Libby Coker's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Aged Care | Questions without Notice | House debates
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?
Milan Olympic Winter Games, Sport | Constituency Statements | House debates
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...
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. As Jakara takes to the slopes once again, chasing a second Olympic gold medal, she does so with the support of her hometown of Barwon Heads and with the entire nation behind her.I know communities right across my electorate will be watching with pride, and I encourage all Australians to get behind Jakara and every member of the Olympic team as they represent us on the world stage. Good luck to all our athletes. We're cheering you on.
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
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...
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, investment and research commercialisation as Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie Group and a former member of the university research commercialisation expert panel. They were asked to examine seven priority areas: Australia's current and future knowledge and skills needs; access and opportunity; investment and affordability; governance, accountability and community connection; links between vocational education and higher education; the quality and sustainability of providers; and the role of new knowledge, innovation and research in building national capacity. The final report was released last year, and its message was clear: more jobs will require high levels of skills. Right now, data shows 60 per cent of Australians working today hold a certificate, diploma or degree, but by 2050 the figure will need to rise to around 80 per cent. That's a substantial shift. It means more people at TAFE, more people at university and more Australians moving between the two over their working lives. The accord also identified two major barriers standing in the way of that ambition. The first is the divide between vocational education and higher education, which too often makes pathways complicated and inflexible. The second is the invisible barrier that prevents too many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, outer suburbs and regional communities from getting to university at all. Today, 69 per cent of young Australians from high-socioeconomic families hold a university degree, but only 19 per cent from very poor families do. That gap exists across vocational education as well: 87 per cent of young people from wealthy families hold a TAFE qualification or university degree while only 59 per cent from poorer families do. That means more than 40 per cent of Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds are missing out on the qualifications that will increasingly be required in the decades ahead. We must change this. In my electorate of Corangamite, I will work with Deakin University and the Gordon TAFE to help implement these reforms and ensure better outcomes for locals and for students at these two great educational institutions. The accord's recommendations will make a difference to people in my region. It should be noted that our government has already acted on the accord's interim recommendations while implementing the final report. In last year's budget, we adopted 31 of the 47 recommendations in full or in part. We increased funding for bridging courses that help students prepare for university study. These courses act as a bridge between school and higher education, and they do make a difference for many students. Over the next decade, the government will invest an additional $1 billion so that tens of thousands of Australians can undertake them free of charge. We introduced paid prac to support teachers, nurses and midwifery and social-work students while they complete compulsory placements. It is means tested and targeted at those who need help most. More than 67,000 students have applied. More than 80 per cent of those applications have been processed, and more than 80 per cent have been approved. We've expanded medical Commonwealth supported places to address doctor shortages. Over the past three years, more than 350 new commencing places have been announced. Eight new medical schools are being established. When fully rolled out, this will support around 1,790 additional medical students each year. We abolished the unfair 50 per cent pass rule that disproportionately affected Indigenous students, students from low-income families and those from regional communities. We reformed student services and amenities fees so at least 40 per cent is directed to student led organisations. We introduced a demand driven system for Indigenous students nationwide so that wherever they live, if they achieve the marks, they get the place. That change is already delivering results. Indigenous commencements rose by five per cent last year and by a further three per cent this year. Over the next decade, that number is expected to double. We're also working with state governments to deliver full funding for public schools—something I'm so passionate about, as a teacher who has worked in public schools—because a successful tertiary education is built on successful primary and secondary education. We established a National Student Ombudsman and legislated a national code to prevent and respond to gender based violence. We created an expert council on university governance and are strengthening transparency around remuneration, council decisions, consultants and conflicts of interest. We've taken decisive action on student debt. Indexation was capped at the lower of the CPI and the WPI, wiping $3 billion from balances. A further $16 billion is being removed through a 20 per cent reduction for borrowers. That is the largest student debt cut in Australia's history. We promised it, Australians voted for it, and it is being delivered. We reformed repayments so graduates only repay on income above the threshold rather than on their full wage. For someone earning $70,000 a year, that means around $1,300 less in repayments annually. This is real cost-of-living relief. It is also another recommendation of the accord. If Australia is to reach the 80 per cent participation target, more university places are required. That expansion begins next year: 9,500 additional commencing places will be allocated this year—in 2026—16,000 more will follow in 2027, another 16,000 in 2028, another 16,000 in 2029, and 19,000 more in 2030. Over the next decade, that equates to around 200,000 additional commencing places. It will lift the number of domestic students in Australian universities by around 27 per cent. Those places must be properly funded, and that is where the Australian Tertiary Education Commission comes in. Over the next 12 months, two major funding reforms will be legislated. The first is demand driven equity. Universities will no longer face caps for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. If a student meets entry requirements, they will be able to enrol. The second is needs based funding. Extra resources will flow to support students from low-income families, from regional areas and from underrepresented groups. The money will follow the student. The most disadvantaged students a university educates, the more support it will receive. These reforms commence in January. It will be the ATEC's role to steer and embed them. This bill establishes that body. It recognises that reform on this scale requires stewardship beyond a single minister or electoral cycle. The ATEC will be independent. It will report to ministers through a statement of expectations. It will publish work plans and research, and it will advise government. It will be reviewed after two years and, again, at five years, with those reviews tabled in parliament. Those reviews will be essential to refine the ATEC with input from universities and other stakeholders. The ATEC will be led by three commissioners, including a full-time chief commissioner and a full-time First Nations commissioner. The commission will negotiate mission based compacts with universities. It will assume responsibility for standards advice. It will publish an annual state of the tertiary education system report, and it will help ensure vocational and higher education systems work together as one coherent system. This bill continues a long and proud tradition of reform, which began with the Curtin government and was strengthened under the Menzies government. Both sides of politics recognised then, as we do now, that education is nation-building. This legislation builds new foundations for the decades ahead. It expands opportunity, it strengthens skills, and it ensures the system—importantly—remains fair, accessible and sustainable. For these reasons, I commend the bill to the House.
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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...
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 paramount. The legislation also extends the Professional Services Review Scheme to designated nurse practitioners and prescribers, providing the same peer review oversight that applies to other PBS prescribers and safeguarding the integrity of the system. These safeguards matter. They demonstrate that the government is expanding access and. importantly, maintaining the high standards Australians rightly expect. This is reform done properly. This bill also sits within the Albanese government's broader effort to rebuild Medicare after a decade of neglect. This government has responded with the largest investment in Medicare in its history. We have tripled the bulk-billing incentive for concession cardholders and children. We've expanded Medicare urgent care clinics to take pressure off hospitals and provide walk in care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. In my electorate, that includes the Torquay Medical Urgent Care Clinic, which is already making a real difference for families across the Surf Coast and the rapidly-growing township of Armstrong Creek. Like the Belmont urgent care clinic in Geelong, the Torquay service is giving people confidence that they can get seven-day-a-week bulk-billed care close to home. They are easing pressure on the Geelong University Hospital emergency department and they're ensuring that local health workers can deliver care in the right setting at the right time. We have invested in general practice, headspaces, aged care, women's health, mental health support and primary care infrastructure, and we're investing directly in our GP workforce. The Albanese government is investing $14.5 million to deliver an additional 306 new GP training places in 2026 through the Australian General Practice Training Program. This investment will bring the total number of doctors starting GP training to around 2,100, a 14 per cent increase on 2025, something we should be proud of. With the Albanese government's continued investment, more doctors have joined the Australian health system in the last three years than in any time in the past decade. Doctor registrations jumped more than 30 per cent in 2024-25 compared to 2021-22. No health system can function without the people who staff it, and no amount of bricks and mortar can substitute for a well-supported workforce. The future of primary care is team based. It is multidisciplinary. It recognises that doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals all have an essential role to play, and this bill reflects that reality and builds on it. Designated registered nurse prescribing does not undermine general practitioners. It supports them. It ensures straightforward cases are dealt with efficiently, freeing doctors up to focus on complex and chronic conditions. It strengthens continuity of care and it helps practices operate more sustainably in a tight labour market. In community clinics, aged care and disability services, the ability for trained nurses to prescribe PBS medicines will mean fewer delays and better outcomes for patients, which is what we all want. In community clinics, aged-care and disability services, the ability for trained nurses to prescribe PBS medicines will mean fewer delays and better outcomes for patients which is what we all want. That is good policy. The benefits of this reform will be felt most strongly in regional and fast-growing communities like the one I represent. In places such as Armstrong Creek, Torquay and across the Bellarine, population growth continues to drive demand for local health services. Residents regularly tell me how much they value being able to access high quality care close to home, particularly after hours or on weekends. Workforce reforms are not an abstract thing for these communities. It's about making local clinics stronger and more accessible. It's about ensuring emergency departments are reserved for the most serious cases, and it's about supporting older residents and people with disability to stay healthy in their own communities. This bill also complements the government's work to make medicines cheaper and more accessible to Australian families. More than 610,000 Australian women have already saved money since essential women's health medications were listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme last year. New contraceptive pills, the contraceptive vaginal ring, three new hormone therapies for menopause and medicine for endometriosis were among the treatments made available at subsidised PBS prices for the very first time. Women suffering from endometriosis have the greatest individual benefit. More than 6,000 women accessed endometriosis treatments at PBS prices, saving over $4 million in total, more than $668 each on average. That is an important cost-of-living measure. Latest data shows that in the nine months to 30 November, women filled out more than 1.7 million prescriptions for these medicines and saved nearly $62 million. Around 340,000 women obtained menopause hormone therapies through more than 1.25 million scripts saving almost $38.3 million compared to previous prices, and more than 275 women accessed newly listed oral contraceptives, with total savings of almost $19.5 million and more choice. Savings have increased further as our government reduced the maximum out-of-pocket cost for PBS medicines from $31.60 to $25 while keeping the concessional co-payment at $7.70. These listings are part of the Albanese government's landmark $792.9 million women's health package in the 2025-26 budget. That package also delivered new Medicare benefit scheme items for menopause and perimenopause health assessments, commencing on 1 July 2025. In the first five months alone, more than 61,000 women benefited from these new services. As Minister Butler has said: All Australian women deserve to have their health issues taken seriously and given the priority they deserve. What welcome news! Our government is doing exactly that, with a focus on giving women more choice, lower costs and better access to services and treatments. Many women in my electorate are thrilled with these changes. They tell me about it regularly. They can talk about contraception, and they are so pleased with the savings they are making. They told us they were being left thousands of dollars out of pocket for basic contraceptive scripts and could not access support for menopause for endometriosis. So we have acted, and women are now saving hundreds of dollars on the medicines they need. These results show that record investment in women's health is working, and, from 1 January, all Australians are now saving even more with $25 PBS scripts. These reforms are making a real difference to household budgets and everyday lives. This bill builds on this philosophy. It's about lowering barriers and improving accessibility to health services. It's about making the system work better for patients, and it's about ensuring care is delivered where people live. This legislation sits alongside the government's broader work to strengthen Australia's health and disability systems. Last week, National Cabinet reached a landmark agreement to deliver record funding for state and territory hospitals and to secure the long-term future of the NDIS. These reforms ensure Australians can rely on world-class public health care and disability supports while keeping those systems sustainable for future generations. The Commonwealth has committed an additional $25 billion for public hospitals—three times more than under the previous five-year agreement. Commonwealth funding will reach $219.6 billion between 2026-27 and 2030-31. That includes $24.4 billion through base funding and more than $600 million in targeted investment. The Albanese government is backing in Medicare and our public hospitals, and this bill forms part of that wider commitment to strengthen our health system. For communities like mine, that means stronger regional services and better connected care. It means urgent care clinics working alongside hospitals, it means general practices supported by nurses and able to provide greater access for people to get the health support they need, and it means families having confidence in the future of our health and disability systems. Taken together, this bill and the government's wider agenda reveal a clear and determined focus. We are strengthening Medicare. We are investing in the workforce. We are expanding access to health services in the community, and we're doing so responsibly, safely and with patients at the centre. This is not about grandstanding; it is about fixing everyday problems that are barriers to health and wellbeing, it is about reducing waiting times, it is about improving affordability and it is about securing the system for decades to come. This bill is sensible and necessary. It empowers highly trained nurses, it improves access to PBS medicines, it relieves pressure across the system and it strengthens Medicare for the future. It reflects this government's commitment to evidence based policy and patient centred care. For these reasons, I commend the bill to the House and urge all members to support its passage.
Victoria: Natural Disasters | Constituency Statements | House debates
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...
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 to have their bushfire plan ready and to pack emergency and evacuation kits. Our local fire and emergency agencies are the perfect places to find out exactly how to stay safe this season. While these events can be inevitable, how we plan, prepare and support each other is vital to building resilience and improving our recovery outcomes.
Health Care, Corangamite Electorate: Infrastructure, Valedictory | Adjournment | House debates
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...
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, library and shopping centre, and it will be easily accessible via public transport with bus stops right there, next door. We know how important headspace is for young people right across the nation. Since coming to government in 2022, we've put a real focus on supporting headspace to make sure young people get the supports they need to thrive and live fulfilling lives. We know that nearly half of young Australians are experiencing high levels of psychological distress, and that's why we're backing headspace. It's also part of the reason why we're supporting sports clubs right across my electorate to build the infrastructure they need so that more young people, particularly women, can get involved in local sport. We know sport brings people together. It offers an opportunity for people, young and old, to rally around each other, to get through hard times and to have fun. But for that to work, sports clubs need infrastructure that's inclusive. This summer we're kicking off works on female-friendly upgrades to Spring Creek Recreational Reserve in Torquay with better changerooms so the footy and cricket clubs can better embrace the hundreds of young women keen to get involved in traditionally male sports. Our government has committed to delivering this upgrade. We've put in $700,000 to make this happen, and we're delivering. We are also doing some work with our communities to achieve some great things, like strengthening services to support the health and wellbeing of Australians. Closely linked to that is building the infrastructure that people need to bring them together. We're also giving Australians, young and old, the opportunity to thrive, succeed and lead safe and fulfilling lives with changes to our aged care system. To my communities across the Surf Coast Bellarine and Geelong region: thank you for your support this year. Stay safe and enjoy the summer. Remember to thank our surf lifesavers and our emergency service workers and ensure that, when you go into one of our magnificent businesses, you actually treat staff respectfully, particularly over the busy season ahead. To all those who are working when the rest of us are enjoying time with family: I wish you well. Have a great festive season. To my staff and my fellow MPs across the chamber: I wish you all the very best and a safe and happy time. I hope everyone gets the break that we need.
Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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...
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 Barwon Heads Hotel, the Dina, the Grovedale Hotel, the Portarlington hotel, the Drysdale Hotel, Sporties in Leopold, the Esplanade Hotel in Queenscliff and so many more. We have brewers, like Bells Beach Brewing, Barwon Heads Brewing, Blackman's Brewing and Little Creatures, and our changes in this bill back them in. Our pause to the excise applies specifically to draught beer served from kegs between eight and 48 litres—the containers used every day in pubs, clubs and bars—and to larger kegs over 48 litres used in bigger hospitality venues. It does not apply to bottled or canned beer, spirits or other excisable beverages, because this is a policy targeted squarely at supporting hospitality venues. Around 10,000 venues across Australia will benefit directly from this decision, and roughly 75 per cent of those venues are small, family run businesses. These are venues that employ local people, donate raffle prizes to the bowls club, lend their function rooms when the SES need space after a storm or put on a community night when the town has had a tough season. For operators of small venues across the nation, we know the pandemic hit hospitality hard—so have supply chain disruptions and so has inflation. Publicans, managers, brewers and hospitality workers have carried a heavy load through a turbulent period. Our two-year excise freeze is not a silver bullet, but it is real relief. It stabilises one of their major cost pressures. It keeps the tax component of a pint steady for two years. It reduces pressure on venues to raise prices for their customers, many of whom are feeling cost-of-living pressures themselves, and it gives publicans predictable operating conditions at a time when they need certainty. This support does not stop at the pub door. When a local venue can stay open and stay strong, the whole supply chain benefits: the brewers who rely on keg sales to stay viable benefit, the farmers growing barley and hops benefit, transport operators moving goods up and down the coast benefit, and equipment suppliers, refrigeration companies, event organisers and musicians all benefit too. Across the hospitality and brewing sectors, around 160,000 Australians rely on these venues staying open and profitable. This pause helps keep their jobs more secure. Small and independent brewers, including so many proudly Australian, community minded, innovative producers, rely heavily on keg sales to keep their businesses afloat. For them, indexation is not an abstract policy issue; it directly affects whether they can make payroll, plan production runs, invest in new equipment and keep their team employed. Pausing indexation for two years will help brewers manage costs, stabilise cashflow and continue to invest in their local communities and local economies. It will also ensure these small and independent brewers can continue to compete fairly against large multinational producers. Fair competition matters. It protects diversity and innovation in the Australian beer market. It ensures consumers have real choice, and it keeps our hospitality sector vibrant, diverse and reflective of local tastes and local talent. This measure is also the product of extensive consultation. The Albanese Labor government has listened carefully to publicans, brewers and small-business groups right across the country. We've heard from venue owners and brewers trying to balance growth and unpredictable input costs. We've heard from operators of small hospitality businesses who simply wanted some breathing space, not a hand-out but a fair go and a fair chance to plan ahead. This measure reflects that feedback. It is targeted where it needs to be. It is temporary by design, and it is one part of a broader support package for small business across Australia. Alongside this excise pause, the Albanese Labor government is delivering a comprehensive suite of support for small business, the backbone of our economy and the heart of so many communities. We have extended the instant asset write-off so small operators can invest in the equipment they need without facing cashflow barriers. We're supporting small businesses to adapt and adopt digital tools, streamline administration and modernise their operations, saving time and reducing costs. We're helping businesses lower their energy bills through targeted support and clean energy investments. I'd like to make the point that this broader package recognises that small businesses do not operate in isolation. They need coordinated support across tax, energy, skills, digital infrastructure and cost-of-living pressures. Within this wider framework of support sits our draught beer excise pause. This measure is practical, and it is also fiscally responsible. Indexation will resume after two years, ensuring the integrity of the broader alcohol excise framework is maintained. So it's a temporary adjustment designed to help small venues through a challenging period without compromising the long-term sustainability of the budget. That's what responsible economic management looks like. The importance of this measure is especially visible in regional communities like mine. In many regional towns, the local pub is where loneliness is eased, where a newcomer to town meets their first neighbour, where families gather after Saturday sport and where stories are passed down across generations. It's where people hold charity nights when the community needs to rally around someone. It is where people go after a funeral to share memories and support each other. It is where local bands start out and where travellers stop in and keep regional tourism strong. These venues are cultural institutions. They are part of our national identity. Keeping their doors open matters. This government understands community life because it is connected to it. We understand the pressures that publicans, club managers and hospitality staff are facing. We know what these venues mean to local people, and we are acting decisively to support them. This support is also aligned with our broader cost-of-living agenda. From 1 July, we have delivered practical measures that help make everyday life easier. We have increased the national minimum wage and award wages by 3.5 per cent. We've lifted the super guarantee to 12 per cent. We have expanded Paid Parental Leave to 24 weeks. and it will be 26 the year after next. We have ensured superannuation is paid on all government paid parental leave. We have delivered energy bill relief, with another $150 to come off before the end of the year. We have made home batteries cheaper for households. We have cut student loan debt by 20 per cent for around three million Australians. We have delivered paid practical placements for nursing, midwifery, teaching and social work students. We delivered another instalment of the aged-care wage rise in October, following the first increase earlier this year. And, through 2025, more responsible measures will continue to roll out, including tax cuts for every taxpayer, 50 more Medicare urgent care clinics, including one in my electorate in Torquay, and expanded bulk-billing. Inflation is rising overseas, including in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. It remains stubbornly high in many parts of Europe. Australia, by contrast, has seen inflation fall because of disciplined economic management. We have avoided the recession and the job losses seen in many comparable economies. We have kept employment strong through uncertain global conditions. This is what steady, responsible government looks like—delivering relief for businesses, workers and consumers. This is a modest measure with a great impact. It is temporary, targeted and responsible. It is shaped by industry consultation. It supports fair competition. It protects diversity and choice in our beer and hospitality industries. It strengthens the community institutions that matter to people's lives. At its core, this is not about taxation formulas or economic modelling. It is about people. It is about the workers pulling beers on a Friday night. It is about the apprentices learning how to run a venue. It is about the families who pour their savings, their time and their heart into running a small pub. It is about the brewers, crafting something uniquely Australian. It is about the tourists who stop in and keep small towns strong. It is about the locals who find connection, friendship and belonging at their local. It is about keeping the heart of community life beating. This is the Albanese government backing in small business, backing in workers, backing in regional communities. This is a good, steady, responsible government in action—delivering for small venues and the Australians who rely on them every day. Thank you.
Environment Bills | Statements by Members | House debates
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...
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.
Ethnic Religious Minorities | Private Members' Business | House debates
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)...
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 condemned the Taliban's treatment of minorities, particularly the Hazara community, and of women and girls, including at the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution put at the United Nations called on Afghanistan to uphold human rights, adhere to international law and take decisive action against terrorism. The Albanese Labor government is taking strong and coordinated action to hold the Taliban to account for its abuses of the human rights of Afghan people, especially the targeting of minority groups and the sustained and systematic exclusion of women from public life. We know—the Albanese Labor government knows—just how important it is for women to hold public office, to make decisions in government about the matters that affect them. This is not occurring in Afghanistan under the Taliban. It's part of the reason why Australia, alongside Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, is holding Afghanistan to account under international law for violations of the human rights of women and girls as enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. To our Hazara communities and to those here today, my message is simple: your stories matter, your safety matters and you deserve to live in peace, dignity and opportunity. Despite the Taliban's attempts to interfere with humanitarian assistance, our UN partners continue to reach those in need, including Hazara communities. We're working closely with international partners to ensure our support remains principled, effective and grounded in human rights. The department is currently considering what more we can do to strengthen our response and demonstrate our commitment to the people in Afghanistan who face persecution and violence. I can share that public consultations have just concluded on a legislative framework that will allow us to impose targeted sanctions and travel bans in relation to those who are responsible for the oppression of minority groups, women and girls, and the people of Afghanistan. In closing, this work is about standing up for basic human dignity; standing up for women, who deserve freedom of equality and who deserve to live a life without fear; and standing with the families in the gallery today. We will support you, we will continue to hold the Taliban to account and we will continue to stand up for those who face persecution wherever they are.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
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...
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 barrier for people in remote areas, the committee also recommends greater flexibility in funding and support for travel under the NDIS to these communities. The report also calls for continued investment in training and for greater use of First Nations community controlled organisations as preferred providers in delivering NDIS supports. The NDIA continues to change lives for the better, but this report shows there is still work to do to make sure it delivers fairly and consistently for every Australian, no matter where they live. I know the government recognises this, and the NDIS ministers are acting. On behalf of the committee, I again thank everyone who contributed to this inquiry—participants, families, advocates, providers and community organisations. Your experience, your insights and your honesty have helped shape this report and its recommendations. I also thank committee members from the last parliament who contributed to this report. The committee commends the report to the House in the hope it will support the government's ongoing improvements to the NDIS so that it truly works for every Australian, wherever they call home.
Workplace Relations | Questions without Notice | House debates
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?
Raise Our Voice in Parliament | Constituency Statements | House debates
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...
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, can I thank every young person who made a contribution to Raise Our Voice. To my electorate and across the country, your voice matters. Our government hears you. Together we can build a better future where every Australian has a safe place to call home.
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
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,...
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 certainty while delivering better protections. These standards are not aspirational. They will be clear rules grounded in science and law. Most importantly, they cannot be weakened over time. The bill makes this crystal clear. The reforms also include a new definition of 'unacceptable impact' specific to each protected matter. This will set clear and upfront criteria for impacts that cannot be approved, and provide a safeguard against impacts that cause the irreversible loss of Australia's biodiversity and heritage. The proposed reforms will clearly define what types of environmental harm must be avoided and cannot be offset. The bills also introduce protection statements for threatened species, providing clarity for decision-makers and proponents. Moreover, the bills strengthen compliance and enforcement powers, making it clear that serious breaches will no longer be treated as just the cost of doing business. Importantly, they introduce the principle of net gain for environmental offsets. The reality is, the current offset regime doesn't work. It does not work for our environment and it facilitates irresponsible development. The Albanese government recognises this, and through these bills we're charting a different course. These bills introduce a new net gain framework which means projects are required to not only avoid and minimise impacts but also actively contribute to the improvement of our environment. The principle of net gain will ensure projects leave the environment in a better state than they found it. This can be achieved through direct offsets such as replanting degraded habitats, restoring wetlands or funding species-recovery programs. It can also be achieved through contributions to a central restoration fund which can then be strategically deployed to areas of greatest ecological benefit. Restoration contributions can be pooled strategically to achieve maximum environmental benefit, giving nature the chance to recover, regenerate and become more resilient. These bills are about reversing decades of decline, and they're also about ensuring that when a species is listed as threatened, or when a habitat is identified as endangered, the law is equipped to protect it effectively. They are about ensuring that when development occurs it does so responsibly, and in a way that genuinely contributes to restoring the environment. I know how important this is for my communities in Corangamite. They are passionate. They care deeply about improving our unique environments across the Bellarine and Surf Coast. To the Landcare volunteers whom I have worked with over many years, to the schoolchildren who ask me questions about the future of our planet, and to the surfers I met this morning who care so deeply about our ocean—this bill is for you. I know just how much they care, and they want our laws to work better for the environment and for future generations. They want environmental laws to work better to achieve responsible development and protection of flora and fauna. The bills also introduce bioregional planning, mapping conservation zones and development zones in advance so that proposed projects can be assessed against bioregional plans and, where appropriate, can proceed while ensuring high-value areas are robustly protected. Bioregional planning will be a game changer. It will enable a coordinated, strategic approach across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring environmental gains contribute to a healthier, more connected landscape over the longer term. That is the essence of the first pillar of this reform: stronger environmental protection and restoration. The second pillar relates to greater robust decision-making to tackle duplication and delays. The bills will streamline assessment pathways, reducing statutory timeframes for compliant proposals by up to 20 days. A new national interest pathway will also be created, allowing projects that are critical to Australia's future to proceed, under strict transparency rules, while still maintaining high environmental standards. The reforms also modernise reconsideration provisions, setting clear timeframes and improving certainty for business, while maintaining environmental safeguards. The third pillar focuses on greater accountability and transparency in environmental decision-making. To achieve this, the Albanese government is establishing the National Environmental Protection Agency, Australia's first national, and formidable, independent environmental regulator. The EPA will oversee compliance; enforce the law; hold serious offenders to account; provide guidance and education to business; and monitor, audit and report, giving communities confidence that the law is being applied, enforced and taken seriously. Alongside the EPA, Environment Information Australia will consolidate environmental data into a single authoritative source. For too long, environmental information in this country has been fragmented, inconsistent and hard to access. EIA will collect, consolidate and publish data about the state of our environment, improving decision-making for government and business. It will make it easier to identify emerging threats to our natural world. The reforms also enshrine First Nations engagement in the system, ensuring that decisions affecting land, water and heritage are informed by those who have cared for these places for generations. First Nations perspectives will guide the protection of country, and their expertise will be recognised in decision-making processes, from species conservation to bioregional planning. These bills will deliver tangible and lasting benefits. They will help protect threatened species, such as the eastern curlew, the Leadbeater's possum and the hooded plover. They will safeguard forests, rivers, wetlands and grasslands. They will ensure scope 1 and scope 2 emissions are reported by proponents. The safeguard mechanism will provide the necessary guardrails to achieve emissions reduction targets for our biggest emitters. These are the environmental protection laws Australians have been waiting for, and they continue a proud Labor tradition. Labor has always acted to protect our environment. We have delivered landmark reforms throughout our history. Programs such as Landcare have empowered communities to restore and care for their local landscapes, from the smallest waterways to the largest forests, engaging volunteers, schools and local groups in the hands-on work of regeneration. It was Labor that saved the Franklin River from destruction. Labor protected Kakadu, the Daintree and countless other sites of ecological, cultural and historic significance. We have built the largest network of marine parks in the world. We have championed initiatives that address the urgent threats of biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and the broader impacts of environmental change. We have done this while balancing the needs of communities and the economy. This bill is the next step in that legacy. So I say to the Greens and the opposition: will you stand in the way? At the last election, the people cast their vote, and the message was clear. They want a system that works for the environment, for communities and for business. They want a national EPA that has teeth. Under these laws, serious environmental harm will carry serious consequences, and those who profit from destruction will be held to account. These bills are not just about law reform. They are about restoring trust in the laws that protect our environment. They balance protection with progress, and they are built on many years of consultation. In closing, I'd like to recognise our Minister for the Environment and Water, and the former minister, the member for Sydney, for all the work they have done to deliver these groundbreaking reforms. It's now vital that these bills pass and that, together, we leave a legacy that protects what we all hold dear: our nation's amazing coastlines, rivers, bushland and cultural heritage. I commend these bills to the House. (Quorum formed)
Superannuation | Statements by Members | House debates
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...
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.
Childhood Heart Disease, Health Festival of Geelong | Adjournment | House debates
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....
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, through the heartbreak, his parents, Angie and Daniel, found support from HeartKids: food and fuel vouchers during hospital stays, ongoing counselling and a community to help navigate life after loss. Their courage in sharing Xavier's story ensures his memory lives on and helps other families walking the same journey. The federal government recognises the critical importance of supporting families facing childhood heart disease. The Australian National Standards of Care for Childhood-onset Heart Disease, released this year, are the culmination of over a decade of advocacy from HeartKids, patients, families, carers and healthcare providers. The federal government's investment in making these standards a reality has been vital, but there's always much more to be done. This is the kind of work that makes a real difference in people's lives, and it aligns with our broader focus on health in the community. Another local event on the weekend was the Health Festival of Geelong, an event celebrating health, wellness and preventive care, including initiatives like our government's Medicare urgent care clinics. I'm so proud that we have one of these clinics in Belmont and we're just around the corner from delivering another in Torquay. We're also rolling out Medicare mental ill health prevention hubs, with one set for Torquay, and of course our changes to bulk-billing will come in from 1 November. Together, these initiatives show what's possible when Australians have a government that puts health care front and centre. Events like the HeartKids walk and the Health Festival of Geelong show what's possible when communities, healthcare providers and governments work together. I'd like to take a brief moment to congratulate the organisers from the health festival, including Dr Jenny Huang from Banksia Medical Centre in Torquay. Well done on such a successful event. Supporting organisations like HeartKids, investing in standards of care and ensuring families have access to the services they need is so important. So I urge all Australians to get involved—to walk, to support, to raise awareness—because no family should face childhood heart disease alone.
Women's Health | Questions without Notice | House debates
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?
WorldSkills Australia | Statements by Members | House debates
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...
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.
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
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...
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 hundreds of dollars off their power bills. These are not lines in a budget paper; they are lives being made easier. This budget also looks forward. It invests in the industries that will power our future—clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defence capability and skills. It is a plan to make more things here, to back Australian ingenuity and to create secure, well-paid jobs in our regions. For Corangamite, that means opportunity—opportunity in renewable energy projects on the Surf Coast, opportunity in advanced manufacturing in Geelong, opportunity in construction, in care, in teaching and in all the sectors crying out for skilled workers. It also means investment in the infrastructure that keeps our community strong—local roads, rail connections and community facilities that bring people together. From Armstrong Creek to Torquay, from Waurn Ponds to Ocean Grove and from Leopold to Clifton Springs in my electorate, communities are growing, and they need the infrastructure to match. This budget makes sure that growth in regional communities like mine is recognised and is supported in a sustainable and responsible way that looks to the future. This budget delivers the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation—$8.5 billion to lift bulk-billing, build our health workforce and expand access to urgent care. It funds another 50 Medicare urgent care clinics, building on the 87 already open. One of these clinics will be in my electorate of Corangamite in Torquay. It has been so much welcomed, and I look forward to standing with my community when the doors open. Just last week, I'm proud to say the tender process kicked off for the provider to be selected for the clinic. The Torquay urgent care clinic will expand access to health care on the Surf Coast, ensuring locals can get urgent care close to home without long wait times in emergency. I'm proud that Torquay on the Surf Coast will soon get a mental health prevention hub. This budget also invests in scholarships for nurses and midwives, supporting the next generation of health professionals in our region. Importantly, it delivers record investments in women's health, from contraception access to endometriosis clinics and to menopause support. For too long, women's health was underfunded, undervalued and too often ignored. This budget says clearly that women's health matters. This is a budget designed to keep the pressure off families today while building opportunity for tomorrow. The No. 1 concern for Australians right now is the cost of living. That is why this budget delivers responsible, targeted relief. Tax cuts are front and centre. Every Australian taxpayer will receive a tax cut this year and next. For the average earner, that means an extra $2,548 in their pocket, around $50 a week extra. For more than one million low-income Australians, we are also raising the Medicare levy threshold to provide further relief. Energy rebates will continue, with $1.8 billion more invested in this budget. Every household and one million small businesses will benefit, cutting another $150 from bills this year. The Albanese government is ensuring energy companies pass on cheaper deals and discounts so families get the value they deserve. After a decade of stagnation, real wages have now risen for five consecutive quarters. This is good news. It is a core Labor principle that workers share in our nation's prosperity, and what better way to do this than through wages that add to our productivity? This budget funds $2.6 billion in pay rises for aged-care nurses, supports higher wages for early childhood educators and reforms non-compete clauses to help lift wages across the economy. Wage growth is about whether a worker can pay the bills, save for a home or buy a child new school shoes. We're cracking down on supermarket power, scams and unfair surcharges. We're making the Food and Grocery Code mandatory, boosting penalties and giving more teeth to the competition watchdog. On education and skills, this budget delivers real reform. We are cutting 20 per cent off all student loan debts, raising the minimum repayment threshold and reducing repayment rates. Together with earlier reforms, this will wipe out $19 billion in debt for more than three million Australians. That is good news. That matters for the young teacher in Geelong West, the apprentice electrician in Armstrong Creek and the nursing student in Waurn Ponds. It means that they graduate with less debt and more freedom to build their future. Medications will also be cheaper under Labor's PBS, with the maximum price of a PBS script dropping from $31.60 to $25. For pensioners and concession card holders, the cost will remain at just $7.70. We are listing more life-saving medicines on the PBS, some of which would otherwise cost patients hundreds of thousands of dollars. We will provide relief today. We also want to invest in our future. Our $33 billion housing plan will build 1.2 million homes by 2030. We are expanding Help to Buy, increasing incentives for apprentices in construction, cracking down on foreign ownership when it comes to the purchase of established homes and ensuring new developments are connected to the infrastructure they need. This is about giving young families across the Surf Coast, the Bellarine and Geelong, in my electorate alone, the chance to stay in their communities where they grew up, to build their futures and to contribute to local economies. Early education will be made more accessible through a new three-day guarantee, ensuring every family can access at least three days of subsidised early learning. We're investing $5 billion to expand access to child care and lift wages for early educators. Government schools will be fully and fairly funded, finally meeting the Gonski standard after almost 15 years. As a former teacher in government schools, I can say how proud I am that we have achieved this, and I'd like to thank the Minister for Education for his work in making this happen. Across the next decade, the Commonwealth will also invest $16.5 billion, with states and territories also investing, to better support government schools. Thank you to the states, and let's get on with that. Free TAFE will be made permanent, with 100,000 places locked in each year from 2027. New university reforms will ensure that graduates with less debt have more opportunity. This budget invests more than $3 billion in green metals, clean energy and critical minerals because Labor is committed to emissions reduction and tackling climate change head-on. It also reinvests in the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. This is a product of Labor, and it is serving a very important purpose—funding new innovation and backing industries that will make Australia indispensable in the net zero global economy. We're abolishing non-compete clauses for most workers, introducing national licensing for electricians and rewarding states that implement pro-competition reforms. The changes will help boost GDP, reduce inflation and lift wages across the economy. These reforms are in Labor's DNA. We acknowledge the role unions play in advocating for change. This is what building for the future looks like—a stronger Medicare, more homes for more people to have a roof over their head, a better education and hope for the future, and a new generation of industries to power our prosperity. Inflation is coming down. Real wages are rising. Unemployment remains low. These outcomes have not been easy; they have required responsible choices and careful economic management. I would like to take a moment to recognise and thank our treasurer, the member for Rankin, who has driven economic reform and outcomes and passed sound decision-making policies and responsible economic management. Most importantly, these decisions reflect the resilience and determination that we have in partnership with the people of Australia. We know too many families are still doing it tough. This is why our government is delivering real help with the cost of living right now, while at the same time laying down the foundations for a stronger, fairer and more productive economy in the years ahead. This is a responsible budget. It helps with the cost of living today. It invests in health, housing, education and our environment. It strengthens the economy for tomorrow. It does all of this while repairing the budget itself. Since coming into government, we have delivered the first back-to-back surpluses in nearly two decades. Gross debt is $177 billion lower than forecast. We have found $94 billion in savings—no small amount—banked most of the revenue upgrades and ensured payments are growing at less than half the rate of our predecessors. That is what responsible management looks like. Most importantly, this budget is about responsible nation building. It is about ensuring Australians not only survive the turbulence of today but thrive in the opportunities of tomorrow. Australia is turning the corner. This budget helps us in the fight against inflation, it helps rebuild living standards, and it helps maximise our national advantages in a changing world. It is a budget rooted in responsibility and driven by optimism—optimism that working Australians can see their wages grow; optimism that families can afford the essentials; optimism that every child, no matter where they are born, has access to education and opportunity; and optimism that, in a world of uncertainty, Australia will be a stronger, fairer and more secure place. This is our plan to build a stronger economy, a fairer society and a future every Australian can be proud of. This is our government's approach—to invest in people, to invest in communities and to invest in the future where we are lifting living standards. This budget is a statement of values—that we value hard work, that we nurture aspiration, that we protect families and that we plan responsibly for a hopeful tomorrow.
National Disability Insurance Scheme | Private Members' Business | House debates
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...
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 are good people doing good work. But many of these providers have raised concerns directly with me about the NDIA's recent annual pricing review, and I acknowledge these concerns. They deserve to be heard. The reality is that some providers have said they want more consultation with the NDIA. After raising these concerns with the NDIA directly, I note the agency has been engaging with providers on the annual pricing review, and I certainly urge the agency to do more consultation with these providers in the lead up to next year's review. Of course, the NDIA is in a difficult position after a decade of the former coalition government's neglect of the scheme, and we know gaps in the scheme have been exploited by some bad providers. They would schedule inefficient travel, stringing out journeys so they could pocket more of a participant's budget, and that is not acceptable. It's bad for people with disability. It's bad for Australians, whose trust in the scheme is already fragile. We need to strengthen trust, and we need to close the gaps. If people lose faith in the scheme, they will lose faith in its future. This is a program that must endure. It is worth fighting for. I recognise that the NDIA is committed to this goal. I also acknowledge that the agency has stated that it seeks to close the gaps as part of this review. The agency has said that no other comparable scheme compensates therapists for travel in the way the NDIS does. Under Veterans' Affairs, an exercise physiologist may get a kilometre allowance, but only where the distance exceeds 10 kilometres and there is no closer provider. Therapists under TAC, Comcare and the Lifetime Support Authority cannot claim for travel at all. By contrast, under the NDIS, providers can still claim up to 50 per cent of the therapy rate for travel time—that's about $90 an hour—and, in remote and very remote areas, providers will still get 40 to 50 per cent loadings. This is a significant support. It recognises the unique challenges of delivering care across our continent, and it ensures the scheme can continue to be fair to participants, to taxpayers and to the workforce who deliver the care. So, I will continue to stand with participants, families and providers to ensure the scheme continues to thrive.
National Skills Week | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
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...
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, location or background that too often keep people out. With $1.5 billion committed to free TAFE and VET places, we are ensuring vocational education is available to Australians at every stage of life. Since free TAFE was introduced, more than 650,000 Australians have enrolled, and 170 courses have already been completed. The impact is enormous, with over 84,000 VET participants aged 45 54—it's interesting that those VET participants are stepping in at an older age—along with 40,000 who are aged over 55. We also know that women comprise 62 per cent of free TAFE enrolments. We are also backing in apprentices. We're making available pre-apprenticeship courses through free TAFE because evidence shows that it boosts completion rates. Our Key Apprenticeship Program in energy and housing has been designed with course completions in mind too—a $10,000 incentive paid in instalments, recognising the importance of cost-of-living support across the whole of an apprenticeship. In its first month alone, the housing stream of this program saw almost 1,300 apprentice sign-ups, with the top three occupations being carpenters, electricians and plumbers—all essential to building the homes Australia needs. We do recognise that this is a monumental task. When the Albanese government was elected in 2022, Australia faced the worst skills shortage in 50 years. So meeting this challenge must be a high priority for our minister. We know that nine out of 10 new jobs will require post-year-12 training, and around half of these will come through a vocational pathway. That's why the Albanese government is committed to transforming the VET sector—restoring it to its rightful place alongside universities as a foundation for rewarding, well-paid employment. It's why we're supporting VET. It's about individuals, about addressing skills shortages and about building a strong, productive and prosperous economy. As part of our work to make this a reality, our government signed the groundbreaking National Skills Agreement with states and territories in 2023. This historic deal unlocks up to $34 billion in joint investment to strengthen and modernise vocational education and training, with TAFE at its centre. As part of this agreement, 12 TAFE Centres of Excellence are being established to deliver the skills our economy urgently needs. These centres are taking shape in areas including housing and construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles and heavy industry. They give Australians the opportunity to gain skills in areas where they can make a real difference to our communities and to our nation. Strong foundation skills—literacy, numeracy, digital capability and the ability to adapt to technologies like AI—are critical to ensuring that everyone can participate fully in work, education and the broader community. In December 2024, in partnership with states and territories, we finalised the National Foundation Skills Strategy 2025-2035. This sets out a vision for adult learners to access quality training that builds confidence, capability and lifelong opportunity. In closing, I'd like to say that my region has always been built on skills—from the workshops in Marshall and Moolap, to the care workers supporting our ageing communities, to the tradies building homes in Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed. These are the people who keep our region strong. These are the people who will continue to make our nation so special. National Skills Week is a reminder that learning never stops, that opportunity must always be available and that respect for every pathway is fundamental to fairness. It is a week to celebrate the people making this possible: our apprentices, trainees, TAFE students and skilled workers. They are not only building their lives; they are building and caring for our communities. The theme of this year's Skills Week, 'Explore ALL the options', captures the spirit of what our government is delivering. Every pathway, every course, every apprenticeship and every TAFE place is an opportunity to build a better life for individuals, families and communities. We're committed to continuing to provide Australians with these pathways and continuing to invest in our VET system, in TAFE Centres of Excellence, in free TAFE and in apprenticeships, so that every Australian has the chance to explore all the options, reach their potential and contribute to a stronger, fairer and more prosperous nation. Skills mean fairness. Skills mean dignity. Skills bring opportunity. That is what this week is all about, that is what our government is delivering and that is what I will continue to fight for on behalf of the people of my electorate of Corangamite. Congratulations to all the staff and students at Gordon TAFE—enjoy this week and go well.