Rowan Holzberger (Forde, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Debate on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Delivering an Efficient and Trusted Tax System) Bill 2026 gives me an opportunity to talk about the importance of charities in a working-class community like Forde, like the communities that we on this side of the House represent particularly. There are two groups of individuals I really want to give a shout out to. The first is Charlie and Jenny Bennett. They met each other at the age of 19, 40 years ago—I think that probably gives away their age! Four years before they met, Jenny was diagnosed with MS. It must have been a devastating diagnosis for a little girl to get. But that didn't get in the way for them, as it does not get in the way for many MS sufferers, who just get on with it, and they built a life together and contributed massively to their community. But, in 2013, Charlie had to leave work to become a full-time carer for Jenny.

I've got to say that Charlie is that sort of guy. I actually can't remember when I met him. He's just always been there, and he's always been an absolute inspiration to me. In those years that he's been looking after and caring for Jenny, it hasn't stopped him from participating fully in the community. In fact, he rides in the MS Brissie to the Bay fundraising ride every year and has now fundraised a cumulative total of about $100,000. This is one absolute legend from Logan. He's doing it again this year, and he's raised $16,384 out of an $18,000 goal. It is a phenomenal amount of money. It is truly a measure of an effort and a measure of a man and a measure of a couple that just were not going to be beaten by a debilitating disease. Something like one in four Australians live with a neurological condition, and I think something like only 66 per cent are supported through the NDIS.

There are another a couple of guys, Josh Steel and Dan, who are riding in the—I don't think I can say this word in here, but it is the S-box rally. It's an Australian colloquialism for a car that is not of a high standard. Forgive me for that allusion, but they're riding from Port Douglas down all the way to Melbourne in this dodgy VW that they've done up to raise money for cancer. Again, it's a personal story that motivates people, and Josh was motivated by his mum, who was a survivor of breast cancer. Dan is motivated by his father-in-law, who was not a survivor of prostate cancer, but they have turned tragedy into purpose. I think they've now got up to $22,780 of a $10,000 goal.

This legislation provides practical support to the government's goal of doubling that giving amount by the year 2030. As the member for Griffith talked about, it's those small little round-up donations that end up adding up to a lot of money, so this legislation is going to really supercharge the efforts which are exemplified by people like Charlie and Jenny and Josh and Dan.

The other thing that this legislation does which is notable apart from the technical, which is really the methodical and careful and deliberate way that this government goes about doing things, is make our tax system fairer, simpler and more sustainable. It is really gobsmacking that, in 2026, industries which can cause people harm are able to access research and development incentives at the same time. Again, the former government let all this happen while they brought in unfair tax cuts and then opposed our tax cuts. And so this sits within the government's broader strategy of a fairer, simpler and more sustainable tax system, a strategy which has delivered one tax cut in our first term and is going to deliver a tax cut this year and another one next year. That is on top of a broader strategy such as the LISTO, which is not an acronym which rolls readily off the tongues of our voters, but that lower income superannuation tax offset is going to mean a better retirement for 11,353 people in Forde, 7,688 of whom being women. About 68 per cent of these low-income earners are women. We can only do that because we are prioritising our tax system so that it is fair, simple and sustainable.

This government really has got on with the job of fixing up many years of neglect, underinvestment and bad management across so many realms. The Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services should be congratulated for his work. People within the Labor caucus who made this happen should be congratulated for their methodical work that today recognises the hard work that people like Charlie and Jenny, Josh and Dan selflessly put into our community to make Australia a better place.

Debate adjourned.

Federation Chamber adjourned at 13:25

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