Alicia Payne's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
type: channel
language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2026-02-10T22:05:33+00:00
items: Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
items: Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Albanese Government | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
items: Albanese Government | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Women's Health | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Parents and Carers, Canberra Electorate: Karinya House | Adjournment | House debates
items: Battery Industry | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Police Week | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Cybersafety | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Australian National University, Climate Change | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
items: Canberra Electorate: Housing | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Paid Parental Leave | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025 | Statements | House debates
items: Ibrahimi, Dr Nilofar | Adjournment | House debates
items: Artificial Intelligence | Motions | House debates
items: Environment | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
items: Budget | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Australian Public Service | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates

Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
type: item
description: Like all in this chamber, I rise with a profound sense of grief. On the evening of 14 December, at Bondi Beach, what should have been a beautiful celebration of faith and light was turned into a...
encoded: Like all in this chamber, I rise with a profound sense of grief. On the evening of 14 December, at Bondi Beach, what should have been a beautiful celebration of faith and light was turned into a scene of unimaginable darkness. The Chanukah by the Sea event was the first night of the Festival of Lights. Australians of Jewish faith had gathered to light the first candle of the menorah, a symbol of hope and of the triumph of light over darkness. That sacred moment was shattered by a targeted antisemitic terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 15 innocent people and injured many more. I want to say their names now: Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Alex Kleytman, Boris and Sofia Gurman, Reuven Morrison, Dan Elkayam, Peter Meagher, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Tibor Weitzen, Marika Pogany, Edith Brutman, Boris Tetleroyd, Adam Smyth, Tania Tretiak and Matilda, just 10 years old, whose parents gave her the most Australian name there was, such was their hope for their lives in this country. May their memory be a blessing. To the families of all 15 victims and the dozens more who were injured: this House and this nation grieve with you, and we stand together against antisemitism and hate. We must be direct about why this happened. This was not a random act of violence; it was a targeted antisemitic attack on the Jewish community. Antisemitism is abhorrent. It is a poison that has no place in Australia. The Jewish community have helped to build our nation and must always feel safe and welcome here. For a community to be targeted while celebrating a holiday that defines their heritage and their resilience is a strike at the heart of our multicultural society. In this country, the right to gather, to pray and to celebrate one's culture without fear is non-negotiable. When Jewish Australians are targeted, will are diminished. Today we not only give our condolences but stand resolved in the absolute rejection of extremist hatred in all its forms. I know that many members of the Jewish community h…
date: 2026-01-19T16:37:00+00:00

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I rise in support of the package of appropriation bills. Budget management is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government. It's about ensuring the resources and the wealth of this...
encoded: I rise in support of the package of appropriation bills. Budget management is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government. It's about ensuring the resources and the wealth of this nation and its people are managed well. It's about ensuring that the services that Australians rely on and expect and deserve are funded and delivered. It's about protecting our people and our nation, whether from the global challenge of climate change or from other threats in an increasingly uncertain world. Most importantly, budget management is about priorities—the priorities that reflect the values and choices of the Australian people when they cast their vote. Since coming to government in 2022, this government has delivered meaningful reform and real progress for our nation. We are a government that acts, whether it's action on climate change after a decade of denial and delay; whether it's the introduction of the National Anti-Corruption Commission that is restoring accountability and integrity into public life; whether it's more affordable early childhood education, cheaper medicines or cheaper home batteries; whether it's the ambition to build 1.2 million new homes and help young Australians achieve the dream of homeownership; or whether it's cutting student debt or the introduction of fee-free TAFE and paid prac placements. At every step, the Albanese Labor government has been guided by the core Labor values of fairness, opportunity and support for those who need it most. We have delivered these reforms while maintaining strong fiscal discipline under the leadership of the Treasurer and the Minister for Finance. In the last term, we delivered the largest nominal budget improvement in a single parliamentary term. We delivered the first back-to-back budget surpluses in nearly two decades because, for all the bluff and bluster about surpluses from those opposite when they were in government, it took Labor to actually deliver one. That is the harsh reality for those op…
date: 2025-09-04T12:32:00+00:00

Albanese Government | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
type: item
description: There's a lot of rhetoric coming from those opposite today about governing for all Australians, and I agree with the Assistant Treasurer that it's a very interesting topic for them to bring,...
encoded: There's a lot of rhetoric coming from those opposite today about governing for all Australians, and I agree with the Assistant Treasurer that it's a very interesting topic for them to bring, given their record in government over nearly a decade compared to what we have achieved already in one term and just a couple of months of this term. There are obviously many issues in which we could contrast our record against theirs, where we are actually governing for all Australians and where they neglected Australians. I'm just going to pick one, and that's education because it's a really important one. Education is how you build the future. If you want to measure a government's priorities, we should start by asking: How we are governing for the youngest Australians? How are we investing in their education, their opportunities and their future? Nothing is more fundamental to fairness and nothing is more essential to national prosperity than ensuring that every child, no matter where they live and no matter their background, has access to a high-quality education. That's why this government has made huge investments in both schools and skills, investing in education at all levels so that all Australians, from the youngest through to older Australians pursuing new skills and training, have the best opportunities to take on the jobs of the future. In regard to schools, we are delivering the first ever national agreement that fully funds public schools to 100 per cent of the schooling resource standard. This is absolutely huge. This is a historic step. For too long, governments—specifically, the last coalition government—left public school students shortchanged, forcing teachers and principals to stretch resources while parents fundraised for the basics. Let's remind ourselves of the recent history in this space. In 2012, David Gonski released the report into Australia's school funding, recommending changes with the aim of reducing the impact of social disadvantage on education…
date: 2025-09-04T15:41:00+00:00

Albanese Government | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitment to build Australia's future?
encoded: My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitment to build Australia's future?
date: 2025-09-04T14:11:00+00:00

Women's Health | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: It's Women's Health Week, and, this morning, I joined the new Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care at Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, a critical service for our community here in...
encoded: It's Women's Health Week, and, this morning, I joined the new Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care at Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, a critical service for our community here in Canberra, to discuss the Albanese Labor government's announcement of more training for practitioners for the placement and removal of IUDs and birth-control implants. This free training boost will make long-acting contraceptives more widely accessible on top of our previous commitment to make them more affordable. For far too long, women's health has been underfunded, underresearched and undervalued. Now, the Albanese Labor government has invested a massive $729.9 million into women's health to ensure that women have more choice and better outcomes for their reproductive health. I also want to acknowledge the former assistant minister for women's health, Ged Kearney, for her work in this area. We have put the first new contraceptive pills on the PBS for the first time in 30 years. We will open more pelvic pain clinics around the country, and we are training nurses to help support women through the non-optional hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause. And now, from 1 January, PBS scripts will cost no more than $25. They have not been that low since 2004. Labor is the party of Medicare, and we will always strengthen it, including for Australian women, because women's health is central to gender equality and gender equality is essential to the Albanese Labor government's agenda.
date: 2025-09-04T13:56:00+00:00

Parents and Carers, Canberra Electorate: Karinya House | Adjournment | House debates
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description: (): In a few weeks I am due to welcome a new baby into this world. To be a mother is something I am deeply thankful for. Preparing for the birth of a baby brings a profound sense of...
encoded: (): In a few weeks I am due to welcome a new baby into this world. To be a mother is something I am deeply thankful for. Preparing for the birth of a baby brings a profound sense of both privilege and responsibility; a new life, a new human story, is about to begin with you, for better or worse. Mothers desperately want to give their babies the very best start—the best foundation—that they can for that life. As an expectant mother, I am thankful to have a supportive and loving partner and family around me, to have a secure roof over my head and not to worry about where our next meal will come from or about providing the things I need for this baby or my other children. Bu the reality is that, for so many mothers in our community, this is not the case. Karinya House is an inspiring Canberra organisation that believes no woman should navigate parenting alone. For over 27 years they have provided safety, accommodation, support and community to thousands of women impacted by violence, homelessness and disadvantage while pregnant or parenting. They are a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service and the only service of their kind specifically for pregnant women, their babies and young children in our region. I want to begin by acknowledging the work of their CEO, Lavinia Tyrrel, and their whole team, including the volunteers who create this peaceful home, as Karinya is for the women there and their families. This September they will hold a major new fundraising initiative, the Walk for Hope, with all funds raised going to Karinya House to directly support pregnant and parenting women in crisis. I am proud to have signed up as a community champion for the walk, and I encourage anyone who is able to do so to support this wonderful organisation. I want to acknowledge the other around 20 champions—there are too many to name—and their generous commitments. It's an honour to join them. The walk will be held on 14 September and is open to our entire community. The aim of the Walk for H…
date: 2025-09-03T19:55:00+00:00

Battery Industry | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I thank the member for Swan for bringing this motion and rise today to speak in support of the Albanese Labor government's vision for a future made in Australia and to highlight one of the most...
encoded: I thank the member for Swan for bringing this motion and rise today to speak in support of the Albanese Labor government's vision for a future made in Australia and to highlight one of the most exciting new programs under that agenda, the Battery Breakthrough Initiative. A future made in Australia is about making sure that all Australians thrive in a changing world. It's about seizing the opportunities of the global clean energy transformation rather than letting them pass us by. It's about using the resources, the ingenuity and the skills we have right here at home to create the jobs and industries of the future. Australia has abundant natural advantages. We have world-class deposits of critical minerals, unmatched renewable energy resources and outstanding research institutions, including, of course, right here in Canberra. Together they form the foundation of future export industries. But to secure these opportunities we need to make smart, strategic investments today. That's exactly what the Albanese government is doing. We are building a more resilient economy—one that ensures us against a changing geopolitical environment and protects us against global shocks. In last year's budget, we committed nearly $23 billion to our Future Made in Australia agenda, and this investment is already transforming our industrial base. The $500 million Battery Breakthrough Initiative is part of that plan and will enable us to accelerate battery manufacturing here at home. Labor's National Battery Strategy sets a bold vision. By 2035 Australia will be a globally competitive producer of batteries and battery materials, delivering secure supply chains and affordable energy and creating secure, well-paid jobs. And it's backed by significant investment. We've already committed over $20 million for battery innovation, scale-up programs, best practice guidelines and workforce training. This includes support for the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre and the Powering …
date: 2025-09-01T18:23:00+00:00

Police Week | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: On 29 September, we will mark National Police Remembrance Day. This is a day to reflect on the courageous officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This is the 36th National Police...
encoded: On 29 September, we will mark National Police Remembrance Day. This is a day to reflect on the courageous officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This is the 36th National Police Remembrance Day, and it is an opportunity to pay tribute to the courage, commitment and dedication of police officers who protect our community each and every day. On the 29th, a ceremony is held at the National Police Memorial, in my electorate of Canberra, each year. It complements the ceremonies that are held in each state and territory around the country. The National Police Memorial honours and remembers those police officers from all Australian police jurisdictions who gave their lives in the line of duty. It provides an opportunity for solemn reflection and seeks to encourage serving and retired police officers, their families and the community to honour the memory of those who have given their lives in service. Here in the ACT, ACT police officers have been serving the capital since 1927. The original local police force had one police sergeant and 10 Commonwealth police officers. While ACT policing has now expanded and become the community policing arm of the Australian Federal Police, these officers have diligently protected our city no matter the challenges put ahead of them. The Australian community is reminded of the importance of National Police Remembrance Day by the terrible events at Porepunkah. They are a reminder to all of us of the dangers that police officers face in keeping our communities safe each day. I offer my deepest condolences, on behalf of the people of Canberra, to the families, loved ones and colleagues of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart. Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson was looking forward to retirement and all the possibilities that would open up for him with his partner, Lisa. Senior Constable De Waart came from Belgium and served his community in Victoria. He was a man with ma…
date: 2025-09-01T17:58:00+00:00

Cybersafety | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Minister for Communications. How will the Albanese Labor government's world-leading social media minimum age law protect young Australians online?
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Communications. How will the Albanese Labor government's world-leading social media minimum age law protect young Australians online?
date: 2025-09-01T14:35:00+00:00

Australian National University, Climate Change | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: The Australian National University is an important institution for our whole nation. As the only national university established by federal legislation, it is unique in its remit. It's research...
encoded: The Australian National University is an important institution for our whole nation. As the only national university established by federal legislation, it is unique in its remit. It's research is groundbreaking, and it holds a level of community trust that is precious. But, at the moment, the ANU is in crisis. Over many months I've been hearing from countless ANU staff about the situation there, as well as engaging with the National Tertiary Education Union. Many of the staff are not feeling heard, and they feel that the Renew ANU process is being driven without transparency, consultation or a clear rationale for the number of job cuts and other changes that are being made. These people are coming to their political representatives because they are not feeling heard; they feel they have exhausted their avenues for feedback and that it's not been taking seriously. There have also been serious allegations that have come to light, through the Senate committee, of bullying and mismanagement. There has clearly been a lack of consultation and transparency. There have been announcements of the closure of institutions that are incredibly important to Australian culture and society, including the National Dictionary Centre, the Australian Dictionary of Biography and the Humanities Research Centre—unique work that does not happen anywhere else—as well as significant changes proposed to the School of Music with far-reaching consequences for the music ecosystem in Canberra and beyond. I've been incredibly concerned by what I've heard, and I've been passing these concerns on to the Minister for Education and directly to the vice-chancellor as well. I was pleased to see that the regulator, TEQSA, has stepped in and put the ANU on notice to ensure that they are being compliant with their obligations and these standards. I think it's incredibly important that trust is restored within the ANU staff, community and leadership if things are to in any way be rescued from where they are…
date: 2025-08-28T09:54:00+00:00

Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
type: item
description: I want to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet for this parliament, the Ngunnawal people, which is of course part of the electorate that I am so proud to...
encoded: I want to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet for this parliament, the Ngunnawal people, which is of course part of the electorate that I am so proud to represent in this place, and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. It was particularly moving to see Aunty Violet Sheridan do the welcome to country for the opening of parliament this term. It was really wonderful to see her, as someone I know and am often with at events, have that honour this time. We share this continent with the world's oldest continuing culture—more than 60,000 years of custodianship and of deep connection to country, land that always was and always will be Aboriginal land. 'Canberra', of course, comes from a word meaning 'meeting place', a fitting description for a place which for millennia has brought together Indigenous nations and today brings together the representatives in our democracy. I was born and raised here in Canberra, and it is an immense privilege to have been re-elected by my community to represent them in the 48th Parliament. On 3 May, Canberrans once again rejected the politics of hate and division, they rejected fear campaigns, they rejected relentless attacks on public servants and they rejected the tired, cynical attempts to diminish this city. As a proud Canberran, I was heartened to see the rest of the nation reject those attacks too, resoundingly, and to see my Labor team and my prime minister defend our city and the hardworking people that live here, not just here in our city but in the national conversation. Canberra is a special place. We have five university campuses in my electorate. The federal government is a major employer. We have an incredible small-business community that makes our city the vibrant and wonderful place that it is. For many years, Canberrans have punched above our weight on the national and international stage. I want to focus for a minute on the Public Service. The men and women who…
date: 2025-08-26T18:26:00+00:00

Canberra Electorate: Housing | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: My constituents Abby and Lachlan, both just 23, recently bought their first home in Lawson in my electorate. I want to thank them for welcoming me, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Housing...
encoded: My constituents Abby and Lachlan, both just 23, recently bought their first home in Lawson in my electorate. I want to thank them for welcoming me, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Housing to their home yesterday to hear about what it means to them to be paying off their own mortgage rather than someone else's and to meet their very cute puppy, Chilli, who they've been able to welcome now that they have their own home. This has been possible because of the Albanese government's five per cent home deposit scheme. We were there yesterday to announce that our election promise to expand eligibility of the five per cent deposit scheme to every first home buyer will be brought forward to 1 October this year. This is a game changer for countless young Australians who have been diligently saving to buy their first home—who might be living with parents as Abby and Lachlan were—and see the saving of 20 per cent deposit as an almost insurmountable task. This will bring them a step closer than ever before to having a place they can call their own. Since coming to office in 2022, Labor has helped over 180,000 first home buyers get into a home of their own with a lower deposit. This is just one part of our housing agenda. We've invested $43 billion in our Homes for Australia plan as we work toward our target of 1.2 million new homes by 2030. We're fast-tracking the approvals of 26,000 homes that have stagnated. We're freezing changes to the National Construction Code so that builders can get on with the job— (Time expired)
date: 2025-08-26T13:31:00+00:00

Paid Parental Leave | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government's commitment to strengthening the paid parental leave system; (2) notes that on 1 July 2025: (a) the Government's paid parental leave...
encoded: I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government's commitment to strengthening the paid parental leave system; (2) notes that on 1 July 2025: (a) the Government's paid parental leave increased by two weeks, from 22 weeks to 24 weeks; and (b) superannuation was added to Government paid parental leave meaning taking paid parental leave will not mean missing out on superannuation; and (3) welcomes the Government delivering the better future Australians voted for. I'm very proud today to move this motion relating to paid parental leave because it's an issue that's really close to my heart, not just at the moment but all the time. It is about supporting families at such an important time in their life as they welcome a new baby, it's about gender equality, it's about maternal health, and it's about recognising the importance of supporting both men and women to take time out of the workforce to care for family. Paid parental leave was first introduced by the Labor government when Jenny Macklin, who I'm so proud to have had the opportunity to work for, was the minister for social services. In 2011 this was introduced, and we were one of the last OECD countries to introduce such an important scheme. So this is a really proud Labor achievement. But we haven't just left it there. We've continued to improve this really critical scheme, and that's what I rise to speak about today: two very important reforms that came into effect from 1 July this year relating to paid parental leave—reforms that deliver really meaningful and life-changing support to families, delivering fairness, dignity and security to working families across the country. These are reforms that reflect our values and the priorities of the Australians who elected this government. Firstly, the duration of paid parental leave increased from 22 to 24 weeks, and this is part of our plan to reach 26 weeks by 2026. This is a meaningful change that gives parents more precious time at home with their newborns—ti…
date: 2025-08-25T16:49:00+00:00

Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025 | Statements | House debates
type: item
description: Yesterday this parliament delivered on a promise we made to students, to young people, to workers retraining for the future and to every Australian who took on a student loan and pursued an...
encoded: Yesterday this parliament delivered on a promise we made to students, to young people, to workers retraining for the future and to every Australian who took on a student loan and pursued an opportunity. This bill, the Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025, is the first piece of legislation that was introduced into the 48th Parliament, just as the Prime Minister said it would be, and I am so proud that this was a key priority for us in the new parliament. This bill is about fairness; it's about making our student loan system more just, more affordable and more humane; and it's only happening because the Australian people put their faith in the Albanese Labor government on 3 May. More than three million Australian will see their student debts cut by 20 per cent overnight, and this includes 22,126 people in my electorate of Canberra. For someone with an average student debt, which is now around $27,600, that's a reduction of over $5,520. For someone with a $50,000 HELP debt that's $10,000 wiped away. That's a real relief for young people who feel like the system was working against them. Canberra is a university town. My electorate is home to five university campuses, and this bill will make a huge difference to the students who have studied in Canberra's universities, who are now contributing to our local economy as graduates. Importantly, this cut will be backdated to 1 June this year, before indexation kicked in. We know how much anxiety the annual indexation of HELP debts caused for students and graduates across the country. That's why this year our government capped indexation so that it will never outpace wage growth again. This is so important. This legislation goes even further. We are fundamentally reshaping how the repayments work. Under the current system, once you've earnt above the threshold—currently just $54,435—you start paying a percentage of your entire income. That can be punishing. For someone earning just over the thre…
date: 2025-07-30T11:37:00+00:00

Ibrahimi, Dr Nilofar | Adjournment | House debates
type: item
description: Deputy Speaker Scrymgour, I start by congratulating you as the first Aboriginal person to chair the House of Representatives. On Sunday, I had the most special day with my family. My friend, Dr...
encoded: Deputy Speaker Scrymgour, I start by congratulating you as the first Aboriginal person to chair the House of Representatives. On Sunday, I had the most special day with my family. My friend, Dr Nilofar Ibrahimi, hosted a special gathering with her family and friends to celebrate my being elected. Dr Nilofar Ibrahimi is one of the most inspiring people I have the great honour to know. She is a doctor from Afghanistan and was a female member of parliament in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban retook Kabul, she has been a Canberran and here has founded the ZamZam Foundation, which is an organisation that supports the education of young women in Afghanistan. So it was incredibly moving that she organised this celebration for me and my family when really the greatest honour is to know her and her beautiful family. To call her a friend and a supporter means more to me than I can put into words. Her story is incredibly inspiring and is covered in a documentary called Facing the Dragon that I hope we will be able to screen in the parliament some time very soon. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to view this to do so. It is one of the most powerful things I have ever watched. For me personally as a member of parliament, hearing her journey as a member of parliament representing her community and what that meant for her as a woman and the challenges she faced in Afghanistan was incredibly moving, particularly considering what has happened since then. Recently, Nilofar's sister, Manizha, and six of her daughters and her son have been able to join her here in Australia. I have seen these incredible young women and the resilience, strength and courage with which they are starting a new life here in Australia. Think about what their lives have been so far, what they have had to endure and what they would be if they were not here. What they will be now is an incredible testament to what it means when we can welcome refugees into this country. I was really pleased to have the …
date: 2025-07-29T19:55:00+00:00

Artificial Intelligence | Motions | House debates
type: item
description: Is the motion seconded?
encoded: Is the motion seconded?
date: 2025-07-28T16:46:00+00:00

Environment | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
type: item
description: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. May I begin by congratulating you on your re-election as Deputy Speaker. I'm very pleased that my first contribution in the new parliament is to be speaking about the...
encoded: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. May I begin by congratulating you on your re-election as Deputy Speaker. I'm very pleased that my first contribution in the new parliament is to be speaking about the environment, something that's incredibly important to me and incredibly important to my constituents in the electorate of Canberra. I just want to respond to the hypocrisy writ large from the coalition in bringing this as a matter of public importance today, when they did nothing for a decade in government. It is actually hard to see how the shadow minister kept a straight face for half of that speech, with some of the things that were put forward. Like most Australians, I have been really concerned to see the devastating algal bloom in South Australia, seeing beautiful marine species washing up dead and the devastating impact that that is having. And I'm really pleased that our government has announced $14 million, partnering with the South Australian government and matching the funding they are putting in, to address this across priority areas including research and science, business assistance, community awareness and support, and clean-up efforts. This is critically important. But what those opposite seem to be ignoring by bringing this today is that what is driving this is climate change. That has been incredibly clear. It reminds me, having first been elected in 2019, what it was like to be here in opposition, with those opposite in government and doing absolutely nothing while a climate crisis unfolded—the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 going on while those opposite ignored climate science. To come in here and claim that they suddenly care about the environment—well, I welcome that if they do, but it's going to take a lot of policy change on their side. In fact, at the moment, in the first week of parliament one of the first things we hear from them is that some of their own members want to bring in a private member's bill to drop their commitment to net zero. It is…
date: 2025-07-24T16:09:00+00:00

Budget | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: In accordance with standing order 193, the time for members' constituency statements has concluded.
encoded: In accordance with standing order 193, the time for members' constituency statements has concluded.
date: 2025-03-27T09:56:00+00:00

Australian Public Service | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: There are three things you can guarantee in life: death, taxes, and Canberra bashing from the Liberal Party. For those listening to the opposition leader's budget reply tonight, I have a...
encoded: There are three things you can guarantee in life: death, taxes, and Canberra bashing from the Liberal Party. For those listening to the opposition leader's budget reply tonight, I have a challenge for you. Count how many times he uses the word 'Canberra' as a slur. You could even make it a drinking game, but you might need an ambulance at the end. It is staggering how brazen those opposite are at attacking our community and the hardworking people who live here. And in case you've missed it, they've increased their commitment to cut the Public Service to 41,000 public servants. That is half of the APS. It's not just an attack on the hardworking public servants in Canberra and every Canberra small business in our entire local economy; it's an attack on every Australian who relies on public services and the good governance of this nation. The opposition leader knows that, but he is willing to gamble the wellbeing of Australians on his divisive populous politics. If you're a veteran claiming DVA supports, you'll remember what it was like under the Liberals—a backlog of 42,000 veterans' claims, some waiting more than two years to be processed. That's what happens when you hollow out the Public Service. It took a Labor government and the hardworking APS to clear that backlog. However, the Liberals have confirmed that DVA staff are in their sights, as with the rest of the APS. Today they've confirmed that, if elected, they'll actually increase your taxes. They'll actually not only oppose but repeal the tax cut we delivered for all Australian taxpayers in our budget on Tuesday night. Well, I will always stand up for hardworking public servants and the services that Australians need.
date: 2025-03-27T13:53:00+00:00

Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: The Albanese government is committed to putting Australian consumers at the heart of the telecommunications industry. Telecommunications should enrich people's lives, not cause inconvenience,...
encoded: The Albanese government is committed to putting Australian consumers at the heart of the telecommunications industry. Telecommunications should enrich people's lives, not cause inconvenience, frustration or detriment. We want to ensure that all Australians have access to reliable, high-quality and affordable telecommunications services supported by a strong regulatory and consumer safeguards framework. That is why this government has been actively reviewing the telecommunications consumer protection framework and making appropriate changes, and I thank the Minister for Communications for her hard work regarding the development of these changes. The minister's previous changes include implementing new rules around support provided to consumers experiencing financial hardship and, more recently, directing ACMA to create rules regarding support for consumers experiencing domestic, sexual and family violence. Our government knows that staying connected is a critical part of life. The reforms proposed in the Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025 go to the compliance and enforcement regime for consumer safeguards and constitute a comprehensive package of improvements to those arrangements. They help to ensure the ACMA is an empowered and effective regulator and that appropriate incentive structures are in place to drive better behaviour by telcos. Staying connected is an essential part of everyday life. The Albanese government understands how critical telco services are for everyone, including those facing vulnerable circumstances, people living in our regions, First Nations Australians and those who rely upon connectivity to support their families and provide services to their communities. Accordingly we want to ensure that the telco industry is working for Australians, that Australians have the best consumer safeguards in place to protect their interests and that there is a strong, clear recourse if telcos do the wrong thing. Telco servi…
date: 2025-03-27T10:56:00+00:00