Graham Perrett's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I'll take that interjection. At the heart of this bill is Labor's commitment to strengthening our regional ties and to our Pacific family. I use the term 'Pacific family' not in a patriarchal...
I'll take that interjection. At the heart of this bill is Labor's commitment to strengthening our regional ties and to our Pacific family. I use the term 'Pacific family' not in a patriarchal sense but rather as a sibling. I think the Treasurer has the most significant Pasifika community in the country, but, as the member for Riverina touched on, the Pasifika diaspora and Pasifika migrants are scattered right throughout Australia. They are particularly noticeable in our rugby league teams, rugby union teams and netball teams, in fact. But the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is particularly engaged with the need for this guarantee. Obviously, coming from the electorate of Rankin, it is personal. Since coming to office, the Albanese government has been committed to strengthening partnerships in the Pacific, which, sadly, have been trashed by the coalition for nine long years—that wasted decade, in fact. Who could forget the coalition leader joking about our Pacific family members losing their homes due to climate change? Contrast that with the fine words the member for Riverina just delivered. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for International Development and the Pacific have travelled extensively, amending the relationships that have become strained during that disastrous decade of coalition government. In fact, Albanese government ministers visited every Pacific Islands Forum nation in our first 12 months in office—something that reflects our commitment to the region. In August 2023, the government released the milestone International Development Policy. This policy focuses on high-quality support for our neighbours in economic growth, infrastructure development, health care, climate change, gender equality and addressing poverty—all of which contribute to a stable and prosperous region. The International Development Policy operates alongside the Official Development Assistance budget. That shortsighted former coalition government slashed this budget by $11.9 billion. That's right—$11.9 billion. I know that speakers from the coalition have spoken about team Australia and bipartisan support, but you just can't get away with the damage that you do to relationships when you slash $11.9 billion. That is something that the former foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has never publicly apologised for, nor has she been held accountable for the damaging slap in the face delivered to our Pacific neighbours and others. Labor however recognises the vital and ongoing importance of supporting our neighbours. It makes Australians safer. That's why we've increased the ODA budget by $10.4 billion. The Albanese government has also added $500 million to the ODA budget over the forward estimates for climate change finance for developing countries and for the development of better infrastructure. Labor's responsible economic management will also ensure long-term sustainable growth to the ODA budget via annual indexation of 2.5 per cent. As mentioned by the Treasurer on Tuesday night, we'll redirect $119 million to the Indo-Pacific region, after the United States cut, effectively, 40 per cent of the world's global aid overnight. I know it's not quite that. They've cut back a little bit on the cutting, but it is incredible to think of the hundreds and thousands of people who lost their jobs and, even more than that, as we know, the lives that have been lost since that decision. Something as simple as keeping people alive with HIV treatment—what would have been 600,000 deaths per year is probably going to be 10 times that over the next five years. People are dying right now because of that decision. Obviously, we can't take up 40 per cent of the world's foreign aid. We can't fill that gap. All the world's other economies can't fill that gap. It's quite significant. But we will support the Pacific in terms of economic health, humanitarian and climate responses wherever we can to try and make up for that and do what we can to look after our patch. All of these measures indicate Labor's strong commitment to international development but especially to the development in our region. They also highlight this government's focus on reinforcing crucial regional relationships. In times of increasing global insecurity and uncertainty, the relationships we have with our regional partners are vital. We are collectively facing complex geopolitical challenges as we emerge from a global pandemic. We are faced with conflicts, with wars, with humanitarian and economic crises and with that ever-growing grim reality of climate change that everyday Australians see every time they—basically, we see it on our television screens every couple of weeks. The challenges of climate change are no laughing matter for our Indo-Pacific neighbours, despite the Leader of the Opposition's cruel performance. His flippant comments about the effects of climate change on the Pacific islands laid bare his contempt and lack of understanding of the modern world. What's that saying from Maya Angelou? 'When someone shows you what they are, believe them.' It has been 10 years since that infamous boom mic incident, but the Leader of the Opposition continues to be steadfast in his climate change denial, and he will not come clean about his plans for the 2030 emissions target or the Paris Agreement. In contrast to the coalition's approach to our regional neighbours, the Albanese government is drawing on all the tools of statecraft, including rugby league, rugby union, netball, football, cricket, and others, I'm sure—I'm seeing some nods from someone who would know—to deepen and strengthen our vital relationships with regional partners. And, just as an aside, I know I'm speaking to a Western Australian deputy speaker, but the rugby league diplomacy that the Prime Minister exhibited on the State of Origin a few years back was a masterstroke—perhaps it something that would never be written by a DFAT official but by a South Sydney Rabbitohs tragic like the Prime Minister—and it was incredibly effective. The Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill is obviously a part of this expanded relationship. Simply put, this bill will help to provide ongoing access to banking facilities across the Pacific. In recent years, Australian banks have scaled down operations in Pacific countries, and the decrease of correspondent banking services has been faster in this region than anywhere else in the world. Correspondent banking services occur when a financial institution provides banking services to another financial institution in a foreign country. The services provided include cash management, international funds transfer, cheque clearing, trade finance arrangements and foreign exchange services—all crucial to stay connected to the international finance system, particularly when you have the PALM worker scheme, which is, I would suggest, one of our greatest diplomatic engagements with the Pacific. Connection is necessary for economic growth, financial inclusion and regional stability. The Albanese government's Pacific banking guarantee will ensure the entire region stays connected. The need for this guarantee was discussed when the Treasurer attended the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in August last year. In fact, it was the first time in nearly 20 years that an Australian Treasurer had attended such a meeting. The Pacific banking guarantee is not a loan or a subsidy. Instead, the Commonwealth will back eligible Australian banks to continue their operations in the Pacific by providing a guarantee. It places the risk of default on low-risk exposures on the Commonwealth rather than the financial institutions, who, I have noticed, are not exactly struggling. The participating banks will pay a fee for the arrangement. The bill will implement a special appropriation on the Consolidated Revenue Fund and enable the Commonwealth to pay for the full amount of the guarantee if there is a default. It's unlikely that the guarantee will ever be needed, but it provides additional security and confidence for Australian banks to continue to operate in the Pacific. The Pacific banking guarantee is a regionwide approach. It is not about any one nation, and it's all about strengthening our Pacific family, as a good sibling should do. The importance of finance to this regional relationship is reflected in the work this government has already undertaken in the sector. I'm talking about progress such as the Commonwealth bank opening in Nauru this year and the development of digital identity infrastructure with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. We've also supported ANZ and Westpac to continue operations in the Pacific. It's not just about the banks, though. The Attorney-General's Department has been working with capacity building in Pacific countries in the areas of financial crime protection. This reflects the core tenets of the international development policy, which focuses on genuine partnerships that value consultation, listening, collaboration and respect. Those four terms, again, are consultation, listening, collaboration and respect. Throw in a little bit of culture and food, the occasional shared meal, maybe even a bit of kava—not as much as the member for Riverina consumes—and some sporting links and you have a recipe for a happier Pacific family. We know what the Pacific is. You can't just go to Noosa and have a swim and say you are involved with the Pacific. That's not diplomacy. You need to do a lot more, as our ministers have shown. The Albanese Labor government's put partnership at the centre of international development, and we respect the different strengths that all our different partners bring to the table. The Pacific banking guarantee is a necessary, useful and forward-thinking component of our relationship with our Pacific family. It sets the region up for ongoing growth, prosperity and stability. For the last time I say, I commend the bill to the House.
I rise in support of the Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025 brought to the house by the Treasurer and so nobly spoken about by the Minister for International Development and the Pacific. I do...
I rise in support of the Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025 brought to the house by the Treasurer and so nobly spoken about by the Minister for International Development and the Pacific. I do acknowledge the words of the member for Riverina, who I know is a great champion of the Pacific. He mentioned team Australia. I've been on touring delegations with the member for Riverina, and I remember how he took the kava for team Australia and his kind words about the minister, who I know is passionate about the Pacific. He has some dubious rugby league teams that he supports, but nevertheless I recognise his great commitment to the Pacific.
Industry, Science and Resources Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
Nuclear Energy Select Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
Most people know that water plays a crucial role. Put simply, by Associate Professor Obbard from the University of New South Wales, Nuclear Innovation Centre, 'The job of water is to somehow pump...
Most people know that water plays a crucial role. Put simply, by Associate Professor Obbard from the University of New South Wales, Nuclear Innovation Centre, 'The job of water is to somehow pump all the heat out of the reactor and do something useful with it to make electricity.' I'm sure the member for Fairfax, when he came up with this wonderful plan that he took to his leader, did something as simple as googling those words 'nuclear power water'. That's what I did. In fact, I did it today, and this is what came up: 'Nuclear power plants require significant amounts of water for cooling, primarily to condense steam back into water after it has powered turbines but also to cool the reactor core. While the water is used extensively, it is not consumed but rather recycled and is used in a closed-loop system.' They typically use 13 billion to 24 billion litres per year or about 35 million to 65 million litres per day. To put that in context, as someone that used to be on the Olympic Games committee, an Olympic-sized swimming pool is about 2.5 million litres. So the nuclear reactors use 14 to 26 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water per day. That water will not be used for farming. We know that the two proposed sites for nuclear power plants in Queensland—I went there with chair of the committee—are the coal-fired power stations at Callide and Tarong. I had visited Tarong many years before, when I was a mines adviser in the Queensland state government. Callide currently has an allocation of 20,000 megalitres a year from the Callide Dam. It's estimated that a nuclear power plant would require at least double this amount and maybe even more. It's similar story at Tarong, which will require an additional 55 per cent more water than the current coal-fired power station uses. The dams that both power stations draw their water from also supply drinking water to little towns like Gladstone, Kingaroy and Biloela. These dams have another vital use. They supply water for irrigation for agriculture and the replenishment of aquifers in these areas. I know that there is one member from the National Party present in the chamber. I do note that the member for Fairfax sits here in the Liberal Party room; he doesn't sit in the National Party room. I also know a little bit of political history, and when I was growing up in the bush, I was represented in my town by a party called the Country Party. The Country Party looked after farmers, and they were also made up of farmers. They were never the Liberal lapdogs. The Country Party in Queensland stood up for themselves and they stood up for farmers in particular. The old Country Party would never abandon the bush. They would never screw over farmers in pursuit of a nuclear fantasy around Callide and Tarong to appease their inner-city liberals. The MP for Fairfax talked about regional economic hubs. I listened to what he had to say. There's no place for farmers. They're giving up on the bush. The coalition's plan rests on the assumption that there is water available in the first place. The Callide Dam is currently at 16.5 per cent capacity. It's fed by Awoonga Dam, which is currently under 50 per cent capacity. This is no surprise when you consider that since 1964, which isn't that long ago, the Banana shire LGA, which contains Callide, has had 11 periods of drought as declared by the Queensland government. The Queensland government started recording drought declaration status in 1964, and the records show that in the same timeframe the area encompassing Tarong has had 12 periods of declared drought. Why would you choose the areas that have been drought declared basically every other year and say, 'Let's put a water-intensive nuclear power station there.' It's unbelievable. This has obviously been designed by a Liberal, and not by a National who understands farmers and the bush. I'd certainly like to know what the LNP's backup plans are for Callide and Tarong when the dams dry up and more droughts are declared, as they invariably will be. For the townsfolk that want water to drink—bad luck. For the townsfolk who want to have a shower or a bath—bad luck. For local farmers that have a business that's hooked in to these water supplies—bad luck. However, like so much of the honourable opposition leader's nuclear plans, the backups are unspecified, uncertain and murky. No responsible government would gamble Australian taxpayer money—and such vast sums of it—on such an unreliable prospect. I didn't go to all of the other sites, but my understanding is that several of them have water constraints as well, as the chair can attest to—even the deputy chair can attest to that as well if he has been listening. Although I'm sure the LNP would rather that we didn't, we also need to talk about the risk of a nuclear accident—vast quantities of water could be required to avoid a reactor meltdown. As the director of the Queensland Conservation Council states: There simply is not enough water available in the proposed locations to run nuclear facilities, and no plan for where to store irradiated water required for heat reduction in the case of an emergency. We heard great evidence from the people of Biloela and the people that came to the Nanango hearings. I understand from the people in the committee that there was great awareness and people all throughout Australia were prepared to engage with the idea. When the House Select Committee on Nuclear Energy published the interim report of their inquiry, we'd heard testimony over 19 days of public hearings across the country, including in each of the regions where the coalition plans to build nuclear power plants. The inquiry also considered more than 850 written submissions, and found: The impact of nuclear power generation on Australia's water supplies has been inadequately considered by the Coalition in its proposal. Meanwhile, the Albanese Labor government is getting on with harnessing the natural resources we are blessed with to generate renewable energy. During droughts—guess what—the sun shines more, and during droughts, the wind can still blow. That's the beauty of it! We've approved 77 renewable energy projects which will generate enough power for 10 million Australian homes. That's 15 gigawatts more than the Dutton plan will deliver in 20 or 30 years for $600 billion. The opposition leader's Commonwealth nuclear public servants haven't been hired yet. I don't think anybody needs to start working on their CVs right at the moment. This is not a science driven solution; it is a political wedge. Private capital won't touch it with a bargepole. Private capital knows that it would be better off putting it on race 7 at Eagle Farm rather than backing this fantasy. So, while the Coalition exists in fantasy land, Labor is implementing a strong and responsible plan for Australia's current and future energy needs right now. Labor is working with the coal-fired power stations, working with the gas-fired power stations and working with renewable energy projects to make sure that we've got a manufacturing sector right now, not some fantasy that'll come along in 40 years. Labor is working with these people right now to ensure that we have a manufacturing sector and also that we look after the farmers in the bush and make sure their water supplies are secured. I might be from the bush and representing the city now, but I understand how to look after farmers; the Nationals seem to have forgotten that.
Do you remember learning in primary school how unique our island continent is? I remember being taught that the Great Barrier Reef is the longest reef in the world and it can be seen from outer...
Do you remember learning in primary school how unique our island continent is? I remember being taught that the Great Barrier Reef is the longest reef in the world and it can be seen from outer space. I'm not sure if that's true but I remember hearing about that—it's a big thing in Queensland—and that we were the smallest continent, filled with animals not found anywhere else. One fact I particularly remember is that Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world. It's not the driest but is the driest inhabited continent. Antarctica is actually drier. Growing up in Saint George, out in western Queensland, this fact wasn't too hard to imagine. We went for long periods without rain. In fact, 70 per cent of Australia is classified as either arid or semiarid. In the arid zone, there is an average rainfall of 250 millimetres or less. This fact is particularly pertinent now, given the coalition's nuclear fantasy. The nuclear plan of the honourable opposition leader, Mr Dutton, is fanciful in numerous ways, as was detailed by Mr Repacholi in his speech this morning. But, there are so many other things. We know it's fanciful because of the cost, the timeframe, the risk, the legal barriers and the lack of social licence. That's has been covered by many of the other speakers so far. I'm going to particularly talk about the fact that the LNP's nuclear pipedream involves generating nuclear energy on the driest inhabited continent on earth, and I'm particularly going to talk about Queensland. We know that water plays a crucial role in the generation of nuclear power.
That decision was made when you were in government.
Public Works Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the following reports: report No. 1 of 2025: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and...
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the following reports: report No. 1 of 2025: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Davis Station critical infrastructure works and other works and report No. 2 of 2025: Department of Defence—facilities to support LAND 8113 phase 1 long range fires and other works. Reports made parliamentary papers in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's first and second reports for 2025. Together these reports consider seven proposals referred to the committee by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Services Australia; the Department of Defence; the Australian Sports Commission; and the Australian Electoral Commission. In total, these works have a combined value of just over $1,123,000,000. The two proposals from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water together sought to spend $293 million to update infrastructure at the Antarctic research facility, Davis station, and deliver a cold-water marine research aquarium on the Derwent estuary in Hobart, Tasmania. Davis station is one of three permanent Australian research stations in Antarctica. It is used to conduct research on upper atmosphere physics, geosciences, medicine, meteorology, environmental remediation, climate change, biological sciences and seabirds. Scientists, operation staff, tradespeople and support staff reside at the station year round to maintain the facilities and support ongoing scientific activities. The current buildings and infrastructure are aged or at end of life and this is limiting the number or researchers able to be accommodated at the station. The works will update old water, power and mechanical systems, allowing an increase in accommodation capacity from 69 people in summer to 91 and from 30 people in winter to 35. Critical to the work is the diversification of the station's water supply. The current water supply produces water only in summer. A new reverse osmosis plant will make it possible to produce potable water all year round. The works will be delivered in a program alliance model, a form of contracting which allows the Commonwealth to collaborate with non-owner designers and constructors. The alliance will deliver a program of works in Antarctica, of which this is the first. The committee was satisfied that the alliance will successfully address program outcomes in the extreme construction environment of Antarctica and did not have any concerns with the proposal. The other project being delivered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will deliver a cold water research aquarium, furthering scientific understanding of the biology of Antarctic krill and related species, as well as answer critical research questions on the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Antarctic krill are a critical keystone species in the Southern Ocean, and Australia is a world leader in this research. The works will deliver the fit-out of a cold shell currently being constructed on the University of Tasmania campus. The fit-out will include a sea water intake pump station, a water treatment system, a water cooling and heating system as well as office and research spaces. The new facility will be able to connect to the mobile aquarium on board the icebreaker RSV Nuyina, providing for safer and more efficient specimen transfer. The committee visited the site earlier in the parliament and commends the department on their international leadership in krill research. The committee was satisfied with the proposal. The two proposals from Services Australia sought approval for new office fit-outs for their offices in Canberra and in Townsville. The combined spend for the fit-outs comes to just over $143 billion. The Canberra office fit-out is taking place at the Caroline Chisholm Centre at 57 Athlon Drive, Greenway, and the Townsville fit-out on 186 Walker Street, Townsville. The purpose of the Canberra fit-out is to consolidate four office sites into two by the year 2027. The leases at two of the existing office sites are due to expire, and the fit-outs are old and at the end of their useful life. The consolidation of the offices will also allow Services Australia to meet the government's desired targets for occupancy density of office space as well as increase efficiencies and reduce security risks as staff are brought into closer physical proximity. The scope of the works will see the number of workstations reduced from one staff member per workstation to a ratio of 10 staff to eight workstations. This ratio reflects the changing nature of office utilisation, with hot desking having become the norm and many staff utilising flexible working arrangements, as most politicians would understand. The fit-out will also include meeting and conference rooms, utility and store rooms, secure rooms, training rooms, breakout spaces, staff amenities and communication equipment rooms. The committee did not have any concerns with the proposal and was pleased that learnings from previous Services Australia fit-outs are being incorporated into the design and scope of the proposed works. The Townsville office fit-out will similarly consolidate office space from two sites into one. Services Australia has a large presence in Townsville, with the officers there supporting the needs of Services Australia around the country at its face-to-face sites, smart centres, processing sites and occasional pop-up facilities, particularly noteworthy during disasters such as Cyclone Alfred. Services Australia considered extending their lease at their current premises, instead of pursuing the proposed works, but an approach to market showed that the new lease arrangement would provide better value for money. The committee was satisfied with this proposal. The Department of Defence put forward a $376.7 million project to support the land-based long-range missile capability of the Australian Defence Force. The works will be delivered at both Puckapunyal Military Area, in Victoria, and the Edinburgh Defence Precinct, in South Australia. The scope of the works includes the refurbishment of the schools of artillery at Puckapunyal and at Edinburgh, the construction of a new headquarters, a combat services support battery, workshop facilities, and living and accommodation. The committee was satisfied with the proposal, noting that Defence's community engagement may prove more accessible with the inclusion of a social media strategy. The Australian Electoral Commission sought to spend just over $35 million for a fit-out of a new leased office premises, something that all MPs and senators have an interest in. The works will see agency staff moved into a single purpose-built office space in the Canberra CBD. The agency notes that the consolidation will reduce the total net lettable area of office space; improve communication and collaboration between decision-makers, support teams and the command centre; as well as deliver an agile working model office set-up. The works will fit-out levels 2 to 7 at 26 Narellan Street, Canberra. The office will have an open plan layout for all staff and include workstation settings, bookable offices, breakout spaces and meeting rooms. The works will provide flexibility around possible future ways of working, as well as surge capacity during democratic events. The committee was satisfied with the proposed works and that the reduced net lettable area and agile office set-up would not negatively impact the Australian Electoral Commission's ability to successfully manage democratic events during the transition, which I think it's a Public Service speak for elections Lastly, the Australian Sports Commission sought approval for a $250 million revitalisation of the Australian Institute of Sport, the AIS. The committee was shown around the site on Monday by the CEO, a gentleman by the name of Kieran Perkins, who well knows the benefits of training at the AIS. I seem to recall that he could swim a little bit. In fact, I think he set a couple of world records at the AIS, he mentioned. The works will enhance the AIS Canberra campus in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The AIS is the central hub for high-performance sports, providing accommodation, training facilities, recovery centres and sports science services, but it also caters for locals and internationals as well as that core group. The works will deliver a new athlete village, a multisport dome and a high-performance training and testing centre. The new facilities will be useful far beyond the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as they will continue to support Australia's elite athletes. The works will be carried out in a way that ensures the training programs of elite athletes are not disrupted during the building phase. Instead of demolishing and rebuilding existing facilities, the proposed works will be built greenfield. The works will deliver an additional 200 beds to accommodate elite para-athletes and able-bodied athletes, a synthetic pitch suitable for a large variety of team sports and a multisport gymnastic area suitable for sports like gymnastics, basketball, netball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, cricket, skateboarding, sport climbing and BMX. The committee was satisfied with the project and welcomes the inclusion of facilities for non-traditional sports in the design. The committee thanks the AIS for accommodating it on a site inspection of the proposed worksites. Seeing the AIS campus in person impressed upon us the need for accommodation which further supports both our Olympian and Paralympian athletes, including having extra-long beds. On a different note, the honourable Keith Pitt, the former member for Hinkler, resigned as Deputy Chair of the Public Works Committee on 19 January this year to take up a new role representing our nation at the Holy See. I wish Keith and Allison all the best there, and I hope to catch up with them sometime soon. On behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank Keith for his dedicated service as the Deputy Chair of the Public Works Committee throughout the 47th Parliament. He remained committed to public works oversight ever since joining the committee back in 2022. His technical expertise and experience both in government and elsewhere in business and his excellent common sense provided valuable perspective for the committee's discussions and decisions. On behalf of the committee, I wish him all the best in his future endeavours, and I welcome Mr Andrew Willcox, the member for Dawson, as the incoming deputy chair. I've decided not to stand for re-election for the next parliament, meaning these are the last public works inquiries to be tabled by me. I've enjoyed serving as the chair and deputy chair of the committee over the last decade or so. I've travelled to many interesting locations, including Norfolk Island in the member for Bean's electorate and also the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island—all over Australia! I've met any number of clever and hardworking public servants, particularly on Defence bases—all people who ensure the success of the government of the day's operations. And I've learnt more Defence acronyms than I ever expected to learn. Back to the projects. The committee would like to extend its thanks to all those who provided written and oral evidence in support of the inquiries being tabled today. Thank you also to the staff from the various departments and agencies for accommodating the committee on a number of site inspections across Australia. It's always valuable for the Public Works Committee to see the location of proposed works and to get a feel for the conditions of current facilities when considering multimillion-dollar proposals. For all projects, the committee recommends that it is expedient that the proposed works be carried out. I commend the reports to the House.
Budget | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | Statements by Members | House debates
Last Friday was the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In a perfect world, it would only take one day to eliminate racial discrimination. We observe this day on the...
Last Friday was the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In a perfect world, it would only take one day to eliminate racial discrimination. We observe this day on the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa in 1960, when police killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid pass laws. John Howard orange-washed this horrendous historical event and turned it into our Harmony Day. Australians now observe this day because we know that racism harms not just the lives of those who experience it but also society as a whole. Despite knowing this, there are times when some politicians just can't help themselves. When somebody shows you who they are, believe them. What is the purpose of announcing a policy that would allow a different class of Australian citizenship—where, depending on that class of citizenship, one-third of Australians could be removed from this country if they misbehave? What is the purpose of blaming overseas students for the housing shortage, when we know that we all have to build more houses? What is the purpose of exploiting the trauma of an overseas war for domestic political gain? As politicians, we must remember that our words matter. People use the words they hear to justify their own actions—some, unfortunately, are negative. As we embark on the 2025 federal election campaign, let's remember that, when we give airtime to forces that aim to discriminate or cause division, distrust and intolerance, we all lose. Australia is so much better than that.
Moreton Electorate: Volunteers | Constituency Statements | House debates
On a humid day in Brisbane a fortnight ago, well over 200 people crowded into the Wellers Hill Bowls Club to celebrate the most selfless people in our community. The annual Moreton Volunteer...
On a humid day in Brisbane a fortnight ago, well over 200 people crowded into the Wellers Hill Bowls Club to celebrate the most selfless people in our community. The annual Moreton Volunteer Awards is one of my favourite events of the year. This time it was bittersweet because it was my 17th and final awards, but we certainly finished on a high. This year's 53 award winners were people who gave up their time in community centres, multicultural groups, RSL sub-branches, P&C associations, girl guides, scout groups, schools and so many other parts of our community. There were award winners from all sorts of clubs from ponies, to soccer, to Lions, to swimming, to cricket, to AFL and even to croquet. We applauded three 2024 high school graduates whose time at school was distinguished by their conspicuous community service and a Rotarian who is celebrating 50 years in the organisation. We honoured a men's shed stalwart, people who teach traditional Taiwanese dancing, a koala rescuer who's available 24/7, a church leader who fixes parishioners' cars, some Meals on Wheels volunteers, some refugee and asylum seeker volunteer workers and so many more. It was an impressive, wide range of community organisations. Beyond these differences, the recipients all share some key factors in common: they are generous with their time and their knowledge, they care for others, they're humble and they look to make the world a better place. Right now, when so many people are doing it tough, these inspiring community workers really make a direct difference on the ground. Together, they illustrate the diversity of the Moreton community, but, more than that, they demonstrate the shared values of our community. They also showcase the benefits that come with volunteering. We know how it positively impacts our community, but it also has a myriad of personal benefits. Volunteering has been shown to decrease the possibility of depression, anxiety and social isolation. It builds social capital and the connections you have with those around you, and it increases your sense of satisfaction and happiness. I can affirm that there was certainly a lot of happiness, laughter and good cheer at our awards. After the event, the local and state elected representatives joined me in mingling with the recipients—a great, swirling group of people—and we heard more about the challenges and successes of these local legends. I'm now lucky and proud to count many of these people as my friends after representing them for 18 years. I'd like to thank those who took the time to nominate the recipients and our wonderful emcee—the best emcee in Australia—Lewis Lee, who is himself a dedicated volunteer. I also thank the Wellers Hill Bowls Club for their ongoing support and giving us a room for free; it's a great venue. Congratulations to all the volunteers who received an award, and I'm sure Julie-Ann Campbell will continue this next year.
Electoral Advertising | Adjournment | House debates
I couldn't possibly comment on those earlier words, Speaker. You're always fair. At the last federal election in Moreton, the Liberal-National coalition put a corflute up that had a pointing...
I couldn't possibly comment on those earlier words, Speaker. You're always fair. At the last federal election in Moreton, the Liberal-National coalition put a corflute up that had a pointing finger and a headline that said, 'Labor lie.' The finger was pointed at a corflute of me. I always thought referring to me as a liar was odd, because I think therefore I am. For many elections, someone in Moreton spent a lot of time distributing flyers that said I was the writer of pornographic material and that my mother had disowned me for it. Incidentally, neither of these statements were true. The campaign backfired because so many residents were offended at receiving these lies in their letterbox—and it was also very good for my book sales! My point here is that most politicians have probably been subject to some form of misinformation during their political careers—heightened, of course, around elections. Factors like foreign interference and cyberattacks are acknowledged as credible threats at such times. But what has changed is the veracity of social media and the misinformation it regurgitates. We've seen a proliferation of AI generated text, images, video, audio and deepfakes, and much of this information is homegrown. The Acting Australian Electoral Commissioner, Jeff Pope, said: We're seeing sovereign citizens and conspiracy theorists and keyboard warriors, who don't want to reveal their identity. They do want to stir the pot and cause problems. People seem more susceptible to believing misinformation they read and watch online compared to what is dropped in their letterbox, often because it's unwittingly shared by someone they agree with or trust. We're now more than familiar with the proliferation of fake news, and it is impossible to avoid fake ads on social media. They're linked to scam activities designed to fleece victims, as the minister at the table can attest, which makes some of the latest Greens political party fundraising efforts in Queensland very suspect indeed. Recently the Greens admitted to photoshopping their own anti-Greens ad to increase its impact. The doctored image contains a menacing green goblin alongside the words 'the Greens are coming to get you'. The members for Ryan, Brisbane and Griffith all blithely posted the fake ad on their Facebook pages, alongside lengthy complaints about it and, of course, pleas for donations—generate outrage and ask for money. Given the Greens political party's highly publicised stance against mis- and disinformation, their actions are disingenuous and hypocritical—but they're on brand. The party that spread harmful and socially divisive disinformation about weapons and ammunition exports to Israel does not blink at doctoring their ads to make money. Why let facts and truth get in the way of your political agenda? Mis- and disinformation are not always signposted by a cartoon gremlin. This recent incident is a timely reminder that we all need to be on our guard as the federal election approaches, especially while scrolling through social media. An Australia Institute report released after the 2022 federal election found that political parties spent over $12 million on social media advertising in the last two months of the campaign alone. The same report stated: … misinformation and disinformation were widespread during the election with 73% of voters reporting exposure to misleading political advertising, and 43% of those saying they saw this "once a day or more often." The Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce defines misinformation as: … false, misleading or deceptive information, that is spread due to ignorance, by error or mistake, or without the intent to deceive. It can include made-up news articles, doctored images and videos and false information shared on social media. 'Doctored images'—I stress that. This is exactly what the Greens political party in Queensland deliberately released. The taskforce definition of disinformation is: … the deliberate spread of false information to deceive or mislead for malicious or deceptive purposes. This can cause confusion and undermine trust in government and institutions. Political parties should be leading the way in making sure their messaging, whether it be in reports of parliamentary activity, advertising or social media posts, does not mislead voters. The same applies to activist groups working behind political parties in the shadows financing misleading advertising. Remember that porno flyer I mentioned earlier? It was authorised using a fake name and fake address in my electorate. Ultimately, the best advice for voters comes from the taskforce, to think about what they're reading, hearing and watching, and to stop and consider the source of the information when weighing up voting decisions. As the AEC says, Australia has one of the most trusted electoral systems in the world, and we all have a responsibility to protect it. Don't risk what we have. I call out the three Greens members elected in the chamber and some of the candidates and ask them to make sure they apologise for that misleading doctoring of an ad. House adjourned at 17 : 0 0 The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Archer ) took the chair at 09:37, a division having been called in the House of Representatives.
Medicare | Questions without Notice | House debates
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Valedictory | Parliamentary Representation | House debates
I begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people. I thank them for their strong and continuing stewardship. The first word I heard in this place was Aunty Matilda House-Williams saying 'Welcome'....
I begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people. I thank them for their strong and continuing stewardship. The first word I heard in this place was Aunty Matilda House-Williams saying 'Welcome'. Matilda meant it, and I've always felt welcome on Ngunnawal traditional lands over the last 18 years. The second word I heard here was 'sorry'. Kevin Rudd's small word echoed big all around the nation and all around the world. It was long overdue and vital for us to recognise the manifest wrongs committed against our First Nations peoples. That word 'sorry' improved our international standing. So I heard 'welcome' and 'sorry' on my first day—and my best day—in parliament. I'm forever thankful that Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard and Jenny Macklin made that apology to the stolen generations happen. Since that first day, Uncle Pat Dodson spoke of the oldest art on earth being Aboriginal works in Western Australia; Aunty Linda Burney talks of the oldest constructions in the world being Koori fish traps at Brewarrina; and my almost-cousin-in-law Marion Scrymgour has also helped guide me through our nation's duality. I once taught English for 11 years, but now I know that the oldest words on earth are Aboriginal words. The old and the new, the black and the white, the then and the now and the everywhen. Pat, Linda, Marion and so many other First Nations colleagues and friends like Peter Brown and Wayne Long in St George—if you're listening—have helped me better understand our past. What Australian wouldn't be proud of such a rich history? Our 'then' improves the 'now' and uplifts all our tomorrows. Today, Prime Minister Albanese delivered the seventeenth Closing the Gap speech. As he said, there is much work to be done, but I know that our nation's future will always be brighter when truly reconciled with our past. Yates says, 'Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart', but I know that our First Nations peoples are hopeful despite all. Most know how to hope without bitterness. When I was first a candidate, I remember a myopic prime minister who refused to say sorry. John Howard even accused those who spoke the truth of having a 'Black Armband view of history'. At least armbands let people see the future; a white blindfold shows them nothing. And where there is no vision, the people perish. What is right will always outlast the denial of our history. Fighting flags and other divisive culture wars are not the answer. This place doesn't need any more flag inspectors. There is serious work to be done in our nation, as the Prime Minister and the opposition leader detailed today. There is work to be done in our schools, in our workplaces, in our prisons and, most of all, in our hearts. So, in this, my final speech, I propose a word to sit alongside those first, big words like 'welcome' and 'sorry'. The word that I humbly offer is 'soon'. 'Soon' doesn't mean I seek another referendum or a vote on an advisory body. 'Soon' is simply to reassure all First Nations mob that the Labor Party won't ever forget you. I say 'soon' because we believe in a nation with justice and dignity at its core and 'soon' because Labor has a positive vision for our nation. I say 'soon' in the context of 100,000 years of history and the everywhen, that Indigenous concept of time where the past, present and future are all interconnected. Sometimes those opposite try to distract you from their perfidy; they weaponise our very democracy and the idea of a First Nations advisory body or makarrata or treaty. But hope and love will trump fear and division—soon. Right now, I'm proud to stand in front of that Murri flag. I don't want to obliterate 60,000 years of history; I want to celebrate it. I do so because I'm a patriotic Australian who knows our nation's history. No leader can prepare for the future if they're busy running from the past. One of those flags up there comes from Queensland, from the Torres Strait; that's a long way from here. Some people don't realise how big Queensland is or how far away the Torres Strait is. Queensland is larger than about 183 countries—and we're also weirder than 183 other countries, with respect! The first black feet ever to set foot on this continent did so in Queensland, about 5,000 generations ago—the first white foot too, a Dutch sailor, Willem Janszoon, in 1606, up near Weipa in Far North Queensland. And Queensland is where Lieutenant James Cook first raised his flag to claim present-day Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania for the British crown. We were nearly 60 years ahead of Fremantle and Hindmarsh claiming Western Australia and South Australia, respectively. My point is that Queensland is different. We know how to lead the way, like we did with Eddie Mabo and native title. Adversity helps us bend towards a greater truth. And despite the recent referendum result, I know that our Constitution—this little document—will eventually include our First Nations people. Our country needs the truth writ large rather than lies writ small. The Constitution, remember, was an act of the British parliament, passed by white British men with beards in Westminster. One day, soon, our Constitution will be amended by the modern men and women of Australia. I remind those opposite that every election day our nation divides. But it is not a tear. Tears are sometimes shed, but it is not a tear. Australian democracy is a zip, and at 6 pm, upon the counting of ballot boxes, the nation clicks right back together, irrespective of the results. Waging a fear campaign against this healthy democratic division is a failure to fundamentally understand Australians. We are much smarter politically than that. We're not scared of ballots or uncomfortable truths. In the Voice referendum, the coalition campaigned on 'vote no and get nothing', and that's exactly what they delivered. Of course, I respect the democratic decision of the public, because I'm passionate about democracy, and I believe in democracy. But I also believe in justice. 'Soon' in the context of 5,000 generations does not mean tomorrow, but soon is better than never. Soon we will have a reconciled nation; that change is going to come. I know this because 6,286,889 people voted yes on 14 October 2023. In Moreton, in my multicultural community, 49.32 per cent voted yes. In the 16 months since, there have been more 'yes' voters born and arriving, while 'no' voters are slowly but surely fading away. A change is going to come, not now but soon. While we're talking about changing this document, a constitutional change, the Republican part of me requires some little placation. I will do that rather than talk about negative gearing or franking credits. I was at a citizenship ceremony in Brisbane in late November, standing next to a life-sized portrait of King Charles III. I love citizenship ceremonies. They're the best part of my job as an MP. Normally, I do them with Lewis Lee, who's sitting up in the gallery there. But, standing there, as someone who had Queen Elizabeth on the English throne for 57 years, I realised that there's only space for one monarch in Queensland, and my one true king will always be Wally Lewis. A change is going to come. When Arthur Phillip arrived in Sydney Harbour with 11 ships filled with convicts, it was only five years after the American War of Independence and just 18 months before the French revolution kicked off—that Sydney Cove experiment sandwiched between crucial revolution, with fervour for change, and dangerous ideas like freedom and equality bookending our convict chains. Eventually, the United States would help deliver our 'Washminster' system of government, where we have senators not lords—except you, Murray, obviously! As 'Graham Perret', I think our nation also has a debt to the French and their notion of liberty, egality and fraternity. There are so many reasons to be a republic, including the one million Australians with Chinese links or the million Indian Australians, like my wife's family; the Afghan cameleers and Italians—even the Italians' Prime Minister—the Germans and Vietnamese; the Koreans, Somalis and Sudanese; and all those other connections that make our nation the tastiest salad on earth. Tony Burke told me 20 years ago that, unlike melting pots, salads protect the individual flavours of all ingredients. And salads are healthier too apparently. My Italian, Irish and French tangled roots don't define the tree; Australian soil lets each tree grow their own way. So I refuse to believe that no Australian is good enough to be our head of state. It won't ever be easy to change this document. I know that. But the harder fought the better won. I know it has been a while, but after three words, 'welcome', 'sorry' and 'soon', I now turn to some thanks. I start with my wife, Lea, the woman who talked me into joining the Labor Party because she was sick of me whinging about John Howard. Thanks for putting up with me, Lea, through thick and thin—not as thin as you would like, but still. At the Class of '07 baby-MP talk, we were told that 85 per cent of federal marriages fail due to long periods away from home, too many drinks and night-time shenanigans. Sadly, I've missed all of that, although, once, late at night in Manuka, Darren Chester did offer me a lift home. We'll never know how things might've worked out, Darren! Seriously, Lea, I'm the luckiest bloke in the world to avoid that 85 per cent. It helps that I started with a wife who's smart, tough and funny, and a delicious dollop of beautiful as well. Thanks for raising our wonderful boys, Stanley, who's at work, and Leo, while kicking off your own amazing legal career. At best, I was a part-time assistant. I remember once when the COMCAR pulled up into our driveway in Morooka after a fun week in Canberra—with Darren!—and you were pushing a kid's mattress out the upstairs window. Gracefully, you yelled out: 'Graham, hose the vomit off this mattress, and put it out in the sunshine, and get up here and help with your bloody kids.' Speaker, I'm just checking—Lea doesn't have a right of reply or anything, does she? Anyway, like every MP with young kids, I nearly got back in that COMCAR. But I didn't, because you're my big, big love and you taught me that even the running kind can learn how to stay. Lea, thanks also for reminding me constantly that I was a part of the Labor government that abolished the $5,000 baby bonus while you were pregnant with Leo! I look forward to us both being under the same roof rather than working 1,000 miles from home and 2,000 miles from each other. Stanley was here for my first speech. He was up in that top gallery, a babe in his mother's arms. He's now at work and uni, and his younger brother, Leo, is here today—both growing into fine young men who are caring and kind. Most men either try to live up to their father's expectations or attempt to make up for their failures. I'm certainly in the latter camp, but I do sometimes wonder what camp my boys will be in. I've heard many politicians say in their valedictory speeches that they're leaving to spend more time with their families. Well, I've checked with the Prime Minister—and Leo, that's not compulsory! I love you both very much, Stanley and Leo, and I look forward to watching where you put your oversized feet out in the world. Whatever paths you choose, remember the golden rules of our household: (1) be kind, (2) work hard and (3) vote Labor all your life. Also hello to my sisters, Kerry and Megan; you're both still nurrigar. Hi to my friends, Annie, Phyllida and Chris, who are listening in the United States. Go Eagles. The majority of Queensland MPs in the 42nd Parliament were Labor—15 out of 29. Sadly, we let the nation down recently at the last election. There are four party leaders from Queensland, and I acknowledge two of them sitting here. Sadly, none of those four Queensland party leaders have a positive plan for our nation. It does look tough for Queensland Labor right now, but that is when my state's true character shines through. In the late 1800s, when employers were crushing worker dissent, the shearers at Barcaldine formed a political party. Soon after, in 1899, Queensland delivered the first Labor government anywhere in the world. When Joh and his gerrymander were outlawing street protests and dissent in the seventies, the Saints responded by delivering punk to the world. Eddie Mabo's truth showed terra nullius to be a lie and then Paul Keating delivered native title to our nation. Some people think that north of the Tweed is a conservative state, but we actually have a radical heart. I know Queenslanders will come through at the next election, starting with Julie-Ann Campbell in Moreton and a few others around. I'll be working hard to make sure that happens, as will the wonderful Labor volunteers in Moreton— An honourable member: Did you say Gorton? Moreton, not Gorton. No. There are way too many people to mention, but I thank them for turning out at pre-poll and on election day, for doorknocking, for phone calls, for doing visibility and for chatting to friends and neighbours about the mighty Labor Party's positive plan for this nation. Thank you to all my campaign directors, Jo Justo, Karen Struthers, the fearless Ros McLennan, the always astute Terry Wood, Julie-Ann Campbell, and, finally, the woman who is the heart and soul of the progressive Labor party on the south side of Brisbane, my good friend Sasha Marin, who is sitting in the advisers' block. In my opinion, Sasha's the best thing to ever come out of Lightning Ridge, and that includes opals. When I was first elected, there was no NBN or NDIS, schools weren't fairly funded and the perils of climate change were largely being ignored. I'm proud that Labor provided Australians with high-speed internet access, Labor created the world-first disability insurance scheme, we are implementing the Gonski education reforms, we introduced Commonwealth paid parental leave and Labor enshrined net zero emissions by 2050—and I could go on. All those reforms are due to Moreton volunteers like Alannah, Sasha and others like them, led by Ros, Sasha and Terry. Thank you all. In every one of my campaigns, I've received great assistance from the trade union movement. From the CFMEU, the UWU, the meaties, the QTU, the QIEU—my union—but especially Rohan, Anne Marie, Angus and the others at the amazing AMWU. Thank you, comrades, one and all. The unity of labour is the hope of the world. It was true in Barcaldine back in 1891, and it's still true today, while political parties trot out leaders who masquerade as hard men and friends of the poor. There's a great line in one of my favourite movies, Matewan. … there ain't but two sides in this world—them that work and them that don't. And I'm proud to be on the side of the workers. I believe the Labor party is the political wing of the union movement. If we ever lose this core purpose, we will be set adrift. I've seen up close what happens to a party when it is led by a soulless shapeshifter with no moral core. That way destruction lies. Labor must keep union values in our heart and our industrial comrades right alongside. This combination can achieve a fairer Australian society. The modern union movement looks like modern Australia: people like Sally McManus, Michele O'Neil, Wendy Streets—who I think is in the gallery—and Ged Kearney, to name just a few. They're the modern unionists. And I give a special shout-out to the class of 2000 organising work graduates—there's one and there's another—Mary Doyle and Senator Lisa Darmanin. Three from the one class in federal parliament must surely be a record. In my first speech I talked about bringing a bit more poetry into parliament. This isn't something I've always managed in every one of my TLAB speeches, but there is a verse from that tragic Australian poet Adam Lindsay Gordon that I've loved ever since high school: Life is merely froth and bubble, Two things stand in stone, KINDNESS in another's trouble, COURAGE in your own … I haven't always been as kind as I could nor as courageous as I needed to be, but I've done my best. So, to all of my staff past and present, who have put up with my lack of kindness and/or courage, I say, 'Thank you,' especially to Sasha Marin, my chief of staff; Lee Lunney; Michelle Howe, who's also sitting over in the advisers box; Isaac Cavanagh, also over in the box—don't you have work to do, you three?—and Peter Shaw, who has been with me for 18 years and, in that time, has never once laughed at my jokes! To Kane, Kylie, Kate, Norma, Matt, Michelle, Sarah, Ben, Jen, Sandy and Angus, and so many other wonderful people: thanks for looking out for the light on the hill in Moreton. I know that Jules Campbell will tend the same flame with a little bit of help from you, not because we ask you to but because you believe you must, because you all believe in providing kindness during another's trouble. So thank you all. I thank all the MPs and senators who've helped out in Moreton over the years, especially Tanya Plibersek, Mark Dreyfus, Brendan O'Connor, Penny Wong and Murray Watt, for their friendship, guidance and good humour. To my good friend and neighbour Jim Chalmers: I still vividly recall all the doors we've knocked on together and the good times we've had at the Sunnybank tavern after eating way too much at the Landmark. Thank you, Jim. Thanks to you too, Mr Speaker, for the many events we've shared, and also to Senator Anthony Chisholm—who I'm not sure is here—who when he was state secretary was prepared to take on organised motorcycle gangs and their supporters in Moreton. You ask him about it. That was during that most difficult of elections in 2013 when Labor lost 17 seats but in Moreton we actually received a swing to me. Thanks, Chis. To all the voters in Moreton who were prepared to support Labor throughout the last seven elections, I say thank you. All MPs think their electorates are special, but multicultural Moreton really is. The word 'privilege' is thrown around a lot, but I do feel privileged to have represented all my different communities. I'm proud of how we work together, how we've taken the time to listen to each other's points of view and how we've learnt from each other—how we share cultural and religious celebrations and stay connected despite our differences. This occurs because of the generosity of people like Lewis Lee OAM, who's up in the gallery next to Jocelyn. I'm well paid to do my job, but Lewis is a volunteer, as his lovely wife, Jocelyn, can attest. Lewis leads by example. He has managed 61 citizenship ceremonies and fosters important community connections by promoting and attending cross-cultural events. Our country needs more people like Lewis. They are the glue that holds us together. And to those who could never bring themselves to vote for me: I can't tell you how much I appreciated working for you, despite having parliamentary privilege! There are so many great friends and good comrades in the Moreton community and the Labor caucus. There are too many good people to mention, so it would be easier if I only mention the bad ones! You're first, Rob Mitchell—no, just kidding! Where's Josh Wilson, who flogged me at tennis again this morning? It's especially lucky that my good friend Nick Champion has left the parliament, but I take this opportunity to mention that, despite a once furious media report to the contrary, I always beat Nick Champion when we played squash. On several occasions, the gymnasium staff asked us to stop swearing loudly, and I assert that all the foul language was exclusively Nick Champion's! In another class of '07 valedictory speech, Bill Shorten tabled a list of all of his 192 staff to avoid reading them all into Hansard. So, in a similar spirit, I table the names of all the people I've injured on the football, rugby, touch football, basketball and netball courts by playing too enthusiastically—your name's on there, Ed; don't worry! So I'll table that. But, to be fair, 28 of the names on this list are Keith Wolahan's! I do particularly thank Andy Turnbull for making so much sporting diplomacy and cross-party friendship possible in this place. Sport is a great way to make unusual friendships and international connections that are useful for this nation. Those contacts all help lubricate the gears of our wonderful democracy. Early morning sport also gets you into bed early, because nothing good happens in Canberra after midnight, and I say that with all respect to Darren Chester! Thanks to all the co-chairs of the parliamentary friendship groups I've been involved with over the last 18 years. I have enjoyed working with Rowan Ramsey, Ken Wyatt and Judi Moylan to fight diabetes. Similarly, I have enjoyed championing the Red Cross, Amnesty, anti death penalty, support for Palestine, education and arts groups—especially arts groups—and several countries. The diplomats and lobbyists who work in Canberra to ensure that politicians are better informed do a good job. Declared, registered lobbyists can make for better policy decisions. As long as there is no secrecy, I believe that they are an important part of this fragile, beautiful thing called democracy. I especially want to mention the Parliamentary Friends of LGBTQIA+ Australians group that I helped form with Warren Entsch and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young a long time ago. I know it's in good hands. But, with my good friend and comrade Louise Pratt and Warren leaving soon, I am concerned that the 48th Parliament might not be ready for the US-style attacks directed at the trans community. In Queensland, in fact, some might say those attacks are already here. Bullies and fascists always seek small groups to target. They are not alone in seeking out the trans community in this way, trying to turn real people into an 'other'. Remember that Jesus Christ is no weathervane. He loves all people always, not some people sometimes. He loves they and them and even you. If some politicians have become obsessed with how kids go to the loo, maybe it is time to leave the cult and go see a therapist. Dehumanising due to differences is a pathway to hell. It hollows out communities wherever it occurs, everywhere from Yeppen to Yeppoon. Sometimes bathrooms, pronouns and flags are merely political dead cats to distract from 34 criminal indictments or a nuclear policy with all the structural integrity of wet cardboard. Nevertheless, such attacks can be dangerous for people. An ABS study found that nearly thirty per cent of trans Australians have experienced suicidal thoughts. Suicidal ideation due to gender dysphoria is real. The coalition held a royal commission into the Home Insulation Program following the deaths of four young workers. So I am placing you all on notice right now: if you let politicians determine private health matters, kids will die. The young trans community needs kindness, courage and champions working for them right here under the big flag, because this building belongs to all Australians. Good people don't ever let bullies win elections by targeting the vulnerable. I know that the Parliamentary Friends of LGBTQIA+ Australians will never let caring become a crime. It has also been an honour to work with all—actually, not all, but nearly all—of the chairs and deputy chairs of the parliamentary committees I've been on. I did name that person, but my office said to take it out! Good committees where there is respect and professionalism are an essential part of this parliament, essential for policy and friendships and the strange links that glue this building together, glue that is needed in the hard times of politics. I spent way too much time with Keith Pitt in this the 47th parliament, also the late Kevin Andrews dealing with family law reform in the 46th Parliament and Karen Andrews in the 45th Parliament. But all effective committees bond over doing the right thing for this nation. My Liberal, National, Greens and Independent colleagues have all been passionate about their communities and their policies, and I have always respected their contributions, despite the fact they were usually wrong—no, just kidding! Nevertheless, thank you for your contributions, for your professionalism and for your friendship. Committees don't function without their secretariats, so thank you to all those helpful people who are behind the scenes. They make it all work. There are a lot of them in this building. I think my friends Anna and Siobhan are in the building somewhere at the moment. Yes, there they are. And I thank all the librarians, Hansard and all the rest who make this place very easy for politicians to work in. I give a special thanks to the Leader of the House in his capacity as leader of the band. Thanks for inviting me into Left Right Out. I have had an absolute blast. Finally, we did our own original song last Tuesday. I will leave it to the Leader of the House to reveal when it's coming out. Playing with the Wiggles in the Great Hall was a highlight and playing for the Pharmacy Guild in the same venue—and that gig cost Mark Butler only $26.5 billion over five years. Gigs with some of my rock heroes like Mark Callaghan and Buzz Bidstrup were amazing, but truly not as much fun as jamming here on a Tuesday night. Thank you for the music and friendship, and I look forward to buying that single. I also thank John, Brendan, Sharon and Brenden from my old band Once I Killed a Gopher with a Stick—yes, that's their name—for doing fundraising gigs every three years for me since 2004. To the men and women of the press gallery, who I've always seen as an essential part of a healthy democracy, I don't think any other parliament in the world has put the press inside the building, complicit in this precious grand project called democracy. Obviously, that means you must do so much more than provide space in a Harvey Norman catalogue. Unfortunately for me, you've always accurately reported what I said, which has been the source of half my troubles. As the media business model changes, I wish you all the best in your devotion to truth. And now that the news and social media are polarised by design, some monsters are skilfully and ruthlessly exploiting fear and ignorance. The consent of the governed is harder to corral, and more and more journalists are being killed in the line of duty or arrested or sued for just doing their job. Nevertheless, the job of a good journalist, like a good politician, is to seek the truth and make it known. And so, in this cold, hard, complicated post-truth world I hope the honour in journalism continues to provide you all with purpose rather than inconvenience—and clicks and paid subscribers too, because good journalism costs money. Unfortunately, so does bad journalism, but that's a whole other problem for Rupert and Lachlan. May you never be deserted by the muse and anonymous sources. And if you ever run out of former politicians prepared to comment on the politics of the day, don't ever phone me. Prime Minister, I want to thank you for many things. They say in life that you should never meet your heroes, but, Prime Minister, thanks for introducing me to your friend Billy Bragg, who is even better in person. And thanks for the Kessels Road and Mains Road and the Coopers Plains overpass—just half-a-billion dollars or so. Thank you for being a good friend to Moreton and a good friend to me. Thank you especially to foreign minister Penny Wong for facilitating the release, with you, Prime Minister, of Scott Rush and the remainder of the Bali Nine. I thought I'd be leaving this place with that as unfinished business. Instead, Scott had his first Christmas in 20 years with his parents, Lee and Chris, in Graceville. I've enjoyed the work of the Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics Games committee with Minister Wells. There have been some challenges with both the professional parties of protest in my state campaigning against the games, but we will get there. I look forward to Queensland and Australia putting on the best games ever in 2032. And mainly, Prime Minister, thank you for being a steadfast leader, the sort who makes a promise and keeps it. I've loved seeing family law and education policies that I was involved with developing in opposition now Australian law and practice. As the parties of protest become louder, while the walking jeremiad and his echo acolytes become more shrill, I take great comfort from seeing a Prime Minister focused on delivery. And while the coalescence of whingers on the fringes gets louder, I know you will steer our nation on a sensible, egalitarian path towards sustainable prosperity. There's a quote I love in your mentor Tom Uren's autobiography Straight Left: We consider it a moral obligation of the fit to look after the sick, of the young to look after the old, and of the rich to look after the poor. This is a good platform for any re-election campaign, and I know the wind is swinging in behind Labor as the fourth quarter gets willing, so good luck. In conclusion, I note that when I made my first speech in 2008 my long-separated mother and father were in the gallery sitting together. They're both gone now. You're young and then you're not. Mum's been gone for over a decade, but I still associate her with Canberra, probably because I always found the time to call her when I was away from my own family. Peggy Perrett always gave me good advice, especially after she passed away. She was a strong guide, and I hope I always made you proud, Mum. I see my brother Simon and his partner, Michael—with a beard to rival Dan's!—up in the gallery. They were here in 2008. I'm glad that there are some things in this world that have not changed. This can be a hard place to maintain your pride. I've seen politics land blows on all sorts of people. It's a tough place for those who come here seeking some work of dignity and noble purpose. As a species, we do have that capacity for infinite kindness and infinite cruelty, but the everyday people of Moreton lean heavily towards kindness. And the poorer they are, the more kind and generous they seem to be. We must, through times of disagreement, remain focused on bringing people together. As I said in my first speech: I wish to remind all Australians that the price of harmony is hard work. Each and every one of us must be eternally vigilant when it comes to community relations. We must knock on all our neighbours' doors and offer a helping hand. We must build understanding, trust and friendship, irrespective of race, religion, age or political beliefs. So if you are a representative of the Australian people and you exploit conflicts overseas to stoke fear and tension and divide people, then hopefully you will have no place here. Labor will continue to fight against racial and religious vilification and those who use division for political gain. They say the only thing you can count on in politics is your fingers. I had just turned 42 when the 42nd parliament started, and I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then, but now here in the 47th parliament, as a 47-year-old, I've come to the end of the best job in the world. There are always more dogs than bones in the world of politics and I was never great at snarling, howling or learning to work with wolves, but I've enjoyed it. There comes a time for a bit of contemplation, as the early promise of life melts into later regrets. I'm so thankful to the mighty Labor Party for gifting me some sense of completion, almost satisfaction—not quite, obviously, because the work of equity and freedom is never done. But thank you all for letting me help our wonderful cause. Some say politics is a grubby crawl towards noble things that you never see, but I've seen plenty of good in this place. I'm looking at it now. We only get one wild and precious life so we must find some usefulness, and the big purpose of every life is little kindnesses. I hope to distribute some more kindnesses in a different place. It really has been an excellent adventure and I love youse all. So after 'welcome', 'sorry', 'soon' and 'thanks', I'd like to make my final words in here a bit of poetry from the always pithy Dorothy Parker: My land is bare of chattering folk; The clouds are low along the ridges, And sweet's the air with curly smoke From all my burning bridges.
Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2024; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I'll start with the bad news. The bad news is that in 2023 a staggering $2.7 billion was lost to scams in Australia. The good news is that this was 13 per cent lower than the preceding year. But,...
I'll start with the bad news. The bad news is that in 2023 a staggering $2.7 billion was lost to scams in Australia. The good news is that this was 13 per cent lower than the preceding year. But, obviously, it's still far too high. That $2.7 billion figure is just one number, but it entails thousands and thousands of Australian heartache stories. But, as I said, it could have been $350 million or more—much worse. Scams have become increasingly more sophisticated, and many originate from complex transnational criminal syndicates. It's not always easy to spot a scam, yet many victims still feel shame and embarrassment when they find their accounts are a little bit lighter. Each scam that is perpetrated represents an organisation or a person who has been deceived and has lost money. Scams are expensive, distressing and can be financially devastating for victims. That's not to mention the fact that they can stop people from communicating with the rest of the world—they're too scared to answer the phone, too scared to answer emails. Australians have fallen prey—to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars—to investment scams, fraudulent remote access and romance scams. That is why the Albanese Labor government is focused on developing a whole-of-economy prevention framework. One of our key election commitments was to protect Australians from scammers. Since coming to office we have directed over $180 million to fighting scammers. Part of this funding was directed towards the establishment of the National Anti-Scam Centre, the NASC. It sits within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and serves as a link between industry and government. One of its key aims is to enhance collaboration amongst government, finance, telecommunications, digital platforms sectors and law enforcement to combat scams. The intention of this collaboration is to disrupt scammers, whether that is to prevent contact, to interrupt contact or to stop fraudulent payments being made once a scammer has established a connection with their victim. The NASC also runs the Scamwatch service. This is an excellent resource for us all. It shares up-to-date information on scams and offers valuable tips on how to spot a scam. It details the steps to take if you think you've been scanned and enables people to report a scam and therefore keep their friends and neighbours safe. Labor has also legislated the establishment and maintenance of a register of legitimate sender IDs by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. This legislation puts an industry standard in place for telecommunications providers who manage SMS traffic. Telco providers are required to check texts with sender IDs to ensure that they're on the register. Those which are not may be blocked or the text message may be tagged with a warning or labelled as fraudulent. The Albanese Labor government is now building on these measures to introduce the Scams Prevention Framework. Broadly speaking, it will require the private sector to adhere to robust industry codes and principles based obligations. The establishment of the framework will tackle head-on the current situation with scam protection, where there is inconsistency across sectors with both protections and responses. The bill in front of the chamber employs a broad definition of what a scam is. This reflects the dynamic nature of scam activity, which is increasingly technically sophisticated and is continuously evolving. The core business of scammers is to cause harm or loss through deception. The bill reflects that this occurs in a variety of ways and in ever-changing ways. Similarly, the term 'consumer' is broadly defined. In the bill, it includes individuals or small businesses that access services provided by regulated businesses in Australia. Consumers may also use these services while out of the country but still be covered by the bill if the provider is a regulated entity in Australia. The first sectors that will be required to comply with the Scams Protection Framework are banks, telecommunications providers and digital platforms that provide social media, paid search advertising and direct messaging services. These are the most common avenues that scammers use to target Australians. Scamwatch notes that in 2023 the most reported payment method used by scammers was bank transfers, with nearly $213 million in losses. Phone calls were associated with $116 million worth of losses and social media with nearly $94 million. Most scams originate via social media, phone, email, the internet, mobile apps and text messages, with the bank being the final link in the chain where the funds are transferred. The Scams Prevention Framework will have a consistent and enforceable approach, ensuring that all the components of specific sectors have strong protection. After all, scammers don't use just one method to defraud people. The Scams Prevention Framework has six overarching principles. The first of these is enhanced governance for regulated entities, including the documentation and implementation of policies and procedures, targets, and the outcomes of scam prevention efforts. The next set of principles concerns regulated entities putting in place reasonable steps to prevent, detect and report scams. This means implementing additional layers of verification and validation procedures online and enhancing processes with the timely identification of scams. It also means alerting consumers as quickly as possible. These measures will help to disrupt the activity of scammers. Regulated entities will also have to report information on scams to the ACCC. Entities must report as soon as it is reasonable to think that the scam activity is underway, whether that's a communication or a transaction. The ACCC may then share this intelligence amongst other entities to disrupt the scammer's activities—that's the collaborative approach that I spoke about earlier. As you can see, to fight scammers effectively you need wide-ranging and concerted tactics. The final two principles focus on disruption and response. The bill includes the provision of a 28-day safe harbour protection for regulated entities to take disruptive action, in good faith, while protecting third parties. There's also a requirement to continue consumer education and awareness. To enhance responsiveness to consumers, regulated entities must implement efficient ways for consumers to report scams and lodge complaints. A scam victim will have access to dispute resolution processes free of charge if a regulated entity has not met its obligations within the framework. To this end, regulated entities must demonstrate that they have an internal dispute resolution process and are also a member of a selected external dispute resolution system. The external body responsible for dispute resolution for the initial sectors in the framework will be the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. The AFCA will address consumer complaints, including when the scam involves more than one entity. Consumers will also be able to escalate their complaints to the court system if a regulated entity has not operated within the framework appropriately. The dispute system will ensure ease of access for consumers. Basically, there is no wrong-door approach, as consumers can raise an issue with any regulated entity. The AFCA will also respond to consumer scam complaints, even if the issue involves multiple regulatory bodies. Consumers are given extra assurance, with a planned consultation on the dispute resolution model in 2025. We want to ensure it's working as we intend for consumers. The Scam Protection Framework's mandatory codes will be sector-specific and provide a minimum set of standards for each sector. They also recognise the need to evolve to ensure the ongoing, effective disruption of scams. The bill proposes a multi-regulator approach to build on existing sector expertise. The ACCC will be the regulator for the principle based obligations as well as the digital platforms sector. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will oversee the banking code, and ACMA will enforce the telecommunications code. This approach will ensure that no one body is overwhelmed, especially as additional sectors are brought into the framework. Future editions could include superannuation, cryptocurrency, online marketplaces and other payment providers. The bill directs that the responsible Treasury minister can designate additional sectors to be subject to the Scams Prevention Framework. After that, the minister can direct the establishment of an enforceable code that works for that specific sector—tailored for how people interact with that particular sector. What powers will the regulatory bodies have? They will be able to penalise an organisation up to $50 million for the worst breaches of the framework. That will obviously be an incentive for compliance. Regulators also have a range of lesser penalties to apply such as infringement notices, injunctions, public warnings and remedial directions, stepping up the process as modern businesses do. It's important to note a key difference between this bill and other international approaches such as in the UK. Labor is not implementing a mandatory-presumption-of-reimbursement approach. We want to address scam activity across all sectors by incentivising all sectors to take responsibility. After all, there are many opportunities to stop scam activity before the consumer loses money, not just at the point of the bank transfer. This legislation is world leading. The Assistant Treasurer highlighted Australia's leadership of this issue when he attended the first Global Fraud Summit, in March 2024, and this bill reflects Australia's commitment to working with international partners on fighting scams. At the heart of this legislation is our determination to better protect consumers. We are determined to make Australia a harder target for scammers. Australians deserve to be able to participate in the digital economy safely and with confidence. The bill gives consumers additional peace of mind, knowing they have both strengthened protections and avenues for dispute resolution if required if it all goes bad. On a final note, I would like to thank the assistant minister, Stephen Jones. I know that he is leaving the parliament and I particularly want to thank him for bringing scams to the front of people's minds throughout Australia along with how we as a nation can fight back. Rather than just retreat from scammers, now we are fighting back. I thank him for that. As I said at the start, we still lose too much. It is 13 per cent less this year than last year, which is $350 million, and it could have been a lot worse, but so much of that is down to Minister Jones. He has been a good friend and a good man. He is also a Dragons supporter, so that means the minister and I are the two Dragons supporters leaving the parliament, which I know is a great fact to him! Hopefully, some of the candidates who get elected will also be Dragons supporters. I wish him well and I commend the bill to the House.
I rise to support the Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2024, and I have some good news and some bad news. Member for New England, do you want the good news first or the bad news first?
Before I commence, Deputy Speaker Vamvakinou, I want to wish you particularly well in your career post-parliament.