental health care to ensure Australians get the right level of care for their level of need, including those with autism and/or ADHD. In the 2024-25 Budget, the Government invested $361 million to expand the range and reach of free mental health services to better care cater for all Australians. This included funding for a new national early intervention service to ensure people can access support before their distress escalates and for an enhanced network of 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres which will offer free, walk-in, access to psychologist and psychiatrists.

Thank you for writing on this matter.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mr Butler

National Security

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence regarding Petition EN6817, foreign missions operating within places of worship in Australia.

Following receipt of your petition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Home Affairs have not been able to determine any instances or reporting of foreign consulates using religious places for official work.

Foreign diplomats have the right to attend religious places, as can all persons in Australia. The Australian Government expects all foreign officials and their dependants to respect Australian laws and community expectations.

Concerned members of the Australian community may report specific foreign interference activities to the National Security hotline on 1800 123 400 or email hotline@nationalsecurity.gov.au.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong

Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 10 February 2025 providing petition EN6822 regarding pregnancy and infant loss.

The Australian Government funds a range of activities to support families impacted by these devastating occurrences. This includes investment in health and medical research in pregnancy loss and neonatal death, providing direct support through the complementary Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Through the MRFF, over $80 million had been awarded in December 2024 on research to support premature birth and pregnancy loss, and over $70 million from 2014 to 2023 on these areas through the NHMRC. A further $25 million has been made available for the MRFF Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative 2024: Infertility; Pregnancy·Loss and Menopause Grant Opportunity. This grant opportunity has the intended outcome of enhancing risk prediction to support effective interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes and generate evidence to inform prevention of pregnancy loss and neonatal death.

The Government also funds a range of national data collections to better understand pregnancy and childbirth in Australia. $1 million over two years was announced in the 2024-25 Budget for the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) to undertake a miscarriage data scoping study to identify and provide recommendations on options for national collection of miscarriage data and address key data gaps.

The AIHW maintains a national population-based cross-sectional collection of data on pregnancy and childbirth called the Australia National Perinatal Data Collection. It also holds the National Perinatal Mortality Data Collection, which collates data from state and territory sources to be used in the preparation of national perinatal death reports. The data set contains information on the deaths of babies in hospitals and in the community within the scope of the collection, which includes all live births and stillbirths of at least 20 weeks gestation or at least 400 grams birthweight, during pregnancy or birth or within 28 days of birth.

The Government also provides funding to the AIHW for the National Maternity Data Development Project (NMDDP), which is building the evidence base on maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality to support the reporting of outcomes such as those outlined in Woman-centred Care: Strategic directions for Australian maternity services and the National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan 2020-2030 (Stillbirth Action Plan). Additionally, the NMDDP supports the establishment of a national data linkage project to enable meaningful collection on longer term outcomes for women and their babies.

The Government funds a range of activities to prevent pregnancy and infant loss, and to support families who have experienced these tragic events. The Stillbirth Action Plan aims to reduce preventable stillbirths after 28 weeks with a primary goal of reducing stillbirth rates by 20% over five years. It also aims to ensure families experiencing stillbirth receive respectful and supportive bereavement care. The Stillbirth Action Plan recognises that some groups, including First Nations communities and some migrant and refugee communities, experience higher rates of stillbirth and includes actions to address these inequities.

Since the release of the Stillbirth Action Plan, a range of activities have been funded including:

developing a new Clinical Care Standard for Stillbirth

updating stillbirth related guidelines for health professionals

delivering stillbirth education and awareness programs

national implementation of the Safer Baby Bundle, an initiative providing evidence-based information to maternity health care providers to reduce the risk of stillbirth

adaptation of the Safer Baby Bundle for First Nations women and migrant and refugee women who are at increased risk of stillbirth

activities to increase stillbirth autopsy rates

miscarriage and stillbirth bereavement support programs

programs to support families experiencing stillbirth, including the Red Nose Hospital to Home Program.

In 2024-25, through the combined Federal Budget and Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook processes, the Government has allocated a total of $22.9 million to support women and families impacted by stillbirth and miscarriage, reduce stigma and shame, and remove barriers to providing best-practice care. This builds upon the $23 million investment announced in 2022-23 to deliver high quality, evidence-based care for women and families from higher-risk population groups who have experienced stillbirth or miscarriage, including First Nations people, multicultural families, refugee and migrant communities, women and families living in rural and remote areas, and women younger than 20 years.

The Government is also aware that each year close to 25,000 babies are born prematurely (before 37 full weeks of gestation) in Australia. In recognition of preterm birth as the single greatest cause of death in young children and one of the major causes of lifelong disability, the Government funded the National Preterm Birth Prevention Program, which was a world first initiative aimed at safely reducing the rate of preterm birth.

Early data from the Program shows a reduction of 11% in early-term births, which equates to more than 4,000 early births avoided. Further funding of $5.8 million over two years was announced in the 2024-25 Budget to continue strategies to prevent preterm and early-term birth across Australia.

Thank you for writing on this matter.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mr Butler

Animal Welfare

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence dated 10 February 2025, concerning petition number EN6862 on protecting pet rabbits from calicivirus (or Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus—RHDV). I acknowledge the concerns the petition raises and understand that pet rabbits are much loved and may be an important part of families.

Unlike domestic pet rabbits, wild rabbits are a costly pest, causing over $200 million in lost agricultural production annually and are a significant threat to biodiversity, affecting 304 nationally threatened plant and animal species. Wild rabbits decrease agricultural productivity and can cause wide scale land degradation and erosion. They also compete with native animals for food. If wild rabbit populations are left unmanaged, they will cause even greater environmental damage, particularly following severe bushfires and floods when native vegetation and wildlife are likely to be under additional stress.

The management of established pest animals such as wild rabbits is primarily the responsibility of the relevant state or territory government, along with landholders. Therefore, management activities, including use of RHDVl-K5 as a biological control agent, are governed by relevant state and territory legislation and can only be carried out under conditions set down in a specific permit issued by the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) under Commonwealth legislation (Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994).

I encourage individuals who have concerns about protecting their pet rabbits against RHDV to contact their relevant state or territory government to seek advice on the best channels to receive relevant communications on planned RHDV releases.

As an example, the New South Wales (NSW) Government makes public notices to veterinarians in the relevant local government areas advising of planned releases of RHDV and encouraging vets to inform client of the need to vaccinate their pet rabbits. To protect pet and production rabbits from possible RHDV infection, owners should implement good hygiene practices, ensure animals are protected through appropriate housing and insect proofing, ensure rabbits are vaccinated, and avoid contact with other rabbits—whether wild (feral) rabbits or pet rabbits from outside the household. Additionally, rabbit owners should contact their local veterinarian for advice on biosecurity measures specific to their pet or facility.

I note the request for assistance from the Australian Government for funding to reduce the cost of RHDV vaccines. While the Australian Government does not provide direct support for the purchase of vaccines for domestic rabbits, government agencies consider import and registration applications for vaccines, assessing possible risk to human and animal health and the environment. The Australian government provides national leadership, coordination and invests strategically in established pest animal and weed management where it is in the national interest. It is in the national interest to continue to support the use of biocontrol agents for wild rabbits, to promote agricultural productivity and to protect our natural environment.

There are now two vaccines available for use in rabbits in Australia. The Cylap(R) vaccine currently used in Australia is effective against RHDV1 but may only provide partial protection against the RHDV2 strain. The Filavac VHD K C + V vaccine is an inactivated bivalent vaccine for rabbits which can provide protection against both RHDV1 and RHDV2, and this vaccine was approved in May 2022 for emergency use in Australia.

There has been some confusion between the RHDV1 (K5) variant and the discovery in 2015 of RHDV2 in wild and pet rabbits. RHDV2 is a different virus to RHDV1 and K5. RHDV2 has not been released as a biological control agent by any Australian government. It is not known how the outbreak of RHDV2 virus occurred in Australia, but it is currently the dominant strain causing deaths in domestic rabbits.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write to me. I trust the information provided is of assistance to the petitions committee.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Ms Collins

Health Care: Maternity Services

Dear Ms Templeman

Thank you for your correspondence of 10 February 2025 regarding petition EN6873 addressing the disproportionate impacts women have in rural Australia due to funding and service delivery limitations in maternity services.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of maternity care—Australian families need to have access to safe, high-quality, respectful maternity care. The planning and delivery of Australian maternity services is predominantly undertaken by states and territories, with the Government providing national direction and supporting efforts to improve care and outcomes.

Under the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) and the Medicare Benefits. Schedule (MBS), the Government provides a significant funding contribution to assist states and territories with the costs of public hospital and community health services, including maternity services and where birthing services are available.

All Australian governments are collaborating closely to develop national maternity workforce solutions. Queensland and the New South Wales Governments are leading the development of the National Maternity Workforce Strategy with ongoing jurisdictional and Commonwealth collaboration.

Woman-centred Care Strategy

The Australian Government has developed the Woman-centred care: Strategic directions for Australian maternity services (Woman-centred Care Strategy) to provide national strategic directions to support Australia's high-quality maternity care system and enable improvements in line with contemporary practice, evidence, and international developments.

The Woman-centred Care Strategy recognises that women want to access maternity care in their geographic location and that outreach services and telehealth care enhance maternity care in rural and regional areas.

Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)

The Government is committed to addressing issues that impact women's access to midwifery continuity of care. From 1 March 2025, pregnant women and new mothers will be able to access flexible, high-quality and tailored maternity care that supports improved maternity care outcomes by introducing: a new MBS antenatal and postnatal attendance item of at least 90 minutes, the inclusion of a birth debrief and mental health screening as part of the final postnatal attendance, and a new complex antenatal attendance item leading to hospital admission.

These measures were approved in response to MBS Review Taskforce (Taskforce) recommendations and align with the Senate Inquiry into reproductive healthcare's report 'Ending the postcode lottery—Addressing barriers to reproductive healthcare in Australia'. The changes are complemented and strengthened by the recent removal of the legislated requirement for specified collaborative arrangements between participating midwives and medical practitioners, to render MBS services and prescribe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medications.

Medicare for Home Birth

The MBS does not provide a rebate for intrapartum home birth items for participating midwives. State and territory governments support a range of birthing arrangements, including home birth programs delivered through public hospitals. Eligibility varies in each jurisdiction according to their guidelines. The Commonwealth provides funding support for these services under the National Health Reform Agreement.

There are currently 20 hospitals in Australia with publicly funded home birth programs. Five of those are a Modified Monash Model (MMM) category above 1.

Home Birth Service, Darwin, NT (MMM 2)

Midwifery Group Practice, Alice Springs, NT (MMM 6)

Byron Community Birthing Service, Byron Bay, NSW (MMM 4)

Sunbury Midwifery Group Practice, WA (MMM 2)

Broome Midwifery Group Practice, WA (in development) (MMM 6)

For a new service to be funded through the MBS, an assessment by the Medical Services Advisory Committee or MBS Continuous Review Advisory Committee is usually required. More information on both committee's and how to submit an application or review request is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care's website.

Midwife Professional Indemnity Scheme (MPIS)

In December 2024, the Government passed amendments to the Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Act 2010. These amendments expand the existing MPIS to cover claims arising from out-of-hospital births, including homebirths and Birthing on Country services. They will come into effect from 1 July 2025.

Changes to the MPIS do not directly alter funding or access to homebirth for patients. By expanding the available insurance coverage, the Government is enabling midwives to offer a wider range of services. In turn, this will support women in choosing the birthing option that best suits their needs and preferences, including culturally safe care for First Nations mothers.

National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA)

On 5 February 2025, a 12-month extension to the current NHRA 2020-2025 Addendum was agreed between all governments. The 12-month extension locks in over $33 billion in health funding to states in 2025-26, including more than $2 billion in additional growth funding; and $1.7 billion through a one-time fixed funding boost for hospital and related health services. The 12-month extension provides financial certainty for public hospitals while allowing more time for the Commonwealth and states and territories to work together on longer term and more complex health and disability reforms. Officials will continue working on the 2025-2030 Addendum in good faith, to deliver vital structural reforms that reduce demand on public hospitals.

As agreed at National Cabinet, all governments will continue to progress negotiations on the next Addendum to the NHRA, which will make our system more sustainable and ensure that now, and into the future, every Australian can access the health care they need when and where "they need it. Negotiations have included consideration of recommendations from the NHRA Mid Term Review. The Mid Term Review was a report to all governments, it included a recommendation (recommendation 13) to the develop and implement bundled payments within the NHRA, with an initial focus on maternity care.

Maternity Support Services in the Vass Valley, New South Wales

At the 2024-25 Budget, the Government announced that it would 'provide funding to support the New South Wales Government to establish a maternity care service, which will provide women residing in the Vass Valley with greater access to maternity support services closer to home.' This is a Commonwealth commitment of $4.7 million to fund a new Women's and Family Maternity Care Centre at Vass that will provide a midwifery-led model of care. This midwifery-led model would provide quality maternity services for women and families residing in the rural surrounds of the Vass Valley.

Diagnostic Imaging Services Review

The Government's 2024-25 Budget included a review of select diagnostic imaging services, including obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound items. The aim of this review is to determine whether current items reflect best practices and evidence-based guidelines, align with the time, complexity, and costs of providing the services, and support patient access while ensuring the quality and safety of ultrasound imaging services. The review will also assess imaging requestor rights, with the aim of ensuring that health care providers, including Endorsed Midwives, have access to appropriate imaging.

Maternity Patient Reported Outcome and Experience Measures

A priority area for action of the Woman-centred Care Strategy, as agreed by Health Ministers in April 2023, is to strengthen and expand national data on patient reported measures of outcomes and experiences. While some health services at the local level have mechanisms in place to obtain feedback from patients of their services, including in relation to maternity care, there is little standardisation or collation of this information. Additionally, there is no national reporting of maternity patient reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs and PREMs) in Australia.

The Australian Government provides funding to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) for the National Maternity Data Development Project, which supports continued development of nationally consistent maternal and perinatal data collections in, Australia since 2011.

It continues to build the evidence base on maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality to support the reporting and review of maternity outcomes such as those outlined in the Woman-centred Care Strategy and the National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan.

Under this project, the AIHW provided a research brief to the department in January 2025 on Patient reported outcome and experience measures for women giving birth in Australia.

The brief explores what PROMs and PREMs are, which PROMs and PREMs are used for maternity care, if data could be collected alongside the National Perinatal Data Collection and provides recommendations for next steps in progressing work in this area. The department will consider the recommendations in consultation with jurisdictions via the National Maternity Strategic Advisory Group.

Thank you for writing on this matter.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mr Butler

E-Cigarettes and Vaping Products

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of Monday 10 February 2025 regarding petition number EN6879, requesting that the House of Representatives take action to charge Big Tobacco in relation to people aged under 18 becoming addicted to vaping products.

The Australian Government shares your concerns about youth vaping. The Government has progressed a comprehensive range of measures and reforms in partnership with states and territories to reduce smoking and vaping through stronger legislation, enforcement, education and support.

The Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Act 2024 commenced on 1 July 2024 enacting key changes, including limiting access of therapeutic vapes to pharmacies and prohibiting the importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertisement of disposable single use and nontherapeutic vapes.

The reforms do not prohibit the sale of all vaping products. From 1 October 2024, patients over the age of 18 can buy therapeutic vapes with a nicotine concentration of 20mg/ml or less from a participating pharmacy without a prescription, to support smoking cessation and the management of nicotine dependence, subject to certain conditions and where state and territory law allows. The patient must talk with the pharmacist before purchasing. People under 18 years need a prescription to access vapes, where state and territory laws allow, to ensure they get appropriate medical advice and supervision.

The Government's vaping reforms are focussed on protecting young people and other Australians from the harms of vaping while ensuring those with a legitimate need to access therapeutic vapes can continue to do so.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), part of the Department of Health and Aged Care, and other Commonwealth and state/territory government agencies are working together to enforce the vaping reforms. The TGA takes action against those unlawfully advertising, importing and supplying vaping goods (whether or not these responsible parties are related to the tobacco industry) using a variety of investigative and enforcement powers, including taking court action.

The Government also continues to provide support for people who vape and/or smoke to quit and remain tobacco and vape free. Support is available from health professionals such as GPs, nurses and pharmacists. Confidential advice is also available through Quitline (13 78 48). Smoking cessation products that have been approved by the TGA following a rigorous assessment of their safety, quality, and efficacy also continue to be available, and some products are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

New initiatives from the Government have provided or enabled targeted support through increased education and information, and improved access to services. These initiatives build on existing measures and resources, and include:

the creation of an online cessation hub that contains information, tools, resources and a system to direct consumers to the best support mechanisms to assist them to quit smoking and vaping

improved access to Quitline and cessation support services across the country

the redevelopment of the My Quit Buddy app to provide both smoking and vaping cessation support

new clinical guidance for health professionals on smoking and vaping cessation

support for health professionals through continued funding of the National Quit Centre

national public health campaigns to reduce smoking and vaping rates, including campaigns focused on youth vaping cessation.

These initiatives complement other actions being taken by the Government in line with the National Tobacco Strategy 2023-2030 to reduce the rates of tobacco and e-cigarette use including stronger regulation of tobacco products under the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023.

Thank you for writing on this matter.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mr Butler

Freedom of Speech

Dear Chair

Thank you for your correspondence of 10 February 2025 regarding petition number EN6888, which calls for freedom of speech and freedom of the press to be enshrined in the Australian Constitution.

The Australian Government is not currently proposing any changes to the Constitution in relation to freedom of speech or freedom of the press.

While the Australian Constitution does not contain any express rights to 'freedom of speech' or 'freedom of the press', the High Court has recognised an implied constitutional freedom of political communication on government and political matters. This implied freedom can only be limited by laws that both have a purpose which is compatible with the system of representative government, and that are reasonably appropriate and adapted to advance that legitimate object.

In all other areas, courts will interpret legislation having regard to the protection of fundamental common law rights, which include freedom of speech.

Parliament is able to strike the appropriate balance between protecting free speech and other important policy objectives, including upholding other rights, such as the right to privacy, or the right to reputation. Our system of representative democracy allows voters to judge whether Parliament has got the balance between competing freedoms right.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely

from the Attorney-General, Mr Dreyfus KC

Nuclear Energy

Dear Ms Templeman

Thank you for your correspondence of 27 November 2024 about petition PN0627, 'Request to remove all federal legislative barriers to the development of nuclear power'.

The Albanese Government changes to the nuclear trigger were signalled in the Australian Government's Nature Positive Plan, released in December 2022. These reforms will align regulation of nuclear actions with radiation management standards of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) to promote best practice radiation protection.

The proposed Nature Positive reforms to the nuclear trigger would not expand the scope of nuclear installations that can be approved under national environmental law.

The Liberal Party's reckless nuclear scheme costs too much, takes too long and will push up bills. The CSIRO found time and time again nuclear is the most expensive form of power generation and it takes too long.

Thank you again for bringing this petition to my attention.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for the Environment and Water, Ms Plibersek

Australia Post

Dear Chair

Thank you for your email of 10 February 2025 regarding a petition (PN0632) requesting Australia Post to relocate the Artarmon Post Shop in Artarmon, New South Wales.

I acknowledge the concerns raised in the petition about the upcoming closure of the Artarmon Post Shop and the impact this may have on residents, in particular the elderly and people with limited mobility being able to access postal and other services in the area.

Australia Post is required to perform its functions consistent with sound commercial practice and meet a range of performance standards outlined in the Australian Postal Corporation Performance Standards Regulations 2019 (the Regulations). Under the Regulations, Australia Post is required to maintain 4,000 post offices, including 2,500 in non-metropolitan locations. As at 30 June 2024, Australia Post maintained 4,198 retail outlets, which exceeded the regulatory requirement of 4,000.

The Australian Government has not reduced the minimum number of post offices that Australia Post must maintain. Post Office closures within regulatory requirements are a decision for Australia Post, and the Government expects that any closures are operationally necessary and will be done in consultation with affected stakeholders.

Australia Post's day to day operations are the responsibility of its board and management. By law, it is legally and financially separate from the Government and does not receive financial support from the Government.

The Petition has been passed on to Australia Post management for their review.

The Government will continue to work with Australia Post, licensees and communities so that services meet the needs of modern Australia, consistent with existing regulatory requirements.

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.

Yours sincerely

from the Minister for Communications, Ms Rowland

Women's Budget Statement

Early Childhood Education

Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Gladstone Airport Patient Transfer Facility

National Basketball League

Health Care: Immunisation

Holt Electorate: Festivals

Budget

Albanese Government

Bondi Junction Attack: First Anniversary

Mental Health

Federal Election

Federal Election

Sport

Budget

Cost of Living

Federal Election

Workplace Relations: Mining Industry

Parkes Electorate: Parliamentary Representation

Australian Public Service

Budget

Taxation

Cost of Living

Taxation

Crowley, Hon. Dr Rosemary Anne, AO

Taxation

Taxation

Fuel

Education

Defence Procurement: Submarines

Energy: Gas

Budget

Taxation

Migration