Dai Le's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Australia: Natural Disasters | Private Members' Business | House debates
I rise today to pay tribute to the families and communities who've had their lives devastated by recent floods in Queensland and fires in Victoria. When natural disasters hit, there's very little...
I rise today to pay tribute to the families and communities who've had their lives devastated by recent floods in Queensland and fires in Victoria. When natural disasters hit, there's very little any of us can do to control what happens. For the families affected, I know that words we speak in this House can't offer assurances that life will simply return to normal. These events leave a lasting impact. Many people are still standing in what's left of their homes, looking over their paddocks, where livestock has been lost, or wondering what the next step looks like. For those who've lost loved ones, no words can ease the pain. We can't take away your grief, but we can—and we must—make sure your loss is met with real care, real support and a genuine commitment to recovery. This motion rightly acknowledges the extraordinary contribution of our emergency services personnel, as we've heard already from many members in the House tonight. I want to shine a light on my local SES unit in Fowler, where there are more than 90 active volunteers. They are our neighbours who have given up family time in the middle of the night or stepped away from their workplaces and put their own lives on hold and at risk to help others when it matters most. Under the leadership of Inspector Darren Eurlings, the Fairfield SES unit had an extraordinary year. Their work shows exactly why this motion matters. In March last year, Fairfield SES volunteers were on the ground in Tweed Heads during Tropical Cyclone Alfred, carrying out flood rescues and damage assessments. In April and May, they moved from riverine flooding in Wanaaring to storm-hit communities across the Hunter region and Taree. In August, they were again deployed to northern New South Wales—Gunnedah, Narrabri and Wee Waa—ready for in-water rescues. Closer to home, they responded to more than 340 incidents across the Fairfield local government area. These weren't minor callouts. Many were urgent situations where lives were on the line. I remember constituents reaching out to me during one of the major storms when a huge tree had uprooted and they didn't know what to do. So I called our local SES, who quickly turned up to remove the tree safely, making sure the family was out of danger. What really defines Fairfield SES, though, isn't just the scale of what they do; it's the length of service and commitment of the people who make it work. Nathan Lin, a local high schoolteacher, joined the unit back in June 2003 and has given more than 22 years of continuous service. David Ton first joined in August 1999, served for 15 years, stepped away to raise his young family and then returned seven years ago. Altogether, he's given more than 21 years of service. Jenny To joined in February 2008 and now serves as a trainer and assessor. For 18 years, she's helped prepare others for the front line. She's joined by Frank Seraglio, also with 18 years of continuous service, and Ross Weller, who joined in March 2010 and has given more than 15 years of steady, reliable service. Together, these volunteers represent decades of experience, local knowledge and quiet leadership. They are the backbone of Fairfield SES—passing skills on, setting standards and showing what service really looks like. The Fairfield SES is also a model for the nation when it comes to diversity. In one of the most multicultural areas in the country, communication can be lifesaving. Between them, volunteers speak more than 10 languages, helping people feel understood and supported in moments of real fear. We can't stop the rain from falling or the fires from starting, but we can make sure that, when disaster strikes, no Australian is left to face it alone. The Fairfield SES unit represents the very best of our country—resilience, service and compassion in action. I join the member for Bendigo in thanking every first responder who has worked through this difficult summer, and I especially commend the men and women of the Fairfield SES for everything they do for our community and our nation. I commend the motion to the House.
National Skills Agreement | Private Members' Business | House debates
I rise to speak on the motion brought by the member for Holt. I understand that the government would like to trumpet its success in securing what it calls a landmark agreement and to point to...
I rise to speak on the motion brought by the member for Holt. I understand that the government would like to trumpet its success in securing what it calls a landmark agreement and to point to percentage drops in national skills shortages. But the young people and small businesses of Fowler are experiencing something quite different. We've heard today that the National Skills Agreement supposedly gives Australians easier access to training no matter where they live. But the people in my electorate—one of the most diverse and socioeconomically challenged in the country—beg to differ. Let's look at the one of the blind spots that this motion and the National Skills Agreement ignore. This is not just about providing a classroom to teach the next generation of trainees and apprentices; it's about backing the small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses at the heart of our community so that they can actually employ them. Manufacturing is the lifeblood of Fowler, employing around 12 to 18 per cent of local workers—roughly double the national share of about six per cent. These are not giant government-subsidised corporations. They are small and medium-sized family and migrant owned businesses, in light manufacturing and food production—the places that have given generations of migrants and refugees their very first job. They are the backbone of our local economy. In Fowler, we especially need more trainees and apprentices in manufacturing, construction, care, logistics and the service sector—exactly the industries that keep Western Sydney's economy running every day. The government talks about billions in funding, yet the lion's share is funnelled into institutions like TAFE—which is fine, but our small local businesses are left to fend for themselves. How can a small business in Liverpool or Fairfield take on an apprentice when they are being smashed by rising energy costs, rent, insurance and of course other compliance costs as well? The government might be funding the classroom, but it's failing to support the workshop floor, where the real learning happens, in my community. There's a lot of talk about easing skills shortages, and that should absolutely be a national priority. But you cannot fix a shortage with a revolving door. Nationally, almost half of apprentices do not finish their training. That alone tells us that the current system is not working for our young people or for employers. Our young people are facing a cost-of-living firestorm. When entry-level apprentice wages are so low that a young person can't help their parents pay the rent, the mortgage or the power bill, they walk away. They take casual, low-skilled jobs, just to keep the family afloat. This agreement does nothing practical to deal with that reality on the ground in places like Fowler. We also hear a lot about equal access, but this agreement barely acknowledges the unique realities of south-west Sydney. Many of our residents speak a language other than English at home. They're not sitting on government websites reading media releases about fee-free TAFE. For them, navigating complex application forms, online portals and bureaucratic language can be overwhelming. If outreach is not targeted, multilingual and truly place based, communities like mine will be left behind yet again. Last year, the minister announced $20 million for a new energy skills centre in western Melbourne and $35 million to expand clean energy training, promising that apprentices in clean energy and housing construction could be eligible for up to $10,000 in support. I welcome that investment, but I have to ask: What about apprentices who want to build a future in other sectors like local manufacturing, food production, logistics or care work, which employ so many people in Fowler? What about those in south-west Sydney for whom travelling to those specialist hubs is simply not realistic or affordable? Investment in one sector cannot come at the expense of others, and it cannot ignore where people actually live and work. Training in my community is more than just turning up to a couple of classes or ticking a box on a course. For young people in Fowler, it's about whether they can afford the train fare, whether there is child care for their younger siblings or their own children and whether they have a mentor who understands their culture, language and family responsibilities. The National Skills Agreement, as it stands, misses the primary industry base of my electorate and the day to day barriers faced by my community. What should be an equal opportunity for anyone wanting to upskill has yet again fallen short for the young people of Fowler. So I say to this government that if you are serious about skills, then make it real for communities like mine. Give small business manufacturers the support they need to take on and keep apprentices. Lift financial support so apprentices can afford to stay in training and fund targeted multicultural outreach in places like south-west Sydney.
Lunar New Year | Statements by Members | House debates
Despite real cost-of-living pressures, Lunar New Year remains a vital anchor for our families of Fowler. Right now, our local stores are filled with red envelopes and festive treats—candied...
Despite real cost-of-living pressures, Lunar New Year remains a vital anchor for our families of Fowler. Right now, our local stores are filled with red envelopes and festive treats—candied ginger, coconut pieces, lotus seeds, and sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves called banh tet and their savoury squared counterpart banh chung. These are simple but powerful signals of memory and belonging. Our streets are transformed, and I invite members of this House to visit and witness the resilience of my wonderful community. These traditions connect generations. Our families gather to share food and to hand out li xi, which are the red envelopes given to young people carrying wishes of luck, health and a good year ahead. They include money as well, which, as a child, I certainly used to look forward to. We are farewelling the Year of the Snake and welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse. In many traditions the horse represents rapid change, strong energy and challenge. It reminds us that while the year ahead may move quickly, it demands our collective grit and resilience. There is a lesson here for this House: when pressures rise, progress comes not from noise or division, but from the same cooperation and respect we see in our local communities. I thank the staff of Liverpool and Fairfield city councils for their tireless work in fostering a sense of belonging through the cultural activities they put together year in, year out. May the Year of the Horse bring health, prosperity and strength to the people of Fowler and to all of Australia.
Housing | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, UNSW research shows that Fowler has the highest level of rental stress in the country, with almost half of the renters in housing stress....
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, UNSW research shows that Fowler has the highest level of rental stress in the country, with almost half of the renters in housing stress. Working renters in my community are being smashed by high rents and soaring bills, yet most are not eligible for rent assistance or other concessions, even though they do the right thing and pay their taxes. What specific new relief will your government deliver this year for the renters in south-west Sydney who are above concession thresholds but are still falling further behind?
Criminal Code Amendment (Flag Protection) Bill 2026; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I second the member for Mayo's bill. As many in the House know, I'm a proud Australian of Vietnamese heritage. In my first maiden speech, I came here wearing my traditional Vietnamese ao dai with...
I second the member for Mayo's bill. As many in the House know, I'm a proud Australian of Vietnamese heritage. In my first maiden speech, I came here wearing my traditional Vietnamese ao dai with the Australian flag design on it, and of course the Union Jack was slightly too big. But in the second speech, when I got re-elected last year, the design was proportioned. But what mattered was not the design; it was the meaning. That dress represents to me the merging of two worlds, the heritage of my birth and the country that became my home. It tells the story of my late mother, who chose Australia as a place of safety, opportunity and belonging for her children, and it reflects the journey of how we became Australian. For me, and for many like me, the Australian national flag is not an abstract symbol. It is deeply personal. It unites us as one Australia. It carries a simple but powerful idea that, regardless of where we come from, what language we speak or what faith we practice, once we join this country, we stand together as Australians. My beautiful late mother came to this country seeking sanctuary. Under this flag, our family found safety, dignity and a future. For refugees and migrants, the flag is not just a fabric. It represents the promise that this country will protect you and that you in turn belong to it. Australia has not always been perfect, and we continue to debate and reckon with our history. But, after decades of shared effort, we can say with confidence that Australia has forged a unique identity as a multicultural nation that lives together under one flag. That is why this bill, the Criminal Code Amendment (Flag Protection) Bill 2026, matters. This is not about silencing debate. It is about protecting the shared national symbol that represents unity, sanctuary and mutual respect. A poll conducted in August 2025 showed that 77 per cent of Australians believe burning the national flag should be against the law. This bill reflects the public sentiment and the respect Australians feel for their nation, which has given so much. If we choose to come here, we must also choose to embrace what Australia stands for: fairness, opportunity and sanctuary. Respect for the flag reflects respect for the sanctuary that has welcomed generations of migrants and refugees. We are one people under one flag in one shared home, and it is our responsibility to protect that symbol of unity. I commend the bill to the House.
Economy | Constituency Statements | House debates
I rise today on behalf of my community in Fowler and, in particular, a constituent from Wakeley, Narkis, who has written with deep concern about the rising cost of living and the Reserve Bank's...
I rise today on behalf of my community in Fowler and, in particular, a constituent from Wakeley, Narkis, who has written with deep concern about the rising cost of living and the Reserve Bank's latest interest rate increase. For families in Fowler, this is more than a policy debate or a blame game about interest rate rises. Rates have risen. What matters now is what the government will do to reduce the pressure families and small businesses will face moving forward. Every 0.25 per cent rise in cash rates means higher mortgage repayments, higher rents and even greater strain on households struggling to afford groceries, power bills and basic necessities. People in my community were clinging to the hope that meaningful relief was finally on the way. Instead, they're met with slogans and announcements that do not match the reality they're living, while being told, yet again, that interest rate rises are not the government's responsibility, when governing means taking responsibility for the consequences, not deflecting them. My constituents tell me our community is hurting. Families are lying awake at night worrying about keeping a roof over their heads, managing energy costs and making ends meet from one week to the next. They're not economists or political strategists. They're mums and dads, carers, pensioners, small-business owners and young people trying to build a future. They're exhausted by uncertainty and worn down by constant pressure—bracing for the next bill, the next bank notice or the next letter from the landlord. Narkis also shared a growing frustration across my electorate. While families and small businesses are doing it tougher than ever, this parliament is distracted. Too much energy is spent on messaging and political manoeuvring, and too little on delivering stability and relief for people carrying the real burden. These are people who love this country. They believe in fairness and the dignity of hard work. They are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for focused, grounded leadership that understands their reality and acts on it. The message from Fowler is clear. People are not asking for handouts; they're asking for action. Cost-of-living relief is not a slogan. It's the difference between paying the mortgage and falling behind, between keeping a small business open and shutting the doors, between keeping the lights on and being forced to turn them off and between filling a prescription and going without. So, today, on behalf of Narkis and thousands of others in my electorate, I urge the leaders in this House to wake up to reality, to listen to the voices of ordinary Australians in Wakeley, Cabramatta, Liverpool, Warwick Farm and across south-west and Western Sydney. Their struggles are lived every single day. My community believes in a fair go. With rising interest rates and no real relief in sight, it is now up to this parliament to prove that the fair go still means something, and to ensure that families in Fowler and across south-west and Western Sydney are not left behind in the upcoming budget. Thank you.
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
As the House knows, education is very important to my community in Fowler and, of course, across the country, but, for migrants and refugee communities that are in Fowler, I cannot emphasise...
As the House knows, education is very important to my community in Fowler and, of course, across the country, but, for migrants and refugee communities that are in Fowler, I cannot emphasise enough how critical education is. People would recall I constantly speak about how, when we were in refugee camps when my mother chose Australia, my late mother told me the reason why we chose Australia was that it had the best education system in the world. We came here and settled here, and I have benefited from our education system. I do want to start by acknowledging the government's efforts. It is a start, but I think we need to be honest. It should never have taken this long to recognise what students, families and educators in my community have been shouting from the rooftops for years. For decades, successive governments have lost their way. They have failed in their most basic duty to build the skills and provide the knowledge our young people need to thrive. In my electorate of Fowler and across greater south-western Sydney, we see the consequences of this neglect every single day. For our community, university has not become a gateway; it has become a finish line that is moving further and further out of reach. We have allowed a system to take root where the path to a better life is increasingly determined by your bank balance rather than your potential. For too long, our priorities have shifted. It became about international rankings and protecting our balance sheets. Somewhere along the way, equity, access and opportunity were relegated to the fine print, and, in that process, a silent and cruel understanding was born that, if you are a disadvantaged student, you're simply condemned to a tougher road. Why is that the case? A student's postcode should never be their destiny. Whether a young person grows up in a leafy inner city suburb or in the heart of Western Sydney, quality education must be a right, not a privilege shaped by postcode. I recognise the intention behind Australian Tertiary Education Commission. Long-term planning is good, but, in Fowler, we have seen commissions and taskforces come and go. Without real accountability, there is a risk this commission becomes just another layer of expensive Canberra based bureaucracy, well-intentioned on paper but disconnected from students' lived realities. In the four years that I have been in this parliament, I've heard the government and the minister speak confidently about how well they understand the struggles of Western Sydney, and the minister should understand. He regularly talks about how he grew up there and went to Cabramatta Public School and Canley Vale High School. He knows Western Sydney, but understanding isn't the same as solving. Measures like the 20 per cent HECS debt reduction are held up as proof of action, but, for families in Fowler, that is a brief sugar hit. It hasn't changed the day-to-day grind. Students are trapped in a vicious cycle. They chip away at their debt only to watch it climb right back up through indexation. While the government talks about distribution, inflation and interest rates are moving faster than relief. Yesterday, the Prime Minister spoke about how the government distributed the benefits of stage 3 tax cuts. If distribution is the measure of fairness, I ask how exactly is equity being distributed to the communities that need it most? In Fowler, students aren't just studying; they're working long hours whilst trying to maintain a full-time load. Fowler is ranked in the top 12 per cent of the most disadvantaged areas in this country. For us, systematic barriers are not just an abstract concept. I've told this House about the about young people in Fowler and their struggles and how they are contributing to their families. Take Kimberley, a constituent of mine. Kimberley hits her $25 weekly Opal cap just travelling from Cabramatta to campus. She spends $120 a week on food. She contributes $125 a week towards her family's electricity and water bills. She does all of this while working part time and keeping up with her studies. For Kimberley, the choice isn't between degrees. The choice is between education and survival. If we are serious about equity, we must be honest about the policies that undermine it. I agree with the member for Kooyong that the job-ready graduates scheme must be reversed. As this House knows, I've introduced my fair study and opportunity bill twice to confront this injustice. Under the JRG scheme, the cost of humanities and social science degrees more than doubled. This isn't just a policy failure; it's a social one. It punishes students for their academic interests and creates a debt trap for those pursuing careers in teaching, social work or community services, roles that are really critical to the health of our society. If this commission is to be more than a bureaucratic exercise, it must confront the JRG legacy directly. It must set out concrete options to fix what is clearly broken. The success of this bill won't be measured by reports or frameworks. It will be measured by whether a student in Fowler can realistically afford to finish their degree without being crushed by debt. That is the test of equity. Anything less is just more rhetoric.
Lord Buddha's Sacred Relics Tour | Statements by Members | House debates
On Thursday 22 January, the sacred Lord Buddha relics arrived in the Fowler community and were venerated at Phuoc Hue Temple in Wetherill Park in the heart of south-west Sydney. For many in our...
On Thursday 22 January, the sacred Lord Buddha relics arrived in the Fowler community and were venerated at Phuoc Hue Temple in Wetherill Park in the heart of south-west Sydney. For many in our community, the arrival of the Buddha relics on that day was profoundly symbolic, as it was also the national day of mourning following the tragic Bondi shootings. Standing alongside Venerable Thich An Thien and other venerables from Buddhist temples in western and south-western Sydney, I was reminded that, in moments of grief and shock, communities instinctively turn toward peace, reflection and compassion. In Fowler, one of the most culturally diverse electorates in the country, it's often our shared humanity, not our differences, that brings us together in times of sorrow. The Buddhist message of respect, mindfulness and responsibility resonated deeply within my community that day. I thank the Druk Community Centre of Australia for bringing these sacred relics from France in collaboration with the Buddhist Union of France, under the spiritual guidance of His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche. Their presence in Fowler reflected values that define our community: dignity, harmony and care for everyone. At a time when fear can lead to division or calls for rushed responses that risk targeting communities, I will always stand for practical, evidence based solutions that keep people safe while upholding the dignity of all Australians no matter where they come from, what language they speak or what they believe in. Thank you. (Time expired)
Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
I rise today with a heavy heart to honour the 15 innocent lives lost in the horrific and senseless act of violence at Bondi on Sunday 14 December. What should have been an ordinary summer's day...
I rise today with a heavy heart to honour the 15 innocent lives lost in the horrific and senseless act of violence at Bondi on Sunday 14 December. What should have been an ordinary summer's day by the sea and a joyful celebration marking the first day of Hanukkah was shattered by an act of terror that has left families grieving, communities shaken and our nation in mourning. Today we grieve with the families, friends and loved ones of the victims. Their pain is unimaginable and their loss will be felt for a lifetime. On behalf of my community in Fowler, I wish to place on record the many messages of sorrow, sympathy and heartfelt condolences that have been shared with the families of those who lost their lives. People from all faiths and backgrounds reached out with compassion, united in their horror at what occurred and in their shared humanity. We also stand with the Jewish community of Australia. This was a targeted act of antisemitic terror, and it must be named as such. Antisemitism has no place in this country—none. Jewish Australians deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace, just as every Australian does. Yet, even in such darkness, the candle of hope still flickers, carried by the courage of ordinary people who chose humanity over fear. We remember Boris and Sofia Gurman, who stood together in an extraordinary act of bravery, attempting to disarm one of the gunmen so that others might live. Their selflessness cost them their lives, but their courage will not be forgotten. We thank Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian-born father of two. Despite being shot multiple times, he disarmed one of the attackers. Ahmed, who had already devoted his life to protecting others through service in the police force in his home country of Syria, once again stood up to protect strangers. His actions reflect the very best of Australia. That day ordinary Australians did extraordinary things. They did not ask who was Jewish, who was Muslim, who was Christian or where anyone came from. They acted because someone needed help. I also wish to acknowledge the Bondi surf lifesavers and the emergency responders who were on duty that day and who assisted and supported the community in the immediate aftermath, providing care, reassurance and calm in an extraordinarily distressing situation. That is the Australia we know: grounded in fairness, decency and care for one another. It is an Australia that we must hold onto, now more than ever. I came to this country as a refugee in 1979. I have now lived in Australia for 47 years, and in all that time I have not encountered such terror on our shores except for the Port Arthur massacre and the Lindt Cafe siege. These moments mark us as a nation, not only for the violence inflicted but for how we respond in its aftermath. We must be careful not to allow grief to harden into division, or fear to be redirected from one community onto another. Antisemitism must never be met with Islamophobia. Violence against Jews must never become vilification of Muslims. Hatred cannot be cured by more hatred. I represent Fowler, one of the most culturally and religiously diverse electorates in Australia. My community is made up of people who have fled war, authoritarianism and oppression. They understand deeply what happens when hatred is allowed to grow unchecked. They came here because Australia promised something different: safety, freedom and respect for one another. At moments like this, Australians look to leadership for reassurance—not rhetoric. They want to know that our laws protect everyone equally, that no community is scapegoated and that our shared values remain intact. Let us honour the victims of Bondi, not by deepening divisions but by choosing unity over fear, compassion over blame and humanity over hate. That is the Australia the families of the victims deserve. That is the Australia my constituents believe in and that is the Australia we must continue to protect. Thank you.
Health Care | Constituency Statements | House debates
I rise today to speak for the people of Fowler and the wider south-western Sydney community who are increasingly feeling abandoned by this government's approach to health care. We hear the Labor...
I rise today to speak for the people of Fowler and the wider south-western Sydney community who are increasingly feeling abandoned by this government's approach to health care. We hear the Labor government week after week boasting of a $6.1 billion record investment and strengthening Medicare. We hear about a universal card being the solution for all. I invite the Prime Minister and the health minister to come to Cabramatta and Fowler, not just during election time. Come and walk into a local GP's waiting room in Liverpool or Fairfield, because the reality here is vastly different from the rosy picture painted in the Canberra bubble. The truth is that a gold card doesn't mean a golden ticket to treatment. Just last month, my constituent Luis took a family member to Fairfield Hospital Emergency with a broken ankle. They waited six long hours, six hours of waiting in pain, because of a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses. Even worse—they had no equipment or specialist to treat the injury, and they were told to go to Liverpool Hospital. That six-hour transfer is the true measure of a 'strengthened' Medicare in Fowler. In Fowler, we face a silent crisis. Our heroic local general practitioners are retiring. No-one is replacing them. Young doctors are not coming to south-west Sydney. Why should they? A GP can set up practice in affluent suburbs in the east and north, charge a high gap fee and work reasonable hours. Compare that to a GP in Fowler. Our community has a high proportion of refugees and migrants. We have high rates of chronic disease, complex mental health needs and language barriers. Our people cannot afford gap fees. They rely entirely on bulk-billing. This government's incentives are a blunt instrument. They fail to recognise that a bulk-billing consultation in a disadvantaged area like mine is often far more complex and time consuming. The promised urgent care clinics are a bandaid. They may take pressure off an ED for a broken arm, but they do not manage diabetes or complex PTSD. They do not build the trust needed for vulnerable patients. Only a regular local GP does that. If we want to save universal health care, we must stop pretending that south-western Sydney is the same as the affluent east or north. I call on the government to introduce targeted geographical incentives for GPS operating in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage. I'm asking for a Fowler loading, a specific targeted incentive that says to every bright young medical graduate: 'Your skills are needed here. Your complex work will be valued and compensated.' Please don't tell my community you're investing billions in their health while their local clinics are closing. Fund the doctor, not just the card, so my constituents can get the care that they deserve.
National Security | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Minister, my community would like to know, were you or any government minister at the airport when the ISIS affiliated women, also known as ISIS...
My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Minister, my community would like to know, were you or any government minister at the airport when the ISIS affiliated women, also known as ISIS brides, arrived back in Sydney in September?
Commonwealth Prac Payment | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
I rise in support of the member for Indi's matter of public importance and to make one simple point. Unless the Commonwealth prac payment is expanded beyond a narrow group of disciplines, we will...
I rise in support of the member for Indi's matter of public importance and to make one simple point. Unless the Commonwealth prac payment is expanded beyond a narrow group of disciplines, we will continue locking future health workers out of the system we claim we urgently need. As we have heard from crossbench members, while we all welcome the government's scheme to provide about $332 a week in prac payments for student studying teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work, many are asking: why are we stopping there? Why are physiotherapy students excluded? Why are radiographers, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, paramedics and medical students left out? This isn't a small policy oversight. It cuts through the principle of fairness and undermines our ability to fix our workforce shortages. The reality is straightforward. Allied health and medical students complete long, unpaid full-time placements. They can't work while doing them, but rent still has to be paid and transport still needs to be paid for, as does food, textbooks and basic bills. Too many are being pushed into an impossible choice: push ahead with placements and fall into financial stress or walk away from their degree entirely. In a community like Fowler, those decisions bite even harder. According to the 2021 census, almost 12,900 students in Fowler enrolled in tertiary education, including over 8,000 university students. Many are the first in their family to go to university. They are our future doctors, physios, psychologists and radiographers. They come from migrant and working-class families. They want to give back to the suburbs that raised them, and we need them to. Fowler has historically recorded some of the highest GP bulk-billing rates in Australia, in the mid-90 per cent range, because our families cannot absorb a large out-of-pocket cost. I want to share the story of David, one of the young people on my Fowler Youth Advisory Committee. David wants to become a doctor so he can serve the local community his family has called home for decades. He is bright, hardworking and compassionate, the kind of culturally competent, locally grounded doctor we desperately need. But David is really worried about how he will afford his clinical placement. He told me that, when the time comes for months of unpaid full-time placement, he doesn't know how we will survive financially. His parents are already stretched, he doesn't want to be a burden, and he isn't alone. Dozens of students tell me the same thing. If students like David cannot afford to finish their degrees, Fowler loses out. The country loses out. The government will say this expansion is too expensive, budgets are tight, placements across disciplines are too complex to administer, or they will call for more consultation—anything to delay a decision. But the cost of doing nothing is far greater. Modelling shows Australia will need around 25,000 additional allied health workers by 2033 in aged care alone. Jobs and Skills Australia projections indicate the broader health and social assistance sector will require over half a million new workers in the next decade. Yet the very students who could fill these roles are being pushed to breaking point by placement poverty. Some of the heaviest burdens fall on medical radiation students. Students undertaking degrees in radiation therapy or diagnostic therapy can expect up to a year of full-time work for zero income. Expending the prac payment scheme is not a handout; it is a strategic workforce investment. If we are serious about fixing shortages, supporting young people doing the right thing and ensuring communities like Fowler have the healthcare workforces they need, then we must end this two-tiered system and extend the prac payment to all health disciplines with mandatory clinical placements. I call on the government to show leadership and get this done. I commend the matter to the House.
Rearrangement | Business | House debates
I rise today in strong support of the member for Calare and his call to stop wind farms from being built in our state forests. Let me start by saying this: Australians support renewable energy....
I rise today in strong support of the member for Calare and his call to stop wind farms from being built in our state forests. Let me start by saying this: Australians support renewable energy. My community in Fowler supports renewable energy, but we also expect governments to show common sense to plan properly and to protect the environment, not to destroy it in the name of saving it. That is exactly what is happening when wind farms are carved into state forests across New South Wales. We are told that wind energy is automatically clean and low-emission but that is simply not the full story. Building these massive turbines requires enormous amounts of steel, concrete, rare earth minerals and global transport. All of this is highly energy intensive and carbon heavy. Before a single kilowatt of electricity is ever generated, these projects create massive upfront emissions that nobody seems to talk about. Why should we be clearing state forests—precious environmental assets—to build infrastructure that already carries such a large carbon footprint? When we look at the long-term impact, the concerns get even more serious. Wind turbine blades are notoriously difficult to recycle. Current technology cannot process the composite materials, so thousands of blades around the world are ending up in landfill. Australia is no exception. While I acknowledge that it is only for softwood pine plantations and not plantation pine forests, we still have to look at how these wind farms are being built and set out across these softwood pine plantations. If we allow wind farms in state forests we risk turning protected lands, areas meant for recreation and conservation, into future waste sites once the turbines reach the end of their 20- to 25-year lifespan. That is not a responsible environmental stewardship. The irony is that we are destroying natural habitats and biodiversity in order to build something that is meant to help the environment. Renewables must not become a licence to industrialise conservation areas. While these wind farms may not be proposed in the electorate of Fowler, the consequences absolutely flow into my community. Western Sydney suffers from urban heat, poor air quality and rising energy costs. Families and small businesses in Fowler are struggling with electricity bills that go up despite the promise of cheaper renewable energy. Yet here we are, rushing ahead poorly planned renewable projects that will cost more to build, more to maintain and ultimately push more costs onto consumers. Communities like Fowler are tired of paying for bad planning. We need smart, balanced long-term decisions, not shortcuts, not symbolic gestures, not projects that look good in press releases but create environmental damage and financial burden in years ahead. The government must also acknowledge that a transition done badly will undermine public support for renewables. People want clean energy but they also want honesty. They want transparency and they want assurances that we are not destroying forests and creating mountains of unrecyclable waste in the name of climate action. If we lose public trust, we lose the transition. That is why I support the member for Calare's motion. We can and should pursue renewable energy but we must do so responsibly. That begins with a simple principle: state forests should be protected. I commend this motion to the House and support the member for Calare's motion to introduce a bill to stop windfarms in state forests.
Australian Chin Lien Chinese Association | Statements by Members | House debates
One of our local community organisations, the Australian Chin Lien Chinese Association, based in Canley Vale, recently marked an important milestone, electing the first-ever female president in...
One of our local community organisations, the Australian Chin Lien Chinese Association, based in Canley Vale, recently marked an important milestone, electing the first-ever female president in Jennifer Tran. The association has been a pillar in our community for over three decades. It began its journey in 1992, operating from a small rented house on Gilmore Street in Cabramatta before the official temple was built in 1994. Jennifer's involvement with the association spans back to 1992, the very beginning of its operations. Her deep commitment was recognised when she was initially elected as president in March this year. I'd also like to acknowledge previous presidents Mr Henh Phong Duong, Mr Dong An Dang, Mr Wak Kau Chan and Mr Son Ha Long, as well as various vice-presidents who have built this community. The association's contribution goes well beyond cultural preservation. Chin Lien has repeatedly stepped up in times of need, raising funds for communities facing hardship, supporting disaster relief efforts and helping to strengthen local resilience. Here in Fowler, the association generously provides crucial support to organisations such as Fairfield SES, enabling young volunteers to receive essential training and equipment. I congratulate Jennifer, the executive committee and all members of the Chin Lien association for their ongoing service, their commitment to community harmony and their generous work in bringing people together. I thank them for their contribution to the fabric of Fowler.
Tertiary Education | Private Members' Business | House debates
I'd like to thank the member for Sturt for bringing this motion forward, but I will say that this motion once again shines a spotlight on the government's remarkable ability to generate headlines...
I'd like to thank the member for Sturt for bringing this motion forward, but I will say that this motion once again shines a spotlight on the government's remarkable ability to generate headlines rather than deliver real structural change for the Australians who need it most. This motion praises the 20 per cent HECS-HELP debt reduction, a measure I fully supported. Any immediate relief for students is welcome. In my first term, I called for reduction of the HECS indexation from 7.1 per cent to 3.2 per cent, and I'm glad the government did it. As we heard, the member for Kooyong led a petition on this issue as well. However, we must ask: what is the government's long-term plan? What we have before us today is not a solution. It is a sugar hit, a political pat on the back that masks a fundamentally broken system. The government is currently excelling at two things: brilliant marketing and clickbait announcements. We see them everywhere: cheaper medicine, help to buy, free TAFE courses and, of course, the ever-present line about reducing HECS debt. These slogans are slick. They are memorable, and they make for fantastic ad campaigns. But, for communities like mine in Fowler and across Western Sydney, the reality on the ground could not be more different. Take the issue of student debt. A 20 per cent reduction after years of runaway indexation and skyrocketing fees is simply not good enough. It is a temporary patch on a systematic problem that continues to punish low socioeconomic students, migrant households and working families. In my electorate, young people are not just focused on their degrees; they are focused on survival. They are juggling work, study and debt, often working late-night graveyard shifts just to keep their heads above water. They are exhausted, stressed and doing everything right, yet still falling behind. The government's recent announcements are a perfect example of this shallow approach. We are seeing the rebranding of a promised university campus into a so-called study hub. Renaming a project does nothing to address the real barriers facing young people in Fowler: the crushing financial pressure and the mounting HECS debt. The Albanese government's reckless spending is keeping interest rates high and driving up the cost of living. And, for those who manage to finish their studies, the government's mass immigration program is making it harder and harder for young Australians to secure jobs at the end of their degrees. These young Australians do not need hollow slogans. They need access and affordability. They need the genuine opportunity to be part of the new workforce without beginning their careers trapped in decades of debt. This motion, and the policy is celebrates, is fleeting. It delivers a talking point, not meaningful change. It offers relief today but guarantees that debts will balloon again next year. We must ask: Who exactly is this policy helping, and who is being ignored? What did this policy do for those students who worked multiple jobs and scrimped and saved to pay off their student debt? Absolutely nothing. What did this policy do for those young people that didn't go to university? Absolutely nothing. The policy is a narrow political exercise. It fails to address educational inequality at its roots. There is no structural reform to stop debts from ballooning again next year. There is no guarantee of meaningful ongoing financial support for those already at the bottom. What communities in south-west and Western Sydney need is not another round of cheap marketing slogans dressed up as policy. We need a government willing to put forward transformative long-term reform. We need real commitment to expanding fully funded scholarships for low-income students so that a disadvantaged postcode is never a barrier to aspiration. We need to break the cycle of perpetual debt that traps young people for decades. We need policies that genuinely make an impact on the lives and livelihoods of those who need it most. That's why I called on the government to support my bill to reverse the unfair job-ready graduates program or at least reform it. We must make it more affordable and accessible for those in my community wanting to study arts degrees, be it in history, politics or media—courses which the previous government made prohibitively expensive for many young people to study. I genuinely look forward to seeing a government that is brave enough to make a real difference to the lives of Australians, instead of just making a slick announcement, and we know HECS debt will continue to grow. That's the reality. The government must offer credible, genuine, honest solutions, not just more marketing slogans.
Mental Health | Questions without Notice | House debates
Thank you, Speaker. I was very specific in asking if the minister or the government will guarantee that about cutting items 2712 and 2713. I understand that Medicare spend. I know that that's...
Thank you, Speaker. I was very specific in asking if the minister or the government will guarantee that about cutting items 2712 and 2713. I understand that Medicare spend. I know that that's what the government has been talking about and that you have spent millions—$8.5 billion. But I'm asking specifically about 2712 and 2713.
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, I welcome your record Medicare spend, having long called for expanded bulk-billing access. But with mental health the No. 1 reason people...
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, I welcome your record Medicare spend, having long called for expanded bulk-billing access. But with mental health the No. 1 reason people visit a GP in Fowler, doctors tell me that cutting items 2712 and 2713 removes the flexibility to provide longer, meaningful consultations for complex mental health cases. Can you guarantee that cutting items 2712 and 2713 won't deter GPs from offering the mental health care that families in Western Sydney depend on?
Energy | Private Members' Business | House debates
The issue at hand is energy or, rather, the lack of affordable, stable energy and its brutal role in driving our cost-of-living crisis. The kitchen table debate in Fowler is no longer about...
The issue at hand is energy or, rather, the lack of affordable, stable energy and its brutal role in driving our cost-of-living crisis. The kitchen table debate in Fowler is no longer about saving $5 on a power bill. It's about paying for the power bill or putting food on the table. It's about a government whose energy policy has become less about practical engineering and economic stability and more about ideological virtue signalling. When the Reserve Bank released its most recent figures, warning signs were flashing red. Annual headline inflation has jumped to 3.2 per cent. This is not abstract economics; this is a tax on every working family. And what is the single biggest contributing factor to this fight? It's the energy sector. The data confirms that households are spending a devastating 33.9 per cent more on electricity than they were just a year ago. A 33.9 per cent price hike on an essential service is not inflation. It's economic sabotage, inflicted by a chaotic market and poor planning. But the pain doesn't stop at the power meter. The energy shock travels straight down the supply chain and lands with crushing weight in the shopping trolley. Food manufacturers are telling us that their gas and energy costs have soared by more than 50 per cent over the last three years. Do you know who pays for the costs when the manufacturer, the truck driver and the local supermarket pass it on? It's the battlers of Western Sydney and the families of Fowler. The price of milk, the price of bread and the price of fresh vegetables—these are all now inflated by the soaring price of keeping the lights on. It's unacceptable that, in a country blessed with abundant resources, we are forcing low-to-middle-income families to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children. Right now, energy pricing feels like a lottery. On Monday, the spot price is low; by Wednesday afternoon, it's sky-high. On Thursday at lunchtime, it can even go negative. Businesses can't budget like this. Small business can't plan like this. The manufacturers certainly can't invest like this. The volatility and opacity of the market are costing Australians dearly. How did we get there? There are three hard truths. First, we broke a working system and replaced it with an expensive one. For most of our history, electricity was treated as essential public infrastructure. Communities like Tamworth led in the 1880s with first electric lighting system. Later, states built integrated systems that were boring, reliable and cheap. In the 1990s, we split those utilities into dozens of generators, a handful of network monopolies and a thicket of retailers. We were promised competition and lower prices. What we got was complexity, marketing overheads and bills that outpace inflation year after year. Productivity fell even as managers and sales teams multiplied, and every new cost found its way onto the bill. Second, the rules reward margin over merit. Wholesale prices have fallen sharply from the 2022 peak, yet retail bills barely budged. Why? Because the highest cost generator of electricity sets the price for everyone, because gas, now getting more expensive, often sets the price even when the market goes negative, meaning electricity is running for free through the network. Households don't see the benefit. The system is not built to deliver the lowest cost to consumers; it's built to preserve margins in the middle. Third, high energy costs are hollowing our industry. Cheap, reliable power once offset high labour costs—not anymore. Electricity and gas input costs have risen dramatically since 2000. When glass furnaces go cold, when fertiliser production winds back and when local plastics and chemicals shut, those are not isolated headlines; they are markets heading for deindustrialisation, fewer skilled jobs and weaker supply chains. Australians are tired of finger-pointing. They want actions that cut bills and restore stability. Here are some practical agenda in parliament that we should adopt: make east coast gas work for Australians and put in place a durable domestic reservation and transparent wholesale benchmarks so gas cannot be exported at the expense of households and industry. When gas sets the marginal price, the whole marketplace brings that marginal price down. Mandate retail transparency and passthrough. Require automatic passthrough of wholesale falls, including negative price events, onto standing and market offers. Publish on a single page the breakdowns of every bill—energy, networks, schemes, retail costs and profit. If a retailer can't explain a bill plainly, they shouldn't be selling it. Modernise tariffs for the solar era: create ultralow daytime tariffs to soak up majority of midday solar glut so that households can charge hot water systems, EVs and batteries between 10 am and 3 pm. Retire legacy off-peak, night-only thinking. That is no longer much how the grid actually operates.
Aged Care | Private Members' Business | House debates
I'd like to thank the member for Boothby for bringing this important issue to the chamber. This week we enter a new era in aged care with the commencement of the New Aged Care Act and the...
I'd like to thank the member for Boothby for bringing this important issue to the chamber. This week we enter a new era in aged care with the commencement of the New Aged Care Act and the replacement of the Home Care Packages Program with the Support at Home program. It's understandable that, when a new government comes in, they want to leave their mark on existing policies, but the real questions for my community are these: Will these changes actually make life easier for the people who need care? Will it shorten the waiting time? Will it simplify the system? And, most importantly, will it make sure that older Australians get the support they need when they need it? Because, right now, that's not what's happening. In Fowler aged-care issues cut right to the heart of our community. Every week I meet families and older Australians who tell me the same thing: the system is too complicated. There are too many forms, too many departments and too many long waits. Even for those with urgent needs, those waiting for level 4 packages, the delays can stretch out for more than 15 months. In that time people's health declines, families burn out and their faith in the system disappears. For many in my electorate, one of the most multicultural in the country, the problem is even worse. Carers who don't speak English fluently are often left struggling to navigate a system written in complex language. They face forms they can't understand and call centres they can't communicate with. Even when language isn't a barrier, navigating the system proves to be complex and time consuming. Take Jenny—that's not her real name—who came to my office desperate for help. Her brother had been waiting for a year for his home-care package. She'd called My Aged Care again and again, but no-one could tell her where he was on the list. She told me she feared he would pass away before receiving the care he was entitled to. Or take Anna, who works a full-time corporate job and came in to see me to share her frustration at not being able to find a provider to deliver the services her father had been approved for while waiting for his home-care package. Multiple days off work to secure care services for her father left her disheartened when faced with being turned away due to lack of provider capacity and long wait times. Instead of dignity and support, the system delivered months of silence and confusion. The government says the new aged-care system will fix these issues, promising transparency and better access, but for families like Jenny's and Anna's those promises mean nothing unless they're delivered in practice. This massive transition introduces new contribution structures and new rules. But, if we're not careful, we'll simply replace one bureaucratic maze with another. The ones who will suffer most are our most vulnerable—our elders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those least able to navigate complexity or advocate for themselves. The dignity of our elders must never depend on their ability to decode government bureaucracy. While the aged-care changes provide some positive relief, such as the $25,000 payment to help recipients spend their final three months at home and a new 12-week program to help when recovering from an illness or injury, what measures are in place to ensure a change such as capping admin fees to 27 per cent, which is designed to leave more funds to spend on care, doesn't drive perverse behaviours from providers who may increase their prices to recoup their costs? I call on the government to ensure this new system works with people, not against them. That means investing in frontline advocacy, frameworks that ensure provider accountability, accessible translations and face-to-face support that is culturally appropriate—not just digital portals, fragmented service delivery and policy papers. In Fowler people don't need more announcements; they need a system that delivers. The dignity of our elders is not negotiable. It's time the Albanese Labor government matched its words of reform with real action for the families of Fowler and those in western and south-western Sydney to ensure that no-one will be worse off or left behind under the new-aged care system.