Sophie Scamps's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Migration | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
I want to start by apologising to the many multicultural, multifaith people in Australia for the revolting diatribe we've heard today from the member for Kennedy. I think it is absolutely...
I want to start by apologising to the many multicultural, multifaith people in Australia for the revolting diatribe we've heard today from the member for Kennedy. I think it is absolutely disgraceful that on the floor of this place, the House for the representatives of all Australians, we have heard comments that, in my opinion, are so deeply racist and so incredibly wrong. The irony of what is often thrown at migrants, who come here to make Australia bigger, better and greater, is that many people born here have failed to actually look at the pledge they take to become Australian citizens and the commitment they make to Australia. I would invite the member for Kennedy to have a think about the pledge for people to become Australian citizens. It reads: I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey. That includes freedom of religion. It includes respecting people's rights to have differences of opinion, differences of faith, and different cultures and traditions. It means respecting those rights and liberties. Yet, in the very tone of this MPI today, he calls for no migration without assimilation. That is directly contradictory to that very pledge we ask new Australians to make to the Australian people. As a fifth-generation Australian, I find it deeply offensive. It is important that we come and speak out. It is so important that we call out when this kind of rhetoric and language is simply wrong. There are a lot of false facts and false information to suit a populist narrative around migration and immigration. The census data shows that, in fact, we do not have record levels of immigration. We do not have a problem that is out of control. And we know in so many aspects of our economy and our services, we desperately rely on immigration to bring skilled visas and people that come and deliver services, start businesses and do incredible service to the Australian community. When I meet with chambers of commerce and small businesses, they consistently highlight that accessible and efficient migration pathways are critical for keeping businesses open, sustaining regional communities and supporting local job creation. We have to call out misinformation where systemic policy failures have led to poor infrastructure, housing issues and crises that are then blamed on migration. Blame it on the others, because that's the easiest thing to do. We know projected net overseas migration has now come back to levels that are reasonably consistent with pre-COVID levels. It's really important that we don't let those false facts take on a narrative, which is simply not true, that somehow the problems we have fundamentally and structurally within our community and our economy are the cause of others. We know we have complex challenges in housing affordability, infrastructure pressures and urban congestion, but they stem from planning and policy decisions. They cannot be blamed on migration or immigration. We know that, in periods of economic uncertainty, we often see the rise of antimigrant rhetoric. As sure as night follows day, that is what we're seeing in this place. We're seeing it in the other place, with other members of the parliament, and we've seen it today again with the member for Kennedy. We know from social research that such narratives are incredibly harmful. They distort public understanding of our immigration system, and they weaken our social cohesion. Migration intake must be complemented with adjacent planning and infrastructure investments such as road transport projects, child care and public spaces. No-one is denying that. But to lay the blame of structural policy failures on migration is simply wrong. For the member for Kennedy to then imply the assimilation aspect of his MPI is deeply, deeply concerning, because what that really implies is that we should be lose our multidimensional aspect, and I— (Time expired)
Australia: Natural Disasters | Private Members' Business | House debates
Well, it has been a dreadful start to the year when it comes to natural disasters in Australia. Over the summer, large parts of our country have been hit by destructive storms, floods, fires and...
Well, it has been a dreadful start to the year when it comes to natural disasters in Australia. Over the summer, large parts of our country have been hit by destructive storms, floods, fires and deadly heatwaves. It underscores the fact that Australia is at the forefront front of climate change harms. In Ceduna, South Australia, the temperature reached a record 49.5 degrees on 26 January, and across south-eastern Australia communities endured temperatures above 40 degrees for seven or eight days straight. These are not isolated spikes but part of a pattern of longer, more extreme and more frequent heatwaves. Intense heatwaves like these are now five times more likely to occur, because of human-induced climate change. What we once considered an extraordinary heat event is now something a primary school student today will likely experience several times before they finish high school. Also, last month, cyclone related intense rainfall led to flash-flooding in Queensland, destroying homes, livelihoods and livestock. Then, along Victoria's Great Ocean Road, communities saw their roads turn into swollen rivers in a matter of hours. People watched in horror as cars and caravans were swept away and familiar landscapes were torn apart. One week, the region had emergency evacuation orders, due to bushfires, then, a week later, they had them again, due to this flooding. This summer, Victoria also was seared by some of the most destructive bushfires in its history. A cattle farmer lost his life, and 900 structures were destroyed, including 338 homes. More than 15,000 livestock were lost. My thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and those who have lost homes, livelihoods and a sense of security. These events are deep personal tragedies that will be felt for years to come. My own community of Mackellar is also at the forefront of climate change impacts. Recent severe rain events have been destructive and alarming. On 17 January this year, torrential rain struck our region, causing flooding in Narrabeen, Newport and Mackerel Beach. Two hundred and sixty-four millimetres of rain was recorded at Great Mackerel Beach, causing a landslide, impacting three homes, and sending a river of mud and trees smashing into the kitchen and living room of Mick and Sharon's home. It was only by sheer luck and quick thinking that they, thankfully, both avoided serious injury. As a coastal seat, Mackellar has also been badly affected by sea-level rise and coastal erosion over the years. Again at Mackerel Beach, safe access for around 20 households is cut off daily at mid and high tide, due to coastal erosion. Residents must scramble over rocks and through waves to access their homes. In June 2016, a severe storm caused massive coastal erosion at Collaroy Beach, destroying several properties and causing an in-ground pool to collapse into the ocean. I want to acknowledge and sincerely thank our emergency services personnel and first responders, the local RFS and SES volunteers, and fire and rescue services, who once again stepped up under extraordinary pressure. They are being asked to respond more often, in more dangerous conditions, and with less margin for error. But this burden cannot just fall on them, and it cannot continue to fall on affected communities. Governments and this parliament must step up. Natural disasters and extreme weather events in Australia are being exacerbated by climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas. While communities across Australia are paying the price with their health, their homes and their livelihoods, first responders are often made to put their own lives at risk and deal with the aftermath. There are different ways to make polluters pay for the damage their emissions are causing. One option is a climate disaster levy, which would require fossil fuel producers to contribute to the growing costs of disaster response, recovery and resilience. Another is outlined in a recent report from the Superpower Institute, which shows that a 'polluter pays levy' would raise significant public revenue, reduce emissions and help fund both household relief and Australia's transition to a cleaner, more prosperous economy. The impacts and costs to Australian households and businesses will keep rising, as fires, floods, drought and heatwaves become more extreme as a result of climate change, unless we also stop new coal and gas projects. It's time we made polluters pay.
Small Business: Taxation | Statements by Members | House debates
Last week we saw deeply concerning reports that the ATO's small business debt helpline is facing record levels of calls. This should be a wake-up call to the government as it is a clear signal...
Last week we saw deeply concerning reports that the ATO's small business debt helpline is facing record levels of calls. This should be a wake-up call to the government as it is a clear signal that financial pressures on small businesses continue to mount. My team and I have spent many months doorknocking local businesses, and I have heard firsthand just how hard the past few years have been. Across Mackellar, too many shopfronts now sit empty, and behind every one of those closures is a family under strain. In Mackellar, as in regions right across Australia, small businesses are not just the backbone of the local economy; they are the heart of our community. They are our friends, our neighbours, our tradies, our florists and our cafe owners—people we see every day delivering the services we both need and love. Importantly, small businesses employ 6.8 million Australians—nearly half of our workforce. Part of my aim in doorknocking so many businesses is to ensure owners are aware of the supports available to them and also to simply listen. Over and over, I have heard the same thing: the last few years have been incredibly tough for small business. That's why I'm calling for a $20,000 tax-free threshold for small businesses. This would put up to $5,000 in tax savings back into the hands of small-business owners to reinvest as they see fit, to grow and stabilise their businesses. With the budget approaching, I urge the government to act.
Middle East | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Prime Minister. Overnight, Israel approved new measures that attempt to legalise settlement expansion and land confiscation in the occupied West Bank. Given that Australia...
My question is to the Prime Minister. Overnight, Israel approved new measures that attempt to legalise settlement expansion and land confiscation in the occupied West Bank. Given that Australia has recognised the State of Palestine, that these settlements are illegal under international law and that Australia has used targeted sanctions elsewhere, will the Prime Minister sanction Israeli institutions and officials linked to the settlement expansion and strongly reiterate Australia's commitment to the two-state solution?
Middle East | Statements by Members | House debates
The world has looked on in horror at the situation in Iran over recent months. Once again, the people of Iran have risen up to protest the brutal oppression and corruption of Iran's leader, the...
The world has looked on in horror at the situation in Iran over recent months. Once again, the people of Iran have risen up to protest the brutal oppression and corruption of Iran's leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, only to be massacred in the streets by their own army. Tens of thousands of Iranian citizens have been murdered. Today I want to highlight the specific targeting and oppression of Baha'is in Iran. Mackellar has a vibrant Baha'i community, and we are proud to be home to a magnificent Baha'i temple—one of only eight in the world. However, in Iran, there has been relentless state sponsored persecution of Baha'is since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Baha'is have been denied recognition under the Iranian constitution and stripped of fundamental rights. Tragically, right now, Iranian authorities have once again undertaken a deliberate strategy of persecution against their Baha'i community, in order to divert attention from internal issues and to justify further coercive measures against the community. Accusations that Baha'is have orchestrated or participated in violence are not only false but fundamentally incompatible with Baha'i teachings. I stand with Australia's Baha'i community to demand that this cease and that the escalation of persecution of Baha'is stops immediately.
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
by leave—I move amendments (1) to (4) as circulated in my name together: (1) Schedule 1, item 11, page 5 (lines 7 to 11), omit subsection 84AAM(4), substitute: (4) The requirements...
by leave—I move amendments (1) to (4) as circulated in my name together: (1) Schedule 1, item 11, page 5 (lines 7 to 11), omit subsection 84AAM(4), substitute: (4) The requirements determined under subsection (3) must include the following: (a) a requirement to hold particular qualifications in nursing; (b) a requirement to have particular experience in nursing; (c) a requirement to be endorsed by a particular body. (2) Schedule 1, item 11, page 5 (line 17), after "The approval is subject to", insert "the condition that the eligible nurse prescriber does not prescribe Therapeutic Goods Administration Schedule 8 medications and". (3) Schedule 1, item 11, page 6 (after line 11), after section 84AAN, insert: 84AANA Additional requirements for authorised nurse prescribers (1) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine requirements that authorised nurse prescribers must meet. (2) The requirements may relate to: (a) participating in relevant real time prescription monitoring; or (b) making contributions to the National Medicines Record. (4) Schedule 1, item 11, page 6 (line 28), at the end of subsection 84AAP(1), add: ; or (e) has failed to meet a requirement determined under section 84AANA. I wholeheartedly support the intention of this bill, as it responds to a clear need to improve access to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medications, ease workforce pressures and provide better access to health care for people living in rural and remote areas of Australia. However, serious concerns have been raised by key medical professional bodies regarding elements of this legislation. The amendments I have moved today seek to address those concerns. Both the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Medical Association have expressed strong reservations about the bill in its current form. Their concerns go directly to whether the framework provides adequate protections for patients. Specifically, these amendments address three main concerns, including, firstly, that designated nurse prescribers should not be permitted to prescribe schedule 8 medicines, otherwise known as drugs of addiction, under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; secondly, that there is currently no requirement for an eligible nurse prescriber to participate in real-time prescription monitoring or to contribute to the national medicines record; and, thirdly, that, unamended, the bill allows the minister to determine eligibility as a nurse prescriber by reference to one or more professional requirements, rather than requiring that all relevant clinical and professional standards be met. The amendments I'm moving today will do three things. Firstly, they specify that designated nurse prescribers cannot prescribe schedule 8 medicines under the PBS, making this a condition on the minister's power under section 84AA. This is a strong recommendation of both the RACGP and the AMA. Schedule 8 medicines are classified as controlled drugs and include opioids such as morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl, which carry a high potential for misuse, dependence, addiction and harm. These drugs are subject to strict regulatory controls. Nurse practitioners are authorised health practitioners within collaborative prescribing frameworks. However, they do not possess the same depth or breadth of training as medical practitioners. Training in pharmacology, diagnostics, interpretation of test results and ongoing medication monitoring differs significantly between nurse practitioners and general practitioners. For this reason, the range of medicines that may be prescribed by nurse practitioners or nurse prescribers must be carefully balanced to ensure prescribing remains safe and appropriate. Given the high misuse potential associated with controlled drugs and the risk of increased fragmentation of care, schedule 8 medicines—the most dangerous and addictive drugs—should be excluded from the list of medicines that nurse practitioners can prescribe under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. These amendments would do just that. Secondly, these amendments require that all the professional conduct attributes listed in section 84AAM form part of the definition of an eligible nurse prescriber. As the bill is currently drafted, the minister may determine eligibility by reference to one or more of these attributes. However, professional medical bodies would reasonably expect all nurse prescribers to meet all these requirements as a matter of course, including holding particular qualifications in nursing, having particular experience in nursing and being endorsed by a specified professional body. Thirdly, the amendments add further safeguards by requiring nurse prescribers to participate in relevant real-time prescription monitoring systems and to make contributions to the national medicines record. Real-time prescription monitoring plays a critical role in identifying and preventing prescription misuse, prescriber shopping and unsafe combinations of medications, particularly where controlled drugs are involved. These amendments respond directly to the concerns raised by professional medical bodies and ensure that any expansion of prescribing authority under the bill is balanced by robust and appropriate safeguards. Of course, it must be made easier and more affordable for people to access the prescriptions and treatments they need; equity of access to health care is an essential goal. However, it is also essential that we do not cause unintended harm by undermining patient safety. We must ensure we maintain a safe, strong and well-regulated medical system.
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. This bill amends the National Health Act 1953 and the Health Insurance Act 1973 to enable...
I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. This bill amends the National Health Act 1953 and the Health Insurance Act 1973 to enable registered nurses, or RNs, who meet specified criteria to prescribe certain medications under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The bill implements reforms identified by the government's Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and Unleashing the potential of our health workforce: scope of practice review. These explored the system changes and improvements needed to support health professionals and multidisciplinary team members to work at their full scope of practice. The aim is to deliver best practice primary health care. The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation has welcomed this bill that removes barriers and finally allows highly qualified nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to work autonomously to their full scope, providing people with better access to quality care without the need to visit their GP or a hospital emergency department. The federation has pointed to the success of nurse led clinics in Tasmania and the ACT that have empowered more nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to work to their full skill set, thereby expanding the provision of health care in those communities. There is a clear need to enable future designated nurse prescribers to prescribe PBS medications within their scope of practice and as part of collaborative prescribing agreements. However, despite endorsing the intentions of this bill, serious concerns have been raised by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the RACGP, and the Australian Medical Association, the AMA. Both of these professional medical bodies believe this bill, in its current form, does not provide sufficient protection for patients. Specific concerns include, firstly, that designated nurse prescribers should not be able to prescribe schedule 8 medicines, otherwise known as drugs of addiction, under the PBS; secondly, that there is no requirement for an eligible nurse prescriber to undertake relevant, real-time prescription monitoring or to make contributions to the national medicines record; thirdly, that PBS prescribing reforms should not occur before nurse practitioner accreditation standards scope boundaries and professional safeguards are finalised; and, lastly, that the definition of an authorised practitioner is not limited to a medical practitioner, which poses the risk of unintended consequences, including cross-jurisdictional inconsistency and safety gaps. Currently in Australia, to be able to prescribe medications, a health practitioner must meet certain criteria, including having completed accredited prescribing education and training that is consistent with their scope of practice, being registered with the national board of their speciality, being approved under the National Health Act 1953 for prescriptions of PBS or Repatriation PBS medicines, and being approved under relevant state and territory legislation and regulation. In September last year, a new registration standard for nurse practitioner prescribing came into effect under AHPRA, the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency. This standard, called the 'endorsement for scheduled medicines—designated registered nurse prescriber', sets out how suitably qualified RNs can qualify to prescribe scheduled medicines 2, 3, 4 and 8 in partnership with an authorised health practitioner. The Australian College of Nursing has stated that this standard aligns Australian nursing with international best practice, following successful implementation in countries such as New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. The intent of this bill, and the expansion of the integral role that nurse practitioners play in healthcare delivery, has also been welcomed by professional doctors' groups, including the RACGP and the AMA. However, as previously mentioned, these professional medical bodies also have several serious concerns with this bill in its current form. Neither group supports the prescription of schedule 8 medicines by designated nurse prescribers. Schedule 8 medicines are those that have a high potential for abuse, dependence, addiction and harm, including opioids like morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl. The RACGP and the AMA recommend the bill explicitly prohibit designated nurse prescribers from prescribing schedule 8 medications. With my 20 years of experience as a GP and emergency doctor, I wholly concur that there is serious risk in significantly expanding the number of prescribers of S8 drugs. There can be enormous pressure for prescribers to provide scripts for these drugs of addiction. Some people will go to extreme lengths to ensure their stories are highly convincing and backed with manufactured evidence. Increasing the number of people who can prescribe these addictive medications, paired with a possible fragmentation of patient care, will mean more opportunities for these medications to be erroneously prescribed. Another serious risk identified by the RACGP is the absence of a requirement that nurse prescribers undertake real-time prescription monitoring—a national system designed to monitor the prescribing and dispensing of controlled medicines with the aim of reducing their misuse in Australia. This should be absolutely necessary. The RACGP has also raised the concern that the definition of an 'authorised practitioner' is not limited to medical practitioners. This poses a risk of unintended consequences, including cross-jurisdictional inconsistency and safety gaps. While nurse practitioners would be classified as authorised health practitioners within prescribed agreement frameworks, the RACGP points out that nurses do not undergo the same breadth or depth of training as medical practitioners, including in pharmacology, diagnosis, the interpretation of tests and medication monitoring. As such, the RACGP urge that the medicines prescribed by nurse practitioners need to be carefully selected to ensure patient safety is maintained. Because state and territory legislation defines who can prescribe what, the RACGP and the AMA warn that a vague 'authorised practitioner' label will create cross-jurisdictional inconsistency and safety gaps. They assert that the definition is too broad and ambiguous and that supervising or partner prescribers must have extensive prescribing experience. In practice, these prescribers should be medical practitioners—not a wider group that could include other, non-medical practitioners. Prescribing agreements for designated RN prescribers must clearly document the roles of the RN and the authorised practitioner. There needs to be clarity that this role is medically led and auditable by the organisations in which designated RN prescribers work and/or by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Where RN endorsement involves mentoring, there must be certainty that the mentors are clearly qualified for broad prescribing and are accountable within robust clinical governance. While the College of GPs support strengthening the Professional Services Review to ensure consistent oversight of designated RN prescribers, they warn that proceeding with PBS prescribing reforms before nurse practitioner accreditation standards, scope boundaries and professional safeguards are finalised would risk undermining patient safety and the integrity of collaborative care models. The college also warns that reforms to nurse practitioner accreditation standards have removed some of the existing safeguards. This includes the abolition of collaborative arrangements which legally required nurse practitioners and midwives to work in structured partnership with medical practitioners. This mandatory requirement was abolished in November 2024. Admission criteria to nurse practitioner training programs have also been relaxed significantly to reduce the prerequisite total hours of clinical and advanced nursing experience as an RN. Of particular concern is the proposal for nurse practitioners to be subject to only 30 hours of continuing professional development annually. This does not align with the minimum 50 hours of continuing professional development annually that GPs must undertake. The AMA has also consistently advocated that any prescribing of schedule 2, 3 or 4 medications must only occur within medically led, delegated team environments and always under an active prescribing agreement with a medical practitioner. While the AMA notes that not all their concerns have been addressed, they acknowledge that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has incorporated several important safeguards into the national prescribing framework introduced under the new registration standard. These include that designated RN prescribers, firstly, can only prescribe a limited range of medicines only for defined conditions and only within their scope of practice; must have at least 5,000 hours of recent clinical experience; and must complete an Australian Qualifications Framework level 8 qualification and have accredited training aligned with predetermined competencies. They must also have a six-month mentorship and a documented collaboration protocol within the prescribing agreement. The AMA also joins the RACGP in its concern that the bill does not clearly define the term 'authorised health practitioner'. They are concerned that one of the approval criteria allows prescribing agreements to be established with one or more PBS prescribers. This potentially opens the door for non-medical practitioners, including pharmacists or podiatrists, to act in this supervisory role in the future. The AMA argues strongly that only medical practitioners or nurse practitioners acting within their scope are suitably qualified to supervise prescribing. The AMA warns that permitting agreements with other professions risks undermining the collaborative model. They stress that doctors and nurses need to work together within defined protocols and safeguards. When care moves away from collaboration towards independent prescribing, risks multiply due to the fragmentation of care, gaps in clinical oversight and reduced continuity of care for patients. What is clear from the evidence presented by both the RACGP and the AMA is that prescribing is not an administrative function; it is a clinical responsibility grounded in deep training, broad diagnostic expertise and ongoing professional oversight. Australians rightly expect that the medicines they are prescribed, particularly higher-risk medications, are supported by robust safeguards and delivered within a model of care that protects continuity, safety and accountability. I agree wholeheartedly with the intent of this bill to expand access and support a more flexible and responsive primary healthcare workforce. But intent alone is not enough. It is one thing to extend access to medical care, but we must absolutely be resolute in ensuring that this greater access does not undermine patient safety and outcomes. For these reforms to succeed, the safety concerns of professional medical bodies with deep experience in the field of prescribing and patient care must be heeded, and the safeguards they urge must be implemented.
Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment (Technical Amendments) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Business | House debates
Yes, I second the amendment and reserve my right to speak.
I thank the member for Curtin for moving this motion and also Senator Thorpe for moving it in the other place. It is only by sheer luck that a bomb lobbed into the thick of a crowd at a peaceful...
I thank the member for Curtin for moving this motion and also Senator Thorpe for moving it in the other place. It is only by sheer luck that a bomb lobbed into the thick of a crowd at a peaceful rally of First Nations people in Boorloo on 26 January did not detonate, and it was only sheer luck that nobody was killed or seriously injured. This deeply disturbing event and the following response, or lack of it, raises many concerns and questions that need scrutiny and a response. The reality is a home-made bomb was thrown into a peaceful public gathering where families, elders and children were present, gathering in a way that was their democratic right to express their own views. This was a potential mass casualty event and it was avoided not because the risks were managed but because the device failed. And yet, in the aftermath, the response from much of the political leadership and media was muted to the point of seeming indifference. Of particular note was the fact that the leader of Western Australia's opposition Liberal Party, Basil Zempilas, took three days to even mention it publicly. Where was the outrage? Where was the urgency, the clear and immediate condemnation, the sustained attention and the decisive action? Instead, there was minimisation and there was delay. It was only after First Nations leaders and communities pushed for answers that WA Police confirmed they were investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism, but that response did not seem to happen automatically—it had to be demanded—and that should concern us. This incident reflects how far racial hatred against our First Nations people has been allowed to mushroom, and how emboldened people now feel to act on it. The slow and muted response is also sadly indicative of the institutionalisation of racism against our First Nations people, and this incident has not happened in isolation. The attempted bombing at the Invasion Day rally at Boorloo follows a pattern of racism and violence directed at our First Nations people that so often does not make it into the media as it should and does not receive the response that it should. Just last year in August, the Neo-Nazi attack on the Camp Sovereignty in Naarm, a sacred Indigenous site for healing, ceremony and protest, was similarly muted. Four people were injured that day, two seriously, with head injuries requiring hospitalisation. Again, this incident was initially underreported and minimised. The City of Melbourne had been warned of the potential threat against that camp, but those who made that warning received no response. These events reflect an escalation in racism and threats against First Nations people that too often goes unnamed. Too often it is left to First Nations people themselves to fight for the recognition of the seriousness of these attacks, to ensure they are not again overlooked by the media, politicians and law enforcement, and to force a response that should have come immediately and automatically. There is a clear step that the government can take. More than a year ago, the National Anti-Racism Framework was delivered by the Australian Human Rights Commission. It sets out practical measures that can be used to address racism against First Nations peoples: truth-telling for First Nations people, support for self-determination, a nationally recognised definition for First Nations cultural safety and coordinated action across health, media, justice, the arts and data. It recognises that racism in Australia is systemic and structural. The government hasn't yet responded to this proposal, it has not yet funded the framework and it has not yet implemented it. That is a decision. If the government is serious about preventing violence against Australia's First Nations people, rather than simply reacting when it nearly costs lives, then it should urgently fund and implement the National Anti-Racism Framework in partnership with First Nations communities across the country.
Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
by leave—I move amendments (1) to (3) as circulated in my name together: (1) Schedule 1, item 13, page 22 (after line 19), after paragraph 114B.4(1)(a), insert: (aa) either: (i) the person...
by leave—I move amendments (1) to (3) as circulated in my name together: (1) Schedule 1, item 13, page 22 (after line 19), after paragraph 114B.4(1)(a), insert: (aa) either: (i) the person intends the training to facilitate the commission of a hate crime; or (ii) the training is likely to materially assist the commission of a hate crime; and (2) Schedule 1, item 13, page 23 (after line 9), after paragraph 114B.5(1)(a), insert: (aa) either: (i) the person intends the funds to facilitate the commission of a hate crime; or (ii) the funds are likely to materially assist the commission of a hate crime; and (3) Schedule 1, item 13, page 24 (after line 15), after paragraph 114B.6(1)(a), insert: (aa) either: (i) the person intends the support or resources to facilitate the commission of a hate crime; or (ii) the support or resources are likely to materially assist the commission of a hate crime; and All Australians, including Jewish people, have the human right to feel safe in Australia, and, over the last two years, we've witnessed a deeply troubling escalation in antisemitism that has left many Jewish Australians feeling vulnerable to violence in their own communities. This bill seeks to respond to that reality. Whilst I fully support efforts to criminalise the incitement of racial hatred and to prohibit organisations that actively promote or encourage such hatred—these are important and necessary steps—we must also, while seeking to protect one right, ensure that we do not erode others. Our response must be proportionate, well calibrated and firmly grounded in human rights principles. I note the rushed nature of this debate and the lack of time in being able to get across this bill adequately, as well as the compressed nature of the bill. I also note that I had a second reading amendment that I would have liked to have introduced, but debate was curtailed, so I was not able to do that. That amendment noted that the Australian Human Rights Commission introduced a National Anti-Racism Framework in November of 2024 and the government has not responded. During the very limited consultation on the original exposure draft, numerous significant concerns have been raised, including by the Australian Human Right Commissioner. Many of those concerns remain unresolved in the current version of this bill. One particular area of concern relates to the proposed prohibited hate groups framework. As identified by the Australian Human Rights Commission, this framework is overly broad, lacks essential procedural fairness and risks criminalising people on the basis of association rather than on their conduct or their intention. It is this critical aspect of the bill that this amendment addresses. In criminalising a wide array of activities, such as attending training or providing support after a group has been listed without clear evidentiary thresholds or fair-listing processes, the laws could capture people engaged in an activity that had nothing to do with promoting hatred or violence. Under this bill, a person could be prosecuted simply for receiving training from a listed organisation, even if the training had no connection to hate motivated conduct and the individual had no intention to be involved in hate motivated conduct. The threshold is extremely low for offences of such gravity. Remember that this could result in a person spending several years in jail. This amendment clarifies that offences relating to training, funding or support would apply only where the conduct is intended to facilitate or is likely to materially assist the commission of a hate crime. This amendment responds to the recommendation of the Australian Human Rights Commission. It provides better balance, better targeting and better alignment with human rights principles, and, for that reason, I commend the amendment to the House.
Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2) as circulated in my name together: (1) Clause 2, page 2 (after table item 4), insert: (2) Schedule 2, page 86 (after line 6), at the end of the...
by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2) as circulated in my name together: (1) Clause 2, page 2 (after table item 4), insert: (2) Schedule 2, page 86 (after line 6), at the end of the Schedule, add: Part 8 — National Firearms Safety Council 217 National Firearms Safety Council There is established a National Firearms Safety Council (the Council). 218 Constitution of the Council The Council is to consist of: (a) the Chair; and (b) at least 7, but no more than 10 appointed members. 219 Function of the Council The function of the Council is to provide independent, evidence-based policy advice to governments on any matter relating to firearms and harms that may arise from their use by: (a) collecting, analysing and publishing national firearms data, including licence and firearms numbers and types, firearms categorisation, firearms access laws and practices, and trends across jurisdictions, through regular public reporting; and (b) commissioning and coordinating public health and criminological research into firearms-related harm, including suicide, domestic and family violence, accidental shootings, theft, and crimes of violence; and (c) developing national best-practice standards and benchmarks for firearms regulation, including licensing, storage, training, inspections, and risk screening; and (d) monitoring and reporting annually to the Parliament on jurisdictional compliance with the National Firearms Agreement, and the effectiveness of legal frameworks for the regulation of firearms in Australia, including identifying regulatory failures and making recommendations; and (e) identifying conflicts of interest and regulatory capture risks; and (f) promoting transparency and integrity in firearms governance and advisory processes; and (g) developing harm prevention and education initiatives; and (h) other matters as requested by the Minister. 220 Appointment of Council members (1) Each Council member is to be appointed by the Minister by written instrument, on a part-time basis. (2) An appointed member holds office for the period specified in the instrument of appointment. The period must not exceed 4 years. Considerations of appointment (3) The Minister must not appoint a person as a member to the Council unless: (a) the Minister first appoints a selection panel consisting of at least 3 persons for the purposes of assessing whether a candidate is suitable for appointment; and (b) the independent selection panel has advertised the appointment, conducted interviews and shortlisted candidates for appointment on the basis of the following criteria: (i) the person has substantial expertise, qualifications or experience in at least one of the following: (A) injury prevention; (B) public health; (C) policing; (D) public or community safety; (E) domestic and family violence; (F) suicide prevention; (G) invasive species; (H) regulatory policy; (ii) integrity; (iii) does not have a current or previous interest in, or represents or has previously represented, any industry, business, organisation or person that has or may benefit financially from changes to firearms regulation, or has a commercial interest in such matters; and (c) the independent selection panel has provided to the Minister a comparative assessment of the shortlisted candidates against the criteria in paragraph (b), and a certification statement indicating that they are eligible for appointment; and (d) that person has been shortlisted for the appointment by an independent panel in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c). 221 Chair of Council The Minister must appoint a Council member to be the Chair of the Council if that person has been shortlisted for the appointment by an independent panel in accordance with subitem 220(3). Today I'm introducing an amendment to the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 that would require the government to establish a national firearms safety council based on the principles of public health and public safety. Australia's firearm management framework, forged in the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy in 1996, is recognised around the world for saving lives. But, for almost 30 years, our laws have not evolved to keep pace with changes in firearm technology, patterns of ownership or emerging risk factors. Regulatory approaches between states and territories have drifted apart, and national oversight mechanisms have weakened. Our gun laws are only as strong as our weakest jurisdiction. In the wake of the Bondi attacks, Australians have been alarmed to realise that, since the Port Arthur massacre, firearm ownership has not decreased but grown significantly, with more than one million firearm owners and four million registered guns—a 25 per cent increase from 1996, with some individuals owning over 250 firearms. The rise in licences and guns has occurred especially in urban areas. In my own urban Sydney electorate, there are at least two individuals that have around 200 guns each; they are not dealers or collectors. The recent Bondi attack, with 15 innocent people murdered and many more injured, was a devastating reminder of the consequences when regulatory systems fail. Authorities have confirmed that the weapons used were legally owned. This exposes serious deficiencies in licensing, firearm categorisation oversight and national coordination. The gradual erosion of the National Firearms Agreement has occurred under sustained pressure from powerful vested interests and cashed-up gun lobby groups in Australia. The Bondi tragedy demands a national response to address these failings. A YouGov poll commissioned in December found that 92 per cent of Australians support stronger gun laws. Strong gun laws are not only critical to reducing the potential for massacre events; they are also crucial in the fields of domestic violence and suicide and accidental death prevention. In recent years we've also seen the tragic murders of several police officers in the course of their work. Gun harm is a public health and public safety issue, and yet, to date, the voices of these sectors have been largely drowned out. Whilst I support the provisions in the government's bill to strengthen gun laws today, we must also ensure that, over the years, our National Firearms Agreement evolves to remain fit for purpose. That's why I'm proposing the establishment of an independent, evidence based national firearms safety council, a body designed to ensure Australia's firearm laws continue to evolve and keep Australians safe. Australia must not wait until the next major tragedy before again taking action. This proposal stems from the work of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, which includes Gun Control Australia, the Public Health Association of Australia and the Alannah & Madeline Foundation. It would embed community voices, public health expertise and transparency into national firearms policy. And, crucially, it would operate independently of industry influence. Among its responsibilities, the council would collect, analyse and publish national firearms data including licence and firearm numbers and types, approvals and refusals, and emerging trends; monitor and report on jurisdictions' compliance with the reformed 2026 National Firearms Agreement, identifying gaps, inconsistencies and regulatory failures; provide independent, evidence based advice to governments; commission and coordinate research into firearm related harm including suicide, family and domestic violence, accidental shootings, theft and crimes of violence; and develop national best-practice standards for licensing, safe storage inspection and risk screening. It would also evaluate firearm access pathways to ensure they do not undermine genuine-needs assessments. It would support community focused harm prevention and report to parliament annually to ensure transparency and accountability. A national firearms safety council would strengthen national coordination and ensure our regulations keep pace with emerging risks and ultimately save lives. These amendments are a practical, evidence based measure that honours Australia's longstanding commitment to preventing gun harm. I commend these amendments to the House and urge all those who care deeply for the safety of Australians to support these amendments.
Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
The horrific events of Bondi on 14 December marked a heartbreaking end to 2025. That day marked the worst mass shooting in Australia in 30 years. Fifteen innocent people were killed, 40 injured...
The horrific events of Bondi on 14 December marked a heartbreaking end to 2025. That day marked the worst mass shooting in Australia in 30 years. Fifteen innocent people were killed, 40 injured and thousands directly and indirectly impacted by grief and trauma—scars that will be with them for life. On behalf of everyone in Mackellar, on the northern beaches of Sydney, I send our love to the Jewish community and our neighbours in Bondi. We send our deepest condolences to everyone who is grieving. We stand with you in grief, in solidarity and in resolve, and we will not forget. A summer evening that should have been filled with joy has been forever etched in our national memory as a moment of profound shock, horror and loss. This was a sickening act of antisemitic violence that targeted the Australian Jewish community on a day that should have been one of hope for them and a celebration of light prevailing over dark. This is not the Australia we know; it is not the Australia we will accept. All Australians should feel safe and welcome in this country. The day of 14 December was also a day of extraordinary courage and care, heroism and love—love for our neighbours, for fellow Australians, for fellow human beings. So I would like to extend a number of enormous thankyous on behalf of the people of Mackellar. Firstly, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all the bystanders and first responders who put their own lives at risk to save others that day. I cannot imagine the level of relief of those injured when people arrived to help them so quickly. Our heartfelt thanks go to the police officers, paramedics, ambulance officers, healthcare workers and emergency services. Special thanks must also go to the local lifeguards and lifesavers, many of whom ran into live fire to help. Their bravery and composure saved lives in unimaginable circumstances. Thank you to all the incredibly brave bystanders—people of different faiths and backgrounds—who, against all natural instincts, ran towards danger, not away from it, to respond with courage and compassion. This is the true Aussie spirit, and you made us beyond proud. Amongst the many incredible acts of heroism, I want to make special mention of the actions of Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian born Muslim man who acted to disarm one of the shooters. Like others, he understood full well that he could be killed that day, saying to his cousin, 'I'm going to die. Tell my family I saved people's lives.' Acting out of compassion for his fellow humans, Ahmed not only saved innumerable lives that day but also helped prevent the further fracturing of our social cohesion, by unintentionally preventing the collective blame of an entire community. This is absolutely critical because, as Ali Kadri said in his article on 17 December, identity based suspicion does not make society safer. It fractures trust, deepens resentment and creates the very conditions in which violence becomes more likely. I also want to make special mention of 22-year-old Mackellar local Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, who graduated just four months earlier. He was one of the first police officers to respond. Even after being critically injured, Jack continued helping others. His actions were driven by an unwavering commitment to protect the community, even at great personal risk. Jack has undergone multiple surgeries and has lost the sight in one eye. Jack helped save lives that day, and all Australians are eternally grateful. Thank you, Jack, for your courage, professionalism and selflessness. In Mackellar we were all so relieved when we heard that Jack had made it home from hospital in time to celebrate Christmas with his family. This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must actively protect our fundamental Australian values of fairness and tolerance. We must renew efforts to eradicate antisemitism and all forms of prejudice. This is a time for unity—to come together and strengthen what is good in this country and not allow hate to weaken us. The day of 14 December displayed the worst of humanity, but it also displayed the best. The countless acts of selflessness and courage showed us that light is stronger than dark after all. On that dark day of 14 December, the light of humanity also blazed powerfully.
Fossil Fuel Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Resources. Minister, more than 80 per cent of Australia's gas is used for exports, tripling domestic gas prices and doubling electricity prices. In 2011,...
My question is to the Minister for Resources. Minister, more than 80 per cent of Australia's gas is used for exports, tripling domestic gas prices and doubling electricity prices. In 2011, Santos's Gladstone LNG joint venture signed export contracts, despite not having sufficient gas reserves, forcing gas to be diverted from the domestic market. Can the minister confirm that this egregious export contract will not be extended beyond 2031 when it expires, as recommended by the ACCC?
Peninsula Senior Citizens Toy Repair Group | Statements by Members | House debates
For the last 50 years the Peninsula Senior Citizens Toy Repair Group in Mackellar have been bringing joy to children locally and around the world by restoring and recycling toys. Last week I...
For the last 50 years the Peninsula Senior Citizens Toy Repair Group in Mackellar have been bringing joy to children locally and around the world by restoring and recycling toys. Last week I thoroughly enjoyed visiting their toy workshop, which is filled to the rooftop with toys, to celebrate their 50th anniversary and to see firsthand the amazing work they do. They held a hugely successful toy drive to mark the occasion. Peninsula toys was established in 1975 with the goal of creating a local organisation that would benefit the community by providing an engaging activity for senior citizens, bringing joy to underprivileged children and contributing to toy recycling efforts, thereby reducing landfill waste. Today, over 30 dedicated retirees, both male and female, devote countless hours each week to ensuring that children in need have access to toys, books, games, puzzles and more. Santa's elves have nothing on peninsula toys, who work all year round distributing thousands of restored and recycled toys to countries such as Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, Ghana ,Tonga and Fiji. They also provide toys to drought-stricken farming families through Rotary and Lions clubs, to First Nations communities in Sydney and Brewarrina and to children in hospital. I congratulate them on their 50th birthday and thank them for their dedication and commitment to bringing joy to so many.
Domestic and Family Violence | Constituency Statements | House debates
Yesterday marked the launch of the UN 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. In Australia in 2024, a woman was killed every four days, and intimate partner violence contributes to...
Yesterday marked the launch of the UN 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. In Australia in 2024, a woman was killed every four days, and intimate partner violence contributes to more death and disability in women aged 25 to 44 than any other preventable cause. This is simply astounding. And these are not just numbers; they are lives cut short. The ongoing ramifications of domestic and family violence are devastating. It rips families apart, and the ripple effect on our society is endlessly damaging. In 2024 in my electorate on the northern beaches of Sydney we had the second-highest increased rate of domestic violence related assaults in New South Wales—and these are only the reported cases. This underscores the urgent need for government investment in prevention, culture change and more support and accommodation services, including in Mackellar. The recent, shocking Guardian investigation into the response of Queensland police in the deaths of three women in that state lays bare just how much work there is still to do on changing the culture around domestic and family violence in this country, especially for our frontline responders. In Mackellar, the Northern Beaches Domestic Violence Network brings together local providers and community organisations to support victims-survivors of domestic and family violence. On behalf of the northern beaches community, I extend the most enormous and heartfelt thankyou to you for your tireless care and compassion. These organisations include the Zonta club, the Women's Resilience Centre, Lifeline Northern Beaches, MoWaNa Safe Space and the Northern Beaches Council. Other key members, the Northern Beaches Women's Shelter and Women & Children First, are trusted specialist providers of crisis accommodation for mothers and children fleeing violence. These charitable organisations have delivered thousands of nights of safety and support to those in need, and yet on average both organisations turn away between 40 and 50 families a month due to a lack of capacity. The wait for social housing for families in New South Wales can extend to 10 years. Despite this, across the northern beaches there are only 10 government funded crisis rooms available for women and children escaping domestic violence, and none at all suitable for mothers with boys over 12. For many women and children, sadly, the approaching holiday season does not bring a sense of joy and relief. It brings a heightened sense of fear and a risk of abuse. The wish of many women and children this Christmas is simply to be safe from harm and to know that, if they do reach out for help, it will be there. Quite frankly, it does not seem like much to ask.
Commonwealth Prac Payment | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
I too welcome the member for Indi's topic for debate today, because it truly is a matter of public importance. I really appreciate, as well, the contributions from those opposite who obviously...
I too welcome the member for Indi's topic for debate today, because it truly is a matter of public importance. I really appreciate, as well, the contributions from those opposite who obviously have a really strong passion for education and further investment in education as well. But our young people are doing it tough right now, and the lack of financial support for students doing mandatory prac placements is an important aspect of this. Today's generation of students are navigating an environment of high living costs—the costs of rent, groceries, transport and utilities—and this leaves students across the country struggling to make ends meet. On top of these financial challenges, mandatory placements are forcing students into real hardship right now, because of the inability to earn an income over long periods of full-time practical training and because of the need to pay rent, sometimes on top of their usual rent. For many the choice is stark—sacrifice basic needs or jeopardise their education. Too often, young students are skipping meals, living in their cars and making the difficult choice about whether or not to give up on their dreams and drop out of their studies completely. They are being forced into vulnerable situations. This growing economic strain threatens not only student wellbeing and safety but also the sustainability of our future health workforce. The introduction of the Commonwealth Prac Payment scheme on 1 July this year was timely, necessary and very welcome. Supporting nurses, midwives, social workers and teachers during their compulsory placements has been widely welcomed as a positive step towards addressing acute workforce shortages in schools, hospitals and aged care. While this targeted measure aims to boost enrolments and retention in these critical sectors, it disregards comparable placement demands and workforce shortages in other disciplines. For thousands of students undertaking allied health and medical degrees, amongst other things, compulsory unpaid placements mean financial stress, emotional strain and physical exhaustion. And they are not alone; it's also impacting students in veterinary sciences, engineering and agriculture, amongst many others. The focus of our debate today is allied health, so I'm going to read out some testimonials from people who are currently studying medical radiation science, dietetics and occupational therapy—professions vital to medical diagnosis, cancer treatment and chronic disease prevention and management. One student stated: I go without food, and work outside of placement hours to afford accommodation—this cycle is exhausting and restrains my time to study whilst on placement. Another said: Being able to work and support myself during a full time 36-week placement has been virtually impossible and incredibly stressful. It has had a huge impact on my mental health. Another said: I feel extremely burnt out and exhausted and struggle to apply myself on placement academically. Another said: There is an assumption that we all live at home with parents that can afford to support us, when many of us don't. I feel that financial stress has greatly impacted by grades and health over the placements these past three years. I have considered dropping out many times … Lastly, another said: There are people who are living in their car so they can afford to be on placement. These are not isolated stories. They paint a dire picture—students facing homelessness, skipping meals and living in unsafe conditions right now. We are burning out our young people before they even start their careers. How can this be acceptable? By not supporting our allied health and medical students, we are jeopardising the development of the future health workforce Australia desperately needs. Allied health professionals, collectively, are the largest health workforce in primary care. They represent the second-largest clinical workforce in Australia, after nursing and midwifery. Mackellar student Courtney, who is currently on placement in Ballarat as part of her masters of dietetics, said that many allied health students feel that their ineligibility for the prac payment is a kick in the guts that some professions are more valued than others. Let's ensure that no student is forced to choose between living in their car and their education. I urge the government to develop a roadmap that lays out a pathway to add all courses that have mandatory prac components to the scheme, including allied health and medical students. If we fail to act, we not only fail these students, but the future health of our nation.
Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games | Private Members' Business | House debates
I rise in support of the motion brought on by the member for Ryan, and I thank the member for bringing this really important issue to the House. Brisbane and Australia have a huge opportunity...
I rise in support of the motion brought on by the member for Ryan, and I thank the member for bringing this really important issue to the House. Brisbane and Australia have a huge opportunity ahead with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games. But with that opportunity comes a responsibility to plan well, to plan transparently and to plan with the people who will live with the outcomes and the infrastructure long after the closing ceremony. We don't have to look far to understand what happens when Olympic planning goes wrong. Images of abandoned venues around the world are haunting reminders—vast structures, built at enormous expense, now rusting and empty. In Beijing the iconic birds nest dazzled during the games but has struggled ever since and is largely unused. Athens had little in the way of legacy planning, and many of its venues slipped almost immediately into disuse and disrepair. Even here, in Australia, Sydney's own Olympic Park offers lessons. Despite the excitement and the civic pride of the 2000 games, planning for post games was inadequate, and it was a heavily car-dependent destination from the outset. These shortcomings weren't inevitable but were the result of decisions made without deep community engagement or long-term vision. But there are positive examples too. London's planning for the 2012 games showed what's possible when you start early, listen carefully and think long term. Their games drove major regeneration; accelerated a city-wide transformation that was already underway; and engaged best-practice, environmentally sustainable development. Barcelona did the same for 1992, investing the majority of its funds not in sport but in lasting improvements to the city, successfully integrating a mega-event into long-term urban policy and planning. This led to a sustained economic and cultural benefit for the local community. There are already concerning signs that Brisbane may be missing the opportunity not just to host a great games but to improve the city for decades. Brisbane's initial commitment to host the world's first climate positive Olympic Games has been quietly watered down already, with the phrase 'climate positive' removed from the contract and replaced with softer language. Experts and designers have warned that, without strong oversight, Brisbane risks falling into the same traps other host cities have faced—poor planning, design compromises and infrastructure that creates more problems than it solves. There is a real opportunity here to invest in infrastructure that works for the games and continues serving local people well after 2032, both in Brisbane and around Australia. There's an opportunity to invest in sustainable mass transport, including zero-emissions buses and electric ferries; to create better walking and cycling links, especially for those first and last miles; to convert the athletes village into desperately needed social and affordable housing after the games; and, of course, to make sure small and medium local businesses benefit too. This isn't just about Brisbane either. If we're serious about creating a lasting Olympic legacy, we need long-term planning across all our key sporting venues nationwide. The Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation in Narrabeen in my electorate of Mackellar, as an example, offers immense potential to be a world class facility for team accommodation, training and competitions across a multitude of sports including athletics, swimming, rowing, basketball and even sailing. This enormous site on the outskirts of Sydney has huge potential but remains rundown and underutilised. If we get the planning right, the legacy lasts. If we don't, we risk repeating mistakes that other cities and our own city have already lived through. That's why meaningful engagement is absolutely essential. The Queensland government must genuinely engage with Brisbane residents, with local community groups and with experts in planning, architecture, sustainability and transport. The Australian Institute of Architects has put forward a comprehensive set of recommendations for the government, highlighting risks and also offering solutions. One of their key suggestions is the creation of an Olympics design integrity panel. It's commonsense and the kind of expert oversight that we should welcome. I welcome the member for Ryan's motion, and I support her call for the Queensland government to engage openly, to listen to the experts, and genuinely involve Brisbane communities in the planning for 2032.
I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ending Online Wagering on Greyhound Racing) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I second the motion. I start by thanking the member for Clark for his tireless advocacy for animal welfare and for bringing compassion and common sense to this parliament. There is widespread...
I second the motion. I start by thanking the member for Clark for his tireless advocacy for animal welfare and for bringing compassion and common sense to this parliament. There is widespread support for ending greyhound racing in this country. I've heard it consistently in my own electorate of Mackellar since I was elected in 2022 and I've seen it reflected in the national polling. The greyhound racing industry is one built on animal cruelty. In 2015, following the ABC Four Corners expose about the industry, a special commission of inquiry into greyhound racing in New South Wales was undertaken. The report described overwhelming evidence of systemic animal cruelty, including the mass killing of greyhounds, the widespread practice of live baiting, racing deaths and injuries, and the mistreatment of the dogs. The then premier of New South Wales, Michael Baird, acted swiftly to ban the industry in New South Wales, but this was soon overturned due to political pressure to give the industry another chance to reform itself. The industry has now had 10 years to reform itself. So where do we find ourselves a decade on? Sadly, it seems, not much has changed. Last year a handover report by New South Wales former chief veterinary officer Dr Alex Brittan claimed that some dogs were being raised at a 'barbaric' intensity, that rehomed animal figures were inflated and that some dogs were locked in metal cages. In the report, Dr Brittan wrote: There are cases of extreme distress, deep claw marks gouged all over the inside of metal cages and recent pools of blood from toenails that had been ripped off from clawing at the cage door in distress. The New South Wales Minister for Gaming and Racing, on reading the report, stated: This level of animal distress is appalling and can neither be condoned or excused. Last year, a new independent inquiry was undertaken to again look at greyhound racing in New South Wales. The report was handed to the racing minister early this year but is yet to be made public or acted upon. As we've heard, last year alone there were 128 recorded track deaths and a shocking 11½ thousand track injuries. Astoundingly, as the member for Clark has noted, Australia will soon be one of just four nations in the world that maintains a legal operating greyhound racing industry. The industry has had 10 years to reform itself here in New South Wales, and it has failed dismally. We've heard of other examples in Tasmania and around the country. If we want to ensure that the way we treat animals reflects modern Australian values, then this outdated and cruel practice must stop. Australians want this industry to stop, so I commend this bill to the House to end online wagering on greyhound racing.
Health Care | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. The Northern Beaches Hospital in Mackellar has provided both public and private services under a public-private partnership. Following the...
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. The Northern Beaches Hospital in Mackellar has provided both public and private services under a public-private partnership. Following the private operator Healthscope entering receivership in May this year, the announcement that public services would be transitioned to NSW Health was indeed very welcome. However, there is great uncertainty about the continuation of the world-class private services delivered there. Minister, what reassurance can you provide my community regarding ongoing access to all the private services at Northern Beaches Hospital?