Linda Burney's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Public Accounts and Audit Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present the following reports: Report 509: inquiry into public sector information technology procurement and projects, Report 510:...
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present the following reports: Report 509: inquiry into public sector information technology procurement and projects, Report 510: inquiry into the use and governance of artificial intelligence systems by public sector entities'Proceed with caution',Report 511: inquiry into the contract management frameworks operated by Commonwealth entities and Report 512: report of the inquiry into the administration of Commonwealth regulations. Reports made parliamentary papers in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—I now present four reports of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit. Report 509: i nquiry into public sector information technology procurement and projects found shortfalls in capability, planning and management at Commonwealth entities for external information technology contracts. A key question that arose during this inquiry was whether Australian government departments have the adequate capability to deliver information technology systems, programs, projects and reforms. Factors such as labour market competition impact on internal knowledge and skills in information technology. This can lead to agencies having to supplement this capability through outsourcing, which can perpetuate their capability loss and continue to trend towards reliance on external contractors. The committee's view is that departments should aim to enhance their internal knowledge and capability, and, if outsourcing is required, they should ensure that their own expertise on project requirements is maintained. The committee also takes the view that engagement should be planned appropriately with a longer term view to enhancing internal capability and that outsourcing should not be seen as a permanent feature of information technology delivery. Departments should also have strategic and longer term approaches to supplementing staff capabilities and embed this organisational thinking in governance documents such as procurement plans. Projects discussed during the inquiry also suggested to the committee that the budgetary processes used for information technology investments could benefit from a longer term outlook. Given that large infrastructure and defence projects allow for sustainment and asset management funding, information technology systems should be treated in a similar way to allow for both ongoing sustainment and changes in response to new policies or technologies. The committee recommended that the Department of Finance improve the guidance given to other government entities about how to most effectively procure information technology. The committee also recommended that the Department of Finance and the Digital Transformation Agency collaborate more closely to provide better guidance. Report 510 : i nquiry into the use and governance of artificial intelligence systems by public sector entities concluded that, while AI systems can provide substantial benefits, they also pose potentially significant risks, especially in areas involving direct service delivery to the public. The potential benefits of generative AI in terms of efficiency and productivity include the drafting and editing of documents, generating visually engaging presentations, summarising long and complex documents and conducting preliminary research. The committee acknowledges however that common risks associated with the use of AI can include: Evidence to the inquiry indicated that there are areas where the Public Service should not use AI. The European Union, for example, prohibits AI systems such as social scoring. Australia would benefit from clearly defining a similar list of prohibited AI systems. The committee is also of the view that these systems must never be used for surveillance purposes in the Public Service or elsewhere. Private information must also not be provided to generative AI systems where its security cannot be assured. The committee shares the concerns of inquiry participants regarding the potential for generative AI or machine learning systems to reproduce negative biases present in their training data. Strong evidence was presented to the committee that the presence of an informed human in the loop, while not completely removing the risk of unintended consequences, may reduce the risks where AI is used alongside automated decision-making. The committee is also cognisant that not enough information is yet available on how many Public Service staff are using AI systems or what they are using them for. There was consensus among inquiry participants that more AI training is needed at all levels. This will be critical to reducing the risk of AI systems being inadvertently misused, including situations where sensitive personal information is involved. This field is developing rapidly, particularly in relation to generative AI. Effective and coordinated governance frameworks for AI use must be developed now before this technology outpaces government's ability to do so. Among the committee's recommendations are a whole-of-government working group to consider rules and governance frameworks for AI and that a statutory joint committee on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies should be established to enable more effective parliamentary oversight. To help inform future policy decisions, the committee is also recommending that the Australian Public Service Commission introduce questions on the use and understanding of AI and other emerging technologies into its annual APS employee census. R eport 511 : I nquiry into the contract management frameworks o perated by Commonwealth entities found that a well-executed procurement process will not deliver value for money to taxpayers unless it is followed by effective contract management. The committee has found that contract management is an important skill which has likely not had the same level of attention or development as procurement but is just as vital to project success. The evidence to the inquiry revealed weaknesses in public sector contract management in several key areas, including: Central to the committee's conclusions in this inquiry are that the Department of Finance needs to be more than just a policy steward providing advice and resources. The committee understands that it is not feasible for Finance to be an overarching authority on the many thousands of contracts that exist across the Commonwealth. The committee believes, however, that Finance must be more proactive in detecting and responding to 'red flags' in contract management capability, particularly when huge amounts of taxpayers' money are being expended. The committee has recommended that the Department of Finance's self-assessment survey on procurement and contract management becomes mandatory and that the department take corrective actions if this survey reveals shortfalls in capability. The committee is further recommending that the Department of Finance consults with the Australian National Audit Office and other relevant agencies as needed to produce more effective guidance in the aforementioned areas of contract management weaknesses that the committee has identified. During the inquiry, the ANAO noted that it is having to increasingly use its legislative powers to obtain the information it requires to conduct an audit. The committee fully supports the ANAO's contention that these powers should only be needed under very specific circumstances and that for most audits it should have unfettered access to the information it requires. The committee has recommended that the ANAO report back with more detail on the increased need to use its legislative powers and that it provide a suggested course of action for the committee's consideration. Finally, our Report 512: Inquiry into the administration of Commonwealth regulations found that government regulation has a profound effect on the daily lives of all Australians. When it's administered effectively, regulation protects the public interest, ensures the efficient delivery of services, promotes trust, and improves community safety and wellbeing. During this inquiry, the committee examined how regulators: The committee found the performance of regulators to be patchy. Some entities are failing to effectively regulate at all, or their regulation was only partially effective. Even where entities were found to be largely effective, there were gaps and inconsistencies across various areas. Some of the shortcomings, particularly the Department of Home Affairs' failure to effectively regulate migration agents and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources' oversight of trade measurement, were plainly unacceptable. The committee made specific recommendations regarding these entities to ensure ongoing accountability for rectifying the issues discovered in the audits that formed the basis of this inquiry. Accountable authorities of entities with regulatory obligations are ultimately responsible for ensuring these obligations are met. The committee concluded that transparency as to regulator obligations is an important aspect of accountability. Accordingly, the committee made a very important recommendation that the Department of Finance expands the scope of the regulator stocktake to require entities with regulatory responsibilities to publish a regulator statement that provides information on regulatory obligations and how these are operationalised. By implementing this recommendation, Finance will go some way to establishing a framework that will allow for greater accountability for what are significant responsibilities with potentially wide-ranging consequences if not performed appropriately. The committee also examined the policy advice provided by the Department of Finance. Principles based policy advice provides information on the general disposition of regulators; the findings of audits by the ANAO over many years show entities require more practical advice on how to go about their regulatory responsibilities. Finance has not been able to satisfy the committee that its policy advice is fit for purpose in light of the shortcomings in performance consistently uncovered by the Australian National Audit Office. Consequently, again the committee has recommended that Finance develop an approach, including robust metrics, to provide reasonable assurance that the policy framework it administers with regard to regulatory policy, practice and performance is effective in ensuring regulatory systems function as intended by law. Together, the nine recommendations in this report, when implemented, will go a long way to establishing transparency and robust accountability across the broad scope of Commonwealth entities with regulatory responsibilities, and the policy owner. It is through transparency and accountability that the Australian public can maintain trust and confidence in the regulation that contributes so profoundly to improving their daily lives in a myriad of ways. In closing, I thank the deputy chair, Linda Reynolds, and other committee members for their contributions to each of these important inquiries. I also thank the many contributors to these inquiries for providing written submissions and attending public hearings. I also acknowledge the professionalism of the secretariat in supporting this committee throughout the current parliament. I commend these reports to the House.
Public Accounts and Audit Joint Committee | Committees | House debates
I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit concerning the draft budget estimates for the Australian National Audit Office and the Parliamentary...
I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit concerning the draft budget estimates for the Australian National Audit Office and the Parliamentary Budget Office for 2025-26. On behalf of the committee, I present this statement on the draft budget estimates of the Australian National Audit Office, the ANAO, and the Parliamentary Budget Office, the PBO. The committee is required, under the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1951 and the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 to consider the draft budget estimates of the ANAO and the PBO, respectively, and to make recommendations regarding these estimates to both houses of parliament. The statement on behalf of the committee, in advance of the budget being handed down, is an important transparency measure that informs the parliament and the public on the adequacy of the resourcing of the ANAO and the PBO. The committee considers both offices vital in supporting the work of this parliament and strengthening integrity and transparency in public administration. The committee has carefully scrutinised the ANAO's and the PBO's draft budget estimates for 2025-26 and has resolved to endorse them subject to further review of the costings and final estimates, which may be agreed with the Department of Finance. The committee is advising that additional funding of $96.1 million is being sought by the ANAO over the forward estimates, requiring an ongoing funding increase of $24.9 million per year. The Auditor-General has also indicated to the committee in a recent update that the ANAO expects to run an operating loss of approximately $6.1 million in 2024-25, similar to the loss of $6 million ANAO incurred in 2023-24. The ANAO's request for increased funding is fully supported by the committee, which regards it as critical in ensuring the future accountability, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of the expenditure of the Australian taxpayer's money. The committee has been concerned, over many successive parliamentary terms, by the unsustainability of the ANAO's long-term financial position and the risk that this poses to the operational independence and its ability to effectively perform its vital statutory roles. The current funding model for the ANAO is simply not sustainable due to the continuing and growing cost pressures it is facing from increasingly more expensive financial statement audits, essential technological upgrades and increased compliance for regulatory demand. The efficiency dividend has made a significant impact, also, on ANAO and has been a principal driver of its prior supplementary funding request. ANAO has advised the committee that, if the efficiency dividend had not been applied, its appropriation would have been $104 million in 2024-25, an increase of $28.6 million. The committee's considered view is that making these funds available for other executive functions is having an entirely opposite effect on the efficiency dividend's intended purpose, because it is endangering the even greater savings for the taxpayer through effective auditing. The committee has supported the removal of the efficiency dividend from ANAO for many years and continues to urge the government to do so. Another impact of the funding constraints faced by the ANAO is a reduction in the number of performance audits that it can perform. The committee recommended in 2022, in its review of the Auditor-General Act 1997, that 48 discretionary performance audits should be performed by the ANAO each financial year to ensure proper oversight of public expenditure. The Auditor-General has recently advised the committee, however, that to appropriately target the ANAO's available resources in the areas of highest priority, he now expects the ANAO to deliver 44 performance audits in 2024-25, to decline to between 38 and 42 performance audits in 2025-26 and the forward years. The inability of the ANAO to deliver a full work program due to funding constraints is of serious concern to the committee, as it undermines the future of robust audit functions for the Commonwealth that can foster and drive efficiency and effectiveness throughout the public sector. The ANAO has proposed that the committee request it to develop models for a more sustainable funding approach for the 2026-27 budget. The committee is supportive of this approach and anticipates that it will go forward in the next parliament. Just briefly, on the Parliamentary Budget Office: the committee has continued to be actively engaged in the budget process in relation to the PBO, and endorses the 2025-26 budget proposals. The PBO is requesting additional ongoing funding of $1.4 million a year, amounting to $5.8 million over four years, so that eight additional staff can be employed to undertake modelling and analysis. This will enable the PBO to sustainably meet the increased demand for its services by parliamentarians and parliamentary committees. The PBO is also requesting an indexation of its additional election-year funding, so that it increases from $500,000 at present to $712,000 for 2027-28. This will enable the PBO to increase its recruitment of additional staff in an election year from four to six. Finally, the PBO is requesting an equity injection of $6 million to support its independence by reinstating a now-almost-depleted financial buffer of the same amount given to the PBO under its establishment in 2012. This has been supported by the committee in the past and will be a crucial resource to enable the PBO to manage risks to its operational independence, mitigate unexpected or unanticipated budget pressures and meet future needs of data models and technology uplifts. It is clear to the committee that, without these additional funds, the PBO may not be able to adequately perform many of the services that have become so valued and essential to parliamentarians. This includes timely responses to the ever-increasing number of requests for costing analysis, the needed expansion of the PBO's budget-visualisation and self-help interactive tools, and meeting an increased governance compliance burden. The JCPAA confirms its continuing support for the PBO and its role in providing valuable information and analysis to all parliamentarians to better inform public debate. I thank the Auditor-General and the Parliamentary Budget Office for their work in support of the parliament and the JCPAA. I also thank the deputy chair and my fellow committee members for their thoughtful and detailed consideration of these budget requests. I ask leave of the House to present a copy of my statement and the executive minutes or reports to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit. Leave granted. I present a copy of my statement and the executive minutes or reports 500, 503, 504, 505 and 506 of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit.
Free TAFE Bill 2024; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I cannot understand for the life of me why you would object to fee-free TAFE. It seems to me that the statement by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition that you don't value anything unless you pay...
I cannot understand for the life of me why you would object to fee-free TAFE. It seems to me that the statement by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition that you don't value anything unless you pay for it makes absolutely no sense. What the Free TAFE Bill 2024 will provide is opportunity, and it will provide the workforce and the skills that this country needs. It will also mean that people who are from backgrounds that aren't flush with money will be able to access education at the TAFE level. That's what it actually means. I think it is mean-spirited and short-sighted to not support this bill. There is nothing to not support. I join with my colleagues here today in supporting this bill. Education has been a running theme in my whole life. I was a school teacher, and I led the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group in New South Wales. I also was a board member of the Board of Vocational Education and Training in New South Wales and a board member of the accrediting authority in New South Wales for curriculum—the Board of Studies, as it was called back then. All of those positions give me a very thorough background in all aspects of education, from early childhood through to university. I well remember the work that I did on the Board of Vocational Education and Training around the VET sector, both private and public providers. I also understood that many people saw VET as a poor cousin to university. That is no longer the case in Australia. TAFE has come into its own. It provides courses that are varied, but, importantly, it also provides basic educational courses, and these are critical for people who are looking at second-chance education. My own son struggled with the HSC. He went back to TAFE and did the HSC qualifier again and did brilliantly. So I have a great deal to commend, and my family owes a great deal to TAFE. Right now, it seems to me that this is one of the most exciting, far-reaching and equitable things that could possibly happen to the TAFE sector, and yet we have an opposition that says, 'You don't value anything if you don't pay for it.' This bill is about opportunity. This bill is about the future. This bill will provide opportunity and a future for thousands and thousands of people. The hundreds of thousands of people who are looking for second-chance education, like my son, are also seeing this as an opportunity and as an equitable measure as well. Children from families that are doing it tough—we talk about that a lot. We have in front of this parliament a bill that will provide precisely to those children of families that are doing it tough. And a cost-of-living measure, in many ways, is what this is. Yet, as I say, we have an opposition that cannot be generous enough, that cannot be forward-thinking enough, to see this bill in those terms. This will mean, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, a spoke in the wheel of that terrible cycle of poverty. It will change lives, it will change families, and it will change communities. Older adults who have never got the chance earlier in their lives will now have that chance. They will be able to adopt those economic changes. Each of them will be able to get ahead with a good education, if that's what people choose. The Labor government, through this bill of fee-free TAFE, is providing that opportunity. This government believes TAFE is an essential part of the education system, not an add-on. Since coming to government, we have made the landmark $30 billion National Skills Agreement. The agreement included $214 million of investment to close the gap in educational outcomes for Indigenous people. We're going after dodgy providers, and, like the Minister for Skills and Training said, there are many good providers but there is nothing as broad, nothing as nationally significant and nothing as geographically spread as TAFE in Australia. There is nothing like it. That is why this will be the envy of the world. The investment in a country's future is what this is about—fee-free TAFE. In the first 20 months, there have been 568 enrolments. That's half a million enrolments. Those courses are providing a pathway to well-paid and secure employment for hundreds and thousands of people. How on earth could you object to that? How could you not see the value in that? There are many stories that we have heard about people who were able to access TAFE and therefore save enough money to go on to university, to go on to better lives. The National Indigenous Australians Agency has highlighted that this policy is contributing to closing that stubborn gap. Fee-free TAFE is an important initiative to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's participation in VET by helping to overcome financial barriers. There are stories like Christy's—I think we've heard her story—who accessed fee-free TAFE and was able to go on to do a nursing degree. It will provide long-term cost-of-living relief by removing financial barriers to education and training. I have often heard in this House how education is the great equaliser. That is the way in which, if the opposition had any generosity of heart, they would see this. Yesterday, a member opposite joked about Labor's commitment to TAFE. Labor wouldn't need to be rebuilding TAFE every time we came to government if there hadn't been neglect by the Liberals. Facilities were run down, you cut $3 billion nationally from the VET system, and teacher numbers were left to dwindle. We all remember those days. All of this happened during major skills shortages in construction and the care economy. I think it is not wasteful spending. I think it is an investment in this country's future. I think it is an investment in a system that has proven itself, and that's the TAFE system in New South Wales. I would say to those opposite: hundreds of thousands of TAFE students know the value of education. They know good education means a pathway to a good job, a well-paying job that gives them a future. Jobs and Skills Australia research has found TAFE and VET graduates boost their median income by almost $12,000 and are more likely to be employed after completing their qualification—by 15 per cent. Those figures are the real figures that need to be concentrated on. The cost of living is biting many family budgets. Financial barriers often stop people from entering further education. This is about addressing that issue. This is about benefiting students right now while they build skills for the future—students like the ones we have heard about during this debate. Students in early childhood education are saving over $4,000 in South Australia and the Northern Territory. This is not small change. Free TAFE is taking pressure off Australians. It is breaking down the financial barriers stopping them from furthering their education. And it is helping to fill the skills gaps in our workforce. This bill, to me, epitomises what the Labor Party is about. It is about providing opportunity. It is about thinking about the future. I commend the bill to the House.
Australian Society: Social Cohesion | Grievance Debate | House debates
What I wanted to raise tonight has been raised today in this parliament already, and it is about social cohesion. Probably a better way to say that, in my view, is social harmony. The member for...
What I wanted to raise tonight has been raised today in this parliament already, and it is about social cohesion. Probably a better way to say that, in my view, is social harmony. The member for Wentworth's motion earlier today highlighted the corrosive effects of antisemitism on our social fabric. We are seeing that being played out in cities like Sydney and Melbourne and in other places as well. The corrosive effect of all forms of racism and prejudice is before us as a nation once again. These issues seem to come up periodically, be they about people from certain faiths or people who have different cultural beliefs. We as a nation confidently say Australia is a shining example of multiculturalism—and, of course, it is—but it doesn't happen by magic. It happens by hard work. I have been very privileged to represent two of the most multicultural electorates in Australia: Barton for the past eight years and also the state seat of Canterbury for 13 years before that. I have to say that walking down the streets in Barton and Canterbury makes you feel proud. It makes you feel proud to be living in this country and proud of the generosity, and the embrace of cultures in those electorates is something to behold. Australian multiculturalism has been a success story—that is true. That's not just because of the cultures we bring to each other's lives but because we have so much joy to share. Hurstville hosts the largest Lunar New Year celebration outside of the Sydney CBD. Last Friday night, I joined the Lunar New Year celebrations with Bayside Council at Wolli Creek on Friday night. It was an absolutely outstanding evening. There were thousands and thousands and thousands of people from all cultures enjoying and celebrating Lunar New Year. Of course, this year is the Year of the Snake. Next month, many of you would have received invitations already, I'm sure. Muslims will begin fasting for the holy month of Ramadan. Orthodox and Western Christians will begin their fast for Lent. Eid and Easter will follow, as will Passover. Tibetan New Year and Holi will also be days for celebration in the coming months. On the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day last year, schools, councils and many other organisations gathered to celebrate the oldest surviving culture on the planet. I want that point that I've just made to be a point of pride for all Australians, not just for some. It is something that we share collectively as a nation. As I said, we share each other's joy. But we are sometimes forced to share each other's sorrow. As I said, we share each other's joy. But we are sometimes forced to share each other's sorrow. The vandalising of the Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah, very close to the electorate of Barton, in January was a cowardly attack. Masked vandals worked in the small hours to instil fear in the congregation, and they made the St George community feel less safe. Racism and prejudice eat away at the threads of our social cohesion, and that point is something that we all must think very deeply about, and we all must also take responsibility for it—particularly people in this house. As I said earlier today, we need to show national leadership, to show the generosity that we are shown in our electorates. Acts of violence and terror are the worst manifestations of this, but it manifests itself in other ways: harassment of people for the colour of their skin or the visible demonstration of their faith; Nazi salutes and hate symbols at rallies; misinformation about entire faiths or cultures or painting them with the reprehensible acts of a small minority. My constituents and people from across Australia have spoken to me of these kinds of incidents happening to them, and I have to recall that during last year's referendum debate social media gave a platform to the very worst kinds of vilification of First Nations people. And I have personally experienced that to a very, very, very severe degree. People who wear hijabs and kippahs have experienced harassment just going about their days. The targets of these incidents are obviously the most impacted by trauma and hurt. Not just trauma and hurt from what they've experienced on that day, but trauma and hurt from the collective history of those people. It leaves a scar, a scar that never heals. On this basis alone, it is unacceptable; but we share a society where we are all hurt by racism. It makes us feel unsafe; it makes us smaller people. I am pleased to see the second reading of the Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill today. I commend the work of our ministers, special envoys and people in this parliament working with communities to maintain our social cohesion. I commend the leadership of many organisations on this. I note tomorrow night there is an interfaith gathering here in the parliament, which I intend to be part of. This is the kind of leadership that builds healthier societies. I'm proud to be a member of a government that takes racism and social cohesion seriously.
by leave—I present executive minutes on reports Nos 475, 489, 495, 498, 502, 503, 504 and 506 of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit.
Public Accounts and Audit Joint Committee; Reference to Federation Chamber | Committees | House debates
I move: That the orders of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, I present the following reports: Report 507: Defence 2022-23 major projects report and Report 508: annual report 2023-24....
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, I present the following reports: Report 507: Defence 2022-23 major projects report and Report 508: annual report 2023-24. Reports made parliamentary papers in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—Now in its 16th year, the major projects report continues to be an important tool for defence accountability and transparency. In adopting its annual MPR inquiries, the committee establishes the expansive terms of reference to allow it to consider any matters contained in and associated with the MPR. This year the committee paid attention to growing secrecy and the need to maintain transparency, the lessons-learned process, the Australian industry capability plans, the implementation of defence risk management systems, contingency statements and the use of terminology. The committee also examined scope creep, off-the-shelf options in defence procurement, the accuracy of the battlefield command system project data summary sheet and the future of the MPR itself. The committee made four recommendations, which will result in important corrections and introduce evolutions to the MPR process. This will improve transparency and accountability for what are large amounts of public expenditure. Broadly, these recommendations deal with the reinstatement of lessons learned, reporting on improved governance and assurance processes, assessments of the full project costs of each project and more clearly identifying the scope of schedule and budget changes. On Report 508, the Joint Standing Committee of Public Accounts and Audit is required under the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act to report annually to parliament on the work it has undertaken. The committee's work includes reviews of the Australian National Audit Office, reports on other priorities of the parliament and making recommendations to the government on budget estimates of the ANAO and the Parliamentary Budget Office. In 2023-24 the committee met 24 times, including nine public hearings. The committee also commenced four inquiries and presented seven reports that contained a total of 46 recommendations for government. The committee inquiries in 2023-24 included annual performance statements, probity and ethics, and defence major projects. In conclusion, the committee also undertakes a range of other non-inquiry activities, pursuant to its legislative responsibilities, including the confirmation of significant statutory appointments. In 2023-24 the committee considered and confirmed the appointment of both the independent auditor of the ANAO and the Auditor-General. I'd like to acknowledge the work of the previous chair, the Hon. Julian Hill MP, for his dedication and leadership of the committee over the 2023-24 period, and for his shepherding of the early stages of the 2022-23 MPR inquiry. I thank my fellow members of the committee for the spirit in which they approached the committee's work and their dedication to scrutiny and function. I particularly acknowledge the economics senator, the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC, for her collegiate approach to the role of deputy chair, and the secretariat for its professionalism in supporting the work of the committee. I commend both reports to the House and I move: That the House take note of each report.
I want to thank the member for Wentworth for raising this very real and corrosive issue in this House, and I consider the last speaker from the opposition to be part of that corrosiveness and...
I want to thank the member for Wentworth for raising this very real and corrosive issue in this House, and I consider the last speaker from the opposition to be part of that corrosiveness and that type of attitude towards an issue that we should be coming together on. Last month Southern Sydney Synagogue, in Allawah, was vandalised with antisemitic slogans. The synagogue is just outside my electorate, with a rail line between us, but the congregation are very much part of the community. It wasn't just property damage; it was an attempt to instil fear in the small Jewish congregation, and it made the wider St George community feel less safe. The attack has been part of a pattern of antisemitic violence in Sydney, Melbourne and other parts of Australia. That violence has targeted homes and properties in areas where there are large Jewish populations. New South Wales and federal police are acting swiftly to find the culprits. The government has legislated to ban the display of hate symbols and Nazi salutes, which homes in on the very public attempts to intimidate our communities. The government has imposed sanctions on the Terrorgram network. It has announced $100 million for countering violent extremism. The Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, has been conducting important work to determine the scale of this prejudice and provide advice to the government. I have a very simple message to those perpetrating these antisemitic acts. If you think you are feeding a cause, you are not. You are making it worse for everyone. Disgust will be your reward. Sowing division and fear is not brave; it is completely unacceptable. When we see what is taking place in this country, we see pure evil and pure racism, and we have seen it periodically in this country when it comes to different groups of people. This parliament has a responsibility to come together and show a really decent approach to this issue and to show leadership. The last speaker from the opposition spoke about leadership; he displayed none. Leadership would be to come together as one and support the member for Wentworth's motion. Leadership is understanding that these antisemitic acts and acts of racism divide people. They hurt people. They stay with you. Let me tell you; I can speak from personal experience about that. Instead of trying to make this a political issue, instead of trying to paint one side one way and one side the other, why don't we display to the Australian community an act of bipartisanship in not accepting what's been going on, an act that will display to the Australian people that we are one in rejecting racism, rejecting antisemitism and rejecting hate in this country? That is required of this parliament—not what we are seeing now, where there is the attempt to sow division here. How can the Australian people have any faith in political leadership if we cannot come together on this one? I urge everyone to do it. I am proud to be part of a government who has made many moves and done many things to support social cohesion in this country and to call out antisemitism as absolutely unacceptable. I'm proud of that—I am very, very proud of that. You cannot rewrite history and you cannot rewrite the truth. Politicising this issue is reprehensible, unacceptable and not a display of leadership to the Australian community.
Barton Electorate: Teachers, Middle East | Constituency Statements | House debates
We are blessed in my electorate of Barton to have a cohort of fantastic teachers. I have been taking the time to congratulate our longest serving teachers for their devotion to their work and for...
We are blessed in my electorate of Barton to have a cohort of fantastic teachers. I have been taking the time to congratulate our longest serving teachers for their devotion to their work and for creating a bright future for students in their care. I was pleased to be able to present awards for long service in person at Danebank Hurstville. Some teachers have been there for over 37 years, and the smart, strong young women I met are a testament to their commitment. As we come to the close of another year, I know that the joy of the festive season is tempered by the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon. I continue to receive many emails and calls from constituents and have spoken to them in meetings. They express their collective grief; their horror at the sheer number of humanity lost; and the desperate need for a ceasefire. They are aware of the realities of international politics and diplomacy, but they are calling on their leaders to centre humanity and for Israel and Palestine to be equal partners on the global stage. In this season of peace, joy and hope, may we all be the instruments for creating a more just and secure future for the world. I wish Barton residents and everyone here a very happy festive season and success and health in 2025.
Domestic and Family Violence | Adjournment | House debates
The theme of this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is simple: 'No excuse'. Last Saturday, Bayside Council in the electorate of Barton held its annual walk...
The theme of this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is simple: 'No excuse'. Last Saturday, Bayside Council in the electorate of Barton held its annual walk against domestic violence. Residents came out in force to say there is no excuse for violence. I was proud to join them alongside Mayor Ed McDougall; Steve Kamper, the New South Wales Minister for Multiculturalism and member for Rockdale; and St George Police Area Command Detective Superintendent Paul Dunstan. This is something deeply personal to me. So many women and children have experienced violence in the places where they should be safest: in their homes and in relationships. It breaks survivors and their families. In New South Wales, one in four women have experienced violence by a partner or another known person since they were 15. Yesterday, the government tabled the response to the report of the missing and murdered First Nations women and children inquiry. The inquiry heard from survivors, and families made submissions on behalf of their relatives. First Nations women are 33 times as likely to be hospitalised due to family and domestic violence. Aboriginal women in New South Wales are eight times as likely to be recorded as victims. Of the 26 women killed nationally in intimate partner homicides since January, seven were Aboriginal women. Events like Bayside Walk demonstrate the important change in our society around domestic and family violence. This change is an important piece of the puzzle in preventing violence and ensuring survivors know their community is behind them. But prevention and proper support are also essential. The Albanese Labor government has made addressing gendered violence a priority. The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children sets out what governments and wider society will do to end gender based violence in one generation. Four point four billion dollars in Commonwealth funding commitments will support that work. The government's response includes a standalone action plan and $194 million to support First Nations women's safety; improving criminal justice reforms to sexual violence; and other pieces of the puzzle. Last week, the nation's Attorney-General agreed to the terms of the new National Access to Justice Partnership. It is the biggest ever boost in funding to legal and community legal services, totalling $3.9 billion. It includes $838 million for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services. This investment and strategy also focuses on prevention. We have committed $104 million to Our Watch, and the plan supports early intervention efforts to address and prevent violence in men. Ending the scourge of domestic and family violence in a generation is an ambitious goal, but investments by government and the community working together will take us a long way. I will finish up by saying that we very often hear the shocking statistics of how many women are murdered, but we should also remind ourselves that there are thousands and thousands of women who are maimed, often for the rest of their lives, with brain damage, smashed jaws that mean you can't eat, broken limbs, and scars that are both physical and mental. We can never forget the intergenerational effects that domestic and sexual violence has for the children of those women and those men. This is an issue that we all must face together. It is not a women's issue. It is not a children's issue. It is a societal issue. The House transcript was published up to 20:00 . The remainder of the transcript will be published progressively as it is completed. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Payne ) took the chair at 16:00.
Barton Electorate: Christmas Card Competition | Statements by Members | House debates
Each Christmas, I ask schools in the electorate of Barton to provide artwork for my festive greeting cards. This year, it was six children in year 2: Ari, Annie and Jerry from Earlwood Public...
Each Christmas, I ask schools in the electorate of Barton to provide artwork for my festive greeting cards. This year, it was six children in year 2: Ari, Annie and Jerry from Earlwood Public School and Lanna, Amelia and Hussain from Carlton Public School. In the busyness of the festive period, I enjoy taking time to appreciate the creative talents of the young people in the electorate of Barton. Lanna and Amelia have created colourful abstract works in watercolours, Annie and Jerry have portrayed Santa in more traditional scenes and Ari's Santa is ready for the beach in his swimming trunks. The Grinch makes an appearance in Hussain's drawing. Please don't take it personally if you get a Grinch card. Colleagues have sent me lovely cards. I look forward to sharing mine with you. I thank the teachers involved in coordinating the year's competition: Ellen Koustoubardis, relieving principal at Carlton; year 2 classroom teacher Miss Sutherland; Ms Davis, the relieving principal at Earlwood; and Miss Williams.
Northern Territory Government: First Nations Australians, Queensland Government: First Nations Australians | Adjournment | House debates
I rise tonight to express my alarm. The first acts of the new Country Liberal government in the Northern Territory and the Liberal-National government in Queensland have been to take many steps...
I rise tonight to express my alarm. The first acts of the new Country Liberal government in the Northern Territory and the Liberal-National government in Queensland have been to take many steps backward and drive First Nations people into more disadvantage. In October the Northern Territory government legislated to criminalise children as young as 10. This was barely a year after the previous Labor government deemed 12 as the age of criminal responsibility. Tough-on-crime policies can be electorally popular, but most Australians would be surprised at how far those kinds of policies can go. Yesterday researchers at Edith Cowan University released a study that found that 94 per cent of Western Australians did not know that children as young as 10 can be incarcerated. Many were shocked. A child is just that: a child. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are one of the most incarcerated people on earth. Prison sentences without rehabilitation won't stop reoffending. Locking children up sets them up for a life in the justice system. The Chief Minister is also promising to drop alcohol policies that are working. We know minimum unit pricing and trading restrictions are changing lives. In Darwin there has been a 14 per cent drop in alcohol related assaults and a 21 per cent reduction in domestic and family violence assaults involving alcohol. In Tennant Creek, purchase limits and reduced trading hours have resulted in a 92 per cent drop in alcohol fuelled family violence and domestic assaults—92 per cent! Instead of improving something that's working, the Country Liberals plan to criminalise public drunkenness, to lock people up and not tackle the root problem. I am proud of opposition leader Selena Uibo and our Labor colleagues in the territory for standing up to bad laws. We must call out the harm these policies will do. Abandonment of the truth-telling and treaty process in Queensland by the new Liberal-National premier, David Crisafulli, is disheartening and has caused much distress. Just over a year ago he voted to support the process. These aren't just symbolic processes. They are practical ways to address the pain of history and find solutions to prevent harm in the future. Participants in both the Queensland truth-telling process and the Victorian Yoorrook Justice Commission say that it is cathartic to have their experiences on the public record. Many are members of the stolen generations, people who have faced injustice. There is nothing divisive about recognising what has come before. We can't make practical decisions without knowing what brought us to this point. We don't have to choose between so-called practical and symbolic reconciliation. Instead, the Premier and the Chief Minister have chosen to present this false choice to Queensland and the Northern Territory. The claim is that truth-telling and treaty divide the community. What is divisive is dismissing those calling our harm as 'southern do-gooders', ignoring history because it's hard to hear and backing away from treaty processes that are committing to seeing justice done. But this won't stop Indigenous Australians from speaking up, and I raise my voice here tonight.
Clague, Aunty Joyce Caroline, MBE, Newman, Aunty Jennifer | Statements by Members | House debates
It is with great sadness that I rise to acknowledge the passing of Aunty Joyce Clague and Aunty Jennifer Newman, two remarkable First Nations women. Aunty Joyce grew up on Ulgundahi mission on...
It is with great sadness that I rise to acknowledge the passing of Aunty Joyce Clague and Aunty Jennifer Newman, two remarkable First Nations women. Aunty Joyce grew up on Ulgundahi mission on the Clarence River. Her work dated back to before the 1967 referendum, right through to the referendum last year. In 1996 Aunty Della Walker and Aunty Joyce began the landmark Yaegl native title claim. This led to recognition of title over 90 kilometres of coast and sea, the first of its kind in New South Wales. She did this alongside her husband, Colin, a strong ally to Indigenous people, and with their four daughters. Both were committed to the Labor cause, with Joyce running for preselection in the 1980s. Aunty Joyce was a living example of the resilience of First Nations culture and people. Aunty Jennifer Newman was a proud Wiradjuri woman, who lived in the inner west. A talented storyteller, she used her skill to build understanding and recognition across Australia. Aunty Jennifer felt a deep connection to country and caring for country. Part of her legacy will be as president of the Cooks River Valley Association.
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit I present the following reports: Report 505: Inquiry into Policy and Program Design and Implementation; and Report 506: Inquiry into...
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit I present the following reports: Report 505: Inquiry into Policy and Program Design and Implementation; and Report 506: Inquiry into Commonwealth Financial Statements 2022-23. Policy and program design and implementation is an area that requires continuous improvement. The delivery great policy model introduced in 2019 by government states that policy advice should be clear on intent, well-informed, practical to implement and influential. There is an expectation that government entities will adopt these practices but the inquiry found this is not always the case. The reports of the Auditor-General that were examined in this inquiry highlighted inadequate stakeholder engagement, a lack of effective performance measures and deficiencies in the advice to government among their findings. Ineffective decision-making and departure from best practice resulted in common issues being identified by the ANAO even though the audited programs were very different and included the export control legislative framework, telehealth expansion, family migration and the black economy task force. The Delivering Great Policy model outlines the need for policymakers to be well informed and for active stakeholder consultation. Some of the audited agencies only did this at an executive level and thus excluded the views of some of the most impacted parties for consideration. On several occasions throughout this inquiry examples were provided to the committee of poor information management and lack of coordination between agencies and inadequate communication to stakeholders. Further issues included inadequate support resulting in ineffective implementation and the need for additional resources to correct this. The committee also learned of instances where critical deficiencies in the advice to government created additional strain in the delivery of the relevant programs and policies. The telehealth services expansion by Department of Health and Aged Care during COVID-19 yielded some valuable lessons for providing such advice if a global pandemic were to rise again in the future. The committee found that deficient advice by the Department of Home Affairs regarding the Family Migration program and by the Treasury when implementing the Black Economy Taskforce negatively impacted public trust in the effectiveness and transparency of government. Performance reporting and impact measurement are also fundamental components of effective policy and program design and implementation. They provide evidence based data that enable adjustments and improvements by policymakers that can ultimately determine whether the intended outcome has been achieved. A lack of importance placed on these activities was found, in three audit reports, to cause avoidable delays and inefficiencies. Crucial information to assist with decision-making and future planning was also, therefore, lacking. I am pleased to note that the Commonwealth entities involved in this inquiry provided substantial responses to their audit findings and that they assisted the committee's investigation on the core practices that required future improvement. The committee has noted that there was still work to be done in relation to several of the programs resulting from the findings of the Auditor-General's report. We have made 11 recommendations to this report, which include requests for progress updates from Home Affairs on its stakeholder engagement and planning, from agriculture on it's transformation and action plan, from health on legislative changes to allow digital assignment of benefits for the MBS, from Treasury on strengthening its information management processes and from the Department of Education on its performance and stakeholder engagement plans. The committee has also recommended that the Australian government prioritise legislation to align the Health Insurance Act with the modern technological requirements of telehealth and makes further reforms to make the partner and child family visa program truly demand driven. This inquiry has highlighted that Commonwealth entities must remain vigilant in ensuring that they continue to meet best practice requirements when designing and implementing policies and programs for the benefit of the Australian public. I now move to Report 506. The second of the reports I am presenting today concerns JCPAA's inquiry into the Commonwealth financial statements audit 2022-23. The annual auditing of the financial accounting and reporting by Commonwealth entities by the ANAO provides assurance to the parliament on the financial position of the Australian government and the expenditure of taxpayers' money. The financial statements audit of 243 separate entities in 2022-23 also provided a crucial assessment of the risk, governance arrangements and internal control frameworks that exist across the Commonwealth. Most of the significant and moderate findings in these audits were in the categories of governance of legal and other matters impacting entity financial statements; IT governance including security, change management and user access; and accounting and control of non-financial assets. The ANAO report also noted that there were increased weaknesses compared to last year in change management policies and control of IT systems and in the process used by entities for accounting for computer software. There were a number of areas of concern for the committee that arose during the inquiry. One was the 14 legislative breaches identified by the audits, three of which were significant and involved two instances of payments and one where no legally required system of risk oversight was in place. Seven of the non-significant legislative breaches involved incorrect executive remuneration and noncompliance with the Remuneration Tribunal. The committee agrees with the acting Auditor-General, in relation to this issue, that executive remuneration issues have important implications both for the prevailing culture of an agency and for public expectations regarding pay and entitlements of public servants. The first two recommendations of this report require the three entities with the significant legislative breaches to update the committee on their progress in addressing them. The committee has also recommended that the Department of Finance amend its guidelines to require immediate notification of any remuneration breaches and subsequent engagements with the entity in question to discuss remediation steps. Problems with the timeliness of financial statements preparation by some entities were also of concern to the committee during the inquiry. While there was an increase over the previous year in these statements being finalised and the Auditor's report being issued within three months of the financial year end, the number of entities tabling their annual report in time to be scrutinised at subsequent Senate estimates hearings declined over the previous year. The committee's view is that the parliament must have this information in time to readily and properly scrutinise the expenditure of taxpayers' funds. A third recommendation from this inquiry was that entities that have failed to table their annual reports on time for three consecutive years must provide an explanation to the committee. The committee was also interested in the role that internal auditors play in assisting Commonwealth entities with the timeliness and robustness of their financial reporting. An internal audit function is currently not mandatory, and the committee concurs with the view of the ANAO that this is puzzling, given the well-established benefits for risk management, fraud control and legislative compliance. It was concerning to us, therefore, that approximately 20 per cent of entities have reduced their internal audit budgets over the past years. The committee notes and appreciates that the Department of Finance has commenced a consultation process to update and enhance its guidance of internal auditing. The fourth recommendation of the committee in this report is that a mandatory framework with detailed guidelines for internal auditing be developed as part of this process. As in previous years, problems with the IT governance were prominent among the significant and moderate findings by the ANAO in the 2022-23 financial audits. Unauthorised user access to IT systems across the Commonwealth has continued to be an issue over many years, and the fifth recommendation of the committee in this inquiry— (Time expired)
Parliamentary Budget Officer | Statement by the Speaker | House debates
As the chairperson of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit I very much support the appointment of the new Parliamentary Budget Officer. She is incredibly appropriate and has all the...
As the chairperson of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit I very much support the appointment of the new Parliamentary Budget Officer. She is incredibly appropriate and has all the prerequisites required for the position. We went through a process to make sure that the appointment was done appropriately. Of course the Parliamentary Budget Officer is a very important role. In many ways it's an apolitical role to make sure the commitments of the government, the opposition and other parties make in relation to elections is looked at impartially, and I'm sure the new Parliamentary Budget Officer will do that.
Canterbury Bankstown Torch, Eve's Apple | Constituency Statements | House debates
There was a time when the local newspaper was the fixture of front lawns across our suburbs. Often they'd fly out the window of a station wagon with varying degrees of accuracy. Local media has...
There was a time when the local newspaper was the fixture of front lawns across our suburbs. Often they'd fly out the window of a station wagon with varying degrees of accuracy. Local media has been there to cover the issues that matter to our communities, the ones bigger outlets weren't interested in. Sadly, times have changed. After 104 years service to our community. The CanterburyBankstown Torch has printed its last newspaper. Both in my time in this place and as the member for Canterbury, the Torch gave me the platform to speak to constituents. More importantly it was a way for them to speak to me too. It was accessible and free. My team and I would like to thank the diligent editors, journalists and staff who have worked there over the years. Our community will miss you. I would also like to acknowledge another fixture of my time as member for Barton. Eve Issa and her father, George, bought her brother's fruit shop under the Kogarah railway station 33 years ago. Like many successful small businesses, Eve's Apple quickly became central to the Kogarah community. Many stopped to buy fruit and veg fresh from the Sydney markets. Her four children more or less grew up in the shop. They helped Mum behind the till and setting up for the day. In sad news for the community, last week Eve sold the shop and has retired to her son's home in Greenacre. I can assure you it's a retirement she has absolutely earned along with her family. I appreciate her support during my time as local member and wish her a well-earned rest and a happy retirement.
Valedictory | Parliamentary Representation | House debates
on indulgence—I acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. Thank you for allowing us to be on your country. As I stand here today, I am deeply reflective and immensely grateful for the...
on indulgence—I acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. Thank you for allowing us to be on your country. As I stand here today, I am deeply reflective and immensely grateful for the journey I have shared with you all in this parliament. When I first entered this House, I knew I was walking a path that had never before been walked by someone like me, the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives—a path paved with hope, with responsibility and with a deep commitment to representing not just my own community of Barton but all Australians, including, of course, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I am humbled by the trust and the ownership of me shown by First Nations Australians, many of whom are still paying a heavy price for dispossession and exclusion from our nation's foundation and, too often, exclusion from the institutions which exist to serve us all. All up, I have been a member of parliament for 21 years. It has been the most profound honour to serve and to work towards a more just and inclusive Australia. My commitment has been to serve with fairness, compassion and integrity. I have never seen public service as a way to be liked or popular. Anyone who does will get a rude shock. But I hope to leave having earned respect for the way I have worked and the work that I have done. When I was growing up as a freshwater girl in the Riverina, the daughter of an Aboriginal man and a white woman, raised by my great aunt Nina and her brother Billy, we didn't have much—just a small wooden house with no carpet or paint inside, no running water, and an outhouse—up in the back corner of the yard, thankfully. They were two very old people who sacrificed so much to raise me and instilled in me the values of compassion, integrity, resilience, truth and love. I never dreamt I could grow up to be a member of parliament, let alone a minister in the federal government. Nina and Billy, I hope I made you proud. Being elected to this place was the greatest honour of my life, from fighting against the unfair and illegal robodebt scheme during my time as shadow minister for human services to securing landmark commitments to remote housing, justice reinvestment and remote jobs; delivering justice to the families affected by the collapse of Youpla; and doubling the number of Indigenous rangers. Most importantly, I have been part of a government that is building new dialysis units in remote Australia; rolling out hundreds of new Indigenous health workers; rolling out amazing new infrastructure, delivering a pipeline of improvements to remote drinking water supplies as well as better digital connectivity; revitalising First Nations languages; and growing opportunities for education, and now, with the leadership of the Prime Minister, our economic development. But there is so much more. We've also committed to establishing a national children's commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and children. These steps forward are a team effort, with ministers stepping up, ministers taking responsibility for delivering for Indigenous people in their portfolio and the whole Labor cabinet doing its bit. This is a profound and incredibly important improvement. When I arrived in this place in 2016, it felt like issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had been pushed into a silo to be dealt with only by the Indigenous affairs minister, who, quite frankly, will never have their hands on the levers of employment, health, education and other portfolios where the big changes will be made in closing the gap. I've seen the difference a proactive Labor government can make on the ground in communities. I am so proud of our achievements over the last eight years in this place. I am proud too of my 13 years in the New South Wales parliament, of making important reforms to child protection, delivering on the findings of the Wood Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW and introducing the Aboriginal child placement principle. There are few areas in public policy more complex, more fraught and more difficult than child protection. I only had to read the files; I didn't live the horror. Despite the many challenges that remain, I know those changes and the work of people on the front line have saved families and saved lives. When I had the responsibility for the prevention of family violence, New South Wales led the way with the Staying Home Leaving Violence program, which flipped responsibility for family violence and supported women and children to stay in their homes. It was a just approach which is now the norm across the country. Before I came into the federal parliament, I said I would miss the close connections state governments have with people's lives, like when we fitted chocks into the windows of flats, which stopped them opening more than a few inches and prevented children falling out. There had been a spate of children falling out of windows. I was also pleased to lay the groundwork for stronger laws to protect tenants, and, of course, I had the honour of being elected the deputy leader of the New South Wales Labor Party. Before entering state parliament, I was first a teacher and then I worked in Aboriginal education, heading up the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and eventually becoming the director-general of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, where it was an honour to be part of organising the historic bridge walk in the year 2000, when over 250,000 Australians marched in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. My time at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs was the first time I truly had to grapple with the policy challenges and cross-portfolio disparity that became known as Closing the Gap. But, before Closing the Gap, there was Gayle, who worked on reception at DAA. One fell Friday afternoon, I heard Gail sum up the human cost of the gap when she answered a call about special benefits allegedly going to Aboriginal people. 'I'll tell you what we get,' said Gayle. 'We get diabetes. We get a shorter life expectancy. We get to see our kids drop out of school and go to jail. We get turned away from jobs. We get to go to too many funerals. That's what we get.' That caller never rang back. In my first speech to the New South Wales parliament, I spoke about the importance of walking in someone else's shoes. It is a lesson I took from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. So walk in the shoes of the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians because more than half of our population is under the age of 25. Despite significant improvements in many areas, First Nations young people still don't start on a level playing field. Our people are more likely to have experienced homelessness than to hold an undergraduate degree, and, as our Prime Minister has said, in 2020, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people locked up in a prison cell was four times higher than the number who celebrated graduating uni that year. Walk in those shoes. I also want to share some thoughts on last year's Voice referendum. The referendum did not achieve the outcomes many of us—all of us here—wanted. But I believe it can and will be a catalyst for progress and positive change in our nation and that, in the years to come, it will be looked on more kindly by history because constitutional recognition has been championed for decades by many of you here. The government and parliament finally had the courage to put the question to the people because of the role it played in inspiring a new generation of young Indigenous leaders to emerge—also some of you here—and to push the change for a better future. It showed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote communities overwhelmingly wanted their voice to be heard, and 6.3 million Australians said yes. It highlighted how far we've come and how far we still must go to be a truly reconciled country. I acknowledge the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and fellow travellers who opened their hearts and minds and put their shoulders to the wheel, including people from across the parliament who I'm looking at now. Thank you all, and, particularly, thank you, Julian, for your brave stand. Friends, progress doesn't always move in a straight line. The road is rocky. There are obstacles in the path. We have our stumbles and our setbacks, but our overall direction is towards progress, and, with each passing generation, we bend the moral arc of the universe closer to justice. I think Australia sometimes struggles with its identity because we never came to terms with our own story, never embraced the breadth and depth of it, and certainly not its truth. The generosity we pride ourselves on is rarely extended to the people in this nation who have occupied these lands for countless generations. Why? Part of the answer is that we don't have a shared narrative. If you consider our nation's story like the strata of a rock, there is an extraordinary foundation of First Nations people, the layer of European settlers—and, of course, many convicts amongst those numbers—and then there is layer upon layer of people who settled in Australia because of conflict and the search for a better life. Many of you are children of those people. All of us live in that cross-section. All of it and all of us—what a story. You take the whole, not just the bits that suit you. I believe that community-led truth-telling can help with that. There is nothing to fear or lose from the truth. I am heartened by the Prime Minister's ongoing commitment to addressing the challenges facing First Peoples, particularly on Closing the Gap. I'm heartened to see my friend Senator Malarndirri McCarthy become the new minister and hit the ground running. The baton has been passed on. I also make these points about Indigenous affairs. Having a roof over your head and a job is vitally important. That's why we are investing $4 billion in remote housing in the Northern Territory and overhauling the failed CDP program, replacing it with real jobs and real wages in remote communities. Also important is having pride in our culture, identity and language; so too is a sense of belonging, and so too is knowing the true history of our country. We don't have to choose between so-called practical and symbolic reconciliation. It's a false choice; it's a phony argument. The notion that somehow governments and Indigenous communities must choose between so-called practical and symbolic reconciliation is an old and tired debate that belongs in the 1990s, not the 2020s. It is now up to everyone here—and I know you will; I really do—and in the other place to ensure that reconciliation and Closing the Gap are policy areas of bipartisan cooperation, of common ground, not division. In 2000, following the Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the dozens of events that I know many of you were involved in across the country, it was a historic moment on the journey to the apology some years later. Michelle Grattan asked me for my thoughts on reconciliation. I said: 'Healing in Australia is a profound, long-term, incremental thing. It's about people. It's a tough road, but I think we will get there.' Everyone: 24 years later, I still believe that. Let us remember that this is about people. Let us remember what those increments are: a secure home for a family, a new job, clean water for a community and a place at uni—life-changing steps forward. I have a few people to thank. To the Prime Minister: you have always been my friend and mentor, always by my side and on my side. To my Labor colleagues: thank you for your unwavering support. Politics has not been a lonely place for me because of you. You have been a source of strength when I have needed it most. To leaders under which I have had the honour of serving—prior to the Prime Minister, of course—Bill Shorten, Bob Carr, Morris Iemma, Nathan Rees and Kristina Keneally, I thank you all. I also thank my dear friends that are here. You have kept me standing when I couldn't stand on my own. You mean the world to me. Thank you for travelling all the distances that you have. I thank the First Nations members of the caucus, including Patrick Dodson. I thank Gordon, Marion, Malarndirri and Joanna for their camaraderie and for being there. To my family, Willurai and her partner Elle, you will be seeing a lot more of me over the next few months. Thank you for being the remarkable people that you are. You inspire me. To those at the NIAA who work in the parliament, including the media, and the Public Service more generally: the Public Service is a noble profession, and you deserve far more recognition for what you do. And to all my staff in the electorate and the ministerial office: over the years, thank you; you are the true stars. To Tim Watts and Maria Pasten, in particular: I recognise your service and your leadership. What we have been able to achieve has been multiplied through your efforts. To those watching online: thank you. To the branch members and volunteers in New South Wales Labor: it is you who carry our movement. You are the engine of progress and fairness in this country. To you, Mr Speaker—we started on the same day; look where we are now—I recognise and thank everyone in this parliament. I do that through you. Finally, to the amazing constituents of Barton and Canterbury: thank you for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. Working in this house of democracy is a great honour—a place of vigorous debate, a place where the contest of ideas plays out. But it should not be a place for punching down. It should not be a place where minority groups are demonised. Reasonable people can disagree, and our democracy will be better if we can disagree agreeably. As I prepare to move on to the next chapter of my life, I do so with a heart filled with hope. Both my first speech in the New South Wales parliament and my first speech in this place contained the same two promises: first, that I will always work hard, and, second, that I will always do my best. I think I've kept those commitments. My life has been the both harsh and kind. I have known loss I would never wish on anyone, but I have never, ever lost hope. While there are those who believe that political success depends on discovering your humanity or locking it away, I say to all of you who follow me and to my friends and colleagues who carry on the fight: never lose your faith in others. Never lose your trust in the people who brought you here. Twenty-one years: 10 years in government, 11 years on the crossbenches—not the crossbenches; in opposition. That might have been better! And let me tell you: you can do more in one day in government than you can in a whole term in opposition, so don't waste the days. Big change is still possible in this country. Do not waste a day. As I finish my speech today, I take you back eight years. Lynette Riley sang me into this House. Today, as I close this chapter on my life, her daughter Garra will sing me out. I will then make a statement in Wiradjuri, so please remain in your seats, as they say on the plane. Thank you, Garra. Ms Riley-Mundine then sang in Wiradjuri language Thank you, Garra. In conclusion, I say in Wiradjuri these words: I am proud to be Wiradjuri. This has been a great journey. Thank you; it's been an honour. We will make progress when we all work together. We have a strong and bright future. Ms Burney then spoke in Wiradjuri language— See youse all later!
Cost of Living | Adjournment | House debates
Cost-of-living relief has been this government's No. 1 priority. If there's anything we can all agree on, it is that this is a real issue in our communities. We see it in our electoral offices,...
Cost-of-living relief has been this government's No. 1 priority. If there's anything we can all agree on, it is that this is a real issue in our communities. We see it in our electoral offices, we see it on the television and, of course, we hear about it very often. We know people that are doing it in a very difficult way. Every day, I see how our plan is taking the pressure off families in the seat of Barton. On Monday 1 July, the government delivered a tax cut for every Australian taxpayer. By Thursday morning, those tax cuts were in pay slips. In the weeks following, I have been speaking to people in Barton. One young professional in Kingsgrove said it wasn't just a nice surprise. He also said it was an immediate relief to cost-of-living pressures. Karen, a midwife at St George Hospital, said tax cuts will go a long way for her and her co-workers. She said, 'It's good that the government is listening and taking action.' We have been listening to the next generation of nurses and midwives too. They have told us practical placements can be a stressful time. Many students juggle their prac studies with part-time jobs. On Thursday 15 August, the Minister for Education introduced the Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024, which will legislate prac payments for eligible students in sectors like nursing, education and social work. These payments will take pressure off students and let them focus on their education. This government wants Australians to keep more of what they earn, but we also want Australians, like hardworking early educators, to earn more too. During Early Learning Matters Week, I visited Gowrie early learning at Clemton Park. A very confident young man, aged five, showed me all the wonderful things they were learning, particularly about whales. The children at Gowrie are a credit to their highly skilled educators, and I met them as well. They have long hours, they work hard and their work is so valued. They are also committed to the welfare and the life chances of the children in their care. The week of my visit to Gowrie, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Early Childhood Education and Youth announced a historic 15 per cent pay rise for those educators. The first 10 per cent increase is to come in December. For the typical educator on the award rate, it means an extra $103 per week. That is a lot of money. To make sure families benefit too, services won't be able to increase their fees by more than 4.4 per cent over the next 12 months. It will build respect for the sector and build a sustainable workforce for the future. This is what the government is delivering. Our responsibility as lawmakers is to the people that trust us, the people that vote for us and the people that respect us to do our job, and these are the sorts of things that they expect. They expect a government to make their lives easier. They expect a government to deliver programs, to deliver wage increases and to deliver ways in which people's lives will be much better than they are. That is why we, as the Labor government, are putting so much effort into cost-of-living relief and making sure that we're building a stronger future.
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit—this is not my valedictory—I rise in my capacity as Chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit to make a...
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit—this is not my valedictory—I rise in my capacity as Chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit to make a statement on the appointment of the new Auditor-General. The JCPAA has a responsibility under the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1951 to approve or reject a proposed recommendation for this appointment. The outcome of the significant statutory duty of the committee is also required to be reported to the parliament under the committee's act. As an independent officer of the parliament, the Auditor-General is responsible for ensuring accountability and transparency in the delivery of government programs and services and thus has one of the most important statutory roles in this country. I'm pleased to advise the House that the committee has unanimously endorsed the appointment of Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM to this position. She is extremely well-qualified. I won't go through all her qualifications—I'll leave those on the record. The committee's view is that Dr McLiesh's extensive qualifications and strong track record in senior leadership in government made her eminently qualified to lead the Australian National Audit Office for the next decade. I take this opportunity to thank the committee and also recognise the significant contribution of the previous Auditor-General, Mr Grant Hehir, who has served in the capacity with distinction since 2015. Mr Hehir showed unwavering commitment to his role and to holding public administration and the executive government to account. The committee also acknowledges the significant contribution of the Deputy Auditor-General, Ms Rona Mellor PSM, who has done an outstanding job as Acting Auditor-General. A strong working relationship with the Australian National Audit Office is critical to this committee performing its functions and fulfilling its statutory roles. We in the JCPAA look forward to developing this relationship with Dr McLeish in the coming months. I ask leave of the House to present a copy of my statement. Leave granted. I present a copy of my statement, and I'll drop it down there in a little while.
Cost of Living, Volunteering | Constituency Statements | House debates
People across the community of Barton can look forward to cost-of-living relief thanks to our government. The Albanese Labor government is delivering for every Australian because we are a...
People across the community of Barton can look forward to cost-of-living relief thanks to our government. The Albanese Labor government is delivering for every Australian because we are a government for all Australians. Here's what we delivered yesterday: every Australian taxpayer, not just some, gets a tax cut. Our $300 energy bill relief is beginning to flow. Backed in by our government, 2.6 million low-paid workers are getting their third consecutive pay rise. There will be cheaper medicines. We're providing cost-of-living support while putting downward pressure on inflation. I know that many people in our community are doing it really tough. While our government is providing more help, we're not doing it alone. Community organisations in our community, powered by volunteers, play an important role. During National Volunteer Week, I held a morning tea to thank our community organisations and their volunteers. Around 100 people joined me for a cup of tea and a very large cake. What brings volunteers together is a passion for making our community a better place. You can see that passion in volunteers like the late Michael Shiel, a volunteer with Gift of Bread. It was a privilege to present a posthumous community award to his mother, Patricia, and recognise his work. Patricia herself has fostered over 200 children—quite amazing. There are also volunteers like Helen Dwyer, who has given 40 years to 1st Hurstville Scouts. I would like to thank chair Russell Foxe, manager Lala, and assistant manager Laura at the Kogarah Storehouse, who hosted us for the morning tea. Volunteerism is an important part of who we are in our Barton community and, I know, in all communities across Australia. So, next time you see a volunteer in your community, give them a big thanks for all that they do.