House debates
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Speaker I present report No. 14 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday 7 September...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That the order of the day No. 7, government business, be called on immediately. Question agreed to.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026; Second Reading (1 speech)
I rise to speak on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026. There's no more fundamental responsibility of government than keeping Australians safe, and that's the standard against...
- Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2026; Second Reading (1 speech)
In rising to speak on the Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2026, I can inform the House that the coalition will oppose this bill. This legislation proposes yet another increase in...
- Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026; Second Reading (6 speeches)
The universities accord drew on more than 820 public submissions and set out a plan to change those figures. The Albanese Labor government has acted on more than 30 of its 47 recommendations in...
- News Journalism Payments Bill 2026; Second Reading (1 speech)
I put the question that the bill be read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time. Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation announced.
- News Journalism Payments Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail (4 speeches)
Right around the world, the organisations that invest in the news are losing revenue to the tech platforms that use their work. Television, radio and newspaper newsrooms, including the National...
- News Journalism Payments Bill 2026; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- News Journalism Payments (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2026; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- News Media Bargaining (Administration) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail (10 speeches)
by leave—I move amendments (1) to (7), as circulated in my name, together: (1) Clause 6, page 4 (after line 18), after the definition of amount, insert: annual income, of an entity for a...
- News Media Bargaining (Administration) Bill 2026; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- News Media Bargaining Charge Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail (1 speech)
I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill. I move the government amendment as circulated: (1) Clause 3, page 2 (line 11), omit "2.5%", substitute "2.75%". Question agreed to....
- News Media Bargaining Charge Bill 2026; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media Bargaining) (Consequential) Bill 2026; Second Reading (1 speech)
The question is that this bill be read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
- Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media Bargaining) (Consequential) Bill 2026; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026; Second Reading (8 speeches)
One of our core beliefs as Australians is in a fair go for all. At the heart of a fair go for all is equality of opportunity, and at the heart of equality of opportunity is education. My mum was...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
The Productivity Commission's interim report describes the 2018 GST deal as a mistake. I want to explain to this House why I disagree. Before 2018, WA's GST relativity had fallen to 30c in the...
- 51st Anniversary of Falintil (1 speech)
Tomorrow is the 51st anniversary of Falintil, Forcas Armadas da Libertacao Nacional de Timor-Leste. I want to acknowledge a great group of Australian veterans that are attending those anniversary...
- Farrer Electorate: Health Care (1 speech)
I wish to update you on health and health services in Farrer. Farrer is one of the nation's largest electorates, and every community across it, from Pooncarie to Albury, shares the same demand...
- Key Apprenticeship Program (1 speech)
If you want to build more homes, there's one thing we absolutely need: the tradies to build them. It's the chippies, sparkies, plumbers and apprentices who are on the tools early every morning,...
- National Youth Parliament (1 speech)
This week, Parliament House is hosting the inaugural National Youth Parliament, bringing together 150 exceptional young Australians from across the country. Selected from over 2,200 applicants,...
- Brisbane Electorate: Energy (1 speech)
The people of Brisbane care about our environment, and they support the country's transition to renewables. In 2022, as the candidate for Brisbane, Minister Bowen and I announced that, under...
- Wood, Mr Tony (1 speech)
I rise to mark the life of Tony Wood, a fervent antidrug campaigner and, the House will remember, the father of Anna Wood, who was just 15 when she took an ecstasy tablet in the Phoenician...
- Corda, Mr Jesse (1 speech)
Every life in public service is shaped by people whose names may never appear on a ballot paper but whose loyalty, sacrifice and belief make that service possible. For me, one of those people is...
- Davis, Hunter (1 speech)
I'd like to welcome and congratulate Hunter Davis, our passionate youth member for Cowper, who is here in parliament this week as part of the National Youth Parliament program. A proud Port...
- Hooper, Ms Lily (1 speech)
A search is ongoing for Lily Hooper, an 18-year-old woman who was last seen heading out for a bushwalk a week ago in Nattai National Park in my electorate of Whitlam. Our thoughts are with Lily,...
- Housing (1 speech)
The Australian dream is a home among the gum trees, a place where you can put your feet up at the end of the day, a place to call your own. But this Labor government is demolishing the Australian...
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
The NDIS is, at its heart, about people who want the same things we all want—to live with dignity, to have choices, to feel included and to have the opportunity to make the most of their...
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
Whenever I go doorknocking around Toowoomba, I ask people the same thing. I ask them what they would change about Australia. So often the answer is the same—the economy and housing. I hear...
- Goldie, Mr Dale Keith OAM (1 speech)
I want to pay tribute to a local legend, Dale Goldie OAM, who passed away on 16 July, and acknowledge the extraordinary legacy he leaves in Kearsley and across our Hunter community. Dale was a...
- Housing (1 speech)
Labor has delivered a trifecta of failure when it comes to housing—fewer homes, higher rents and confidence in the market absolutely smashed. They are making it harder for all Australians...
- Bullying No Way Week (1 speech)
This week is Bullying No Way Week, which is a national week of action that unites government, Catholic and independent schools, and their communities, across the country. This year's theme is...
- Housing (1 speech)
We have a housing crisis in Australia. I know this because I see it in my own community in the Peel region in Western Australia. I have local people living out of their cars. They're parking down...
- Tertiary Education and Training (1 speech)
This year, in National Skills Week, we will celebrate that TAFE is life changing. Having been a student in my 20s and TAFE teacher, I understand that TAFE supports individuals to get the skills,...
- Veterans (1 speech)
These are important words in the Australian Defence Veterans' Covenant, which was passed in 2019: For what they have done, this we will do. It's a solemn commitment. The one person in this place...
- Homelessness (2 speeches)
What an honour it was this morning to go, with my friend the member for Bean and the Minister for Housing, down to Woden to the youth foyer. It is a youth housing place that gives 20 beds for...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand (2 speeches)
This morning it was delightful to welcome Prime Minister Anutin of Thailand to Australia. It is his first visit here as prime minister, and it comes as our two nations approach the 75th...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Housing (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Housing. On Monday, the minister said she was 'damn proud' of Labor's broken promises on capital tax gains and negative gearing. Today, Australia's biggest...
- Albanese Government (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government progressing real reform and delivering real change? Why is this agenda so important to Australians, and what are the...
- Veterans (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel. The Australian Defence Veterans' Covenant Oath says: We undertake to preserve the memory and deeds of all...
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Disability and the NDIS. How is the Albanese Labor government securing the future of the National Disability Insurance Scheme...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Acknowledgement (1 speech)
I'm pleased to inform the House that present in the gallery today is a delegation of homelessness and mental health sector representatives from across Australia who are visiting parliament today...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. Your universal outdoor mobile obligation bill has strong support and could pass this week, but it's been sitting on the Notice Paper for over a...
- Labor Government (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering real change that is creating a sustainable and responsible future for Australians when it comes...
- Veterans (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel. This morning, Renee Wilson, the CEO of the Families of Veterans Guild and partner of combat wounded Gary...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Acknowledgement (1 speech)
I'd like to draw the House's attention to an important and historic delegation that has joined us on the floor of parliament. For the first time in our parliament's history I get to welcome the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for Australian workers, and what could put this progress at risk?
- Veterans (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel. Veterans and their families have lost faith in the minister. Former Royal Australian Navy diver and Fair...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. What progress has the Albanese Labor government made on wages, super and the budget, and what are the risks to this progress?
- Veterans (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel. Former Air Force fighter jet pilot Dr Tim Nelson spoke about the minister's behaviour in a meeting. I quote, 'He walked...
- Roads (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. How is the Albanese Labor government working with the New South Wales government to...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Queensland Parliament: Parliamentary Delegation (1 speech)
I'm pleased to inform the House that we've been joined by a delegation from the Queensland parliament, including Corrine McMillan MP, Michael Healy MP, Nikki Boyd MP and the Hon. Glenn Butcher...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is for the Treasurer. Australian real wages have fallen by five per cent since March 2021. The only sustainable antidote is productivity growth, and business and economists agree that...
- Superannuation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering real outcomes for Australians with superannuation and improving the...
- Minister for Veterans' Affairs (5 speeches)
Prime Minister, yesterday the Minister for Veterans' Affairs admitted he got it wrong in refusing to meet with veterans to discuss Labor's cruel cap on allied health services. He also got it...
- Housing (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Housing. How are the Albanese Labor government's housing tax reforms helping Australians? What approaches would make it more difficult for Australians to get a...
- Small Business (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting Australian small businesses to have certainty to invest in their business?
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Wright, Mr Tony (2 speeches)
I'd like to speak for a moment about a true treasure of the press gallery, Tony Wright, who's with us in the gallery up there. It is appropriate that we acknowledge his presence on a day on which...
- 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.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Minister for Veterans' Affairs (4 speeches)
I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Herbert from moving the following motion immediately—That this House: (1) notes that...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Veterans (12 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable member for Riverina proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion today, namely: The Government's...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Closing the Gap (1 speech)
Every year this parliament marks Closing the Gap with solemn language about partnership, healing and progress. But, every year, the data tells a different story. The Productivity Commission's...
- Raksha Bandhan, Avian Influenza (1 speech)
I had the pleasure of attending the Raksha Bandhan Festival hosted by HOTA Forum, the Hindu Organisations, Temples and Associations Forum, last weekend. Raksha Bandhan is an important celebration...
- Aged Care (1 speech)
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of welcoming the shadow minister for health and aged care, Senator Ruston, to my electorate of Cowper. My electorate is consistently ranked amongst the...
- Men's Health (1 speech)
Earlier this month, I brought together local organisations and community representatives in Launceston for a healthy men's community conversation. We were joined by the Assistant Minister for...
- Health Care (1 speech)
Yesterday would have been my father's 80th birthday, and we are almost a year exactly since he passed. I haven't spoken of his passing in this place before. I don't intend to too much tonight,...
- Defibrillators, Operation Formal Wear, Bean Electorate: Acknowledgements, Gambling Bills (1 speech)
Firstly, well said, member for Groom. What a great tribute to both your father and the people who gave him great care. I was fortunate enough recently to catch up with Val Dempsey, Senior...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Farrer Electorate: Financial Assistance Grant (1 speech)
Farrer spans 126,000 square kilometres, is home to 160,000 citizens and has14 shires and more than 200 suburbs, towns and rural localities. We are the people who grow the food and mine the...
- Kingston Electorate: Mental Health (1 speech)
I have had a long-term passion for supporting people to have good mental health. As a clinical psychologist before I entered this place, it's been a long-term passion about how we can uplift the...
- Calare Electorate: Community Organisations (1 speech)
Today, I celebrate two great cultural treasures of the Calare electorate: the Gulgong Pioneers Museum and the Mudgee Museum. Established in 1962 in the historic former Times Bakery and Produce...
- One Big Voice (1 speech)
That's correct, thank you. The incorporated speech read as follows As the proud patron of One Big Voice, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to this extraordinary...
- Indi Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
When a natural disaster damages essential infrastructure, we should be able to fix it properly. In Fawcett, a small town in my electorate of Indi, residents are still recovering from the...
- Sydney Electorate: Museum of Chinese in Australia (1 speech)
Earlier this year, during Lunar New Year festivities in Sydney's Chinatown, I was delighted to join the community for the opening of the Museum of Chinese in Australia, a project years in the...
- Census (1 speech)
I rise today to highlight the growing concerns from constituents right across the Flynn electorate regarding the delivery and the administration of the 2026 census. The census is one of the most...
- Wyndham Learning Festival, Lalor Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
On Friday evening, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the launch and the opening for the annual Wyndham Learning Festival at the Wyndham Cultural Centre. It was an absolutely lovely...
- Veterans, Housing (1 speech)
Yesterday was Vietnam Veterans' Day, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. In the middle of my electorate I have the Canungra Land Warfare Centre, and my electorate also...
- Avian Influenza (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about H5 bird flu and what it means for Tasmania, for our wildlife and for our communities. Tasmania is home to remarkable birds and mammals. They are part of who we are....
- Fadden Electorate: Men's Shed Labrador, Battle of Long Tan: 60th Anniversary, Fadden Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
It was great to again, this year, join the Labrador men's shed for their AGM on 28 July. It is a local community group that I'm incredibly proud of. I want to pass on my thanks to outgoing...
- Housing (1 speech)
During Homelessness Week, I got to stand with the residents and staff of St Bart's in my electorate as we turned the sod on a new social housing and aged-care project. Our government is helping...
- Small Business (1 speech)
Last month, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia released a report that reads like a summary of speeches that I've given in this building over the last 14 months. The Small...
- Bean Electorate: Sport, Menslink Great Walk (2 speeches)
Those that know me know that one of my favourite things to do is to get out and walk. I'm lucky that, down in my community, I have no shortage of trails to trek, with Farrer Ridge being one of my...
- Roads, Victorian Government (1 speech)
'Just fix the bloody roads!' That is a constant refrain I have from people in my electorate who are concerned about the lack of maintenance, the potholes and the damage being caused to their...
- Violence: Prevention (1 speech)
Like many people here, I have work-experience students come into the office fairly regularly. I think it's important for them to see the work of their local MP and to develop a trust in...
- Petition: Lion Property Group (1 speech)
I rise today to formally present Lion Property Group parliamentary e-petition No. EN10182, which has been considered by the petitions committee and found to be in order. The principal petitioner...
- National Youth Parliament (2 speeches)
This week we have welcomed in members of the National Youth parliament, and we have also recently been sharing the My First Speech competition with local years 10 to 12 in my electorate. However,...
- Lester, Hon. Vincent Patrick (Vince), OAM (2 speeches)
I rise today to speak on the passing of a great man and a great friend, Vince Lester. Vince's public service began well before he entered parliament. He was a master baker in Claremont, served on...
- Wellington, Uncle Ivan, AO (1 speech)
It's a great privilege for me to stand in this chamber and speak about my good friend and our community stalwart in Macarthur, Uncle Ivan Wellington. I've known many people of importance...
- Gellibrand Electorate: Avian Influenza (2 speeches)
My community in Melbourne's west is a bayside community. Our way of life is connected to the water and the wetlands that connect to it. It's a paradise for twitchers, home to Ramsar Wetlands, the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026; Second Reading (8 speeches)
I rise to support the important Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026, and it is a very important bill. Illicit tobacco is a significant risk to our nation's public health and community...
- Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026; Second Reading (8 speeches)
I rise today to speak in support of Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026. This bill speaks to Australia's international engagement. Australia has...
- Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail (4 speeches)
I move the amendment circulated in my name: (1) Schedule 1, page 33 (after line 22), after Part 16, insert: Part 16A — Significant researcher-to-researcher arrangements Australia's Foreign...
- Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026; Second Reading (4 speeches)
Fourteen December 2025 is a day that will remain seared in the minds of Australians forever. The devastating terrorist attack at Bondi Beach demonstrated with brutal clarity the profound...
- Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail (4 speeches)
by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2), as circulated in my name, together: (1) Clause 2, page 2 (at the end of the table), add: (2) Page 48 (after line 27), at the end of the Bill, add:...
