Anne Stanley's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Glynn, Mr Walter Edward (Wal) | Statements by Members | House debates
I rise to advise that our community and the local Labor Party family lost a longstanding member when Mr Walter Edward Glynn passed away just before Christmas last year. Wal was 91 years old and...
I rise to advise that our community and the local Labor Party family lost a longstanding member when Mr Walter Edward Glynn passed away just before Christmas last year. Wal was 91 years old and had been married to his wonderful wife, Nel, for 70 years. Wal rose to the rank of major in the Australian Army, serving as a training officer in Malaya. After he was discharged, he continued his career in education, lecturing at the Sydney Institute of Education. Wal also served his community with distinction, spending eight years as a councillor on Campbelltown council. Wal was also heavily involved in his church and community charities. I was privileged to be mentored by Mr Glynn. I found Wal's support while we were serving as councillors invaluable, especially when I first decided to run for Werriwa. He was always ready to let me know about any community issues, and helped me find solutions that were beneficial for our community as a whole. It's to his wonderful family that I send my sympathy: to his wife, Nel; to his children Anthony, Michael, Catherine, Gregory, Benard, Elizabeth, Monica, Jim and Lucy; and to his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Thank you for letting him serve our community over so many years. Rest in peace, Wal.
Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025, Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to make my contribution to the legislation before the House, which is the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 and the Universities Accord (Australian...
I rise to make my contribution to the legislation before the House, which is the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 and the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025. The electorate that I represent is home to the outstanding Western Sydney University. With campuses in Liverpool, Campbelltown, Parramatta and Hawkesbury, Western Sydney University is a vital part of life in my part of Sydney. The history of WSU goes back to the vision of Gough Whitlam, who is my predecessor in Werriwa. It was Gough, through the then education minister Kim Beazley Sr, who announced nearly $100,000 in funding to the New South Wales government for the establishment of a university in Campbelltown. It would seem like a modest sum, but 50 years ago it was the start of something wonderful that would shape our part of the world for the better. Years later, Mr Whitlam cemented his support for WSU when he chose it to be the home of his prime ministerial collection and the Whitlam Institute—both are well worth a visit. Labor is the party of education. The Albanese Labor government carries the standard now for the current generation. Labor has always believed that through education living standards can rise, poverty will be reduced and opportunities will be created for all Australians and for a prosperous Australia. In February 2024, the government released the final report of the Australian Universities Accord. The review was asked to create a long-term plan for reform. The accord's final report states: Higher education is vital to Australia's future: the knowledge, skills and research it produces enable us to be an economically prosperous, socially equitable and environmentally sustainable nation. By encouraging intellectual endeavour, creativity and personal accomplishment, it adds to the quality of our lives. Pursuing truth through free discussion, it promotes democracy and civic values. One of the astonishing findings of the final report was that, by 2050, the number of people in the workforce who need a certificate, diploma or degree will rise to about 80 per cent. This is a challenging and sobering statistic, but it's a challenge that we need to embrace and meet. The accord made 47 recommendations and, of these, 31 have already been implemented. Those already implemented include increasing the number of free university bridging courses, introducing paid prac for the first time, cutting 20 per cent off HECS debts and doubling the number of university study hubs. Regarding the last one, I'm particularly proud to say that there is now a hub in Macquarie Fields at the TAFE. While no longer in the electorate of Werriwa, I fought hard for the hub, knowing it would make a real, different and lasting change for many. Just before Christmas, the Minister for Education opened the Liverpool suburban study hub, in the TAFE building on Moore Street and Bigge Street in Liverpool. The hub will support more than 350 students a week in 60 study places. There are individual and collaborative areas with computers, wi-fi, printers and videoconferencing. It's a wonderful addition to Liverpool and for the students of south-west Sydney. A key recommendation of the accord was the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, ATEC. The bill before us now aims to implement this recommendation. An interim ATEC, which started on 1 July 2025, has laid the foundations for the establishment of the permanent body. Professor Tom Calma and the Hon. Fiona Nash have recently been appointed as commissioners, replacing Professor Mary O'Kane and Distinguished Professor Behrendt. They join Professor Barney Glover, who has been appointed as chief commissioner alongside his role as commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia. The role of ATEC is multifaceted and broad. It will be responsible for implementing new mission based compacts with universities. These compacts will give universities the flexibility they need to pursue goals while also contributing to the overall diversity within the higher education system, helping to deliver higher education priorities and meeting the needs of students and communities. In addition, ATEC will be responsible for implementing a new funding system—a system that will provide demand-driven places for equity students at a system level. ATEC will also provide expert advice to the government on a range of education matters, including policy settings, strategic direction, student demand, the cost of teaching and learning in higher education, and improving access and participation. The ATEC will have three commissioners and will report to the Minister for Education on higher education matters and to both the Minister for Education and the Minister for Skills and Training on delivering a more connected tertiary education system. Annually, ATEC will produce a state and territory education system report on the tertiary education system. The second bill before us is the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025. This bill amends the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 and the Higher Education Support Act 2003. The result of this bill is to allow ATEC to advise the minister on higher education frameworks and facilitates the new mission based compact process. The Australian higher education system is first class. Its role in helping Australians acquire the skills and qualifications they need will only grow with time. For Australia, there's no turning back. We must embrace the challenges identified in the final report of the Australian Universities Accord. Not only that; we need to ensure that the overall governance of our tertiary education system makes us a match for decades to come. The establishment of ATEC will mean that our best and sharpest minds will be devoted to this incredibly important sector. I commend the bills to the House and thank the minister for his leadership in implementing these reforms in the university sector.
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to make my contribution to the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. Australia arguably has the best health workforce in the world. They are well...
I rise to make my contribution to the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. Australia arguably has the best health workforce in the world. They are well trained, up to date and regulated to ensure that best practice is followed. On the occasion when things do go wrong, we must admit and then do something about it. Our health system has checks and balances to ensure that the independent investigations are undertaken and appropriate measures are implemented to ensure better outcomes in the future. The demands of our health system are constant. We're all living longer and largely healthier lives, but, with an increasing population, this inevitably places more pressure on our system, particularly at our emergency departments and hospitals. The Albanese government has implemented many initiatives since being elected to ensure that Australians can see a doctor when they need to and that they have the appropriate care that is required. Just last week, the Medicare urgent care clinic promised by the Albanese government in Werriwa opened for patients. It is opening extended hours, and it means that people seeking medical assistance for things like stitches or illness will not face the long wait in emergency departments. The government has made the biggest investment into the health system in decades, prioritising primary health care with bulk-billing initiatives. There are so many pillars to our health system. I've already mentioned EDs, hospitals and primary care, but there's also the PBS system, Medicare, bulk-billing, urgent care clinics, gold card benefits for veterans and the National Immunisation Program. Underpinning all of this is the world's best-trained health workforce. The bill before us seeks to support our health workforce by amending the National Health Act 1953. Specifically, the bill supports the Albanese Labor government's election commitment to prioritise implementation of scope-of-practice reforms for nurses and midwives. In practical terms, the bill proposes to amend the National Health Act 1953 to allow a registered nurse endorsed against the registration standard to be an authorised prescriber. This will allow them to prescribe certain medicines that can be supplied under the PBS. Further, the bill will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to include registered nurses to enable review of the provision of their prescribing services by the Professional Services Review Scheme. The government has consulted widely with groups including the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the AMA, palliative care services, the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives and the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. I am pleased that medical professionals support the designated nurse prescribing based on the requirement that they must practice in partnership with an authorised health practitioner under the active prescribing agreement. It is anticipated that the first cohort of designated nurse prescribers will complete their education and receive endorsement from July this year. In anticipation of this, all states and territories are currently amending their drug and poison legislation to enable registered nurses to prescribe, to meet that 26 July timeframe. Australia deserves the world's best health system, and, as part of this, we need to ensure that all Australians, wherever they live, can get affordable medicines when they need them and have them prescribed by someone they trust. This bill will help to deliver on this aim. Under this bill, highly trained designated nurses will be able to extend their scope of practice, primarily in primary care and aged-care services. This is good news for designated registered nurses, good news for patients, particularly in rural and remote areas, and good news for stressed primary and aged-care health settings in the rest of the country. I commend the bill to the House.
Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
Dealing with the complexities of life is difficult at the best of times. Paperwork, red tape, rules, regulations and just paying bills take up an incredible amount of time, not to mention...
Dealing with the complexities of life is difficult at the best of times. Paperwork, red tape, rules, regulations and just paying bills take up an incredible amount of time, not to mention patience. Then, of course, there's the issue of computers. If the connection isn't down, then the printer can almost certainly be jammed. For those of us whose first language is English, what I've described is manageable—if only just, at times. But it is so much more isolating if English is not your first language. My electorate is home to 152 discrete language groups. The data in the 2021 census is revealing in this regard. Sixty-six per cent of households in the electorate of Werriwa use a language other than English at home. Of these, Arabic, Vietnamese, Hindi, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic and Spanish are the most common. With regard to parenting, just over 68 per cent of Werriwa residents state that both parents were born overseas compared to the national average of 36 per cent. The diversity in my electorate is one of the things that I love about it, but it still can present challenges—especially when helping constituents with their matters. One of the most important tools for me and my staff is the national Translating and Interpreting Service, TIS National. Using TIS is often a game changer. When language barriers emerge, either over the counter or more likely on the phone, a quick call to TIS National can make all of the difference. It's not an exaggeration to say you can hear the barriers fall away as constituents speak to an interpreter in their own language. It means the constituent can properly express themselves and be guaranteed that any confusion or misunderstanding can be dealt with promptly, and it adds another benefit. A number of times in my electorate office the children of constituents have acted as interpreters for their parents. I thoroughly understand why this is the case, but it can be far from ideal for any number of reasons. Using TIS means the use of children as an intermediary isn't necessary, and, if nothing else, it frees them to go back to school and allows them to still be children. The Australian government began providing translation services in 1947 and interpreting services in the 1950s. The original aim was to support and help post-World-War-II migrants, and the services provided by TIS are fundamental to full participation in our society. The funding of the service for all three levels of government, plus the private sector and individuals, underscores that language is important and is not an optional or discretionary service. Rather, it's fundamental to safety, participation, fairness and equality. The services provided by TIS National are exceptional and world class. It provides translation and interpreting services to government agencies across all three tiers of government. Telephone interpreting services are key here, but there is also remote interpreting via video and onsite interpreting and translating services. It provides 24/7 telephone interpreting—supporting triple zero services, hospitals, courts and other urgent needs. Then, there's the free interpreting service and the free translation service for key non-government entities, including doctors, pharmacists, trade unions, real estate agencies and parliamentarians. The FTS also provides new arrivals with free translation into English of key personal documents to support their participation in education, employment and community life. Finally, TIS National also supports the training and development of translators and interpreters. In 2024, advice provided by the Australian Government Solicitor, the AGS, advised that TIS National required express legislative authority, in particular, in relation to services provided to private-sector bodies. This bill, then, is vital in addressing the risks identified by the AGS in its legal advice. Specifically, the bill establishes a statutory framework for the services provided by TIS National within the Department of Home Affairs. The proposed legislation sets out the functions provided by TIS National and will ensure clear and enduring statutory support for these functions. It's particularly noteworthy that the legislation will enable the Secretary of the Department to provide or arrange the provision of translating services to the Commonwealth or agencies and to the states and territories or agencies. It will allow for the facilitation of communication by a person with these Commonwealth, state or territory agencies, authorities, bodies, organisations or office holders. The legislation will also expressly provide for other services provided by TIS National, including development, training and supporting translators and interpreters for the purposes of TIS National's core functions. I can only begin to imagine the difficulties constituents face when English is not their first language. Thank goodness that, when it's needed, TIS National is available. I know firsthand the wonderful work it does. It's a terrific investment in ensuring that everyone can fully participate in our society. Such a service requires our support not only in a budgetary sense but also for a legislative framework that ensures it can carry out its vital functions and service without worry or concern. I commend the bill to the House, but I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff and interpreters at TIS National. They are a great support for my office when we need them for our constituents.
Werriwa Electorate: Community Events | Constituency Statements | House debates
Representing a multicultural electorate like Werriwa is a privilege. It means that I receive so many generous invites to community, religious and other celebrations. These events highlight what...
Representing a multicultural electorate like Werriwa is a privilege. It means that I receive so many generous invites to community, religious and other celebrations. These events highlight what is best about having people from all around the globe choose Australia, and, more importantly, Werriwa, as their home. New Year celebrations in Werriwa start on 1 January and continue till August, cycling through Chinese New Year, the Tet festival, Cambodian celebrations, Assyrian New Year and Mandaean New Year late in July. The commemorations continue for Australia Day. And I'm looking forward to the many iftars during Ramadan, which starts in the middle of February. While this makes the days very busy, it is humbling to be part of a community and join with their observances. It proves to me that we are more alike than we are different and what is important to all of us are our family, our friends and faith. In the last month, I've attended the Iraqi graduates forum's celebration of success on Australia Day. The event has been held for more than 15 years and celebrates the academic achievements of those with Iraqi heritage in our community, and it's those students who do well in their HSC, in TAFE and in university. The results are always inspiring, with more than 20 students recognised for HSC results over 90 and one getting over 99. Degrees in all areas of study are also recognised. Congratulations to Dr Bushra and the volunteers of the board, who work so hard to make this event a success. In a couple of weeks, New Year celebrations will be in full swing for Chinese New Year, and I look forward to our celebrations at the Mingyue temple in Bonnyrigg. James Chan OAM and Vincent Kong and all the volunteers make the event a colourful celebration, with fireworks, lion dances and musical numbers. I was privileged to speak at the 2026 Australia Day and Lunar New Year event organised by the Chinese Associations of Greater Western Sydney. This event has also been held for over a decade, bringing together so many of our wider, diverse community. And, in the coming weeks, there will be iftars and Easter celebrations. I thank all of the volunteers and our community organisations for ensuring these events highlight the best of what we have to offer—great food and entertainment but, more importantly, great company. I'd also like to congratulate the OAM recipients in the electorate of Werriwa, including Mr Anthony Keating for his contributions to community, which were recognised on Australia Day. But I want to give a huge shout-out to David Millott of Prestons Hornets Cricket Club for his recognition and his award. He has spent almost 50 years volunteering with Prestons Cricket, and he made a difference in my children's life and so many others—congratulations.
Health Care | Statements by Members | House debates
When it comes to bolstering health care—and, in particular, Medicare—the Albanese Labor government's record is second to none. The government's record investment in health has been a...
When it comes to bolstering health care—and, in particular, Medicare—the Albanese Labor government's record is second to none. The government's record investment in health has been a real game changer for people in my community. As a result of boosting the bulk-billing incentives for GPs, bulk-billing numbers are way up. Not only that, but the government has also made sure that scripts at the chemist are cheaper. Then there is the record investment in mental health, women's health and funding for our hospitals. One of the key initiatives also introduced by the Albanese Labor government was bulk-billed Medicare urgent care clinics that have opened across the country. These Medicare urgent care clinics make it easier for Australians to get the urgent treatment they need, free of charge. They are also taking the pressure off our hospitals. For some time, our community has had access to urgent care clinics located in both Liverpool and Campbelltown. I'm delighted that my constituents will now have access to a third clinic located in Austral. Austral joins over 120 clinics Australia-wide. This is great news and will complement the existing network of bulk-billing GPs in Werriwa. The opening of the new UCC in Werriwa demonstrates again that it is the Albanese government which is delivering for our community.
Gun Control | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Why is the passage of the Albanese government's gun reforms so important for Australians? What would it have meant to the Bondi terror attack and...
My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Why is the passage of the Albanese government's gun reforms so important for Australians? What would it have meant to the Bondi terror attack and what opposition has there been?
Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
Every death diminishes our society, and those whose lives are cut short because of violence leave a void for the people they've left behind and a void for the wider community—places at...
Every death diminishes our society, and those whose lives are cut short because of violence leave a void for the people they've left behind and a void for the wider community—places at celebration tables that are forever empty, a life's history not written nor told. For the families of the 15 people who died at Bondi on the night of 14 December, I offer my thoughts and condolences and those of our community in Werriwa. We stand with you in your pain and hope that time will allow you to remember those treasured people for the beauty they had and contributed not for the horror in which they died. For those who were injured, some still in hospital or starting the long journey of rehabilitation, we stand with you, willing your health to return as soon as possible. Out of the horror of that night Australia saw what is the best of our society, perhaps because Bondi had already been touched by violence such a short time ago. Shopkeepers and residents opened their doors to shelter people to keep them safe. We will never know how many people were saved by the actions of others. Bystanders on the beach used their own bodies to shield children and saved more lives. They showed kindness. First responders ran into the face of danger to help. The vision of the lifesavers running from neighbouring beaches with first-aid kits to help will stay with me forever. They are always the best in our community, and they did not fail to step up and support. We also saw so many Australians waiting for hours in line to give blood and provide other supports, because they wanted to help and be part of this community. Overwhelmingly we have seen the best of our fellow Australians. It is that community spirit we must now harness to make sure that as a parliament we do our best to ensure that an act of such violence does not happen again. As a community we must recognise and value each person for their right to be part of our Australian society and recognise everyone's right to contribute and be supported by our community. Antisemitism and the violence that we have seen to certain ethnic groups and religions must stop now. As Australians we must call out hate wherever it is directed. We must ensure that we support each other and realise that we are all so much more alike than different. Religion is never a reason for violence and never a reason to take another person's life. May those who lost their lives at Bondi Beach be forever remembered and honoured. May those who lost loved ones be comforted by Australians that grieve with you. May those injured be healed, and may the Jewish community be affirmed and wrapped in the support of the love of our community.
Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to make my contribution to the debate on the Migrant Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025, currently before the House. The Albanese government has made a commitment in the...
I rise to make my contribution to the debate on the Migrant Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025, currently before the House. The Albanese government has made a commitment in the Migration Strategy, released in December 2023, to develop the skills-in-demand visa. The passage and implementation of this bill will continue the government's commitment to strengthen and maintain the integrity of the temporary skilled migration system. The bill is needed to enhance protections and oversight mechanisms through the establishment of a public register of approved sponsors. The intention for the public register is to ensure that there is a limit to the exploitation of temporary skilled migrant workers and provide these workers with a resource to check that the sponsoring employer is legitimate. Unfortunately, I've seen too many people in my electorate office who've fallen prey to unscrupulous employers who promise things that are untrue, and when the worker arrives in Australia the conditions they are expected to work in are not up to Australian workplace standard conditions or the wages are not what they should be. Often when they come to Australia these temporary workers have families with them. They are promised well-paying jobs and quickly find themselves here at the mercy of circumstances that were not what they were expecting. They can be trapped in this country, not only by the poor conditions and pay but also by concerns about the expectation from family and friends at home, particularly that what they are doing is going to enhance their family's and their own circumstances. This leaves them very vulnerable to mental health challenges and it makes it difficult for them to find suitable and reasonable accommodation and the other basics of life. The development of this register will help combat worker exploitation and provide a resource to check that a sponsoring employer is legitimate. This is very important in order to maintain the integrity and transparency in the skilled migration program and to make sure Australia is valued in other places in the world. This bill will develop a public register that includes: the name and type of the approved sponsor; the sponsor's Australian Business Number, or ABN; the postcode associated with the approved sponsor's ABN; and the number of the sponsor's workers and their occupations. This will encourage transparency, monitoring and oversight. The Albanese government's migration strategy has been informed by more than 450 submissions received as part of the review of the migration system. There has been extensive consultation with business, unions and other stakeholders. Targeting reforms to temporary skilled migration will address skills needs in our economy and promote worker mobility to areas where workers are required and where the economy needs more support. The review process included written submissions from individual migrants and visa applicants. The consultation also included eight round tables with peak organisations, unions, and senior state and territory government officials. I note that the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee said that most submissions broadly supported the provisions and the recommendations and that the bill should pass the Senate. The aim of the register is to encourage public transparency and will be a resource for temporary skilled migrants to check that their sponsoring employers are legitimate. This is very important for Australia's reputation, both overseas and amongst our local diasporas here in Australia. It is important that rigour in this is in place to limit exploitations at the hands of those who seek to exploit and do things that are worse for their employees. Through the inclusion of postcodes, migrants will be able to consider their ability to move and find new employers near where there are already established community links and accommodation. This information also improves the practical nature and usefulness of the register. Already proved standard business sponsors will be automatically included in the register without the need to request this at the time of applying. Data will be regularly updated to ensure its relevance and will complement the public register of sanctioned sponsors already published by the Australian Border Force. Employers will be advised at the time of the sponsorship application so that they understand their details will be included on the register. The register will only draw on already publicly available information that has been provided for their ABN. Furthermore, any disclosures of information will be consistent with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988. There will be no personal identification for the nominated workers included in the register's documentation. This bill addresses the recommendations made in the report of the Migrant Workers' Taskforce, as well as additional measures to tackle exploitation of vulnerable workers on temporary visas. The exploitation of temporary visas hurts all workers, drives down all wages and worsens conditions for everyone. This bill also establishes new criminal offences and associated civil penalties to deter employers from using a visa condition or status to coerce, unduly influence or unduly pressure someone in a workplace. There is a new mechanism to prohibit an employer, if they're found to have breached any of these conditions of employment, from hiring any additional people on temporary visas for a period of time. There are also increases to the maximum criminal and civil penalties for all current and proposed work related offences provisions in the Migration Act. And it provides Border Force with the tools to address employer compliance. There are revisions to the regulation-making power in the Migration Act to ensure worker exploitation must be taken into consideration if there is a need to cancel a visa. Higher penalties and additional powers for the Australian Border Force will be included. The bill increases the maximum penalties available under the Migration Act for work related breaches. Penalties will almost triple: for civil penalties, up to $99,000 for individuals and $495,000 for bodies corporate. In addition, the ABF will gain new compliance notice and enforceable undertaking powers. These measures are designed to drive employer compliance under the Migration Act, which was unfortunately deprioritised over the past decade. The ABF will receive $50 million over the next four years to assist them to improve employer compliance as well as other immigration compliance priorities. Disappointingly, the former Liberal government failed to implement the key recommendations in the Migrant Workers' Taskforce report, which they sat on from 2019. These new powers, it's good to say, are already reaping results. Last month, under strong new laws introduced by the Albanese Labor government, a Western Australian business became the first in the nation to be publicly named and shamed by the Australian Border Force for exploiting vulnerable migrant workers. It was the first prohibition notice introduced under the SEC Act. The company came under scrutiny late last year in relation to misleading information in their migrant worker sponsorship application and were subsequently sanctioned for serious noncompliance. ABF officers across the country are actively scrutinising the status of employers' sponsorship agreements, as well as regularly making unannounced visits to workplaces to protect workers and expose employers who are exploiting migrant workers. We should note that not all employers behave like this. If we don't do something about those that are doing the wrong thing, it tars everybody with the same brush, so good employers will be happy with this legislation as well. To maintain the integrity of the skilled migrant system in Australia, it's important that employers are approved by the Department of Home Affairs. The amendments in this bill will allow for the implementation and maintenance of the public register of approved work sponsors on the Department of Home Affairs website. This will ensure transparency and, more importantly, protection for the rights of temporary skilled migrant workers, who do so much to assist the Australian economy and Australians in general. I commend the bill to the House.
Mental Health Month | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
Recently I joined the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and the member for Macarthur at the opening of the Medicare Mental Health Centre in Campbelltown. The service is beautiful, calm,...
Recently I joined the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and the member for Macarthur at the opening of the Medicare Mental Health Centre in Campbelltown. The service is beautiful, calm, welcoming place, close to Campbelltown railway station and the bus interchange, and there's parking in proximity. The service is open seven days a week, and, like all Medicare Mental Health Centres, it has a range of support professionals including peer support workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and wrap around supports when you walk in. Medicare Mental Health Centres are free. All you need is your Medicare card, and they're available for you to walk in and find support straight away. The Campbelltown centre is also special because it's the 50th Medicare Mental Health Centre that has opened in Australia and the 44th opened since the Albanese government was elected in 2022. For anyone needing support, there is also a Medicare Mental Health Centre located in Liverpool on Macquarie Street. All the details are on the website if you need them. I'm looking forward to joining the assistant-minister in opening our own Medicare Mental Health Centre in Werriwa in 2026. No-one has worked harder than the members for Hindmarsh and Dobell to provide support for Australians seeking help with their mental health. The Albanese government is investing an historic $1.1 billion over a range of incentives to deliver new and expanded mental health services across the whole of your life, working with state and territory governments to provide affordable and often free support as soon as possible. In 2025, as part of the $41.1 billion mental health election commitment, we committed to boosting the number of Medicare Mental Health Centres by 30, taking the total to 91. In my part of the world, my opponents did not even match this commitment to deliver any more community based mental health services. As part of the Albanese government's plan to strengthen Medicare with this historic $1.1. billion commitment, people will be able to access mental health support whatever age they are. This includes: the 91 mental health centres and multidisciplinary teams; the 20 perinatal mental health centres delivering support for new and expectant parents; the 17 Medicare Mental Health Kids Hubs, providing children and families with behavioural, social, emotional and wellbeing support; and the 203 headspace services supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 12 to 25. Many of these services are already up and running. Early in 2026, the Albanese government will be rolling out the new National Early Intervention Service. The service will deliver free mental health phone and online support from trained professionals, and it is expected that will support over 150,000 people each year. We know that the sooner someone finds support that is right for them the sooner they start feeling better. It's not only for them but for their families, work colleagues and, of course, the community as a whole. Providing more free public mental health services for Australians with different levels of need will help relieve the pressures on subsidised services provided by private psychologists. We're also building the mental health workforce. This includes 4,000 psychology scholarships, internships and training places. This is complemented by our work to professionalise the peer workforce, because we value lived experience. Next year we're establishing a new peer workforce association and undertaking a census of the peer workforce. As we expand the range of free services, the Medicare Mental Health phone line—which is 1800595212 if you want to ring them—and the website medicarementalhealth.gov.au will help Australians find the service that is right for them. In Mental Health Month in 2024, the assistant minister and I opened the new headspace at Edmondson Park in the electorate of Werriwa. The centre is located in the shopping centre, across the road from the Edmondson Park railway and bus terminal, and it's been kicking goals since then. The Youth Reference Group is made up of more than 14 amazing young people. They are working hard to ensure that the needs of all young people in the area are addressed by the centre. Recently, they held a trivia night to raise funds for the work of headspace. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the event, but I'm told the night was a fantastic success with many in attendance. I'd like to thank the Youth Reference Group again for their insight and hard work and also all the staff at the Edmondson Park headspace. You're providing so much, much-needed support to our community. The work they're doing is not just in the centre. They also do significant outreach to several high schools in our community. I note that the shadow minister, in his reply speech in the House, claimed that the government was not delivering on early intervention services. As the minister said in her speech, we're establishing the new National Early Intervention Service, and that will be up and running early in January next year, providing phone and online mental support. The shadow minister also stated that our government was simply rebadging Liberal government projects. That couldn't be further from the truth. Under the Liberals, fewer than 10 pop-up Head to Health centres were established. We are now working towards 91 Medicare mental health systems, providing all services from peer support to psychologists and psychiatrists as a free, one-stop shop if you need that help. We've also established the virtual network to ensure every centre has access to psychologists and psychiatrists when they need it. I'm proud to be part of a government that is doing so much to support the health of Australians, with historic levels of funding for Medicare improving access and costs for GP visits and especially more opportunities for bulk-billed services, cheaper medicines from 1 January next year and more than $1 billion invested in mental health support. The mental health support ranges from telephone to walk-in Medicare mental health centres and headspace, and the government is training more support workers, psychologists and peer support workers to ensure that all Australians in the future have an option to improve their lives, support their families and do wonders for our community.
Valedictory | Adjournment | House debates
Longer days and queues at shopping centres and Australia beating England in the Ashes cricket can only mean one thing—Christmas is fast approaching, along with the end of the year, and 2025...
Longer days and queues at shopping centres and Australia beating England in the Ashes cricket can only mean one thing—Christmas is fast approaching, along with the end of the year, and 2025 has been a very interesting year. Globally, we've seen conflict after conflict and, tragically, the needless deaths of far too many people, especially civilians. Famine and war are sadly a constant, and I acknowledge all of those in my community who are touched because they have friends and family in danger. Their fear and concern are something they live with every day. As this is my last speech in this place for 2025, I want to acknowledge and thank everyone who has invited me so warmly and welcomed me into our community: All Saints Liverpool, St Rafqa's, Saint Zaia Cathedral, John the Baptist, the Bilal Mosque at Hinchinbrook, Iftar and Ramadan dinners, Assyrian New Year events, the Affinity Intercultural Foundation, the Ramadan Eid bazaars, the many Buddhist new year and lunar events, Mandaean events such as Dehwa Daimana ceremony, the Hindu Festival of Chariots—the list is extensive and encompasses every corner of the globe and of Werriwa. And then there are the many sporting groups who do so much in the electorate to support fun and healthy activities for tens of thousands of people. Thank you to all the volunteers of the Liverpool Catholic Club, junior rugby league, Liverpool Olympic Football Club, Southern Districts football, Preston Hornets, Hoxton Park Tigers cricket, Autism Advisory & Support Service, CNA and Ladies Like To Lunch. I've been generously invited to many events, including those of the Liverpool historical society, the Rural Fire Service medal presentation and the opening of McGirr Park. The events I've listed are just a taste of what I've been to this year, and I always receive a generous welcome in our community. Day in and day out, in countless ways, there are thousands of people who devote themselves to helping others. To each of them, I express my sincere thanks and extend the very best for the upcoming Christmas and New Year season. I would also like to add those who serve the electorate through their work. I think of all the first responders, nurses, teachers, police and retail workers. Thank you for what you do. Please be patient with the retail workers at this time of the year. It's not okay to be rude to anyone trying to serve you. Remember they are someone's parent or child. The Albanese government, having been so resoundingly re-endorsed at the May 2025 election, has wasted no time in delivering. The government is focused on cost-of-living relief. Just this week, we reduced student debt by 20 per cent. A constituent wrote to me: I cried when I saw the $11000 come off my debt. I have been making payments, buying a house and honestly unable to get ahead on any of it—this helps! On 1 January, medicines will be the cheapest they've been since 2004—no more than $25 per PBS script and $7.70 for concession card holders. We've reduced the beer excise to support consumers and venues. We've made the biggest investment in health in decades—bulk-billing incentives, 137 urgent care clinics and $1 billion to support Australians' mental health. There's a new Aged Care Act, implementing the recommendations of the royal commission, that started on 1 November. There has been a minimum wage increase in each of the three years of our government. There are fee-free TAFE places legislated for the future and 10,000 for apprentices that support housing construction. New homebuyers only need a five per cent deposit for a new home, and there are over 100,000 Australians that have taken advantage of cheaper home batteries. In Werriwa, work has begun on Fifteenth Avenue, with community consultation for the upgrade underway and early work started. Next year, Western Sydney international airport will open, bringing jobs and opportunities for our community. I especially want to wish my constituents, each and every one of them, the best for Christmas and the upcoming New Year. It's only because of your support that I stand here and can advocate on your behalf. That honour and privilege is never lost on me, and I treasure it, and it is a task I recommit myself to each and every day as I look forward to 2026. To one and all, a very merry Christmas. House adjourned at 20 : 00
VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I've spoken at other times in this place about the critical need for Australia to have a skilled and job-ready workforce. Unfortunately, the failure of successive coalition governments has meant...
I've spoken at other times in this place about the critical need for Australia to have a skilled and job-ready workforce. Unfortunately, the failure of successive coalition governments has meant that many geographical areas around our nation have critical workforce shortages. Further, there are a number of workforce speciality areas that have severe shortages, regardless of your postcode or where you live. The key to addressing workforce shortages is training and education. This can often commence at high school but also occurs at TAFE, university and through approved course providers. A key aspect of meeting Australia's workforce needs is free TAFE courses. Along with the states, the Albanese Labor government has partnered to deliver more than $1.5 billion worth of funding for 500,000 fee-free TAFE and VET places across Australia from 2023-26. This is a marvellous program and one that I am delighted to support. I have seen firsthand in the electorate of Werriwa the life-changing and positive effects that the fee-free TAFE program is having. It really can be a game changer. It opens opportunities to my constituents that they would never have been able to achieve. Complementing the fee-free TAFE program is the government's delivery of a 20 per cent reduction to student HECS debt. Hundreds of thousands of Australians have already received that SMS message from the Australian Tax Office, and millions of Australians will continue to receive it over the coming weeks, advising them that their debt has been slashed by 20 per cent. I'm sure that will be a welcome early Christmas present for everyone. Importantly, and relevant to the matter before us now, VET student loans are also included in the debt reduction scheme. Student loans for vocational education and training were first introduced in 2008, under the VET FEE-HELP scheme. Without these VET student loans, many students wouldn't have had the opportunity to undertake tertiary studies, with serious flow-on effects for Australian businesses and industries. The 2008 scheme was subsequently replaced in 2017 by the VET student loan program. The 2017 program had its own legislative framework, while still continuing to use the same system platforms. A review of how VET student loans are administered has identified that there is no role for VSL providers to handle tax file numbers in the act. To be clear, VSL providers are registered training organisations approved by the Australian government to deliver these approved courses, including TAFE institutions and private colleges. This bill seeks to address this issue to ensure there is certainty for both students and those providers. Tax file number information is essential for the administration of the VSL program, because a provision of the TFN enables accurate tracking and repayments of VET student loans, particularly when a student's income reaches the repayment threshold. The bill before us will result in stronger alignment between the relevant IT systems and the legislation. This bill will retrospectively authorise VET student loan providers to handle students' tax file numbers to administer the VET student loans program. This also includes retrospective authorisation of approval of the VSL provider's historical activities that involve requiring or requesting, collecting, recording, storing, using and disclosing students TFNs for the purposes of facilitating the administration of a student's loan application for a VET student loan or the loan itself. Finally, the bill will also provide certainty to providers and government offices that their past handling of students' TFNs for administration of the VET Student Loans program from 1 January 2017 to 30 September 2025 was indeed lawful. Importantly, the matter this bill speaks to has been addressed throughout 2025, as the department has made updates to relevant IT systems to mask the VSL student tax file number, meaning that VSL providers no longer need to handle the TFNs. Thankfully, I note there have been no VSL student complaints as a result of past practices. I note that, as a result of this bill, there will be no change to the way that students apply for these loans, and they will still continue to use the electronic Commonwealth assistance form. I commend the minister for bringing this matter before us for debate. Providers and relevant government offices need certainty that they were acting lawfully at the time in the way that they handled students' tax file numbers. Similarly, students deserve equal certainty that their sensitive information is handled appropriately and according to the law. Australia, under the Albanese Labor government, has a VET program which will be the envy of the rest of the world, and this bill will ensure it remains that way. I commend the bill to the House. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
Fifteenth Avenue | Statements by Members | House debates
South-west Sydney is growing rapidly. Every day, new houses are going up and farm land, once so prevalent, is disappearing. The rapid population growth brings real opportunities but also raises...
South-west Sydney is growing rapidly. Every day, new houses are going up and farm land, once so prevalent, is disappearing. The rapid population growth brings real opportunities but also raises challenges. Foremost among those is the demand for infrastructure, not least as it relates to roads and transport. In the lead-up to the election this year, I was delighted to announce a billion dollar upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue, one of the worst bottlenecks in my electorate. The commitment of a billion dollars is a joint initiative by both the New South Wales and federal Labor governments. The project will upgrade Fifteenth Avenue but requires careful planning and staging, including extensive community consultation. I've met with the project team, and the plans are well advanced. I'm delighted to say that they are currently open for community feedback and will remain so until 14 December. This is a great opportunity for those members of my electorate to look at what's proposed and give feedback. I have some leaflets in my office. If you would like to come to my office we can give you something, or you can go on the website, but please make sure you have your say. The upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue can't come soon enough, and, for so many in Austral and surrounding suburbs, this will be a game changer. Please make sure that you give your feedback.
Megarrity, Mrs Alison Patricia | Statements by Members | House debates
Just over three years ago I lost a dear friend, my community lost a true champion and a family lost their much-loved mother and partner. Alison Megarrity, former Liverpool councillor and local...
Just over three years ago I lost a dear friend, my community lost a true champion and a family lost their much-loved mother and partner. Alison Megarrity, former Liverpool councillor and local member for Menai for approximately 12 years, fought a heroic battle against cancer. Friendships in politics are hard to form, but with Alison it was impossible to be anything but her friend. Coupled with a hardworking disposition that would never give up, she was also a very effective local member. So I was delighted, along with her husband, Robert, sons Liam and Glyn, and many state colleagues, including the Minister for Transport, to recently attend the opening of the Alison Megarrity Bridge over Harris Creek on Heathcote Road. It's a fitting tribute to Alison because she fought tirelessly to see Heathcote Road upgraded. Funding for the road was provided by the New South Wales and federal governments. The upgrade fixes access and makes the route safer, especially during flood events, meaning access to houses, the M5 and Holsworthy station will stay open. The opening of the bridge was accompanied by a community walk to raise money for cancer. It raised over $2,000. I congratulate all those who made this special day happen. Alison's name and achievements will never be forgotten.
Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to make my contribution to the debate on the Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025. The purpose of the legislation is to strengthen the oversight of the...
I rise to make my contribution to the debate on the Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025. The purpose of the legislation is to strengthen the oversight of the national intelligence community. The bill builds on two strong Labor legacies: the creation of the roles of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, the IGIS, and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, the PGCIS, among others. These agencies were established under the Hawke government in 1986 and 1988 respectively. The bill will ensure the oversight of the national intelligence community will be holistic and appropriate in relation to significant powers invested in these agencies. The bill was developed in consultation with agencies from across the government. The government is committed to strengthening Australia's security agencies and to ensuring they are subject to appropriate public and parliamentary oversight. The national intelligence community is made up of the following agencies: the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Signals Directorate, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, the Defence Intelligence Organisation, the intelligence division of the Department of Home Affairs and the Office of National Intelligence. These agencies do important work, and they have significant powers. As a result, it is critical to maintain public trust and, to do this, effective oversight of these agencies is required. The work done by these agencies is of a covert nature, and work and decisions are rarely overseen by the courts; therefore, robust and independent oversight is essential and extremely important. The bill implements recommendations made over the past several years that were failed to be implemented by the previous government. They include: recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in its advisory report on the Intelligence Oversight and Other Legislation Amendment (Integrity Measures) Bill 2020; the comprehensive review of the legal framework of the national intelligence community, known as the Richardson review, conducted by Mr Dennis Richardson AC; and the 2017 and 2024 independent intelligence reviews. The bill includes measures proposed in bills introduced by colleagues in the other place, including the Intelligence and Security Legislation Amendment (Implementing Independence of the Intelligence Review) Bill 2020. This was introduced by Senator McAllister as the newest iteration of the 2015 bill introduced by Senator Wong, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Amendment Bill. Further, the bill complements measures in a bill passed by both houses on 6 September 2023, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Modernisation) Bill 2022. The bill amends several pieces of legislation, including the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986, the Intelligence Services Act 2001 and the Criminal Code Act 1995. The bill will expand the jurisdiction of the PJCIS and the IGIS to include all the ACIC and intelligence functions of the AFP, AUSTRAC and the Department of Home Affairs. It will also provide the PJCIS with its own motion power and requirements for regular briefings. One of the purposes of this bill is to strengthen the relationship between existing intelligence oversight bodies that supervise the national intelligence community, particularly the PJCIS, the IGIS and the INSLM. These bodies perform distinct yet complementary work in overseeing the NIC and its legislative framework. The three bodies require a strong, statutory relationship. This bill proposes to strengthen this relationship by amending the IGIS conduct with an inquiry into the legality and propriety of operational activities of the agencies within the jurisdiction and providing a report to the PJCIS and the relevant minister. Furthermore, the bill will ensure that the PJCIS has a necessary and relevant context to support the extremely important work that it does by amending the IGIS Act and the Office of National Intelligence Act 2018 to require that the PJCIS be briefed annually by the IGIS and the Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence. The bill also amends the IS Act to add the INSLM to the list of people and agencies from which the PJCIS may request a briefing. In addition to these measures, the bill aims to expand the jurisdictions of the PJCIS and the IGIS. To do this, the bill will amend the IS Act to allow the PJCIS to review its own motion proposed reforms to counterterrorism and national security legislation. The IGIS plays an extremely important role in assisting in the oversight and review of the activities of the agencies within the NIC, and for legality, propriety and consistency with human rights. The bill expands the jurisdictions of the IGIS and the PJCIS to the ACIC, in full, and the intelligence functions of the AFP, AUSTRAC and the Department of Home Affairs. These amendments will ensure that the whole of the NIC is subject to holistic and specialised intelligence oversight. Another primary purpose of this legislation is to minimise duplicate oversight jurisdictions where appropriate. The bill also includes technical amendments to modernise and enhance the efficiency of the PJCIS. Lastly, the bill contains amendments to provide immunities for certain computer related acts carried out by intelligence and security agency officials. Amendments to the Criminal Code will provide defence officials, and others, with an exemption for civil and criminal liabilities for relevant conduct for computer related conduct engaged in Australia that cause an effect outside Australia. This will address recommendation No. 72 of the Richardson review and has been drafted on a similar basis to the existing immunities for officials of other agencies in the national intelligence community, specifically in relation to the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation. The national intelligence community, and the PJCIS in particular, play a critical role in overseeing the national intelligence agencies and scrutinising national security legislation. An important function of these agencies is to ensure that national security legislation is necessary, proportionate and effective. Strong and effective oversight mechanisms for national security and intelligence agencies are an essential part of protecting and advancing Australia's national security interests. The measures in this bill will ensure that Australian intelligence and oversight bodies are well placed to provide the appropriate oversight of the NIC now and into the future. It also builds on the strong Labor legacies of providing strong and effective oversight of Australia's national security and intelligence agencies. I commend the bill to the House.
Werriwa Electorate: Education | Statements by Members | House debates
Labor governments have always believed in education as the vehicle to lift living standards and improve the lives of all Australians. The Albanese government is no different in upholding Labor's...
Labor governments have always believed in education as the vehicle to lift living standards and improve the lives of all Australians. The Albanese government is no different in upholding Labor's traditions and record in this public policy. Who else would have been bold enough to offer hundreds of thousands of free TAFE courses? And who would provide a discount for HECS debts for hundreds of thousands? It was also our Minister for Education who negotiated and signed fair funding agreements with all of the states. A number of schools in my electorate are celebrating significant milestones this year. Fifty years ago the prime minister and local member, Gough Whitlam, opened St Francis Xavier's Catholic Primary School at Lurnea. In addition, my former high school—Lurnea High School—is celebrating 60 years of excellence in teaching and learning. A highlight of their celebrations will be a large function on the afternoon of 28 November, an event I wouldn't miss for all the world. Hopefully, we won't be still sitting. Finally, Miller Technology High School is also celebrating its 60th birthday. To each of these schools—in fact, all of the schools in Werriwa—their staff, students, past and present, I give genuine congratulations and best wishes, and I thank them for what they do.
Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
Deputy Speaker Wilkie, I promise not to make any of the same comments about your contribution to this place. I rise to make my contribution to the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025. The...
Deputy Speaker Wilkie, I promise not to make any of the same comments about your contribution to this place. I rise to make my contribution to the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025. The Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 would amend the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to improve the operation of the freedom of information framework through reducing system inefficiencies, providing clarity of the law and addressing abuse of the processes that impact on people's right to access information. The bill responds to recommendations from a number of previous reviews and inquiries that have made recommendations for reform of the freedom of information system. This includes the Freedom of Information Act 1982, the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 and recommendations from the 2013 Hawke inquiry. It also makes amendments that go beyond recommendations of these reviews. The proposed amendments would amend the cabinet exemption to clarify its operation. This ensures that it operates to appropriately protect information central to the cabinet process and ensure that the principle of collective ministerial responsibility is not undermined. It would also amend the public interest test as it relates to the deliberative processes exemption to clarify public interest factors which weigh against disclosure of deliberative material. These factors will include prejudicing the frank or timely provision of advice to or by an agency or minister, or prejudicing the orderly and effective conduct of a government decision-making process. The bill provides for how the act applies to documents of a minister where a minister ceases to hold office or moves to a new portfolio, responding to a 2024 judicial decision which introduced some uncertainty in this area. The bill will also clarify issues around the definition of what is a document of a minister and provide that agencies should not be required to conduct searches for official documents of a minister hosted on agency systems. The bill modernises aspects of the act and clarifies the law in certain areas to ensure efficient management of freedom of information applications. Furthermore, efficient management of reviews and complaints by agencies and Office of the Australian Information Commissioner addresses duplicative and inefficient processes. The bill strengthens the ability of government agencies to deal with vexatious and abusive requests and protects employees from harm, including by removing the ability of applicants to make FOI requests anonymously. Additionally, it limits the circumstances in which agencies are required to release employee-identifying information captured in the freedom of information requests. The bill clarifies that information on agency or ministerial systems that contain personal or non-work related matters of staff are not captured in the definition of a document of an agency. The bill extends the timeframe for agency decisions to reflect working days and consultation processes to ensure high-quality original decision-making. It also introduces a 40-hour processing time limit for FOIs. It creates a power in the act to enable to introduction of application fees for freedom of information requests, internal agency reviews and IC reviews. The bill was designed in close consultation with government agencies and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. This was following considerations of recommendations from the independent statutory review of the FOI Act and the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the operation of the Commonwealth freedom of information laws in 2023. This bill builds upon existing regulation powers in the FOI Act. The Freedom of Information Act was established 40 years ago, before the advent of common use of electronic documents, communications and records in the workplace. The rate and volume of electronic records generated today by public sector agencies would have been unimaginable when the Freedom of Information Act was first introduced. The freedom of information processing cost to agencies has been steadily increasing over time. In 2023-24, FOI processing was conservatively estimated to cost agencies $86.24 million—a 23 per cent increase on the year prior and more than double the $36.32 million in 2010-11. The government received over 34,000 requests for freedom of information in the 2023-24 year and spent over one million hours dealing with freedom of information requests in the same year. Freedom of information requests are also being used in malicious ways to disrupt government operations and make contact with public servants in abusive, threatening and excessive ways. There are not inexhaustible government resources available to process large and complex requests or to process requests that are abusive to people and abusive to government processes. Providing access to information to those who genuinely are seeking it is inhibited by inefficient systems and processes and a tolerance of abuse in the system. There is also a need to clarify the law following the decision of Patrick v Attorney-General [2024] FCFCA 126, which raises complex issues in respect of requests to ministers and the established convention that deliberative documents of previous governments are not provided to an incoming government. The reforms are also intended to provide transparency about who is seeking access to information held by the Australian government. This will help agencies understand where there might be involvement of foreign governments or foreign entities in a request and to appropriately manage any potential national security risks. Freedom of information is a vital feature of democracy, promoting accountability and transparency of government decision-making. The government will improve the freedom of information system so genuine freedom of information requests are prioritised. I commend the bill to the House.
Liverpool City Council | Adjournment | House debates
Councils are the third tier of our important democracy in this country. They serve our communities every day and are the conduit for community activities. They provide and maintain sporting...
Councils are the third tier of our important democracy in this country. They serve our communities every day and are the conduit for community activities. They provide and maintain sporting grounds, playgrounds and green spaces, and they deliver initiatives to build community cohesion and build capacity. They should also be focused on fixing roads, collecting rubbish and using the rates, grants and other income they collect to do this with integrity, governance and equity. Leadership is essential. Delivery is essential. As a former councillor, I had hoped that, after the council elections in September 2024 and the confirmation of a substantive CEO earlier this year, Liverpool council would start to be that council, a council that would start providing the community with what it had been craving: delivery and leadership. Unfortunately, I have been further disappointed, and, given that the number of inquiries about Liverpool council my office deals with is actually double the number of any other type of inquiry my office gets, it seems the residents of Werriwa agree. This council built a completely inappropriate 'diamond-about' instead of providing traffic solutions that were fit for purpose. The ratepayers of Liverpool deserve delivery the first time, without projects having to be removed and redone. In June this year, the council constructed several 'roundabouts' on Fifteenth Avenue. That description suggests they should be round, or at least oval, to assist with the flow of traffic. Instead of this, they actually hindered the flow of traffic because trucks and buses need to do three-point turns around them, slowing traffic and causing hazards. The roundabouts lasted 48 hours before they were removed, causing further damage to the roads. Thankfully, I didn't hear of any serious injuries caused by accidents at these spots, but I fear that's far more because of the skill and patience of Liverpool drivers than anything else. I am grateful that the $1 billion announcement made by the Albanese and Minns government in January this year for the upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue, where these roundabouts were located, will be delivered by the New South Wales government. My colleague the member for Leppington and I have spoken to Minister Aitchison, the New South Wales Minister for Roads, on numerous occasions about the commitment. I am pleased to say that early works on the safety upgrades to the road commenced in August, and they will provide a third lane added to Cow Pasture Road between Fifteenth Avenue and the M7, reducing weaving and congestion. There will also be improvements to pedestrian safety, speed limits and line markings. In October 2022, confirmation was provided to Liverpool council for $6 million as an election commitment to extend Middleton Drive, giving options for the residents of Middleton Grange. Three years later, the road is still being planned, and they hope that construction will be completed sometime in 2026. Also, in MYEFO last year, Liverpool council were provided with extra funds for the upgrade of Kurrajong and Beech Roads at the intersection with Lyn Parade. The commitment from the federal government is $6.9 million and fully funds this upgrade, improving safety for traffic and pedestrians and easing congestion. The community needs this project to be delivered as soon as possible, along with the signalisation of the intersection of Mowbray Street and Kurrajong Road. Last year, the council received $15 million of grant funding to develop a new park in Austral. Unfortunately, planning and preparation work on this project did not get underway until April this year, and construction is unlikely to start until early next year. I've again written to the CEO to advocate for this to be provided as soon as possible. The suburb of Austral has seen so much change over recent years and, as in many new housing estates, the provision of footpaths, parks and other amenities is sadly lacking. Liverpool council also received more than $2 million from the New South Wales and federal governments to redevelop Pye Hill Reserve at Cecil Hills, but, because of the discovery of asbestos in the construction of the park, it's yet to be officially opened and is not available for use—another disappointment for the people of Liverpool. I am seeking further updates from Liverpool council and the CEO, and I'll continue to fight for the constituents in the electorate of Werriwa to ensure that the grants and money that have been provided to it are used by council as efficiently and quickly as possible.
Workplace Relations | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese government standing up for workers, including those who have to work on public holidays? What other...
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese government standing up for workers, including those who have to work on public holidays? What other approaches have been put forward?