Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to shine a light on an issue that continues to impact thousands of Australians: homelessness, particularly among women and young people. During Homelessness Week, I had the privilege of attending the Lady Musgrave Trust annual homelessness forum. The forum had one shared goal—ending women's homelessness. The forum was not only informative; it was deeply moving. We heard from women with lived experience, service providers on the ground and sector experts confronting the harsh reality that homelessness is not just sleeping rough. For many women, it means couch surfing, staying in unsafe relationships or living out of their cars, often with children in tow.

The Lady Musgrave Trust is one of Queensland's oldest charities, and it continues to lead the way. For nearly 140 years, they've supported women and young people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Their work is practical and life changing, from providing safe accommodation and tenancy support to publishing the Handy Guide ofWomen's Support Services, which is also available online, connecting vulnerable women to essential services. I thank them for their tireless work.

Homelessness is not inevitable; it is the result of compounding issues such as domestic and family violence, rental insecurity, poverty and a lack of affordable housing. While organisations like the Lady Musgrave Trust are doing truly exceptional work, they cannot do it alone. Governments at all levels must step up with long-term investment in social and affordable housing, greater support for frontline services and policies that prevent homelessness before it begins.

I'm proud of the work this Labor government is doing to that end. We're delivering real outcomes in Bonner. Since coming to government, 391 people in Bonner have bought their first home, thanks to Labor's Home Guarantee Scheme. We've delivered rent relief through back-to-back increases in Commonwealth rent assistance—an increase of nearly 50 per cent. Today, over 6,700 people in Bonner receive this support. We're funding more homes for women and children fleeing violence, in Wynnum, Manly and Mount Gravatt. Just this year, 24 new homes are being delivered through the Albanese government's crisis support accommodation programs. We're supporting the construction workforce, too, with over 400 construction apprentices in Bonner benefiting from the incentive payments. Labor's key apprenticeship program also offers up to $10,000 for those starting careers in housing construction or clean energy.

But homelessness and housing security are only part of the broader issue. Domestic and family violence continues to devastate lives across Australia. I want to take a moment to recognise the tireless efforts of a local group in my electorate, the Rotary Club of Wynnum and Manly, who are making a meaningful difference in this space. Every Friday morning, every week, Rotary members gather not just for coffee but for a cause. Their weekly catch-ups are part of an ongoing commitment to raise awareness, in my local community, of domestic violence—a quiet, consistent and powerful act of service. Domestic violence does not discriminate. It happens in every postcode, including beautiful bayside suburbs like Wynnum and Manly. Its effects are long lasting, and addressing it requires action from governments through to grassroots organisations. The Rotary Club of Wynnum and Manly understands this. Their visible and vocal presence reminds our community that domestic violence is not a private issue; it's a community one. I thank every member of their club for their unwavering commitment. Their simple, quiet acts of solidarity speak volumes.

Raising awareness of domestic and family violence must also go beyond a single month or campaign. That's why I was proud of Labor's announcement this week to stop the social security system being weaponised against women experiencing violence. The social security system, like many government systems, can be complex and, sadly, at times manipulated by perpetrators. That's why the Albanese Labor government is reforming the special circumstances debt waiver, giving Services Australia the power to waive debts incurred as a result of domestic and family violence. These reforms build on the already agreed National Cabinet work, including a comprehensive audit of Commonwealth systems to ensure they cannot be used to harm victims-survivors. As a former domestic violence lawyer, I have seen too many women leave relationships, particularly where there has been financial abuse or coercion and controlling behaviours, only to later discover debts they didn't even know existed.

The reforms introduced this week are a vital first step in putting control back into the hands of victims-survivors and ensuring our system supports safety and dignity. Our community cannot tackle domestic violence or homelessness alone, but together, through strong policy, comprehensive and compassionate leadership and grassroots commitment, we can make a difference.

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