Rob Mitchell's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026, National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
Just on the point of order. It's been a wide-ranging debate and there was, before the member for Berowra walked in, a whole range of discussions that went on. So the member for Moreton is...
Just on the point of order. It's been a wide-ranging debate and there was, before the member for Berowra walked in, a whole range of discussions that went on. So the member for Moreton is entitled, in the first minute of her speech, to be able to put things into context.
Victoria: Bushfires | Private Members' Business | House debates
Every year on 7 February we stop and remember that fateful day in 2009. Extreme weather conditions, the long-term drought, a record-breaking heatwave—it was a case of when, not if. At...
Every year on 7 February we stop and remember that fateful day in 2009. Extreme weather conditions, the long-term drought, a record-breaking heatwave—it was a case of when, not if. At 11.47, off Saunders Road in East Kilmore, a power fault between power poles 38 and 39 sparked dry vegetation, which was fanned by 125 kilometre-per-hour winds. Our worst fears became reality. The day changed our lives forever. The new normal became the reality. The landscape in our communities was scarred. For many members of our community—families and friends—those scars will never leave. The day is a day for personal reflection, to take time and pause to remember those we lost during the fires and the many more we lost post-fire because of the fire. We remember and think of the many people still carrying the pain and the scars from that time, physically and mentally, today. We pay thanks to the thousands of people who came to our aid. The worst of our time brought out the best in our nation. Whatever people choose to do on 7 February, reflect, respect and remember. The Kilmore East fire spread quickly and crossed the Hume Freeway at 1.58 pm. It burnt through to Wandong and arrived at Mount Disappointment at 3 pm. The fire was then blown towards Humevale and Kinglake. We all stayed together, glued to our radios, listening to UGFM, who kept us up to date as the disaster unfolded across our region. They are vital, informed local volunteers and we thank them for the work that they do every time. Between 3.30 and 7 pm, the fire entered the Kinglake National Park, where it went towards Strathewen, St Andrews, Kinglake, Kinglake West, Chum Creek, Steels Creek, Arthurs Creek, Flowerdale, Broadford, Healesville and Toolangi. At 5.10 pm the wind changed from north-west to south-west, and the kilometre-long sides of the fire became the fire front. The Murrindindi fire began at 3 pm and spread through Murrindindi state forest and the Black Range. It reached Narbethong at 4.20 pm and Marysville at 6.45, before burning through Buxton and Taggerty. The Kinglake fire complex was the most significant fire, which evolved from the merging of the Kilmore East fire and the Murrindindi fires in the early hours of 8 February 2009. It swept through state forests and national parks, with flames recorded at 30 metres high. Other fires began across the state at Bunyip, Horsham, Churchill, Redesdale, Beechworth, Bendigo, Marysville, Narre Warren and Upper Ferntree Gully. By the late evening, almost 400 individual fires were burning and Victoria Police had to announce the first casualties—fatalities. The following day, as the Kilmore East fire and the Murrindindi Mill fire around Marysville merged to create the massive Kinglake fire complex, hot, dry conditions continued. Despite the concerted effort of more than 19,000 CFA members, the fires continued to blaze. It would take weeks before weather changes, reduction of fuel load and human intervention would make it subside. A total of 173 people lost their lives that day, 120 in the Kinglake area alone. Strathewen was the single most impacted town across that day. Another 414 people were injured. More than 450,000 hectares were burnt, and some 3½ thousand buildings and 2,000 homes were destroyed. The RSPCA estimated that up to one million wild and domesticated animals died in that disaster. The Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub talks about Strathewen, saying 'the leaders in Strathewen seem to be able to bring people along with them'. That's one of the reasons they were successful. They invented a way of doing things, and they stuck to it. They were strong enough and cohesive enough to stick to what they knew would work. Premier Brumby was criticised by the opposition, who said he was being 'melodramatic and over the top' in the days leading up to that fire. I believe Mr Brumby is still owed an apology. He warned us of what was going to happen and he was right. Communities paid a heavy toll, particularly people like Ben Hardman, who suffered the biggest impact of the fires throughout his electorate. Ben was actually on a fire truck all that day, defending Wandong Primary School and the Wandong community while his community around him burned. The scale and the loss of this distress is tough to grapple with. As we think about all these things that happened, I want to pay tribute to a mate of mine, Cameron Caine. Cameron, as I've said in this place before, is a top bloke, a great police officer—just appalling taste in politics! He was the 2010 candidate against me in McEwen, but he's become a great friend. People like Cameron still deal with the issues today—friends who have been lost and scars on landscapes that are still there. Think about these people who drive through these areas day in and day out. They see the same thing happening. They see the markers of where the signs were and what happened. We also think about Arthurs Creek CFA volunteer Joe Shepherd, who died in Melbourne's Alfred Hospital on 22 February from the injuries he received on Black Saturday. Joe's son Danny was 32, and he lost his life in the fires that day. ACT firefighter David Balfour also died in the February firefight. David was in Victoria repaying the debt of honour for those who came from our community to the ACT fires in 2003. (Time expired)
Early Childhood Education and Care | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Education. What reforms is the Albanese Labor government delivering to help more children from disadvantaged backgrounds get access to early education and care,...
My question is to the Minister for Education. What reforms is the Albanese Labor government delivering to help more children from disadvantaged backgrounds get access to early education and care, and improve the safety of our early education and care system? What are the risks?
Albanese Government | Grievance Debate | House debates
I rise today to talk about the issues that really matter to the people of McEwen. We are a community of working families, young people trying to get ahead, older Australians who have given so...
I rise today to talk about the issues that really matter to the people of McEwen. We are a community of working families, young people trying to get ahead, older Australians who have given so much for our community and local businesses and towns that keep our suburbs thriving. McEwen is a proud growth electorate. From the new estates in Donnybrook, Beveridge and Wallan, through to the established communities of Doreen and Diamond Creek, right through to the Macedon Ranges up to Woodend, people are drawn to our area because it is very special and because of the opportunities, the lifestyle and the community that we have. But with growth comes pressure—pressure on health services, housing, roads, schools and household budgets. For far too long, people in growth areas like ours were ignored. For nine long years, under the coalition, all our community ever got was empty promises and a pack of media releases. Infrastructure lagged behind population growth, costs kept rising, and essential services became harder to access. But 22 May 2025 changed that. The Albanese Labor government is delivering practical, tangible reforms and delivering on its promises, which are making life easier for people in our communities. And there is more to come. Health care is consistently raised as one of the biggest concerns for families. People want to be able to see a doctor when they need to, and they want to be able to afford their medicines and get mental-health support close to home. That's why we've got this historic investment in Medicare—and why it's so important—tripling the bulk-billing incentive. As a result, bulk-billing rates have done a dramatic U-turn locally. That means more families in our communities can now visit a GP without having to choose between health care and groceries. In fact, the latest figures now show 23 fully bulk-billing practices in McEwen, which is double what there was prior to this reform. Cheaper medicines are making a real difference to families. Under Labor people are now paying no more than $25 a PBS script, saving families hundreds of dollars a year. It's not an abstract policy. This is money back into the pockets of people managing chronic illness, raising children and supporting ageing parents. The reduction in price and the introduction of 60-day prescriptions have made a big difference. In fact, the recent figures show over $10 million has been saved through our policy changes. And the savings are only set to grow in 2026, the year of delivery. Last week, the health and hospitals agreement provided $25 billion towards Australia's public hospital system. It's a landmark reform. It ensures that services that we are boosting stay sustainable long into the future. Telehealth has been strengthened, with 1800MEDICARE, ensuring that, no matter where you are or what time it is, you can access free health advice. This is a great new service that's ensuring people in fast-growing semiregional parts of McEwen can access care without long travel times. Importantly, we're rebuilding the mental-health services, with programs like Medicare Mental Health Check In. Mental-health care should be accessible, affordable and treated with the same seriousness as physical health, and the service requires no referral, charges no fees and provides access to trained professionals by phone or video. Housing affordability, of course, is one of the defining challenges for our electorate. Young people across McEwen want the same opportunity to buy that their parents had, to raise a family and put down roots in their community. This Labor government has listened and responded, with essential programs like the five per cent deposit and First Home Guarantee. Thousands of young people have been able to purchase their first home without paying expensive lender mortgage insurance. The scheme is already helping people in our community get into the housing market sooner, with just on 2,000 properties purchased with this assistance. At the same time, we're delivering the single biggest investment in social and affordable housing in Australia's history, through the Housing Australia Future Fund. It means more social and affordable homes will be built where they are needed most, including in our area. In fact, in McEwen we've already had $7.1 million invested in Mernda, with the Johnsons Road estate, through the housing support fund, to help the City of Whittlesea meet the growing residential demand. For renters, we have delivered the first back-to-back increases to Commonwealth rent assistance in 30 years—a real help, at a time when rents have risen sharply. Through the Help to Buy Scheme, Labor is giving Australians another pathway to homeownership while lowering the upfront cost of buying a home, and, with a $10,000 incentive for building apprentices to boost the workforce, and 100,000 homes to be exclusively for first home buyers, young Australians can now start believing again that they can afford their own home. It's about dignity, stability and opportunity. Cost-of-living pressures are real, and families in McEwen have them every day. That's why our government has focused on targeted, responsible cost-of-living relief. We all know how important energy bill relief has been over the past few years. But we haven't stopped there. We've also invested in home batteries—and I'm looking forward to mine getting fitted this week, actually—and cheaper, more reliable, renewable energy, which will help drive down power prices in the long term. The latest figures show over 200,000 cheaper home batteries are being installed by Australians and over 1,300 across McEwen. We're ensuring that education is available and affordable, with a further 20 per cent cut in student debt. We're raising the income threshold and capping the indexation rate, ensuring HECS debts cannot grow faster than wages. This has assisted over 1,500 people in our area. The point about this and the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement rollout is that this is about investment in public schools by the Australian government. In fact, our investment is the biggest investment ever. In McEwen, it's easier for students who need additional learning support to catch up, keep up and finish school, making sure that we have things like year 1 phonics checks and numeracy checks, evidence based teaching practices and more individualised assistance such as small group tutoring. We are cracking down on the supermarkets to ensure Australians are not being ripped off at the checkout. We're standing up for consumers and farmers by strengthening competition and transparency in the grocery sector. Governments should be on the side of households, not big corporations. We're passing telecommunications legislation to ensure companies act with due care and responsibility. And this year we're developing codes that set out the detail of what responsible businesses look like. We know there's more to do, but, to be sure, this government has an unwavering commitment to easing the cost-of-living pressures for Australian families. Anyone who lives in McEwen knows that the roads matter for safety, productivity, reliability and quality of life. People want to get to and from home to be with their families, get to schools and get to their jobs safer and quicker. That's why the Albanese Labor government is investing over a billion dollars in local roads and infrastructure in our community. That includes key projects such as the stage 2 of the Yan Yean Road Upgrade and the Camerons Lane Interchange at Beveridge. In Walland, the intersection of Watson Street and the Northern Highway has received a major investment of $40 million from the Commonwealth, with additional turning lanes built on both sides, which will help provide smoother journeys. And, of course, there are the Watson Street ramps. These are things the former government always talked about but never delivered. In fact, the Liberal Party never went to an election promising to build this much-needed traffic-busting infrastructure. We got into government. We're building it. The state government joined in, and now we're seeing actual work being done. That's something that's been talked about but neglected by the former government. This targeted spending is better for our community. Through our increased local road funding, Labor is making dangerous intersections and roads safer. Through direct shire funding, we're empowering local governments to fix roads like Sutherlands Road in Clarkefield, Three Chain Road in Lancefield and, Fersfield Road in Gisborne have already benefited from this. And let's not forget Wellington Street and Darraweit Road in Wallan and Breadalbane Avenue in Mernda, which have all benefitted from the upgrades and improvements that our government has invested in our communities. These investments are more than just concrete and asphalt. They are about reducing congestion, preventing accidents and supporting economic growth in one of Victoria's fastest growing areas. The people of McEwen are hardworking, optimistic and community minded. They deserve a government that listens and delivers. Now they have one. In housing, health care, cost-of-living relief, roads and education, our government, the Albanese Labor government, is delivering better outcomes for local communities. We're about delivery, not division. This is a government that is focused on fairness, opportunity and building a stronger future for Australians, and I'm proud to be here standing up and advocating for our community. Debate adjourned. Sitting suspended from 13:32 to 16:00
McEwen Electorate: Infrastructure | Constituency Statements | House debates
'Pork-barrelling'—that's a great one! The project will nearly double the current sports stadium capacity, adding three more courts. The expansion also includes an additional AFL and cricket...
'Pork-barrelling'—that's a great one! The project will nearly double the current sports stadium capacity, adding three more courts. The expansion also includes an additional AFL and cricket oval, two outdoor sports courts and improvements to carparking and landscaping, ensuring the precinct remains a world-class venue for sports and community activities. It is great news for our community. Stage 2 will ensure that we can accommodate more sporting participants and better recreational facilities for our growing community and enhance the Macedon Ranges as a regional community hub. We fought long and hard for this to get done. A generation of our kids missed out on sporting facilities because the former government for 10 years absolutely refused to fund this. In fact, not only did they go to three elections not doing it but the member for colour-coded sports sheets, Senator McKenzie, told the community, 'Put in an application,' and it never happened. They couldn't even find the decency to help this generation of kids in this region. But under an Albanese Labor government, it's promise made, promise kept. Another great example— An opposition member interjecting Well, maybe we'll look forward to you actually getting one right one day, but we won't hold our breath. We've also started work on stage 2 of the Yan Yean Road upgrade. This has been a much-needed project that has meant growing communities have suffered by not having access to the infrastructure they need. We know those opposite proudly talk about how they only gave Victoria seven per cent of infrastructure funding throughout their nine years which meant our roads crumbled and things weren't done. But, of course, when we got into government, we addressed that. We have helped fix that problem by giving stage 2 the funding that was necessary to get it done. This is a government that actually goes out and gets things done, and it's another part of our story where we can say that a promise made is a promise kept. The only way you get infrastructure into regional areas is to not vote LNP.
I rise to celebrate sod-turning of two great local projects being delivered in our community by this government. First of all is the Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct stage 2. It was my great...
I rise to celebrate sod-turning of two great local projects being delivered in our community by this government. First of all is the Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct stage 2. It was my great pleasure last week to join the now mayor of the Macedon Ranges Shire, Kate Kendall—I congratulate her on her appointment—to turn the sod on stage 2 of the Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct. Stage 1 already delivered over $29 million worth of much needed recreational amenities to the Macedon Ranges and the regional area. It includes a three-court sports stadium, a natural-grass AFL and cricket oval, a multifunction pavilion and a variety of associated indoor and outdoor amenities. Stage 2 is set to expand on these facilities significantly. The Albanese Labor government committed and has delivered $15 million of the $17 million for the stage 2 project.
Moffat, Mr Allan George, OBE | Constituency Statements | House debates
Today I rise to pay tribute to one of Australia's greatest people, and that is Allan George Moffat. Allan Moffat was a Canadian-born race car driver who came to Australia and became up there...
Today I rise to pay tribute to one of Australia's greatest people, and that is Allan George Moffat. Allan Moffat was a Canadian-born race car driver who came to Australia and became up there equally one of the best drivers that this country has ever produced. Allan and his good friend Peter Brock went toe-to-toe for a decade through car racing. Allan's record still stands as one of the greatest we've seen through his Coca-Cola Mustang, the Boss 302, which won two out of every three races it was ever entered into. There were four Bathurst wins at a time. Allan and Peter are the only two who actually stand in Australian history to have won in both the 500-mile format and the 1,000-kilometre format. Allan has made a lot of people think about Australian cars. We think about the Toranas and the GT Falcons. Of course, the 65E in 1971 was one of Allan's greatest wins, where he drove solo from start to finish in a car and finished laps and laps ahead of everyone else. But I think my favourite was Allan's win in 1977—the famous one-two finish—which I know still hurts today for Holden people. They watched cars 1 and 2, side-by-side, go down the track, with his great mate Colin Bond beside him. I was just reading some stuff on Allan the other night and read about the commercial for the XC Ford that was built back in '77. Australia's top race car drivers all lined up, and the car weaved between them just to show how good the Ford Australia car was made. It was Allan who suggested that the only person he would allow to drive a car with him standing in the middle of the road was his mate Fred Gibson, who was another great champion. Allan was someone who, throughout his racing career, was always seen as very much matter of fact. He was the kind of bloke who never suffered fools easily. He was always a great person to talk to and very knowledgeable and very friendly to share his time with. Unfortunately, as he got older, Allan suffered the ravages of dementia and became an absolute icon in trying to raise awareness and deliver that through Allan Moffat Foundation. His son Andrew told me about how he encouraged all Australians to honour his legacy by supporting the Allan Moffat Foundation for its work to assist others facing dementia. I want to put on the record my view that the support he got throughout his later years from a great mate of mine Phil Grant was second to none. Phil really made sure that Allan's legacy was protected and that Allan as a person got to enjoy his final years with his friends and enjoy the stuff that he did. So I pay tribute to him because Allan was a great hero of mine, and I think that with him and Peter Brock gone, we've lost two Australian legends. But Allan certainly stood head and shoulders above everyone, and there are a lot of people driving their Falcon GTs today that owe their value and support to the great work that Allan Moffat did. Vale, Allan George Moffat; you are a champion.
Men's Mental Health | Private Members' Business | House debates
I rise this evening to support the motion by the member for Hunter. Men's mental health is an issue of national importance. It's one where we should all be working together to deliver better...
I rise this evening to support the motion by the member for Hunter. Men's mental health is an issue of national importance. It's one where we should all be working together to deliver better outcomes. We see it all around us, no matter where we are. Men show up at work and they support their families. They crack a joke, and they put a smile on faces. But when they turn away from the world, they struggle. All too often, they struggle alone day after day, year after year. The struggle becomes a fight—a fight against an enemy only they can see. It's in their own mind. Since we were boys, we've always been told to just 'man up', and that's what we do. But, sadly, it often can be too much to bear. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australian men between the ages of 18 and 44. As many as two in three men forgo mental health support, and around half believe avoiding a health check-up is normal. These are national problems that we should talk about, and I'm proud that this government is supporting the mental health of Australians, no matter where they live. Our government, the Albanese Labor government, supports a range of mental health and suicide prevention services to support all Australians, with an estimated $7.8 billion in funding in 2025-26 across the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio. Under the Strengthening Medicare program, $1.1 billion is being invested in mental health. We're expanding services, employing extra clinicians and reducing waiting times for young people seeking mental health care. These steps are consistent with what the National Men's Health Strategy 2020-2030 said. The government has recognised that there are five key priority issues: mental health and wellbeing; chronic conditions; sexual and reproductive health and conditions; injuries and risk-taking behaviour, which we've all done; and healthy ageing. With these issues front of mind, we are committed to the goal that every man and boy in Australia is supported to live a long, fulfilling and healthy life. We must break the stigma that still sees men's support and men's mental health being shunned, and that's why we've got to continue to make this a top priority for our government. It's why our government is investing $11.3 million for Movember's Men in Mind training and GP campaign, $7.4 million for Movember's Ahead of the Game program, $3 million for the Healthy Male's Plus Paternal initiative, and $2 million for the Black Dog Institute to research men's mental health and suicide prevention at the Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing. The funding will strengthen support networks. It expands professional training and bankrolls crucial research into future policy decisions. We've got to single out the additional $8.3 million committed to Men's Shed to expand the health and mental health initiatives. As chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Men's Shed, I've seen the benefits of having a space for men to connect. Sheds give men the place to start having a healthy conversation and to do that with their peers. When a man feels healthier and more connected, this has a ripple effect throughout the rest of his life. When we help individuals, we help their partners, children, friends, family and all those who depend on them. Sheds also play a huge role in helping younger men feel comfortable about speaking up. When older men talk openly about their health or their own struggles, it destigmatises the conversation. Down the track, if a young man is struggling, he feels able to reach out. At the end of the day, sheds save lives. We must continue to work to break down the stigma that prevents men from seeking help. We must keep building a culture where speaking up is a sign of strength not one of weakness. We need to do better at this, and governments of all levels—state, federal and local—need to continue their support. Our government is working tirelessly to support men's mental health. Every day that a genuine conversation happens, a man stops suffering in silence. These things happen on a daily basis, and we've seen the work that's been done by our Special Envoy for Men's Health, the member for Hunter—I'm glad he wore that suit because I reckon I'd look like the Partridge family bus if I'd put that on! We see that work happening, but it also happens locally as with Jack Bamford, a local bloke from up in Kyneton. If you talk about rough lives, Jack's had two rolled into one. But rather than sit back and wallow, Jack started a men's mental health fishing day. It's a great thing to be involved in. We all just go fishing. You sit down, you relax, you can talk about it, and there's professional help and support there. Suicide is a scourge. It's touched every one of us—I know that myself. But everything we can do to help to make lives better and to bring a better outcome is something that benefits our entire community. So speak up. Don't think it's a sign of weakness. Use your strength. Use your arm. Use your voice. We've all got two ears and a shoulder to lean on. Let's use them, because that's the way we get a better country for our future. So I commend this motion to the House.
I second the motion, and I reserve my right to speak.
McEwen Electorate | Adjournment | House debates
I rise tonight to talk about two terrific projects delivered in McEwen, projects that demonstrate exactly what happens when a government stops making excuses, stops issuing media releases and...
I rise tonight to talk about two terrific projects delivered in McEwen, projects that demonstrate exactly what happens when a government stops making excuses, stops issuing media releases and actually gets on with the job of putting communities first. In Diamond Creek the upgrade to the much-loved community pool has finally been delivered. These upgrades give the local families a modern, accessible and safe facility that our growing community deserves. It's not just about fresh tiles and new changerooms; it's also about giving everyone in our community from young children to families and our seniors an accessible and affordable place to swim. It's about making sure that the communities of Nillumbik have the kinds of recreational facilities that keep a community healthy, active and connected. Locals came to us before the 2022 election and let us know how important the upgrade to this beloved community asset was and we listened with a $1.5 million commitment. I particularly want to acknowledge here the advocacy of Councillor Peter Perkins, who was a hard-working local councillor. This funding saw improvements to the existing toilets and changerooms to improve accessibility, façade and painting works, updates to the plant room, with a new heat pump to come, and upgraded walkways for access around the complex. This $1.5 million commitment came from the Invest in Our Future program, and that's exactly what the Albanese Labor government is doing in our communities. Now, over in Doreen, the Hilltop Park playground and splash park is taking shape and is already proving to be extremely popular, as I found out Saturday first-hand. This project has delivered a vibrant and inclusive outdoor area where kids can play, cool off and simply enjoy being kids. It's exactly the kind of infrastructure our community deserves and will be a drawcard for people from surrounding communities as well. We already know that there are plenty of parties taking place, with more being planned. It's somewhere where kids can do this and do it for free. The $1.5 million funding from the Albanese Labor government under the Invest in Our Communities program with an additional Victorian government and Whittlesea shire council contribution is a perfect example of what happens when federal, state and local governments come together and deliver the right things in our community. The Hilltop playground and splash park features an interactive water play area, accessibility-friendly design and facilities, shaded seating, and upgraded landscaping to support a welcoming family-friendly environment. Projects like this strengthen our community, boost participation and improve liveability for the long-term. It's a really important investment for our community. I want to acknowledge here the support of Councillor Deb Gunn and Councillor Jarrod Lappin in getting this done. As I said, it relied on the Victorian government as well and thanks to the great advocacy of Lauren Kathage, the member for Yan Yean. We all got together and got this thing delivered in such a way that it has given an amazing rejuvenation to the Hilltop Park area. Just like the Diamond Creek pool, community voices were central in shaping the splash park and the playground. Today we see the results—a fantastic vibrant space that's designed for everyone. But these projects don't happen by accident. They're happening because our government, the Albanese Labor government, made commitments, budgeted for them and delivered them, just as we said we would. There was no fanfare, no political theatre, no splashy promises that disappear as soon as the camera is turned off. There was just hard work, proper planning and genuine follow through, and that's a real contrast. For too long, under the former Liberal and National government, communities like ours got plenty of announcements but never any action. We got photo ops and media releases instead of progress. We got overpromising and underdelivering that became a trademark of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison mess. Local families were left waiting, in some cases for years, for projects that were never funded properly, never prioritised and ultimately never delivered. Our community deserves a government that treats its commitments as obligations, not as publicity opportunities. They deserve investment that actually gets it done, not grant schemes built on colour-coded spreadsheets. They deserve to see the work that's happening on the ground—Diamond Creek, Doreen, right across McEwen. We are proud that we're backing local councils to deliver community infrastructure, proud that our parents, kids and grandparents alike will soon feel the benefit of these projects. And we are proud to say when we promise something we will deliver it and we do. The Diamond Creek pool upgrade, the Hilltop Park playground and the splash park in Doreen show the differences a government with integrity and purpose can make. Our community asked for these facilities. Labor listened and Labor has delivered. House adjourned at 20:00 The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Sharkie ) took the chair at 10:30.
McEwen Electorate: Whittlesea Show | Statements by Members | House debates
Well, as the member for Goldstein was home, sooking about having to work four days this week, on the weekend we were celebrating the Whittlesea Show. The Whittlesea Show has been going since...
Well, as the member for Goldstein was home, sooking about having to work four days this week, on the weekend we were celebrating the Whittlesea Show. The Whittlesea Show has been going since 1859, and it's run by a great bunch of volunteers who deliver a fantastic show that's close to Melbourne but gives you all the elements of a country show and all the elements of a fair. Every community group is there, whether they're selling food or goods or even just presenting animals. Of course, you get the custom—you've got to have a wood-chop at a good show. There are the vintage machines, the cars. Whatever you want, there is something there. The SES and the CFA put on some fantastic examples. The Whittlesea Men's Shed and Whittlesea Women's Shed were also heavily involved, selling their wares or just opening their doors so that people could see what great organisations they are. Wherever you looked across the showground, it was just a fantastic day. You had kids on horses and kids on motorbikes; there was the grand parade—a whole heap of things happening. No matter what you were into, whether it be crafts, photography, history or whatever, there was something there for everyone. This show, as I said, has been going since 1859. It was the Labor Party's 23rd year of being at the show. Our Liberal mates haven't been there for 16 years, but we still turn up, rain, hail or snow. I want to congratulate President Jayson Munro, Vice President Celina Mott, Secretary Wally Mott and of course Treasurer Sarah Foggie, who just put this whole thing together, with a bunch of volunteers. It really just shows how great it is to live in the seat of McEwen and why we love it so much.
Regional Australia: Roads | Private Members' Business | House debates
You won't find much more hypocrisy in this place than when listening to the Nationals complaining about road funding. I say this in absolute honesty. We've just heard five minutes of whining and...
You won't find much more hypocrisy in this place than when listening to the Nationals complaining about road funding. I say this in absolute honesty. We've just heard five minutes of whining and complaining about something that was actually done by them. In 2018, the then deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, the member for Riverina, had this specific plan laid out; as part of the National Road Safety Action Plan there was a commitment to lower speed limits. That comes on top of the fact that you would have thought a member from Victoria would have stood up during those nine years and complained about Victoria only getting seven per cent of the infrastructure spend nationally. But, no, there was absolute silence. It was okay to build a backlog of potholes and road repairs with no investment in Victoria because they were in government. Now, suddenly, it's: 'Oh, look at this. It's a big problem.' You can't expect all this backlog to be fixed in five years. But what you can expect is a government to be out there working for rural and regional Australians, and that is why there are more Labor MPs in rural and regional seats than the National Party—because we got rid of those that sit around and do nothing. We got rid of those who just enjoy themselves here, creating havoc and delivering nothing. We saw more press releases on every single road project in Victoria than we did shovels or action. The number of times they went to an election promising to fund this and to fund that and to do all these things for rural and regional Australia—they didn't do a thing. The National Party is the absolute most disgraceful party you can think of for rural and regional Victoria. When you look at every one of their seats, they have problems with education, with health and with jobs. The one consistency is re-voting in Nationals. That's why they are down to four per cent of the national vote—because they do not deliver. They're just a little tail on the back of the coalition dog, and all they do is wag and deliver nothing. I look forward to the member for Riverina coming in and talking about how he looked at the Watson Street ramps as being so important in rural and regional Victoria. He promised it. He wanted to get behind it. But, of course, the knifings saw him removed for the member for New England—now the One Nation member for New England, I think. They saw that gone. We saw him go to the election under the Urban Congestion Fund, the car park rorts fund, promising to build car parks in specific areas. A little known fact is that the three car parks they promised were already built. All they did was give money to Victoria to cover the work that was already done. Then they promised to build new lanes on the Hume Freeway, and what did we get? We got a $50 million announcement with big fanfare. They even sent one of the National MPs down—that was the first time he'd been down to the Hume Freeway to see what was going on—promising $50 million for a new lane on the freeway. We know it was a zombie promise. If they think they can deliver 23 kilometres of dual road for $50 million, they have rocks in their heads. It wasn't going to happen, and they didn't deliver a single thing. They went to that election and the 2022 election lying to the people of McEwen, Nicholls and Indi about getting these things fix. They never delivered a thing. What have we done? We have doubled the funding to Roads to Recovery. Since coming to government, Roads to Recovery has gone from $500 million to $1 billion this year. It's worth noting that, when we formed government in 2002, we learned that the coalition government, again through the sneakiness and the mischievous work of those opposite, had frozen maintenance to highways all the way back to 2013. That was the contribution the coalition government made towards essential maintenance on the highways that we all rely on. So what we've got is an absolute joke put up here by the member for Mallee about road funding and needing maintenance for potholes and all these other things. But, of course, the member didn't get up and say, 'Look, I was part of a government that froze that funding 10 years ago and caused backlogs for years and years.' It is a bit like the electricity bills. Those opposite complain about electricity bills but never once have you heard them get up and say, 'We are so sorry that we hid the price rises from the Australian public.' It is simply part of their DNA to be disrespectful to the Australian people by sneakily hiding price rises, because they did not want to go to an election and face the fact they had done nothing. This is an absolute failure of a government and that's why we're sitting where we are today. On every single measure on road funding, you can see our government has been delivering. We've delivered more roads, more road funding and more project results in three years than those opposite could muster up press releases in nine. It is an absolute joke, and, seriously, the member should apologise.
Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
It’s great to rise tonight to support the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025. It's great to do that because what...
It’s great to rise tonight to support the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025. It's great to do that because what we've seen is this government come to office and actually do things that help people with their cost of living. We heard someone rattle off just before about the cost of living, but what the member opposite never mentioned is that, every single time there's been a cost-of-living amendment, they've opposed it. Even this, going into the election, was not a bipartisan supported program. In fact, the shadow Treasurer made it clear that they were not doing it. But once Labor came out with it and committed to it, after we had a great report from the committee last year—a bipartisan report—that looked into food and beverage manufacturing in Australia, suddenly the fighting over this stopped momentarily to support something we were doing. And that's the important thing. This is about a government that leads—a government that has brought people from all walks of life under one roof. We're lucky to have venues in our electorates that bring people from all walks of life together. They are those crucial spaces where members of a community can meet, relax and spend time together and, more often than not, have a nice, cold, frothy one. However, as we know, many of these venues have been doing it tough. With high overheads, strong regulations to meet and a host of other costs, profit margins for many owners can be slim. For these cornerstones of our community, the cost-of-living issues we inherited from the previous government brought many to the brink. It's a delicate balancing act. Charge too little for drinks, and the venue operates at a loss. Charge too much, and no-one comes in. Throw in a couple more facts and the fact that these businesses are operating at all becomes more impressive. Many hospitality venues are still recovering from the pandemic era disruptions. The lack of trade and the ongoing costs of leases, insurance and utilities depleted savings, and many did go out of business. There were nine years of economic mismanagement by those opposite. When the economy goes down, it pulls small businesses down first. On 3 May 2025, small operators of licensed venues made their choice. They placed their trust in Labor, the only party that would deliver them the much-needed support. In August, the Assistant Treasurer moved a motion to freeze the increase on beer taxes for two years. Brewers across Australia rejoiced. Through that, we sent an important signal—a signal that we are here for pubs and clubs in particular. We hear you and we are here for you. The bills are a ratification of a government's decision. They clarify our commitment to local businesses. For the first time in 40 years, we are pausing the automatic CPI indexation of twice-yearly increases in duty rates. This directly responds to cost-of-living pressures by backing in Australian businesses. We do this without undermining public health objectives or the broader alcohol taxation framework. This is a very targeted measure. It's balanced and responsible. It's an intervention that applies specifically to individual containers of eight to 48 litres designed to connect to a pressurised gas pump or pump delivery system. These are the kegs that are used across the country in many of our pubs and clubs—for example, individual containers of more than 48 litres, which are the kegs used in commercial hospitality settings. We are making it easier for function spaces to cater for large crowds. With a million things on the go at the same time, these venues should be able to worry less about what they will charge for drinks or whether they have enough. For two years, we are encouraging price stabilisation, building the trust between consumers and the local watering hole. Small business needs certainty in order to invest more in their operations. We are providing them with that certainty and reducing the number of sleepless nights spent calculating long-term profitability. When the excise does resume, in August 2027, it will resume at the frozen rate, not the higher rate that would have been applied had indexation continued. This will result in a permanent reduction in the duty trajectory. This will have direct and indirect effects on groups across society. Firstly, we're making it easier for approximately 10,000 hospitality venues. Of these pubs, clubs, taverns and bars, about 75 per cent are small businesses. They are in our town venues, from Woodend to Bridge Inn Road, from Gisborne to Diamond Creek, Whittlesea, Beveridge and Wallan and everywhere in between. The Albanese Labor government is committed to small business. These bills are the next tranche in that support, in line with our other commitments, such as providing $207 million over two years from this year to continue the stabilisation of Australia's business registers and undertake targeted uplifts. This includes: linking director identification numbers to the company register; cutting red tape by working with states and territories on national licensing for electrical trades; and streamlining commercial planning and zoning and removing barriers that inhibit the take-up of modern construction methods, which is backed by the $900 million National Productivity Fund. Secondly, we are pushing for stability in the industry as a whole. Approximately 160,000 workers are employed in the hospitality sector, many relying on the viability of these businesses. We saw that when we were in Woodend talking to the hotel owners about the apprentices they were putting on and the great results they were getting. The first thing they said to us was: 'Clientele is dropping back. When things are a bit tight, people don't come in. As the cost of beer keeps going up, fewer of them do it.' So they were rapt when they saw that we were doing this. They know that what we are doing is putting our bit in to help them through the tougher times and to be with them all the way through. We want businesses to grow, employ more locals and expand their market share. But that's not all. Not only do these bills foster growth; they also protect against harm. In particular, this legislation protects venues against hikes in drink prices and protects local breweries from being bullied by the international ones. So, first, we prevent cost increases. When the duty rates increase, the venues without a cushy profit margin must factor that into the cost of a pint. Expense costs go up for mum-and-dad owners who sleep in the residence upstairs and don't have other revenue streams, so they are forced to mark up their drinks. The consumer wears the cost increases, or they see the prices and choose not to go to a pub altogether. Hospitality has an essential role to play in Australian communities, particularly the jobs they provide in regional areas. Our government is committed to protecting these jobs. Pouring and serving pints is a gateway for young adults to develop social skills, leadership abilities and professional experience. By mitigating the price increases we pass on to consumers we promote visitation at the local club or pub. By encouraging price stability we build trust between patrons and the places they go to relax and promote Australian jobs. Second, we prevent local breweries from going under. Similarly, by pausing the automatic CPI indexation, we make it easier for local brewers to grow in the Australian draught beer market. Emerging local breweries face an uphill battle. Without the reputational advantage the bigger companies enjoy, it's much harder to get tap space at pubs. By pausing the excise on draught beer, we give our bars financial breathing room. This allows them to offer a wider range of options and gives more Australian owned breweries footholds in our bars. Here, we are giving local breweries and publicans a chance to grow their businesses. This will have tangible and far-reaching effects across Australia, particularly in the regions, peri-urban towns and suburbs. In our community, hospitality jobs provide many of the skills that set young people up for adulthood. Behind the bars of our clubs and pubs, many young adults learn to manage tasks quickly and to work as a professional team—not to mention the timeless art of pouring the perfect pot or pint. But, when there aren't enough workers to meet demand, it can be overwhelming, with the physicality of carrying trays and cleaning floors, the mental challenge of catering for so many people at the same time and sometimes dealing with less courteous patrons. The pause on CPI indexation will reduce the strain faced by hospitality workers while putting our pubs and clubs in a position to put more hands on deck. We're enhancing the community experience. Pubs and clubs are a community focal point. These venues are meeting places for old friends or where families go for a good dinner. They host everything—pub trivia nights, stand-up open mics and end-of-season sporting functions. They sponsor the local footy team or the local netball team and host barbecues and raffles for charities. These places bring members of a community together. These places have a special, binding effect. Over a beer, people make friends, find partners and become part of a social group. In the digitised world, with more and more interactions behind the screen, community venues are a place of connection, and they deserve our support. With a pause in the custom duty rates, not only will people walk into their local watering hole; they will travel further to seek these experiences out. If we protect our local venues, we can help them become destinations for domestic and international visitors. Take it from the Restaurant and Catering Association. According to them, more premium, domestically reduced products allow for a more vibrant, exciting dining scene that is more attractive to domestic and international tourists visiting Australia. We are helping not only hospitality but the broader tourism industry. Across Australia, we're inviting people to enjoy the vibrant and diverse experiences our venues have to offer. These bills further support community venues by providing pricing stability. The Albanese Labor government will always stand up and advocate and legislate for the interests of workers and those doing it tough. These bills are consistent with our view that small business is the engine room of our economy. Supporting them is supporting our nation as a whole. We are legislating cheaper beers, more opportunities for local enterprises and better community experiences. Much like a nice beer, this policy is smooth, refreshing and pairs well—not with food but with our dedication to making a better country for all. I commend these bills to the House. Cheers!
Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
This is a very important day for our broader nation and what's happening with the defence royal commission. We know that people who are in our Defence Force and their families are so important....
This is a very important day for our broader nation and what's happening with the defence royal commission. We know that people who are in our Defence Force and their families are so important. We owe a lot to them, and we can never say thanks enough. It's important that, when we bring people into the ADF, we make sure that they are looked after. We make sure that they get everything they need. Particularly on finishing their service, we should make sure that the right thing is done by them. We know that this has been an issue in the past. We know that veterans went through a long period of time during the former government where at one stage over a thousand claims were sitting on the minister desk unopened. We know that veterans came to us saying that the problem they were having was with DVA in the previous government. The words that really haunt me still are the veterans' view when it comes to DVA and supporting veterans was 'delay, deny, die'. That was what veterans believed was happening. They believed that they were constantly being delayed and denied, and some took the worst-case scenario out. It was something that we had to fix, so we worked extremely hard to push for the royal commission into veteran suicide. We know the issues, and I've met Julie-Ann Finney myself a few times—lovely lady. She is suffering quite a lot with what's happened to her, and she is not alone; there are lots of others like that. When you talk to people through the veterans community, you know that, for a range of reasons, this is not uncommon. It's why governments need to act and do the right thing. If someone put their life on the line to defend our nation, our values and everything we believe in, you have an absolute obligation to make sure that, if they're broken, you look after them. You make sure that, if they've got problems, you fix them and you give them the support that they need. As I said, this was something that never happened, and I was a bit miffed this morning listening to the shadow minister talk. I think about what issues were caused during the time that he was minister. Why were things not done quicker and faster? Why were these things that we all stand here and say we should address not addressed? It's not the right thing. Now we have taken the royal commission and we are going through all the different recommendations, implementing them in principle and actually committing to seeing outcomes done that actually help our veterans and their families, because it is important. You can't speak enough of the importance of what veterans should expect from us. We heard of systems that were toxic and broken and heard that not enough was being done to support personnel during and after their service, and we have acted on those calls. With the many thousands of people that we've spoken to about this when we go to RSLs and talk to them, the No. 1 thing that keeps coming back is that we are just getting nowhere. We are really just pushing it uphill, but no-one is listening. Well, we listen. We made the commitment that we would listen, and we are acting on that and getting things done. In September last year, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide released its final report. It was seven volumes and had 122 recommendations. I know that when I went to the Doreen RSL, they wanted a copy of it. They wanted to see what was there, because so many of their members have issues that they have faced from their time in service and the problems that happened with that. I took this quote from former minister Gee, who was the Minister for Veterans' Affairs in the Morrison government: when he asked for more money, he threatened to resign because he believed we needed to do more. And he was right. But the response from the former government was the government was only prioritising funding to those that had a political advantage, and they're words that should turn everyone's stomach. That's what he said, on 29 May 2024. It should not have happened. It's not about prioritising funding; it's about doing the right thing. I know from my own time being in this place working with the DART, the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce, the problems that have happened there. I've had veterans come to me with tonnes of paperwork showing the abuse they had in the Defence Force. They've sat in front of DVA and been told, with the minister—of both colours—that it never happened. But, when you produce the military medical professionals reports and the military police reports that all show it did happen, two weeks after that meeting—this is after veterans have been fighting for 12 or 18 months—suddenly DVA says, 'Oh, yes, it did happen. We will do that; we'll pay to take you to a psychologist because you've been abused. But we won't pay the psychologist.' The idiocy of that had to stop. I know that some of my friends have been more brave and courageous than I could imagine by bringing forward their sexual abuse in the Defence Force. Hearing their harrowing stories and what that's done to their lives is phenomenal. This is why what we're doing today and what we're doing with the royal commission is so important. We have to stop this from happening again. We can't have these situations happen. Men and women go into the Defence Force to serve our nation, and they do it well. They don't need to be keeping an eye on their backs the entire time. That's why it is so important we do these accommodations. That's why it is important that we have these systems in place—to make sure that, when they put on that uniform, they know their government has their back and they know they're going to be safe. They put themselves in harm's way enough without having to worry about what's behind. We know that for a lot of the situations we deal with there are issues in the way of the tribunals working. These things have been overcomplicated and made very difficult. I really congratulate Minister Keogh for doing something that no-one else has done. He has worked excessively hard to make sure that our veterans' entitlements are paid in a timely manner and that they get what they're entitled to. Again, I go back to those harrowing words: delay, deny and die. No more should that happen. When you look at how we've been working through this in the 12 months since the royal commission report, you see we are continually working to improve the situations for veterans and our defence personnel. We made a commitment that we would fix these things when we called the royal commission. I give credit to Senator Lambie, who was very vocal as well. To get this done is so important. What it shows is that we do value our veterans, we do value our defence personnel and we're actually stumping up to show that. They're not hollow words. They're not words about trying to find a political advantage. It's about actually doing the right thing. I think about when my grandfather came back with shell shock. He got the hard nut: 'You'll be right. Out you go.' Like many veterans of World War II and many veterans of Vietnam, he took the hard way out through the bottom of a bottle, and that's not right. We've all got to pull our socks up and really work hard to get this done, but we've taken these first steps on the journey to fixing that. No more should we hear of the Julie-Ann Finneys of the world. I want to give a big shout-out to Jeb Summers, a young bloke from the seat of Hawke. He was in McEwen, but, unfortunately, the AEC downgraded him to Hawke. He runs Save our Services. He stood at an Anzac Day ceremony and threatened to hand back his medals—that was shocking—because he couldn't get the support. Now he gets that. He's running these great programs for veterans refusing to deal with mental health and he's supporting people. But veterans threatening to give back their medals because they feel their country isn't helping them is not on. It's got to be stopped. That's why I've continued to push and fight to get as much done as we can as quickly as we can to help these people. As I said at the beginning, when we ask them to put on a uniform to do things for our country, it is our obligation to make sure that, when they return and finish their service, we look after them.
Freedom of Information | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Attorney-General. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of integrity and transparency frameworks?
Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
On 3 May this year I was given the great honour of being returned to this place by the people of McEwen. And as I've said before, in every one of these addresses, I pledge to work day and night...
On 3 May this year I was given the great honour of being returned to this place by the people of McEwen. And as I've said before, in every one of these addresses, I pledge to work day and night to fulfil my commitments to them. I pledge to do all that's within my power and the power of this government to make our lives better. I will always bring their interests to this place and give our communities a seat at the table. It's a great privilege and honour to have this job. In Canberra we each speak with the voice of more than 100,000 people, and we act in their interests. We have spent the past three years in government listening hard and laying the foundations for our nation for the next three years. We see those foundations everywhere in McEwen. In May 2022 Australia voted for change, after nine years of stagnation, rorts, rip-offs and scandals under those opposite. I'm proud to report that this change has been seen across our towns and our communities in McEwen. Over the past three years we saw essential programs expand their reach in the communities, be that in health, education, cost-of-living support or, importantly, roads and infrastructure. I point that out because one of biggest challenges we face is the road infrastructure in our communities. Under the coalition, our state, which is 25 per cent of Australia's population, received only seven per cent of infrastructure spending. I'm glad to report that Victoria is now receiving the funding it deserves to maintain and develop our state road network, and our communities see these benefits happening. In the past three years there has been a lot of change and growth in McEwen. We have seen a series of major grants. We secured $1 million to expand the Diamond Creek Mens Shed. We'll deliver the space to expand their operations, supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of men in our community. It's a success measured in mateship, in conversations that would have gone unheard. It's also a chance to talk about their health and wellbeing and a great opportunity for them to have those conversations comfortably and talk about things that we don't normally like to talk about. But it's important that we do that, and it removes the isolation for many people in our towns. In 2022 we secured disaster relief funding after the Darraweit Guim floods. The government supported locals through this time as they dealt with change and with damage to their homes and to their lives. We invested $7.1 million for the Johnson Road estate in Mernda through our housing support fund to help the city of Whittlesea to meet the growing residential demand. We are delivering on our major commitments, which is something that has been dear to me from day one: to always make sure I deliver what I promise. We secured $900 million for Camerons Lane Interchange and the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct, and I'm pleased to see that the planning is well underway with the state government delivering this project. We are commencing stage 2 of the Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct, in cooperation with Macedon Ranges Shire. And works are well underway with the $1.5 million investment in the Diamond Creek Pool upgrade. I just spoke to the mayor upstairs, and we're getting reading for a fantastic summer. There's also the Hilltop splash park in Mernda, which is something we've promised: somewhere that's free where families can take kids on hot days and have a great bit of fun. When we announced this we partnered with the state government and Whittlesea Council to develop the $3 million park, with new swings and nature rides and other great things for families to do, close to home—and importantly, as I said, at a time when dollars are tight, it's free. This is something I think will be sensational when it's delivered around October. We are also sealing Old Sydney Road in Beveridge. Beveridge is an area that has struggled, with one entrance in and one entrance out. When you've got primary schools on both sides of the freeway, sometimes it can take 45 minutes to travel those three kays from one school to the other. This gives a second exit out, which will be great for growing communities but also in times of need. We are duplicating Donnybrook Road at Kalkallo, from around Cloverton onto the freeway; adding a new bridge; removing the roundabout; and putting traffic lights in. Again, having governments working together is so important, and we're partnered with the state government in that to make the lives of so many people so much better. Then there are the upgrades at Greenhill Reserve in Wallan and the works at Wellington Street and Darraweit Road—that's just only naming a few of the many different road projects that we've been doing across our communities. There's funding of $90 million for Watson Street ramps to the Hume Highway at Wallan, with works kicking off later this year. This is a long-awaited project, a project that was neglected under the previous government. But as soon as we got into government we started the move to get funding in place for planning, and now we see it happening. I know there are going to be many people giving a sigh of relief when the works start. Yan Yean Road stage 2 is now well progressed towards commencement. These are things that need to be done in growing communities to help people get around and to make it easier and a lot safer to get to and from work. We can see that from the recently completed Bridge Inn Road upgrades. Projects like these are game changers; they make our lives safer and easier while delivering important economic outcomes for communities. In May 2022, the Australian people voted for change. In May 2025, the Australian people voted for positivity and growth. They voted for Australian values: fairness, aspiration, opportunity for all—the values that drive our Labor government. However, nothing good comes easy, and any reflection on my journey back to this place would be incomplete without the story of the last election. We know that every election is tough. When you're in one of the seats most targeted by the opposition, you know it gets even tougher. But we prevailed. We prevailed in a situation where we had these blow-in candidates come in with deep, deep pockets, spending a lot of money and making promises they could never keep. McEwen, for some reason, seems to be a magnet for cashed-up, parachuted candidates. It's a tradition with the Liberal Party. For better or worse, though, our local communities have not forgotten the nine years of squibbed promises and failure to deliver by those opposite. At this election, it was hard to forget them. One thing that did stand out for me at this election was the abundance of volunteers in blue T-shirts, especially at pre-poll and on election day. But these blue T-shirts weren't being worn by diehard, true believers of the Liberal Party. No, sadly for democracy, those people are almost extinct. They were being worn by members of a third party group trying to use their resources to change the outcome of a democratic election—and I'm not talking about locals here. These were people that were bussed in to do their work for the party they hoped would deliver a quid pro quo. The question has to be asked, 'What did the Liberal Party promise these people to make them come out in such an aggressive, bullying manner?' As in many other places across the nation, the Exclusive Brethren descended on the towns of Gisborne and Wandong for pre-poll. Surprisingly enough, they didn't do the Liberal candidate any favours. With at least 20 of these so-called volunteers there on any given day, they turned the task of people choosing to exercise their democratic right at a pre-poll into a gauntlet to be run, with in-your-face, pushy behaviour and by deliberately blocking people trying to get in. The feedback we received from locals was they did not appreciate being accosted as they made their way into the polling place just to have their say. The presence of the Brethren didn't end at the pre-poll. On election day it was worse, with many of our volunteers subjected to the aggressive methods of these thugs as they harassed people while handing out for the Liberal Party. It's bad enough with Liberals not being honest, but these parasites were openly and deliberately lying to people. One thing that really struck me was at the pre-poll we had a young female, a first-time voter still in her school uniform. By the time she got to the front of the election queue, she was crying because she had all these people just surrounding her and badgering her all the way through. Luckily, we had Senator Jana Stewart with us. Senator Stewart was very forthright with the Liberal Party in explaining that that was not on. We can't have people who are coming to vote for the first time being forced to tears as they try to exercise their right. It's just not on. As a member of parliament, I find it concerning that the use of groups such as the Brethren can have a direct impact on the integrity of our democratic process. These groups, with their insular and highly controlled nature, can be used to manipulate the political process in ways that are not transparent or representative of the broader electorate. I would absolutely recommend that this matter be looked into by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and any other authority which has jurisdiction on election interference by these so-called third parties. Predictably, and thankfully, the people of McEwen saw straight through them. I've always been proud to be a local living and working in the electorate that I get to represent. It's something that I think is important. You make sure that you're down at the shops like everyone else, you drive the same roads, your kids go to the same school—all these things are just so important to what we do. What the Liberals had to offer was a deceitful candidate who was prepared to spend tens of thousands of dollars on advertising but, predictably, failed to listen to the needs of our communities or understand them, because he wasn't one of us. We were proud to fend off the multi-failed blow-in, and we had the confidence of the people in our prime minister, Anthony Albanese. Our communities delivered a swing to the ALP in this election, which is so important. It showed the faith and the trust they have in us to deliver what we said we will do. I think that was borne out right across the electorate. That was part of my journey to get back here, and now there is a lot of work to do. I look at the future of our nation, and it looks bright. It's a privilege to be in the largest ALP caucus since Federation. I just joked about the fact that, at the first caucus meeting, it was so unusual to find that there weren't enough chairs. Luckily, there was a room down the other end that we could borrow some from because that was fairly empty. In this term, our government is committed to doing a range of things. We're continuing to provide cost-of-living assistance with energy bill relief for households and small businesses, tax cuts for every taxpayer and cheaper medicines. We're committed to a stronger Medicare, in which nine out of 10 GP visits will be bulk-billed by the end of the decade, and an expanded network of urgent care clinics, including the one in Diamond Creek, to take pressure off our hospital emergency departments. We know that Northern Hospital Epping has the busiest emergency department in Australia. The more that we can do to keep people from clogging up that system, the better. We're slashing the prices of PBS listed medicines and boosting funding for women's health, which is so important. I want to thank Assistant Minister Ged Kearney, who came out and held a women's health forum with me. It was really enlightening to sit there and listen to a great bunch of locals who came and talked about women's health issues and the problems they face. I was pleased that they allowed me to stay in the room to listen to it. It really showed what has been neglected for a long time. It's important to have a direct focus on women's health, like we do with men's health through our special envoy for men's health, the member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi. These things are important to make sure that the focus is strong and consistent and that we deliver results. One of the other things that we're proud of in one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation—we're always battling up there in the top couple—is getting more people into homes through the five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers. We're committed to building 100,000 homes exclusively for first home buyers, expanding the Help to Buy scheme and providing incentives of $10,000 for building apprentices to boost the workforce and tackle the critical workforce shortage we have. We're ensuring education is available and affordable by making a further 20 per cent cut to student debt, raising the income threshold and capping the indexation rate. That ensures that HELP debts cannot grow faster than wages. It's so important for young people wanting to buy their first home. In addition, we're making fee-free TAFE a key feature of our national vocational education and training system. This will come by funding 100,000 fee-free TAFE places a year from 2027 and fully funding public schools to make sure no child gets left behind. We are helping families with children in early education get ahead by scrapping the childcare activity test and replacing it with a three-day guarantee for subsidised care each week, as well as building 160 new childcare centres over four years. We are delivering cleaner, cheaper renewable energy, and it's so important for the future of our nation that we do this and get to net zero. And you've got to ask a question: if you just got the biggest thumping in your life against a side that is supporting net zero, why the hell would you go and scrap it? It makes no sense, but that's okay; we're not going to give them any tips. I think the Liberal and National parties can deal with their own shrinking base themselves. But we are delivering this cheaper, cleaner energy because it's so important. We're delivering a 30 per cent discount on home batteries to make better use of solar panels and permanently cut power bills. This, the vision of Labor, is clear. We are the party of growth, and growth is a big factor at home too. We sit in Melbourne's northern growth corridor, smack bang in the middle, and we need to be ahead of the curve. We know every day the effects of what the Liberal government neglected over nine years. Like other periurban regions across the nation, our communities have a shifting set of needs. What we need from government today is different from what we needed 20 years ago, and I guarantee it's different to what we'll need in 20 years time. But now we're not just catching up; we're building for the future. Our record investment is more than just bitumen and bridges; it's about delivering opportunities safely and responsibly to our communities. We are delivering the change the communities in McEwen need. Communities have waited for far too long for government to see them and understand their needs. Just in closing, as is traditional and to make sure I get home safely and get that support, I want to talk about the supporters and the help that we got from all those people who contributed to the win in McEwen. I may get the chocolates of being here and delivering this speech, but I know that, without the many, many thousands of people who get in behind us, it doesn't happen, and it's so important that we acknowledge some of those. I know I'm going to miss people, and I apologise for that. But I want to thank my team that I have in my office. We are a great collective of people that work with one goal, and that's to service our community. Thank you to Adam, Cath, Ged, Gareth, Jeni, Sasha, Ella, Gaweshi, Kate—who came out from UK Labour to help and be part of it, and an absolute legend she was—Spiro, Dylan and Carmel—who is just a great sounding board for advice. Thank you to Paul Erickson, Jen Light, Jett Fogarty and Gabriella Dawson. What a team they are! I thank the unions: the TWU, of which I've been proud to be a member for 25 years, and the RTBU, who offered great support and help in sounding out with our multicultural communities. Thank you to Ged for doing all the coordinating—the 215 volunteers, the 282 shifts at prepolls and the 70 scrutineers that it takes to do these things. I want to also give special thanks to a man who I openly call my brother, Avtar, and to Diego, Casey, Jan Mapleston, Margo Clarke, John Benson, John Frearson and Terry Larkins, who's been the chair of our FEA for a long, long time and is the Yoda of our communities. He is an amazing person. I thank my mate Simon Furey, Kobe Hay, Hailey Emmins, Jarrod Lappin, Kerry Pastras, the HACSU volunteers and all the branch members and supporters in our community that just deliver these things. They make you want to get up in the morning and do your best. They're just great people. I thank local supporters including Graeme Newman from the Diamond Creek Men's Shed; Michelle Kneale from Northern Pride Netball Association, an amazing lady; Michelle at Romsey Neighbourhood House, who does a fantastic, champion job; and a man who I would say, in all honesty, is one of the greatest human beings I've ever met in my life, and that's Jeremy Scrivens from Love in Action. He is an amazing human. He's going through a rough time, but we're backing him. I thank Neal Langborne from the Wallan Football Netball Club, a great mate and someone who's always there to tell you, right or wrong, what you're doing and do it in a forthright way. I really appreciate that. To the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Treasurer, the Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government—I think Catherine King has almost got her own place out there, she's been out so often—the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Minister for Sport and the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care: thank you for your support and being part of this special time we had. And a special shout-out goes to Senator Jana Stewart, who was an absolute rock during the prepolling. To former minister Stephen Conroy—a great mate, a great sounding board—for the frank and fearless bits of advice you get from him. To Tess Baster and, of course, to my family: Lisa and the two greatest hander-outerers on prepoll day, my grandkids, Ava and Lacey. They did a wonderful job, keeping tally of who took the pamphlets and who didn't. It was great to have both of them out there. It really warms your heart to see, and it was just great to have those two kids there. And, of course, thank you to Hawker Britton, who just never let us down. With that, as I said, I'm very thankful for this opportunity again to be here, and I won't waste a day.
McEwen Electorate: Stronger Communities Program, McEwen Electorate: Fishing for Mental Health | Constituency Statements | House debates
It'd be interesting to know which way the member for Capricornia went on that pineapple stuff! Over the last few weeks, it's been a pleasure to go to some of the recipients of the Stronger...
It'd be interesting to know which way the member for Capricornia went on that pineapple stuff! Over the last few weeks, it's been a pleasure to go to some of the recipients of the Stronger Communities Program grants in McEwen. I'm proud to say that, under the Albanese Labor government, we're supporting groups that are making a real difference in our communities. First of all, at the Diamond Creek Football Netball Club, $18,000 has been put towards NAIDOC jumpers and netball dresses. The jumpers will be worn at the Sir Doug Nicholls Round each year. Apart from looking great, they serve the very important purposes of strengthening the club's connection to the local Indigenous community and growing an understanding of the Indigenous connection to the great game of AFL. I want to extend my appreciation to Maria Jory and Shaun Fitzpatrick for their hard work and dedication in pushing this along to make sure that the jumper is a true reflection of Diamond Creek, by getting a local artist to do the design that includes Diamond Creek—the hills, the trees and everything about the local area. I think it's important that these sorts of things happen for our communities, because it's people like Shaun and Maria and the rest of the crew down there who really sustain the heart and soul of the clubs in local communities, which are so important for all of us. I can't wait to see the Creekers come out in the special occasion colours. I know the boys were rapt seeing the jumpers last week; it was great fun. Also, I want to celebrate an important local initiative that is taking place in our region next week. On 6 September, another Fishing for Mental Health Day will take place at Kyneton, at Lauriston Reservoir. It's now an annual event for locals to get together, have a great day outdoors and promote mental health. There are even prizes for the biggest catch and smallest catch of the day, as well as for the best joke—which I can sadly say I never win. Apparently, my dad jokes are not funny to anyone bar me, but that's okay. I won't take it to heart! I'm proud to be able to contribute towards this sort of special occasion by sponsoring all the bait purchases. Local Jack Bamford is a man who we should really sit down and listen to, for his journey from where he's been to where he's got to, to able to put this together for everyone to enjoy, is a remarkable one. His commitment to this event is second to none. I was down there with my good friend Mary-Anne Thomas, the member for Macedon and Victorian health minister, as we chatted with Jack about what's going on and acknowledge the VFA, the Victorian Fisheries Authority, for their support in getting this done by stocking Lauriston Reservoir last year to make sure there was trout there to catch. All it takes, sometimes, for these things to really happen is someone with a bit of passion, a bit of fire in their belly and a great desire to get things done. It's great work by Jack to be able to do this. It's an exciting time for us to be at home—to be spending time in local communities, travelling around to different groups and seeing all these little cogs that make our community tick. It's such a pleasure to be able to catch up with local people, to see these things in action firsthand and to see the great work they're doing for our community.
Housing Affordability | Statements by Members | House debates
When it comes to affordable housing, Australians know they can rely on the Albanese Labor government to deliver homes for more people. It's not our government that said in 2017, 'If you want to...
When it comes to affordable housing, Australians know they can rely on the Albanese Labor government to deliver homes for more people. It's not our government that said in 2017, 'If you want to buy a house, get rich parents.' It wasn't our government that said, 'If you want to buy a house, get a better job.' No, it was our government that said to young Australians, 'We want to help you get into your first home,' and we've done so through our five per cent deposit scheme. Nearly 1,300 people in McEwen have benefited from this, and we know that, right across the country, more Australians will get access to that Australian dream of owning their own home because this government actually went out and supported Australians. We went out and said that we need to get more homes for people fleeing domestic violence. We fast-tracked our support for tradies to get more people building homes and getting into the housing sector. We've also delivered more homes for defence veterans, and we've done the work that is about unlocking the opportunities for young people to get a new home, without relying on, as those opposite said, getting your parents to fund you or getting a better job. We know times are hard, but it's our government that is standing up consistently for Australians and making sure that every opportunity there is to get into your own home is being done courtesy of us. This $43 billion plan is not just about the dollars but about making lives better for families, making lives better for younger and older people, and giving them the safety and security that they need to deliver a better future for themselves.
Economy | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer update the House on what progress the Albanese Labor government has made when it comes to housing and in our economy more broadly?
Regional Australia | Matters of Public Importance | House debates