Libby Coker'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: Aged Care | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Milan Olympic Winter Games, Sport | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: g123.1
items: Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Victoria: Natural Disasters | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Health Care, Corangamite Electorate: Infrastructure, Valedictory | Adjournment | House debates
items: Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Environment Bills | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Ethnic Religious Minorities | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
items: Workplace Relations | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Raise Our Voice in Parliament | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: g20.1
items: Superannuation | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Childhood Heart Disease, Health Festival of Geelong | Adjournment | House debates
items: Women's Health | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: WorldSkills Australia | Statements by Members | 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: National Disability Insurance Scheme | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: National Skills Week | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates

Aged Care | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering real reform in aged care? Why were these reforms necessary?
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering real reform in aged care? Why were these reforms necessary?
date: 2026-02-10T14:43:00+00:00

Milan Olympic Winter Games, Sport | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: I rise today to congratulate an extraordinary Australian athlete, Jakara Anthony, on her role representing our nation at this year's Winter Olympics in Italy. Jakara is a proud Barwon Heads local...
encoded: I rise today to congratulate an extraordinary Australian athlete, Jakara Anthony, on her role representing our nation at this year's Winter Olympics in Italy. Jakara is a proud Barwon Heads local in my electorate of Corangamite, and while her sport takes her all over the world, she remains deeply connected to the Bellarine Peninsula, carrying her community with her onto the international stage. To be selected as our nation's flag bearer is one of the greatest honours in sport. It speaks not just to athletic excellence but to character, leadership and the respect of teammates. Jakara embodies all of that. These sporting journeys don't begin on the Olympic slopes. They start years earlier. They start at places like Mount Buller, where Jakara and her family spent many winters building her skills. They start at local community and sporting clubs, schools and regional training grounds. They start with parents driving to early morning sessions, with volunteers marking fields, with councils maintaining courts, and with our federal government backing in the infrastructure that gives young Australians a chance to think big. That is exactly why the Albanese government is investing in sporting and community infrastructure across regional Australia, including in communities like mine in Corangamite, from our investments in the North Bellarine and Surf Coast aquatic centres, upgrades to netball facilities in Grovedale and Drysdale, redevelopment of the Leopold sporting precinct and a new sports stadium in the rapidly growing township of Armstrong Creek. When we invest locally, we build more than venues; we create opportunity and pathways for the next generation, whether that leads to the Olympics or simply a lifelong love of sport and community. Corangamite is full of young people with talent and ambition. They deserve access to quality facilities and opportunities just like anyone else. Our government is committed to ensuring regional communities like mine are not left behind. …
date: 2026-02-09T10:57:00+00:00

g123.1
type: item
title: 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
description: Australia's future prosperity will be built on education, skills and opportunity. The Albanese government know this, and it's why we are working to rebuild confidence in the tertiary system after...
encoded: Australia's future prosperity will be built on education, skills and opportunity. The Albanese government know this, and it's why we are working to rebuild confidence in the tertiary system after a decade of Liberal neglect, strengthening pathways into learning. The bill before the House today, the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025, is the latest step in this work. This is a bill to establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, the ATEC. The ATEC will focus on making sure universities do their part to deliver on the government's commitment to lift tertiary education attainment to 80 per cent of working-age people by 2050 and raise equity and participation. It will make sure there are enough places at universities to enable more people to access the opportunities that higher education can deliver, particularly in regional areas like mine in Corangamite. This is a central recommendation of the Australian Universities Accord. Three years ago, the Minister for Education appointed six eminent Australians to develop a long-term blueprint for reforming higher education. Professor Mary O'Kane chaired that work, a former chief scientist and engineer of New South Wales and a former vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide. Professor Barney Glover, now Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, brought his experience as Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University. Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt contributed her deep expertise in Indigenous education and research through the Jumbunna institute at the University of Technology Sydney. The Hon. Fiona Nash provided insight as the Australian regional education commissioner and a former minister for regional development and regional communications. The Hon. Jenny Macklin brought decades of experience in social policy and disability reform as a former federal cabinet minister. Ms Shemara Wikramanayake contributed a strong understanding of industry, investmen…
date: 2026-02-09T16:19:00+00:00

Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: Australians expect a health system that is accessible, affordable and built around patients. The Albanese government understands this and has been working to make it a reality since coming to...
encoded: Australians expect a health system that is accessible, affordable and built around patients. The Albanese government understands this and has been working to make it a reality since coming to office. We have strengthened Medicare. We have invested in the workforce. We've expanded access to care in the community. And the bill before the house today is the latest step in that work. I rise to speak in support of the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. This bill delivers a practical reform to the way our health system operates and to the way Australians access timely care. It amends the National Health Act to allow designated registered nurses to prescribe certain medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. It is a significant reform that goes to the heart of our government's agenda, strengthening Medicare, modernising the workforce and ensuring Australians can receive high-quality care when and where they need it. This legislation builds directly on the work of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce review. Both found that highly trained nurses are too often prevented from working to their full scope of practice by outdated regulatory settings. Allowing trained and endorsed registered nurses to prescribe under the PBS is about using the skills already in our system more effectively. It makes sense. It will reduce unnecessary duplication of appointments. It will ease pressure on general practice and, importantly, emergency departments. It will improve access to care, particularly in regional and outer metropolitan communities like mine. Importantly, only registered nurses who meet the standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia will be eligible for endorsement as designated nurse prescribers. The list of medicines will be assessed by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, ensuring clinical rigour and patient safety remain par…
date: 2026-02-05T10:03:00+00:00

Victoria: Natural Disasters | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: I acknowledge the words of the member for Indi. From fires to floods, the Surf Coast region has experienced an extremely challenging few weeks. We have seen cars swept into the ocean and...
encoded: I acknowledge the words of the member for Indi. From fires to floods, the Surf Coast region has experienced an extremely challenging few weeks. We have seen cars swept into the ocean and communities threatened by deadly fires. For me, it was the watch-and-act alert on Australia Day. The threat of fire is real, as it was in Aireys Inlet, my town, during Ash Wednesday. I'd like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the incredible work of the responders, volunteers and community members who rallied to support the emergency relief effort. To the football clubs, surf lifesaving clubs, schools, op shops, food banks and many local householders and accommodation providers who stepped up to lend a hand: thank you. Most of you are volunteers, and, without you, meals would not have been provided to those in need, families would not have been looked after and would have had nowhere to take shelter and local businesses would still have their doors closed. You offered beds, a warm cup of coffee, caravans for families, help with pets and stock, smiles and so much more. We owe you our gratitude. Sadly, many flood impacted holiday-makers report they have suffered emotionally, having lost property that holds significant sentimental value and valuable possessions. It is important to recognise that events such as fires and floods can have profound impacts on communities. It can take businesses and families a long time to get back on their feet, and that's why the Albanese government has introduced the Australian government disaster recovery payment for eligible people who have directly been impacted by bushfires, including through major damage to their homes, serious injury or loss of a loved one as a result of the bushfires. We have a one-off payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child. I want to remind our communities that the threat of fire is real. We must continue to take it seriously. We must heed the bushfire warnings and prepare to act. We are urging the community …
date: 2026-02-03T16:10:00+00:00

Health Care, Corangamite Electorate: Infrastructure, Valedictory | Adjournment | House debates
type: item
description: Summer is fast approaching. For most, it means time with friends, family and loved ones. Summer also gives us all an opportunity to reflect on the year that's been and the one that's coming. In...
encoded: Summer is fast approaching. For most, it means time with friends, family and loved ones. Summer also gives us all an opportunity to reflect on the year that's been and the one that's coming. In May this year, the Albanese government returned to Canberra with a strengthened mandate—to continue to work to support Australians who are doing it tough, to keep building the infrastructure our communities deserve and to strengthen the services many people need. One of those services is Medicare. We've now made the biggest investment in the history of Medicare, $8.5 billion, to help ensure more Australians get bulk-billed so all they need is their Medicare card not their credit card. We're also supporting GPs, with incentives flowing to all practices that bulk-bill every single patient. Working alongside our investment in bulk-billing is our commitment to expand the Medicare urgent care clinic network right across the nation. In my region, we have the Belmont clinic, which continues to go from strength to strength. And soon, within weeks, Torquay will also be home to an urgent care clinic. This will mean less pressure on our emergency departments in Geelong and access to quality GP services across the busy upcoming holiday period—urgent care close to home for people right across the Surf Coast. This has been worth fighting for. It'll be open extended hours, seven days a week. This work is changing lives. So too is our infrastructure pipeline, particularly in my electorate of Corangamite. This year we hit milestones in some of the more transformative projects across Victoria. From Armstrong Creek Sports Centre to Surf Coast aquatic and health centre and stage 2 of the Barwon Heads Road, we have some great projects now under construction. One of these projects will make a particularly positive impact for young people in Armstrong Creek, with work now underway to deliver a permanent headspace on the Surf Coast Highway. This new facility will be right near the new sports centre,…
date: 2025-11-27T11:06:00+00:00

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: In communities right across Australia, from our biggest cities to the smallest towns, the local pub or club is much more than a business. It is a gathering place—a place where people come...
encoded: In communities right across Australia, from our biggest cities to the smallest towns, the local pub or club is much more than a business. It is a gathering place—a place where people come together after a long shift, a long week or a long day; a place of celebration when the local footy or netball team has a win; or a place of commiseration or comfort when the week hasn't been easy. It's where friendships form, where stories are shared, where loneliness is forgotten and where the heart of community life beats strongest. That's why the Albanese Labor government is stepping up to support our venues, their workers and the Australian brewers who supply them. The Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 gives effect to our decision to pause indexation on draught beer excise and excise-equivalent customs duty for two years, beginning on 1 August this year. This is a practical measure. It is a targeted measure and a responsible measure. It keeps the price of a pint stable for everyday Australians, it provides certainty for publicans and their staff, and it strengthens the industries and communities built around our local venues. In my electorate of Corangamite, from the Surf Coast to the Bellarine and across the Geelong region, pubs and clubs are part of who we are. They host fundraisers when a family is doing it tough. They sponsor local sporting clubs. They offer that first casual job to a young person, building confidence and independence. They are where local musicians get their first gigs, where community groups meet and where generations of locals have gathered around the same tables for decades, sharing in laughter and debate and often providing a supportive ear. These venues also keep workers in shifts, keep our regional economies moving and keep our communities together. In my electorate of Corangamite, there are many distinctive townships—coastal, rural, thriving communities—each with their own distinctive watering holes, like the Torquay Hotel, the Barwo…
date: 2025-11-27T12:52:00+00:00

Environment Bills | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: Every day we delay reforming Australia's environmental laws is another day where nature loses ground. We need urgent action now, and our reforms would deliver it. If passed by the Senate, the...
encoded: Every day we delay reforming Australia's environmental laws is another day where nature loses ground. We need urgent action now, and our reforms would deliver it. If passed by the Senate, the reforms will enshrine national environmental standards, better protect threatened species and deliver an independent national EPA with real powers. These reforms will modernise an approval system that is too slow and too confusing, holding up renewable energy, housing and critical minerals projects our country urgently needs. These reforms build on our achievements to protect 95 million hectares of bush and ocean, to drive investment in renewable energy and to work towards ambitious emissions reduction targets. After years of debate, now is the moment for this parliament to choose progress over politics. It's worth remembering that our communities sent us here to act, to do better for our environment, to do better for business. I urge all members across the chamber to work with the government in good faith. Every day without these laws is another day of environmental decline and another day Australians wait for homes, clean energy and the regional jobs that these reforms will unlock. We can fix our broken laws, we can protect nature and we can build the future at the same time, but only if we pass these reforms now.
date: 2025-11-25T13:53:00+00:00

Ethnic Religious Minorities | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges with deep concern the ongoing persecution and discrimination faced by the Hazara people and other ethnic religious minorities under the Taliban; (2)...
encoded: I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges with deep concern the ongoing persecution and discrimination faced by the Hazara people and other ethnic religious minorities under the Taliban; (2) calls for the protection of all minorities in Afghanistan, as well as women and girls, noting no part of Afghanistan or Afghan society has been immune from violence or persecution; and (3) recognises the valuable contributions of Hazara Australians to the cultural, social and civic life of our nation, and acknowledges that these contributions extend well beyond their own community. I am proud to move this motion today. It is a motion that recognises and makes clear that the persecution of the Hazara community in Afghanistan is not only deeply concerning; it is abhorrent. In the gallery today are 30 members of the Hazara community from across the country, brought together by the Hazara Legal Network. I thank the network for its tireless advocacy and thank each of you for being here in Canberra today. Your community is made up of tradespeople, nurses, childcare workers, lawyers and doctors—people who contribute so much to our communities, including in my electorate of Corangamite and in the Deputy Prime Minister's neighbouring electorate of Corio in Victoria. I know that the Deputy Prime Minister has built a strong and enduring relationship with the Hazara community in Geelong. Both he and I have listened to your stories. We are here to support you. Since the Taliban seized control in 2021 it has been a challenge for the Hazara people. We have listened to your stories and we support you. Minorities in Afghanistan have faced targeted violence, particularly women. We know that no part of Afghan society has been immune from violence or persecution. Of course, this is particularly true for ethnic religious minorities, including the Hazara community. Our government, the Albanese Labor government, will always stand up for women facing persecution and violence. Australia has consistently…
date: 2025-11-24T18:52:00+00:00

National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
type: item
description: On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, I present a committee report, incorporating additional comments, entitled NDIS participant experience in...
encoded: On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, I present a committee report, incorporating additional comments, entitled NDIS participant experience in rural, regional and remote Australia. Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—I'm proud to table this report on behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This report, NDIS participant experience in rural, regional and remote Australia, explores how the scheme is working for people with disability in these communities. Listening to people with disability, learning from them and acting on their experiences to enhance the scheme is what our committee is all about, and that commitment is reflected in this report. During our inquiry, we received over 100 submissions and held five hearings across the country, from Western Australia to Tasmania, from the Northern Territory to Victoria. We heard from participants, families, advocates, providers and government services. The committee thanks every person and organisation who contributed to this important work. While the NDIS is available to people wherever they live, accessibility can be challenging. In response, the report makes 10 recommendations to improve the experience of NDIS participants and applicants. We recommend options be explored to simplify the NDIS application process and to develop accessible, plain-language guidance materials tailored for rural, regional and remote communities. We call for enhanced training and cultural awareness programs for NDIA staff and providers to ensure people are treated with understanding and respect. We also recommend that the NDIA collaborate with the medical profession, providers and local stakeholders to improve access to health and disability services and to explore practical solutions to better support local workforces in regional and remote communities. Recognising that travel costs can be a major barrie…
date: 2025-11-24T15:39:00+00:00

Workplace Relations | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for Australian workers, and what could place this at risk?
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for Australian workers, and what could place this at risk?
date: 2025-11-24T14:40:00+00:00

Raise Our Voice in Parliament | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: The Raise Our Voice in Parliament competition has once again proven to be a resounding success. In my electorate of Corangamite, we received outstanding submissions from young people across the...
encoded: The Raise Our Voice in Parliament competition has once again proven to be a resounding success. In my electorate of Corangamite, we received outstanding submissions from young people across the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Geelong region—young people with strong, clear views on the most consequential issues facing Australians. Today I am proud to share one of those voices. Jessie is 20 years old. I've met them several times, and I know how deeply they care about people who need a safe place to call home. Jessie wrote: In the last 2 years I have moved 7 times. I have spent time on the streets, in motels and in share houses that nearly cost me my life. Building houses, apartments, townhouses or modular housing, and having the right supports around people could help save multiple lives, but we need your help. Young people are begging for a safe place to call home, and youth homelessness is on the rise, we need to act now because housing is a basic human right that everyone deserves. Jessie's word speak to a reality of many young Australians. Australia is in the middle of a housing crisis 40 years in the making. For four decades, our country hasn't built enough homes or done enough for first home buyers. The Albanese government recognises this and is acting. We're tackling the crisis from every angle, with the boldest housing agenda since the postwar period. We are delivering our $43 billion housing package focused on three pillars: building more homes, a better deal for renters and helping more Australians into homeownership. Already, more than 180,000 Australians have bought their first home with government support. Nearly one million households are benefiting from the 50 per cent increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance. Half a million homes have been built since we came to office, and 28,000 social and affordable homes are in planning or construction, because the only real long-term solution is to build, and that's exactly what the Albanese government is doing. Finally…
date: 2025-11-06T12:35:00+00:00

g20.1
type: item
title: Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025, National Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2025, Environment Information Australia Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Restoration Charge Imposition) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
description: Our environment is under pressure. Our laws to protect it are broken, and for too long those laws have not kept pace with the challenges we face. Whether it be safeguarding our iconic landscapes,...
encoded: Our environment is under pressure. Our laws to protect it are broken, and for too long those laws have not kept pace with the challenges we face. Whether it be safeguarding our iconic landscapes, protecting our threatened species or nurturing our unique ecosystems, our current laws are not working for our environment. Australians are concerned, and rightly so. That's why the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 and the others in this package are being introduced by the Albanese government. They are practical, evidence based reforms that deliver real, enforceable and meaningful protections for our environment. They ensure that development is handled responsibly while safeguarding our unique ecosystems. And they make decision-making faster, more predictable and more accountable. This reform package is long overdue and, importantly, it responds to all the Samuel review recommendations handed down to the coalition government. In our last term in government the Albanese government made it a priority to: respond to this review; fix our environment laws; provide clear, nationally consistent guidelines; and establish enforceable penalties through a historic national environment protection agency. But on this journey the Albanese government has faced considerable roadblocks. When push came to shove, in the last term of government the coalition and the Greens teamed up to block reforms that would have delivered clarity for business and stronger protections for the environment. Despite this, the Albanese government was not deterred. We've pushed ahead, and now we draw a line in the sand. Today we champion these groundbreaking environmental reforms and we urge both the Greens and the coalition to be more constructive this time around and back in these bills. The bills establish clear national environmental standards that must be adhered to. Whether you're mining in a culturally significant area or working to build new much-needed housing, the bills will give clarity and cert…
date: 2025-11-05T10:57:00+00:00

Superannuation | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: When you get paid, your super should too, but right now employers only need to pay super every three months. That means your super isn't growing as fast as it should. The Albanese government is...
encoded: When you get paid, your super should too, but right now employers only need to pay super every three months. That means your super isn't growing as fast as it should. The Albanese government is fixing this with our payday super reforms. From next July, our reforms will ensure workers get their super paid on payday—not once a quarter, not when it's convenient, but every time they get paid. This is a simple change with a big impact. For a 25-year-old worker on an average wage, it means around $6,000 more at retirement. So the need for this reform is clear and compelling. It'll help more Australians retire with dignity, including working women and people in casual and part-time jobs. We know most employers do the right thing. Our reforms will make it easier for them, with simpler systems and peace of mind that workers are getting what they're owed. This reform makes sure every worker gets what they've earned in full and on time. On top of this, we've added super to paid parental leave because nobody should be penalised for taking time to raise a family. Labor built super, and under this government we're strengthening it so Australians can work, save and retire with confidence.
date: 2025-10-30T13:31:00+00:00

Childhood Heart Disease, Health Festival of Geelong | Adjournment | House debates
type: item
description: Good health is something too often taken for granted, but, for thousands of Australian children and their families, every heartbeat is precious, and every step we take to support them matters....
encoded: Good health is something too often taken for granted, but, for thousands of Australian children and their families, every heartbeat is precious, and every step we take to support them matters. Every day, more than eight children are born with heart disease. That's more than 3,000 children every year, or roughly one child every three hours. Across Australia, it's estimated that 32,000 children are living with childhood heart disease. These are not just numbers. Behind every statistic is a family, a community and a young person with hopes and potential. The HeartKids foundation is making a real difference in this space, and in my electorate of Corangamite their impact is being felt on the ground. Just last Saturday, I had the privilege of joining Hannah Pearl, her family and her incredible HeartKids team in Connewarre in my electorate for the Two Feet & A Heartbeat Walk. Despite torrential rain, families still turned out in numbers to support this amazing cause. Many of the families have experienced loss or have children who are currently undergoing treatment for a heart condition. Many tears were shed, including mine. I have a nephew who was born with a heart condition which required immediate intensive care. He's doing well now, but it was an extremely difficult period for our family. Across October and November, thousands of Australians are walking side by side as a reminder of why this cause matters. Families like Xavier's know this too well. We heard this story before the walk on Saturday. At 36 weeks gestation, doctors discovered Xavier had several serious health conditions. Born at 37 weeks via emergency C-section, he was immediately rushed to the Royal Children's Hospital. At only four days old, he required temporary pacing wires. By 11 days, open heart surgery had inserted a shunt and pacemaker. With a blocked shunt, two rounds of ECMO and cardiac arrest, Xavier's brief life was marked by unimaginable challenges. His passing was sudden and devastating. Yet, t…
date: 2025-10-27T19:35:00+00:00

Women's Health | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering more choice, lower costs and better health care for Australian women?
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering more choice, lower costs and better health care for Australian women?
date: 2025-10-27T15:07:00+00:00

WorldSkills Australia | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: A TAFE course or an apprenticeship can be the ticket to a great career, higher wages, new skills and a better future. At the WorldSkills Australia National Championships, Victorians showed the...
encoded: A TAFE course or an apprenticeship can be the ticket to a great career, higher wages, new skills and a better future. At the WorldSkills Australia National Championships, Victorians showed the nation just how strong our skills are. This week, I met two outstanding gold medallists from my electorate—both products of the Gordon TAFE. Arnold Shanahan won gold in mechatronics, and Charlotte Follett, an apprentice florist, also took up gold. Charlotte said of her experience: The competition was out of my comfort zone and pushed me to a new level with my skills. I'm proud to represent Geelong and Victoria on a national stage. Her words capture what WorldSkills is about—dedication to excellence, skills growth and pride in community. Charlotte and Arnold's achievements remind us that skills change lives. Yet, for over a decade, the former coalition government sidelined skills and left students and apprentices stranded. In contrast, the Albanese government is investing in TAFE and apprenticeships. From the $10,000 incentive for construction apprentices to free TAFE, we're giving Australians better access to training, nursing, trades, care work and clean energy. It's this investment that helps Australians like Charlotte and Arnold to reach their potential.
date: 2025-09-04T13:53:00+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: Our budget repays hard work, nourishes aspiration and creates opportunity. That's why I stand today to support this enabling legislation—legislation that underpins our reform agenda and...
encoded: Our budget repays hard work, nourishes aspiration and creates opportunity. That's why I stand today to support this enabling legislation—legislation that underpins our reform agenda and recognises the challenges Australians are facing, cost-of-living pressures, the uncertainty of global events and the need for stability at home. It responds to these challenges with proactive policy and investment in sectors such as housing, health, infrastructure, energy, skills, training and multiculturalism with funding to underpin reform. For years, Australians have carried the weight of a coalition government that told them simply 'ride it out'—a government that shrugged its shoulders as prices climbed and wages stagnated and a government that told renters to just buy a house and told families struggling with power bills that nothing could be done. But Australians knew better. They knew that government could and should help. They knew that budgets should serve people, not the other way around. Now, after a wasted decade, that is exactly what this budget delivers. It acts on needs and supports Australians to get ahead. This budget builds on the foundation laid in our last term: cheaper child care so parents, especially mums, can work more, earn more and get ahead; free TAFE so thousands of Australians can train for jobs that are in demand now and in the future; energy bill relief so households and small businesses can breathe easier; and tax cuts for every taxpayer, because, in tough times, every dollar counts. These are not abstract measures; they are practical steps that ease financial pressure and expand opportunity. In my electorate of Corangamite, I've spoken with parents who tell me that cheaper child care has made a real difference to their lives. I've met apprentices at the Gordon Institute of TAFE who are embracing free TAFE and proud to be the first in their family to take up a trade. I've spoken with pensioners in Waurn Ponds who have felt the real difference of hundre…
date: 2025-09-02T18:14:00+00:00

National Disability Insurance Scheme | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: Disability can affect any one of us: a brother, a sister, a neighbour, a work colleague—someone we hold dear. And it can happen at any time. What we know is that one in six Australians live...
encoded: Disability can affect any one of us: a brother, a sister, a neighbour, a work colleague—someone we hold dear. And it can happen at any time. What we know is that one in six Australians live with a disability. It touches us all. And that is why Labor created the NDIS more than a decade ago. The NDIS was and is groundbreaking, and it has been life-changing for so many people across our nation. At its heart, the scheme represents the best of who we are as Australians. Looking out for each other and supporting those who need it most—that is what the NDIS is all about. When we introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme some 12 years ago, it carried a profound promise to value people with disability, not measure their price in a budget, and to see the whole person, not just their impairment. And it has been delivering on that promise every day since. I have met participants who now live independently for the first time, parents who tell me the scheme has given their children the chance to learn to work and to belong, and older Australians who never thought they would see such support in their lifetime. That is the NDIS at its best. But we also know the scheme is not without flaws, and we must keep working to strengthen it, because we know it is profoundly life-changing. We also know the scheme relies on social licence and families, providers, advocates and the disability sector working together to get the best outcomes for people with disability. As Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS and as an MP in the Geelong region, the birthplace of the NDIA, my office and I often speak with the NDIS sector. I see the passionate providers. I know how much they care. Their work is not easy. Occupational therapists, speech pathologists, support workers and plan managers—too often these people do not get the thanks they deserve. So today I do want to thank them, because, despite the headlines about rorters and fraudsters, I know that the vast majority of providers…
date: 2025-09-01T11:50:00+00:00

National Skills Week | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
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description: Happy National Skills Week. This week is about celebrating the power of skills and training to change lives, open doors and build stronger communities across our nations. The 2025 theme is...
encoded: Happy National Skills Week. This week is about celebrating the power of skills and training to change lives, open doors and build stronger communities across our nations. The 2025 theme is 'Explore All the Options', and that's exactly what the Albanese government and our Minister for Skills and Training are supporting—options, opportunities and pathways for every Australian to build their future and contribute to our economy. In my electorate of Corangamite in Victoria, I have seen firsthand the difference TAFE and apprenticeships make. They give people a start, help workers retrain and upskill, and ensure local businesses have the skilled workers we need to thrive. At Gordon TAFE in my region, many lives are transformed, thanks to the dedication of the staff and teachers who make it such a special place to learn and grow. I recently visited the Gordon with our minister, Minister Giles. We met with nursing students who are preparing to enter vital roles in aged care, showing the important pathways that vocational education provides for both young people and mature-aged learners. There are so many fantastic local stories at the Gordon. Will, from Torquay, is one of them. While still at school, Will began a school based apprenticeship. He continued his studies, earned an income and learned his trade alongside his dad. Today, Will is in his second year of his apprenticeship and setting himself up for a strong future in the construction industry. Will's story shows what is possible when learning is accessible, affordable and respected. That is why the Albanese government is backing in our VET sector: it gives people opportunity, skills and a profession and contributes to a better future for our region and the nation. It's why we've made free TAFE permanent, guaranteeing at least 100,000 fee-free places every year from 2027, because cost should not be a barrier to training. Through free TAFE, we are extending opportunities by removing the barriers of cost, gender, locati…
date: 2025-08-28T11:20:00+00:00