House debates
Monday, 25 August 2025
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
Mr Speaker, I rise to speak as the new Chair of the Standing Committee on Petitions for the 48th Parliament. I present the first report of the Petitions Committee for the 48th Parliament,...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
I present the following 104 petitions:
- Responses (1 speech)
I present 53 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House:
- Statements (1 speech)
These petitions comprise of 104 e-petitions that were certified in order by the previous petitions committee—but were unable to be presented in the House before the 47th Parliament was...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers and participants will be significantly impacted and hold grave concern regarding changes to the...
- National Skills Week (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) during National Skills Week, we recognise the importance of Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector; (b) there have been more than...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust (0 speeches)
- Appointment (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948, Mr Violi be appointed a trustee to serve on the Parliamentary Retiring...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- La Trobe University Nexus Program (1 speech)
Nexus is a fantastic program run by La Trobe University that encourages people with undergraduate degrees and experience in different professions to fast-track a master of teaching degree while...
- Housing (1 speech)
The great Australian dream for many decades has been homeownership. Owning the home you live in ensures your kids have certainty of the school they attend; getting work is easier, and you can...
- Gippsland Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
Residents in Mallacoota are angry, disappointed and frustrated, and it's all because of the bureaucratic incompetence within the state and federal transport departments. In May 2021, I secured...
- Housing (1 speech)
Too many Australians are working hard, saving carefully and doing everything right, but the Australian dream of homeownership has felt out of reach. That is why the Albanese Labor government has...
- Early Childhood Education (1 speech)
We have an early childhood education and care problem, but it's not the one that you might think. Bradfield is experiencing a childcare glut, and it's a nuanced problem. The primary driver of...
- Housing (1 speech)
Owning a home is the great Australian dream, and that dream is getting closer for thousands of people. From 1 October, every Australian purchasing their first home will be able to enter the...
- Health Insurance Industry (1 speech)
Private hospitals are in crisis, and that's in no small part due to the health insurance industry. Now, the minister says insurers are increasing payments to private hospitals, but the hospitals...
- Housing Affordability (1 speech)
This morning the Prime Minister and the Minister for Housing and Minister for Cities fast-tracked the support we committed to providing to first home buyers during the recent federal election....
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
In June, the AEIOU centre in Arundel closed its doors—a specialist service for children with autism, gone overnight. Twelve families including children as young as two were given two weeks...
- Housing Affordability (1 speech)
Housing affordability is one of the most pressing challenges for my community and for my generation. It's a challenge that those opposite didn't want to face during their nine years in...
- Western Australia: Health Care (1 speech)
I want a better hospital for my constituents. That's why this is my 14th speech on this subject. Labor has governed Western Australia since 2017—almost a decade—and in that time they...
- Housing (1 speech)
There are far too many hardworking Australians who feel like their dream of homeownership in the communities in which they work, live and play has never been further out of reach. For too long,...
- Victory in the Pacific: 80th Anniversary (1 speech)
Eighty years ago the victory in the Pacific was a defining moment for our nation. On Saturday 16 August, I was honoured to join more than 300 Redland locals to commemorate the 80th anniversary of...
- Housing (1 speech)
In the Hunter we know what it means to work hard—to put the hours in at the coalface, on the tools, in our small businesses, on our farms and in the best vineyards and wineries in the...
- Bancroft, Mr Sunny (1 speech)
I'd like to acknowledge and remember the incredible life of Sunny Bancroft. Sunny was a very much loved Indigenous leader from the Clarence Valley, who recently passed away at the age of 76. He...
- Housing (1 speech)
First home buyers around the country will be relieved to learn today that we are bringing forward our commitment to our five per cent deposit scheme. That's all that's required for a deposit for...
- Berowra Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
Epping is the growth suburb of my electorate. You only need to look up in the sky and see the apartment buildings nearing completion or look at the vacant lots where apartment buildings are going...
- Housing (1 speech)
Buying a home for the first time is hard. The first hurdle you've got to cross is the 20 per cent deposit because if you can't get to 20 per cent, you've got to pay for mortgage insurance. For...
- South Australia: Marine Environment (1 speech)
I rise to rebuke this Albanese Labor government over its catastrophic mishandling of the algal bloom crisis in South Australia, which is a clear natural and national disaster. It's...
- Lalor Electorate: Housing (2 speeches)
The Leader of the Opposition might be interested to know that, thanks to this Prime Minister, 1,880 households in the electorate of Lalor bought a house with a five per cent deposit. That's what...
- Ministry (0 speeches)
- Temporary Arrangements (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence will be absent from question time for the next three days. The Minister for Defence Industry will answer questions on...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Housing (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The biggest announcement out of last week's Canberra talkfest was Labor's partial adoption of a coalition policy to freeze the construction code which we...
- Cost of Living (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Labor's three-day Canberra talkfest delivered no real relief for Australians. There was nothing to cut power bills, lower grocery prices nor reverse the...
- Housing (2 speeches)
My question is to the minister for housing, homelessness and cities: how is the Albanese Labor government helping Australians get into a home of their own, and are there any risks?
- Insurance Industry (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Financial Services. Minister, the insurance industry is failing Australians. For instance, health insurance premiums are sky-high, but returns to policyholders...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. What progress has been made at the Economic Reform Roundtable, especially to build more houses more quickly?
- Housing (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Albanese Labor government has presided over a historic rise in red tape in the housing sector, including over 1,500 new regulations in the Treasury and...
- Tertiary Education (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education. How is the Albanese Labor government helping Australians with a student debt to be able to own their own home? What has been the response to these...
- Fiscal Policy (2 speeches)
My question goes to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer introduce quantifiable fiscal rules to contain his spending spree?
- Apprenticeships (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Skills and Training. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to boost apprenticeships, including to build more homes for Australians? What obstacles are there?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Vietnam: Parliamentary Delegation (1 speech)
I'm pleased to inform the House that today we are joined by a parliamentary delegation from the Committee for National Defence, Security and Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly of Vietnam,...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Fiscal Policy (7 speeches)
My question goes to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Treasurer's claim in his previous answer that he has a fiscal rule to control spending, which is to bank most of the upward revision in...
- Housing (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government building more homes and addressing the housing crisis the...
- Medical Research Future Fund (6 speeches)
My question is for the minister for ageing, health, disability and the NDIS. The Medical Research Future Fund was set up to be a $20 billion fund which was to disburse $1 billion a year. It's now...
- Workplace Relations, Housing (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting wages and job creation especially so that we can build more homes for...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Burraneer Bay Public School (1 speech)
I would just like to acknowledge year 6 from Burraneer Bay Public School in the electorate of Cook, who join us in the gallery. Honourable members: Hear, hear!
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Foreign Investment (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. A single US private company owned by a US church was able to purchase almost $500 million of Australian prime agricultural land in around six months without the...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer update the House on what progress the Albanese Labor government has made when it comes to housing and in our economy more broadly?
- Review of Public Sector Board Appointments Processes (6 speeches)
My question is for the Treasurer. In February 2023, the government commissioned a review of public sector board appointments. At that time the Minister for the Public Service stated, 'In line...
- Housing (2 speeches)
My question is to the Leader of the House. How has the Albanese Labor government used parliament to deliver more homes for Australians? And is there anything before parliament that puts these...
- United States of America (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. This morning, the Prime Minister snapped at a journalist, saying he had given '5,324 answers' as to why he has failed to secure a meeting with the President...
- Climate Change (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How is the Albanese Labor government getting on with the job of reducing emissions and acting on climate change? Are there any...
- Disaster and Emergency Management (3 speeches)
This is to the Prime Minister. The CSIRO estimates that every $1 spent on disaster preparation saves up to $11 on disaster recovery costs, yet less than 13 per cent of the National Emergency...
- Child Care (2 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General. How is the Albanese Labor government progressing reform to the working-with-children checks system, and are there any recent updates to this important work?
- Critical and Strategic Minerals Industry (7 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Industry and Innovation. Can the minister confirm that the smelters in Tomago, Whyalla, Mount Isa and Tasmania are all either under...
- Child Care (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to strengthen safety in early childhood education and care?
- Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
- National Youth Parliament (1 speech)
I'd like to inform the House that earlier today I had the pleasure to officially launch the National Youth Parliament, which will involve 150 youth members, each representing one of Australia's...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Disaster and Emergency Management (1 speech)
I want to add to an answer that I gave in question time. Rounds 1 and 2 of the Disaster Ready Fund have been announced. Round 3 of the Disaster Ready Fund is about to be announced, in the coming...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 1 of 2025-26 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's performance audit report No. 1 of 2025-26 entitled Implementation of ethical frameworks by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations: Department of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Reference (1 speech)
I also present a schedule showing the allocation to committees of annual reports of government departments and agencies. The schedule read as follows— 48th Parliament Speaker's Schedule...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (10 speeches)
It is a great honour to be returned to this place for a sixth term. Indeed, I will continue to work just as hard for the people of the Riverina, albeit a vastly different Riverina than the one I...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Child Abuse: Childcare Centres (1 speech)
There needs to be a royal commission into child care. I listened very closely to the minister, and I have every respect for the member for Blaxland. I do. I listened closely to him in question...
- Leichhardt Electorate: Albanese Government (1 speech)
The federal election was held on 3 May 2025, and up north we hit the ground running. We were actually working the cape when the seat was declared in June. As the Prime Minister says, 'Now is the...
- Small Business (1 speech)
The bluff and blunder of the productivity roundtable is finally over. We saw a three-day talkfest unravel with some potential policy outcomes, including copied parts of coalition housing policy...
- Manufacturing Industry (1 speech)
MASCARENHAS () (): I think that it's useful to highlight that the Albanese Labor government has been doing a phenomenal job when it comes to the budget. I might remind the member for Lindsay that...
- Civics Education (2 speeches)
Civics and citizenship might be in the national curriculum, but in many schools across the country these barely get a look-in. In the most recent National Assessment Program report from 2024 on...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Fowler Electorate: Community Events (1 speech)
Last week I had the privilege of visiting Scalabrini's Live Easy social hub, where I got to meet amazing seniors living in our wonderful and diverse community of Fowler. Scalabrini is a...
- International Relations: Australia and the Middle East (1 speech)
I was proud to join with tens of thousands of people to March for Humanity across the Sydney Harbour Bridge recently. This sent a very powerful message across the world that enough is enough: the...
- Sugar Cane Industry (1 speech)
Out of bed and off we go! It's time to see how sugarcane grows. It is absolute delight to inform the House today of an educational children's book, No Drama Cane Farmer. Written by a constituent...
- Economic Reform Roundtable (1 speech)
Like many in my community I was thrilled when the Treasury announced the Economic Reform Roundtable. Tackling the big issues on resilience, productivity and budget sustainability is important to...
- La Trobe Electorate: Cultural Celebrations (1 speech)
I recently had the honour of attending two vibrant cultural celebrations reflecting the rich diversity and community spirit of my electorate of La Trobe. Namaskaram! On Saturday I joined the...
- Cambodia (1 speech)
Cambodian Australians are a vital part of the Australian community, particularly in my electorate of Isaacs. Their resilience, strong family ties and commitment to fairness and dignity reflect...
- Goldstein Electorate: King's Birthday Honours and Awards (1 speech)
I want to congratulate all of the recipients of honours in this year's King's Birthday Honours List. Goldstein is blessed with incredible residents who make enormous contributions to our...
- Housing (1 speech)
I said that, when I got elected, housing would be my No. 1 priority. Housing is the issue that is brought up to me consistently when I'm doorknocking, making phone calls or speaking to people at...
- Pingelly Somerset Alliance (1 speech)
I rise today to highlight this government's appalling record of delivering on its promises. The delays in transitioning to the new model of seniors home-care packages have been a disgrace, and...
- Eagles RAPS, Simms, Uncle Greg (2 speeches)
I'd like to recognise the phenomenal work of Sally Wynd, who set up Doonside's Eagles RAPS. Nearly 30 years ago, spurred by tragedy, Sally and husband Marten determined to make a difference for...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Environment (13 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the Government's environment credentials are all washed up; (b) after refusing to even meet with scientists regarding the spread of toxic algal bloom...
- Women's Economic Security (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government's commitment to driving economic equality for Australian women, from closing the gender pay gap and lifting wages for women, to investing...
- Fossil Fuel Industry (6 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) during the 2025 federal election, the then Leader of the Opposition promised to approve Woodside's North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia...
- Cost of Living (11 speeches)
by leave—On behalf of the member for Chisholm, I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government's number one priority is helping Australians with the cost of living; (2) notes that...
- Stone, Mr John Owen, AO (6 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the passing of John Owen Stone AO on 17 July 2025; (2) notes his extensive contribution to public life, including his service as Secretary to the...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Small Business (5 speeches)
I rise to speak on this motion about small business. Ironically, I stood here a year ago—almost to the day—and I made a few predictions of what was to come for small business. It...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Forge, Ms Tuppence (1 speech)
Today I rise to celebrate a world champion from Indi. Tuppence Forge—or Tup, as she likes to be known—has bucked her way into the history books, winning the women's World Championship...
- Australia Post (1 speech)
Australia Post has recently advised me that the Shortland post office will be closing its doors in November. This news has caused considerable distress for people in my community. For Shortland...
- Nanna's Touch Community Connections Lithgow (1 speech)
Today I pay tribute to Nanna's Touch Community Connections Lithgow, which is a whole-of-community network for anyone in the Lithgow area needing a helping hand or social connection. Since its...
- Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (1 speech)
I rise today to recognise the outstanding work carried out in my electorate by volunteers at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, which is known by the acronym HARS. HARS is a...
- Fowler Electorate: Vietnam Veterans' Day (1 speech)
I attended the Vietnam Veterans' Day event at Canley Heights RSL and Sporting Club last week. Also known as Long Tan Day, this important occasion solemnly reminds us of the courage, sacrifice and...
- Brokenwood Wines (1 speech)
The Hunter has done it again. I'm thrilled to announce to the House that the incredible Brokenwood Wines in the Hunter Valley has been named the 2026 Halliday winery of the year. The Halliday...
- Grey Electorate: Country Shows (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the many fantastic country shows across my electorate of Grey, representing over 92 per cent of South Australia. Since the beginning of the show season, I've attended...
- Doyle, Sister Angela Mary, AO (1 speech)
This past weekend, I had the honour of celebrating an extraordinary milestone in our community: the 100th birthday of Sister Angela Mary Doyle AO. Sister Angela Mary has dedicated her life to...
- New South Wales: Floods (1 speech)
I'm not sure what the New South Wales Premier is playing at, but primary producers in my electorate are the ones paying the price. We learned just last Wednesday during budget estimates in the...
- Housing (1 speech)
Housing is the biggest issue in Barton and across the country. Labor has a vision to ensure that we address this issue head on and deliver, especially for our young people finding it hard to get...
- National Youth Parliament (1 speech)
Today I was thrilled to join my colleagues across the parliamentary spectrum to launch the National Youth Parliament for 2026. Anyone who follows my social media channels in my electorate knows...
- Magill Sunrise Rotary Club (1 speech)
The Magill Sunrise Rotary Club, located in the east of Sturt, might have as its orthodoxy relaxation, inclusivity and informality, but when I recently attended a breakfast meeting at the club I...
- Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program (1 speech)
The Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program, RYDA, saves lives and changes lives. With Australia's road toll on the rise and 60 per cent of fatal accidents occurring on rural and regional roads, we...
- Petrie Electorate: Packer Leather (1 speech)
I want to take a moment to pay tribute to one of our great local manufacturers, Packer Leather. This is a company with a proud history spanning back to 1891. It manufactures in Narangba and is...
- Fadden Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
Small business is the lifeblood of the northern Gold Coast, from Coombabah to Coomera, from Pacific Pines to Pimpama. These are the suburbs where Australians are taking risks, building futures...
- Share the Dignity (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge the important work of Share the Dignity, a remarkable Australian charity addressing an issue too often overlooked—period poverty. Founded in 2015 by Rochelle...
- Salvation Army (1 speech)
I wondered how long it would take those opposite to reach peak arrogance when it comes to the hypermajority that they enjoy. Of course, over the last term, I saw some actions that were rotten,...
- International Relations: Australia and Timor-Leste (1 speech)
It was 50 years ago today that Timorese refugees landed in ships at Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin. Stokes Hill Wharf holds deep symbolic and historical significance for Darwin. It was bombed on 19...
- Lyne Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge and praise the incredible resilience shown by local netballers and players across all footy codes—rugby, league and soccer—over this wet winter. Floods and...
- Werriwa Electorate: Diabetes Awareness (1 speech)
In Australia there are approximately 1.3 million people living with diagnosed diabetes. This represents about five per cent of the population, according to the Australian Institute of Health and...
- Bowman Electorate: Flight Paths (1 speech)
Over the past three years my community has witnessed Brisbane Airport flight paths increasingly shifted over the Redlands and ongoing consultation on a range of proposals to continue this...
- Moreton Electorate: MOBIUS (1 speech)
Wi-fi, Gardasil and modern solar cells—these are all things that are critical and important innovations from Australia. But too often the benefit and the uplift from critical innovations...
- McPherson Electorate: Insulin Pumps for Type 1 Diabetes (1 speech)
Recently I had the privilege of meeting 12-year-old Dexter Welsh, a remarkable young man from McPherson. When Dexter was just seven he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He shared with me his...
- Albanese Government: Economy (1 speech)
The Albanese Labor government has achieved something positive that you just won't read about in the economic textbooks. I've always believed that you need to run the economy like you run a...
- Vietnam Veterans' Day (1 speech)
Last week I had the honour of attending a couple of Vietnam Veterans Day services in my electorate. We had six, and I got to tour them—one down at Burpengary in the morning and then Bribie...
- Banks Electorate: Community Events (1 speech)
I rise to recognise the achievements of some of the wonderful groups in my electorate of Banks. A few weeks ago I was able to attend Lugarno Football Club's presentation day for their junior...
- Lee, Mr Kyle (1 speech)
I rise today to proudly recognise the outstanding achievement of locally raised star Kyle Lee on claiming a bronze medal while representing Australia at the World Aquatics Championships in July....
- My First Speech Competition, National Youth Parliament (1 speech)
Calling all Brisbane students in years 10, 11 and 12: this could be you standing right here. Milton Dick, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has launched the My First Speech competition...
- Campbell, Mr Graeme (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge the passing of a Goldfields legend whose name will be familiar in this place. Graeme Campbell, former member for Kalgoorlie, passed peacefully and surrounded by his...
- Chambers, Merton (2 speeches)
I rise to pay tribute to my friend the internationally renowned artist Merton Chambers, who passed away on 27 July 2025. Merton was born in Canada in 1929, and after graduating from art college...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Paid Parental Leave (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government's commitment to strengthening the paid parental leave system; (2) notes that on 1 July 2025: (a) the Government's paid parental leave...
- Australian Space Agency (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) that 1 July 2025 marks seven years since the official establishment of the Australian Space Agency; (b) the former Government committed more than $2...
- Mental Health (11 speeches)
I move: That this House notes that: (1) to meet growing need, the Government is putting mental health at the heart of Medicare and services at the centre of communities; (2) the Government is...
- Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the establishment and ongoing implementation of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, a significant bipartisan initiative designed to...
