Sarah Witty (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today in strong support of these appropriation bills because at their heart are fairness, opportunity and building a future that works for every Australian. Appropriations may sound technical—it did to me when I first heard it—but what we are really talking about today is the way this government chooses to invest in people, in communities and in the shared future of our nation. These decisions shape whether students can afford to study, whether families can buy their first home, whether communities can celebrate their culture and whether our children can look to a future with hope. I think nowhere is this more evident than in the electorate of Melbourne, a community rich in history, diversity, creativity and aspiration. Any investment in Melbourne is an investment into one of the beating hearts of Australia.

While the appropriation legislation itself is about allocating the funding that keeps government services running, I also want to highlight one of the biggest changes, which is easing the pressure on students and graduates through HECS. This reform will have one of the biggest impacts on people in my electorate, giving them more breathing space and helping them plan for their future. Melbourne is home to some of the largest concentrations of students in the country. We have the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Victoria University, ACU and countless TAFEs, other university campuses and training institutions. Every year tens of thousands of students come here to learn, to innovate, to prepare for the future. For too long those students have been saddled with debt that weighed them down before they even had a chance to stand on their own feet. This government has listened and has acted. The Albanese Labor government has cut HECS debt by 20 per cent across the board. That is an average saving of over $5,000 per student. In Melbourne, where so many young people carry this debt, it is life changing.

We are also lifting the repayment threshold so that graduates will not begin paying their debt until they earn above $67,000. That means young teachers, nurses, hospitality workers and creative professionals in Melbourne can focus on starting their careers, saving for a home and building our lives without the immediate pressure of a repayment system that bites too soon. This is not just a theory. It's about the young woman in Carlton who told me she put off applying for a postgraduate degree because her HECS debt was crushing her. It's about the young graduate in Docklands who said they were paying more in their HECS than their groceries each month. It's about the single mum in Abbotsford going back to study teaching who will now have more time to stabilise her income before repayments begin.

This measure recognises that education is an investment, not a burden. It recognises that the future prosperity of this country depends on giving young people the best possible start. It recognises that Melbourne, as a hub of universities, TAFEs and innovation, will feel these benefits most strongly.

Of course, helping young people into a secure future is not just about education; it's also about housing. Something that I heard from voters right across the electorate is that, for too many in Melbourne, the dream of homeownership feels out of reach. We all know the story. Housing prices are rising far faster than wages, and young families are locked in rental stress, unable to break into the market. In an electorate like Melbourne, where demand is high and affordability is stretched, this has been one of the most pressing concerns I have heard from my constituents. That is why I am proud that this government delivers on Labor's strong commitments to first home buyers.

Of course, these measures do not sit inside the appropriations bill itself, but they are central to the economic and social impact of the appropriations bill. They show how this government is focused on the cost-of-living pressures that matter most. We are expanding the first home buyers grants so that more buyers can purchase a property with as little as a five per cent deposit without the added burden of lenders mortgage insurance. That is tens of thousands of dollars saved upfront, making the difference between years of waiting and actually owning a home. Importantly, that is backed up with Labor's commitment to build 100,000 new homes for first home buyers. This is not just about numbers; it's about making sure that homes are available for people to live in.

In Melbourne, I hear from constituents who are desperate for this help. I think of the young couple in Fitzroy who came to me. They are both working hard and doing everything right. They are saving every cent they can for a deposit for their first home, but, at the same time, they are paying high rent to keep a roof over their heads. The single parent in Collingwood working two jobs but still unable to get a foothold in the market is not a one-off example; it is a story I hear all too often. I hear examples of someone who gets up before dawn to go to a cleaning shift, then rushes across the city to put hours behind the counter. I hear of workers doing shifts in offices and then in hospitality, only to return home late at night exhausted, barely able to spend time with their children before they need to go to bed. These are parents who work hard so their kids will not go without, who take an extra shift to cover school expenses and, while they are doing all that, are still expected to find the time to help with homework, show up for sports days and keep the family together under pressure that most of us would find overwhelming. When you are saving for a house deposit, every week can be a balancing act. After rent, after groceries, after petrol, there can be very little left. This is not about a lack of aspiration or a lack of discipline; it's about a system that has been stacked against ordinary people who are simply trying to give themselves and their children a better life.

Alongside that is another story: the graduate in Carlton who until recently believed that owning a home was a dream reserved for others. This is someone who worked hard at university, took on casual jobs to pay their way and then graduated, only to be hit with high HECS debt and insecure work. For years they resigned themselves to the idea that buying a home was out of reach, that they would always be renting, always on the move, never able to put down roots in the community they loved. This government is delivering real change in housing, and that was something that my community told me they wanted. They were loud and clear. They told me that they did not want empty words or political spin. They wanted real, practical solutions that make a difference in their lives.

This is Labor acting to ensure that the next generation of Melburnians can build their lives in the city they love, close to their work, close to their families and close to the community that gives them their strength and identity. It is about making sure that Melbourne remains a place where opportunity is possible not just for those who already have wealth behind them but for every young person who is willing to put in the effort.

Education and housing are vital, but what makes my electorate of Melbourne truly special is its culture, its creativity and its community spirit, and this appropriations bill recognises that. One of the highlights before the election was visiting Melbourne's Hellenic Museum with Senator Jana Stewart to announce the Albanese Labor government's pledge of $400,000 to spend on a landmark exhibition, Rituals: Gifts for the Gods. This brought over 100 rare artefacts from Greece, many never seen before outside of Greece, to our city. For Melbourne's vibrant Greek community, the largest Greek-speaking population and the largest Greek community in a single city outside Greece, this is about honouring heritage, deepening cultural ties and celebrating identity.

We are investing in the transformation of Melbourne's arts precinct, including support for The Fox: NGV Contemporary gallery, which will become the largest gallery of contemporary art in the Southern Hemisphere. I'm so proud of the NGV in my electorate. It's not just one of Victoria's treasures; it's also one of Australia's. I enjoyed visiting the French Impressionist works on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and I'm looking forward to visiting the Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo exhibition in December. Thanks to the Albanese government's investment, announced by the Minister for the Arts, more Australians will have the chance to experience the same spark of inspiration. A whole new generation will have an opportunity to fall in love with the arts, just as I do every time I visit the NGV. This investment in arts and culture not only enriches Melbourne and Australia's cultural life but brings millions of visitors and billions in economic benefit. It cements Melbourne as Australia's cultural capital.

Labor is supporting the African music and cultural festival at Federation Square, a joyful celebration of one of the fastest-growing communities. Every year, this festival brings people together with music, dance and food. It showcases the contribution African Australians make to our country and gives young people from diverse backgrounds a chance to shine. By supporting this festival, Labor is investing in inclusion, in belonging and in the multicultural future of Australia.

Just as we invest in the arts, we also recognise sport as a culture in its own right, and the Albanese government has done exactly that. In Melbourne, we know that sport is more than just a game; it's a pathway, a community and a chance for young people to find a place in the world. That's why I'm so proud that the Albanese Labor government has supported Play Our Way and is backing Melbourne Storm's Breaking Barriers initiative. Breaking Barriers is opening the doors of Rugby League to women and girls in Victoria, not only as players but as referees, coaches and leaders. Already we have seen female participation grow by 50 per cent last year and by a further 32 per cent this year. Twenty-eight new female referees have been trained and 40 new female coaches are stepping forward. This is the kind of change that lasts, and it is paying off. Just this season, the first female Storm team proudly ran out in purple at AAMI Park, a historic moment for our city and a glimpse of the NRLW's future that we are building in Victoria. With the government's investment, Breaking Barriers is not only growing the game but breaking down stereotypes, creating real opportunities for women and girls in Melbourne.

When we look across these appropriation measures and the impact they have on delivering services, we see HECS relief, housing innovations and cultural investment, and a clear story emerges. It is the story of a government that is listening to people; it is the story of a government that recognises the struggles young people face with debt, housing and cost-of-living pressures; and it is the story of a government that understands the importance of culture and community in making Australia a great place to live. For my constituents in Melbourne, these commitments mean hope—hope that education is affordable, hope that buying a home is possible, hope that heritage and creativity are valued, and hope that sport, music and culture will continue to thrive.

Appropriation bills are about what we choose to focus on. The focus of this government is clear. We value education because every young Australian deserves a fair start. We know that access to secure shelter is essential for human dignity. We support culture and community because they are the threads that bind us together. In my electorate of Melbourne, these investments will make a real difference. They will ease the burden of debt, they will open the door to homeownership and they will enrich our cultural life and strengthen our community spirit. That is what this bill delivers. That is why I'm proud to support it.

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