Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Only a Labor government will protect Medicare and the NDIS. Only a Labor government will fully fund public schooling, because we know a good quality education for all is important to our future prosperity as a country and to the future of those children. Only a Labor government will support and grow tertiary education with fee-free TAFE, cuts to HECS debts and paid pracs, because we know that we need a skilled workforce to protect the quality of life we expect as an Australian community. Only a Labor government has delivered two back-to-back surplus budgets after a decade of deficit after deficit drove up our national debt, and, at the same time it has been delivering surpluses, this government has also brought down inflation.

When we came into government in 2022, inflation was at 6.1 per cent and rising. Now it's at 2.4 and falling, and as a result we've had two cuts to interest rates. We achieved the miracle of keeping unemployment rates down while inflation came down as well. We know that the last three years were just a start. After a lost decade of flat wages, climate denialism, lost opportunities, poor international relationships and deficits, what the Albanese Labor government achieved in the last three years is just the start. There is still a lot of work to be done, and it's great to be back in parliament.

I spent the last three years of the 47th Parliament in Canberra representing my constituents in committees, in decisions and in the House. Back home, I attended community events, met with countless individuals, doorknocked, and advocated to ministers and departments. I'm always honoured that people choose to share their stories and experiences with me, trust me with their personal details and trust me to advocate for them. At an electorate level, some of the issues that have been talked about for years and years are finally underway.

Having worked in the health sector for many years, I do have a particular interest in ensuring that we have access to top-quality health services. Flinders Medical Centre in my electorate is a major tertiary hospital, serving southern Adelaide and the electorates of Boothby, Kingston, Mayo and Barker. It was opened in 1976, almost 50 years ago, and medical standards and hospital standards have changed quite a lot since then. The population in southern Adelaide has significantly grown. In 2022, I was very pleased to be able to commit $200 million of federal money, matched by the state government, for a redevelopment and expansion of Flinders Medical Centre and repatriation hospital. This development will see an additional 150 beds. It includes a geriatric evaluation management unit to provide focused attention on older people coming in through the ED. The Margaret Tobin in-patient mental health service will be expanded by an additional 12 beds, and there will be a new emergency department, new theatres and new ophthalmology facilities.

We've also seen additional MRI licences, a very popular urgent care clinic providing bulk-billed urgent walk-in services and an endometriosis clinic, which is changing the lives of women who've lived for years with chronic pain. A kids hub, which will be opened any day now, will provide mental health services to kids and families. And, on top of all this, there's a four per cent increase in bulk-billing rates and cheaper medicines, including 60-day prescriptions.

In the 48th Parliament, I look forward to delivering a Medicare mental health clinic and a very exciting project in conjunction with Flinders University. This project will mean an additional 1,300 nurses and allied health workers being graduated every year, an additional 10,000 allied health appointments in student led clinics and the project will work with the adjacent Flinders Medical Centre to reduce their outpatient lists. They will help older people stuck in hospital beds to recondition so they can return home, and provide free or low-cost appointments for members of the community.

We've also had a fair bit of major infrastructure work in Boothby. The long-term North-South Corridor project continues, and we are now at the ground-breaking stage. There will be three large tunnel-boring machines and two smaller ones in operation. At the moment we're building the capsules where the tunnel-boring machines will be built, and the entire project is expected to be completed by 2031. We have the Majors Road on-off ramp for the Southern Expressway being built. This was something that the former state Liberal member campaigned heavily on, but when he was elected as part of the former SA Liberal government, he didn't do it. And then when we announced we were doing it he campaigned against it. This will take commuter traffic off Brighton Road in Boothby, so we're eagerly looking forward to its completion later this year.

We have three new tram overpasses being built on Marion, Cross and Morphett Roads at the moment. They form part of campaign promises from both sides of politics in the 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022 elections. It took the election of an SA Labor government and a Labor federal government in 2022 to actually get these projects underway. The boom gates will go next month, and the project will be completed by January next year, including an upgrade of the existing South Road tram overpass. These boom gates are down for 20 minutes every hour, so the impact on traffic flow will be amazing.

In the 2025 pre-election federal budget this government committed $525 million to the greater Adelaide bypass. This is an enormously big deal in South Australia, and it's something I've been involved in since 2012. Currently, Adelaide is the only capital city in the country that does not have a freight bypass. Heavy vehicles making their way from Victoria to WA, or the other way, or heading to Outer Harbour or to distribution centres north of the city have to make the treacherous trip down the very steep South Eastern Freeway, which we hope they do in low gear, otherwise we end up with major crashes and fatalities at the intersection at the bottom. They then have to make their way through heavy suburban traffic and multiple traffic lights, either along Cross Road in Boothby to South Road or Portrush Road in Sturt. Either way it's slow, it's often dangerous and it costs freight drivers in time and fuel.

The freight bypass is another much promised project, with the former Liberal state and federal governments promising it in 2018 and then cancelling the project in 2020. This Labor federal government has now put 50 per cent of the money in the budget and the SA government has submitted a plan to Infrastructure Australia. We are closer than we have ever been to seeing this come to fruition.

As the Prime Minister promised, our first piece of legislation introduced in the 48th Parliament is to reduce student debts by 20 per cent. Along with paid prac payments for nursing, midwifery, social work and teaching students and the $10,000 completion payments for apprentices in building trades, this builds on our commitment to ease cost-of-living pressures on young people and help them build the skills they need for a bright future in high-paying, secure jobs—and also build our skilled workforce in Australia. Every business I speak to tells me about the shortage of skilled workers and how it's limiting their productivity and activity. Every young person I speak to talks about the barriers to getting ahead. Enabling young Australians to get well-paid, secure jobs while also addressing the skills shortage is a win-win.

Before I came to this place, I worked for many years in the housing and homelessness sectors. In this country, we have a 40-year backlog of social and affordable housing. Only this government has, pardon the pun, concrete plans to address the shortage. We are rolling out $43 billion in housing initiatives, and it's been an absolute pleasure to be at sod-turning and topping-off ceremonies, to visit construction sites and see the progress and, most excitingly, to be at the opening of completed housing developments, talking to the new tenants about how life changing it is to have a secure basis for them and their families. Make no mistake: this 40-year backlog was never going to be fixed in the last three years. It takes a while to build houses on scale, or an apartment block, but we are well on the way.

My friends in the community housing sector are ecstatic about the Housing Australia Future Fund, which was under threat from those opposite in the last election. The HAFF allows community housing to have certainty to build large-scale affordable housing this year while also getting approval for another developer to start next year and access the land to start a development plan for yet another development in following years. Only with this steady pipeline of social and affordable housing will we be able to turn around this housing shortage which is making finding a rental property, let alone a property to purchase, so difficult for the next generation.

I'll end where I began—with thanks and gratitude for the people of Boothby, the volunteers of my campaign, the staff in my office who diligently serve the people of Boothby, my colleagues in the chamber and the cabinet, and the Prime Minister, for the leadership and for not shying away from these big, sticky problems like reconciliation and Indigenous disadvantage, climate change, a fair go for all, gender, equity, health, education, the skill shortage and housing. Labor is the party to make the big changes that make everyone's lives better. Labor is the party of Medicare, affordable tertiary education, superannuation and the NDIS, and we're the party that will tackle the new generation of changes needed to deliver a better future for all Australians. Ngaityalya.

Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the address be agreed to. Before I call the honourable member for Bradford, I remind the House that this is the honourable member's first speech and ask that the House to extend the usual courtesies.

Nicolette Boele (Bradfield, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I acknowledge and pay respect to traditional custodians of this land, their elders past and present, and those of nations right across this land and its seas.

Let me start with the problem—trust. Trust in our democratic institutions is declining, partly, I think, because the key assumptions have turned out to be mistaken. In recent history, the three key assumptions most of us accepted were: that democracy could cosily coexist with more or less unfettered capitalism; that it could successfully navigate between technocracy and ideology, between cultural warriors and pragmatists; and that externalities like climate change and global conflicts could be ignored. None of these assumptions are correct, and, worse, they're likely misleading distractions from the real challenges we face. My three decades of working in finance, energy and climate has shown me that capitalism needs well-functioning democracies, ones where governments set clear rules, where independent institutions referee those rules, and where those rules are efficient and effective to protect the citizens and consumers from bullies, scammers and corrupt actors.

Market players cannot effectively contribute to a strong economy amid uncertainty when the direction of play is unclear or when the rules of the game are changed every time the red and blue team change the captain's chair and take with them their ideologies and special interests. What's more—and I've heard this over and over again from the people of Bradfield—there's a widespread conviction that political parties, and therefore the parliament itself, are incapable of dealing with systemic, longstanding issues. We fail to properly regulate online media platforms. We fail to implement a reform agenda to act on climate change, the existential crisis of our time. We tinker around the edges of housing affordability, Australia's gambling addiction and making our taxation system fairer, and, worse still, even if there is an inquiry or a commission that delivers a report, which is a thoroughly public and deliberate process, our parliament, the parties that comprise it and the special interests they represent, usually fail to deliver on the recommendations—Gonski on education, Samuel on the environment, Henry on tax, Sackville on disability, and I could go on. It's little wonder that the public feels that the people elected to represent, serve and protect us do and effect the exact opposite.

So, where are people turning? I, like a growing number of Australians, believe that one way we can avoid these fates is by electing people that have the community's and not the party's interest at the centre of what they do, and that's why I'm so proud to be associated with the community independents movement and its more than one million supporters. The movement that is a step towards a more decentralised and people-centred rather than party led system. We listen, we are inclusive, we are patient, we're respectful, we're generous, and the movement is momentum, and, most beautifully, it is rebuilding trust—trust between neighbours, communities and generations—and trust in the idea that our future can be a hopeful one because we created it intentionally together.

For the almost 1,500 volunteers involved in my campaign for election in 2025—some whose faces I see here today—I know that these relationships connect us by a common purpose and provide people with a renewed sense of membership and belonging—not power over but power with, by and for the people.

As a third-year undergraduate, a light was turned on when my planning law lecturer shared a quote from the founder of Taoism, Lao Tzu:

Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say 'We have done this ourselves.'

This is as true today as it was 2.5 millennia ago, and I've lived it and learned it my entire life.

I was born and raised in Bradfield. My parents migrated from the Netherlands in 1965, and I settled in Gordon, which is the contested green heart of Bradfield. Like so many in this nation, when they arrived they had challenges fitting in and finding their tribe and in finding that sense belonging. For my father, Peter, it was going back to university to redo his engineering qualifications so he could practice here in Australia. For my mum, Inneke, it was finally being invited by school mums to join a morning tea and being told to 'bring a plate', which she did—literally!

Things switched up when my Aussie-raised stepdad, Keith, joined our family journey in 1976. He knew how to navigate Aussie norms and culture. He brought with him to our family his National Geographics and Scientific Americans, lined up on the shelves in chronological order—yellow and white. They fuelled my nascent love for our natural world and science as seen through the glossy pages of these most fantastic publications. It was where I saw my first photovoltaic array, strapped to a satellite orbiting our tiny planet, powering communications with back home. This was Australian solar technology.

Something foundational that I learnt from my folks was that people with completely different life experiences and outlooks can be a team but it takes patience and commitment. From the countless, heated family debates I learnt the art of listening and compromising and that it was okay to disagree. In fact, disagreement is not a bad thing; it is a byproduct of a very important exercise—an exchange of ideas discussed and supported by deep listening—and this is what I bring to my style of representation for the people of Bradfield and to this House, to work across the floor with whomever wants to join me to tackle the housing crisis, to take serious action on climate and help reconnect our communities.

Turning now to the people of my beloved electorate, Bradfield is home to hardworking and outward-looking folk who care about the less fortunate and who work towards better outcomes for all. At a community level, there are those like Ann Newbrun, who, on top of her actual life, leads the charge at Ku-ring-gai's RFS. At a national level, I am proud to say that we were the only then Liberal electorate to return a yes majority in the voice referendum, thanks to co-captains Carey Francis and Nick O'Brien. On a global level, we have a strong, vibrant and growing South Asian community which includes—fan girl moment—Miles Franklin award winner Shankari Chandaran doing important work in Sri Lanka with youth stuck in the cycle of addiction, and of course the vibrancy of our Chinese-Australian communities that make up nearly 25 per cent of our residents in Bradfield.

But I know that for 75 years Bradfield has been represented by five men, all from the Liberal Party. This represented the values and the views of the area for such a long time. But Bradfield, in line with broader Australian society, is evolving, and so must our parliament evolve. There was a time when the governments of Australia enacted reform, when a government courageously adjusted to realities. I'm thinking here of the introduction of Medibank, now Medicare, by the Whitlam government and gun reforms by the Howard government. But today the parliament does not make these courageous decisions. Instead, difficult decisions are delayed until the failure to act ushers in disastrous consequences, at which point a royal commission is called for, a referendums sought or a plebiscite scheduled. Or important decisions are made in the dark or strategically, so as to receive little media attention, or sneakily, where action on one thing is mischaracterised as action on another, or they are made when parties quietly and unobtrusively agree. It's as though they use each other as cover or as excuses to pass legislation that is in their shared interest, such as the campaign finance reforms of the 47th Parliament.

How is it, for example, that two parties can agree on hundreds of billions of dollars being spent on AUKUS, a project and an approach to our international relations that has not been explained or justified to the people of Australia and is not subject to the discipline of a federal budget or the scrutiny of this parliament? How is it that the administrative catastrophe of robodebt, which hurt so many of our most vulnerable, made its way through layer upon layer of bureaucratic and government approvals processes with no-one calling out what was blatantly illegal and immoral conduct? And how is it that the two parties can each so easily justify the appalling decision to approve the extension to the North-West Shelf gas project—the single most damaging decision for the climate that I'm likely to see in my lifetime? Australians expect and deserve more than this.

In my own political career I'm motivated by the belief that government must pass the bold reforms that Australia needs. For a long time I thought that by working on policy with stakeholders in this parliament, in federal and state bureaucracies and in civil society I could help Australia on that journey to tackling climate change and our economy's reindustrialisation. We came close. We had Howard's emissions trading scheme. We had the Rudd-Gillard carbon pollution reduction scheme—all good economic, environmental, trade, and energy security policy. But it was quashed because of political inconvenience and culture wars.

Tired of banging my head against a wall, I turned to investment and worked there for years with the custodians of trillions of dollars, who recognise both the risks of unchecked climate impacts and the opportunities of acting on climate. Here I also rekindled my joy in science and technology, marvelling at PV rays, albeit in a new context. I worked on developing and commercialising emission reduction technologies—renewables, energy storage, soils and even fungi. I saw how companies that put people and planet at the centre of what they do achieve better business outcomes. I came to understand the potential for business to do good. But my efforts to shift the dial, to speed up the progress of climate action through business, met obstacle after obstacle—but not from business, not from customers and not from NGOs but from government: government protecting special interest, from a grand ideological war that has set Australia behind, decade after long infuriating decade.

So, that became my next move: to take my three decades of real-world relevant experience and apply it in the sphere in which the rules are made, here in this place. And what will I do with his humbling and extraordinary trust given to me by the people of Bradfield? First and foremost, I will push the government and the opposition to act urgently and meaningfully to address the climate crisis that we have created. I will work tirelessly until the people in this place make laws to reverse biodiversity collapse and commence, in earnest, to repair country—from our woodlands and wetlands to our old-growth forests and our kelp ones.

The other priority for Bradfield and this nation is the provision of secure shelter for every one of our people. It shames me to think that, as a country that is one of the wealthiest in the world, we cannot provide shelter for our most vulnerable. According to the 2021 census, there are as many people experiencing homelessness in Australia as there are voters in the electorate of Bradfield—shame on us! Yet we know that when we give people secure, stable places to live, they improve on every single metric—physical health, mental wellbeing and employment, just to name a few. Our system of homeownership—or, as we now call it, 'property'—in this country works solely for the lucky ones who are blessed with it, and new entrants be damned. The system fails so many: those without already wealthy parents and future generations, but, particularly, the dispossessed, like so many of our First Nations Australians.

A lot of these problems are compounded by a lack of shared understanding of our stories. Another priority of mine sits at the unspoken heart of what it means to be human: storytelling. Why? Storytelling, through performing arts, fine arts and literature, is essential for us as a nation, and it was during the Voice referendum when it became clear to me that Australia does not yet have a common story. People from across the political spectrum joined the Bradfield for Yes campaign, but when we doorknocked to engage on the topic, school aged children of migrants could tell us more about the contribution and the plight of our First Peoples than their voting parents, and even though this story is yet to be truthfully told and heard, it is one that defines us as a nation. The story is one that can help us mend the growing disconnection, isolation and loneliness, and the role of the arts, from its ability to inspire reflection, to challenge, to entertain and to its utility as an industry, an employer of creative and technical Australians, is one that needs nurturing and strengthening. There is so much to do, but equally as important as what needs to get done is, how best to get it done, and I'll be trying a few different ways.

Firstly, I'm going to push the government to be more courageous. I will hold the government to account on the decisions it makes—and doesn't make—and I will demand explanations and throw sunlight on dark places so that citizens understand the mechanics of the national governance that shapes the conditions of their everyday realities.

Secondly, I will support laws that enhance the relevance and efficacy of Australian democracy in a post-truth era.

Thirdly, I will take decisions back to the people that it will affect. In my electorate, I'm going to show people how to engage with our national decision-making processes, both formally and informally, and this will include leaning very strongly into the Speaker's agenda of improving standards of civics education for our young people but also for new arrivals.

Fourthly, I shall advocate for and deliver deliberative processes that start where people are and give them the information they need to engage and deliberate on the agendas that affect them and the generations to come. When people come together to imagine a future beyond the circumstances into which they were born, it's more than hoping, it is a deeply political act, and it challenges the power and the biases that are built into the systems that govern us. By opening the future to collective participation, we restore agency to those long excluded, and, in doing so, we allow an entirely different sphere of society to benefit from the way things are, because the way things are is different and this is not just desirable, it is necessary, and this should be our collective aspiration.

And now, I want to acknowledge just some of the people that have brought me here today. First and foremost, the traditional owners, custodians and elders of the lands right across Australia. Thank you for your care, your wisdom, your patience and your determination. To my parents, for having my back and being my cheer squad. To my kids, Fin and Saskia—my teachers. To Richard and Heike, for telling me to go and get some street cred, and to the rest of my amazing siblings and in-laws. To my nieces and nephews, and, particularly, the late Bodhi Boele, disability and trans advocate, elite athlete and mentor—yes, people do come in more than two teams!

To my besties, Maryanne, Isabel, Sharen, Amanda, Caet and Vanessa; the Killara family; the St Ives crew; and Freddy. To the Voices of Bradfield, particularly Robert Paul Ayres Mills and Dr Sam Graham, for believing that better is possible. To every single supporter of our 2022 and 2025 campaigns, and particularly for the captains for leading out in front. To the formidable and gracious Ms Kylea Tink, treasured Independent representing the former federal seat of North Sydney, for her support and encouragement.

Politics as usual isn't working. Parties are stuck, at best, or captured, at worst. Independents like me have been elected to put people back into the process of creating our future. This is how we fix things, and when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say, 'We have done this ourselves.'

Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I call the honourable member for Whitlam, I remind the House that it is the honourable member's first speech and I ask the House to extend to her all of the usual courtesies.

Carol Berry (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. I acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands across Australia. I pay my respects to their elders, past and present. I acknowledge the ingenuity and capacity of First Nations Australians to resist and survive, and I recognise they are the custodians of the oldest living culture in the world. As an Australian, I am deeply proud of our First Nations history.

It is a great privilege to stand here today, representing the Australian Labor Party and the people of Whitlam. It's an enormous honour to represent an electorate named after the great Australian Gough Whitlam, who was Prime Minister from 1972 to 1975. Gough Whitlam's vision and achievements continue to benefit and inspire Australians half a century later. I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his support and his focus on remaining humble and working hard for the people of Australia. The Prime Minister has assembled a great team and I'm honoured to be part of it.

I'd like to acknowledge my predecessor, Stephen Jones, who's in the gallery today. He served the people of Whitlam with distinction for 15 years. Stephen is universally admired and respected and is one of the finest men I've ever had the pleasure to meet. I owe Stephen a great debt of gratitude and would not be standing here in this chamber were it not for his support and his encouragement. His are big shoes to fill. However, I will dedicate myself to representing the people of Whitlam as honourably and effectively as Stephen has for the past 15 years.

I was not born in my electorate but in Wentworthville, in the heart of the New South Wales western suburbs. My mother, Diane, who's in the gallery today, was raised in a Housing Commission home in Dundas Valley near Parramatta. Many of my childhood weekends were spent at that Housing Commission home, with its red-brown brick and its big backyard with a Hills hoist. My maternal grandfather fought in the Second World War in Borneo, and my great-uncle fought on the Kokoda Track. Particularly for my grandfather, the scars of those experiences played out long after the war ended. My father, Jeff, was born in Manchester, England and came to Australia with his sister and parents when he was two. My mother is the most honest and sincere person I've ever met. Likewise, my father is a deeply ethical man. Instead of being here at my first speech today, my father is in Cambodia, volunteering his time to improve educational and employment outcomes for young people in that country. I'm deeply proud of his work. I have two big sisters, Julie and Jane, who are also in the chamber today. Julie has been a public-school teacher for over 30 years. Jane is a paediatric occupational therapist who's worked with children with cerebral palsy, also for 30 years. I'm so proud to call these two amazing women my sisters.

The values that we were raised with as kids included the importance of being honest, being reliable, being hard working, being considerate of others, being independent in thought and action, and, above all, taking responsibility. I was not raised to value material possessions or to acquire wealth or status but instead to demonstrate independence, to demonstrate strength of character and, most importantly, to do the right thing. My family are no nonsense, humble and honest people. We aren't big on ceremony, and we don't engage in fakery in any form. In these respects we are quintessentially Australian.

Australians are pragmatic, moderate and fair minded people, and I come from a pragmatic, moderate and fair minded family. Given my family's circumstances, we understand the power of equal opportunity. Our belief in social justice runs deep. Sitting in the living room of their housing commission home in Dundas Valley as my mum was growing up, my grandparents could not have imagined their granddaughter would one day become a federal member of parliament. I wish they were here to see it.

There are three things to know about me. Firstly, because I come from humble beginnings, I'm not seduced by power or position. I have no interest in the trimmings of success. I know these things are not fundamentally real or important. The only thing that really matters is being true to yourself and to others, and showing character when it matters most. Secondly, I'm easily moved. Hopefully that's not demonstrated in this speech today! I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I care deeply about the world and about people. Thirdly, I have a lot of energy, and I like to get things done. The only thing that truly irritates me in life is if you get in my way when I'm trying to get something done, particularly if you slow me down. This tendency towards impatience seems to be a core part of my personality, as my very patient husband will attest.

On all sides of my family and in my close personal relationships, you will find fiercely independent women. My grandmother Gladys, who is the best example of this, came from quite dire poverty and hardship. To this day she is the toughest and most direct woman I ever met. She was, at her core, a survivor. I admired her grit and determination. Gladys was also incredibly hard working. She worked and she saved. She gave some money to my parents, and they bought a block of land in the Blue Mountains suburb of Hazelbrook. My parents built a home there, and they still live there today.

I lived in the Blue Mountains until I was 18. As a child, I spent a lot of time in the bush, mostly bushwalking, camping or just playing. As a result, I have a deep love of nature and a deep desire to protect our national parks, rivers, creeks, beaches, forests and our amazing wildlife. Of the many trillions of planets in the known universe, only one that we know of sustains life. We are the caretakers of an extraordinary phenomenon—life on Earth. It is our job to protect it. I hope to use my time as a federal parliamentarian to be a passionate defender of our natural environment.

The human and economic impacts of climate change will only intensify unless we take radical steps to decrease the amount of carbon we are releasing into the atmosphere. I support all efforts to decarbonise our economy, and I'm a very strong supporter of renewable energy, particularly solar energy. I'm proud of the progress being made by Australians, including in the electorate of Whitlam, in relation to rooftop solar. I will be a passionate advocate for fast-tracking our progress towards our economy being powered entirely by renewable energy, which I'm certain will easily happen in my lifetime.

I come from a family of teachers. My father, aunt, sister and husband are all public-school teachers. I was proudly educated in public schools, and my children also attend public schools. I'm a fierce advocate for public education because it safeguards Australia's tradition of fairness and equal opportunity, which is the core tradition which makes Australia the greatest country in the world. When I was 18 years old I moved to the Illawarra to study arts and law at the University of Wollongong. I became deeply involved in campus life and made many lifelong friends, many of whom are in the chamber today. I was elected president of the students association and immersed myself in many causes related to the environment, gender equality, the right to affordable education and other community issues. When I moved to Wollongong, I knew I had found my spiritual home. The layers of First Nations history and the waves of migration that have made our region so rich in diversity and community spirit make the Illawarra a very special place. The history of the labour movement also runs deep in our town, and we have a very proud tradition of activism. I'm proud to have raised my children in the Illawarra community. It is my home and I'll never leave.

However, if I were to move anywhere, the Southern Highlands would be my choice. The Southern Highlands is a magical place with its national parks, farmland and wonderful villages and towns. I have fallen in love with this beautiful region, and it is an honour to represent the Southern Highlands community as part of the Whitlam electorate. The Whitlam electorate is blessed with some incredible landscapes and so many wonderful communities—Dapto, Koonawarra, Warilla, Shellharbour, Shell Cove, Albion Park, Robertson, Burrawang, Moss Vale, Mittagong, Bundanoon and Bowral to just name a few. One of the jewels in our electorate is the farm at Killalea, named the best beach in New South Wales and second-best beach in Australia. This extraordinary place was protected by the local community and also where I taught myself how to surf. For anyone who harbours a dream to learn how to surf, I can assure you that if I can do it, anyone can. I should also let people know that my surfing is far from impressive, but I can stand up, albeit not for very long.

I've tried to make my life one of service to the causes I believe in. One of my first jobs was with Family Planning Australia. I worked on reproductive rights campaigns and I'm a staunch advocate for gender equality. I'm passionate about women's health. In a later role I was CEO of the Illawarra Women's Health Centre, where I worked with the local community, particularly the First Nations community, to enable women to connect with and support other women. We promoted women's health and supported women escaping domestic violence. I worked as a solicitor for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, where I ran multiple test cases and law reform projects in the public interest. A core focus was supporting people living in institutional care settings to have their rights upheld. It was in this role that I gained a much better understanding of the life experiences of people with disability, particularly those who'd been institutionalised from a young age. I was so moved by the life experiences of people with disability that I've worked mostly for and alongside people with disability ever since.

I became CEO of the New South Wales Council for Intellectual Disability, where we advocated for people with intellectual disability and their families to get access to better supports and services. I worked alongside amazing advocates, such as Robert Strike, Fiona McKenzie, Christine Regan and Jim Simpson. I met the amazing Dougie Herd and learned so much from him. This was all pre NDIS. It has been amazing to watch the difference the NDIS is making to Australian society. While the NDIS obviously has its issues, it's a world-leading scheme that reflects the fairmindedness and decency of the Australian people. Most recently I was employed as CEO of one of the largest providers of disability services in Australia, the Disability Trust. I'd like to thank Dr Peter Langkamp and the board, including former CEO Margaret Bowen, and the broader family of clients and staff at the Disability Trust. The support afforded to me by the Disability Trust as I transitioned into my new role as an MP was extraordinary, and I'm incredibly grateful.

Working alongside people with disability for so many years changed my life. My humanity, compassion and perspective have deepened, and I'm quite simply a better person for that experience. I'd like to do a very big shout out to people with disability and their families, carers, therapists and staff across the country. You are a truly wonderful group of people who contribute so much to the fabric of Australian society, and I'm so proud to have been in your ranks. I'm profoundly lucky to have been influenced and shaped by amazing people whom I've worked with and known throughout my life. Often these people started their careers or advocacy efforts with no power at all and, with the sheer force of their integrity and belief in a better world, they've bent the world to their will and had a lasting impact. I can only hope to emulate the paths of these impressive leaders.

I'm a believer in our big public systems. While I'm MP I'd like to be a strong defender our public systems, which make such a difference in people's lives and are absolutely fundamental to ensuring we live in a decent and fair society. Our public education and public health systems could and should be the best in the world. Our aged-care system, the NDIS, our mental health system, our social welfare system, how we support early childhood education and how we support veterans are all hallmarks of our collective decency. It's critically important that Australia is a place where everyone can get access to quality and affordable education and health care and that we have a strong and effective social welfare system where we treat all people, particularly pensioners, with respect. These foundations provide security for all Australians so that irrespective of our circumstances we have the foundation to be healthy and have a job if we want one, where we can re-skill, retrain and get access to the skills and education we need to flourish. Combating ageism is also incredibly important.

It's also vitally important that all Australians can have a roof over their head. It's fundamentally important to me that we don't let any Australian fall through the cracks. I intend to be a voice for the voiceless to ensure that the stories of everyday Australians in the Whitlam electorate—who are struggling financially, who are isolated and lonely, who are afraid to speak out, who are lost or broken—are told in this place. I am not afraid of vulnerability. I see it as an opportunity to deepen and strengthen who we are both individually and collectively. I'm passionate about the importance of fostering community spirit. Community spirit matters. It's real and it's alive. In my electorate I see evidence of it every day through sporting clubs, community organisations, local businesses and organisations that facilitate volunteering like the RFS, SES, RSLs and surf lifesaving clubs, just to name a few. These organisations are the lifeblood of the Whitlam electorate and the soul of our great nation.

I do ask myself the question, 'Where will Australia be in 20 years?' We can be a mature voice for peace. We can be a thriving, open, dynamic, energised, low-carbon economy. We can be excelling in the areas of tourism, creative and digital arts and design, manufacturing, construction, food production, human services, science and technology, finance and IT, and educational and professional services. To me, our nation must be grounded in three key ideas: (1) that we care about each other and our future and that we live in a nation where trust, kindness, respect and dignity matter; (2) that we value connection and will support one another to be connected at all stages of our lives, as we know this is crucial to overall wellbeing; and (3) that we'll continue to create opportunities for all Australians to achieve their potential at all stages of life. If we pursue these ideas, in my mind, our future looks bright.

I am passionate about democracy and, specifically, social democracy. I will defend and uphold human rights and democratic processes and freedoms. I also believe in the power of private enterprise. The innovation and wealth that can be created by harnessing the power of private enterprise are extraordinary and often in the broader public interest. I am supportive of local businesses that employ local people and add so much flavour to our local economies and communities. The people of the Whitlam electorate have told me they care about ensuring there's a strong economy and local jobs both now and into the future. We care about the environment and ensuring all Australians are looked after. We care about our quality of life and that as our communities grow we ensure this growth is well managed and well planned.

It is easily the greatest privilege of my life to have been elected the member for Whitlam. I would like to dedicate this victory to my family and to all my supporters, many of whom are in the gallery today. Without you I would not have this opportunity, and I'll be forever grateful. I'd like to thank the member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek, for her many years of support and encouragement and for being an inspiration to me for over 20 years. I'd also like to thank the member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, for her support and for being my wonderful EMILY's List mentor. I'd like to thank Senator Jenny McAllister and Senator Tim Ayres. I'd also like to thank the member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes, and the member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips. I congratulate both of them on their re-election.

I'd like to thank the New South Wales minister for health and member for Keira, Ryan Park; the New South Wales minister for planning and member for Wollongong, Paul Scully; and the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Tania Brown. I'd particularly like to thank the member for Shellharbour, Anna Watson, who is in the gallery today and was such a wonderful support to me during my campaign.

I'd also like to thank George Simon, the assistant secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party; Josh Lloyd; and Amy Knox for all their support and assistance.

I'd like to acknowledge Chris Lacey and Kerryn Stephens for their many years of friendship, and I'd like to thank Chris for his work with the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra and his many years of service to the Illawarra community.

I'd like to thank the ALP branches in the Whitlam electorate—the Dapto, Albion Park/Oak Flats, Shellharbour/Barrack Heights and Southern Highlands branches—whose brilliant and hardworking members helped me get elected.

I'd like to thank the union movement for its invaluable support, particularly Narelle Clay, an extraordinary leader who I've admired for a very long time; Danna Nelse, Angus McFarland and the Australian Services Union; and Brooke Muscat, Mel Donnelly and the Community and Public Sector Union. Thank you all so much.

I'd like to acknowledge and thank Henry Rajendra and the New South Wales Teachers Federation. Henry and his team ran a wonderful campaign during the election, and I'd like to applaud the Teachers Federation for its tireless defence and promotion of public education.

I'd like to thank Arthur Rorris for his many years of service to the South Coast Labor Council and to the people of the Illawarra.

I'd like to thank my campaign committee, very capably led by Ailis Quinn, and the amazing Alison Mansell and equally amazing Penny Newlove, who devoted hours and hours of their lives to ensure that we retained the seat of Whitlam and that we had a Labor government re-elected. Other members of my campaign committee included Georgia Roff; Tiana Myers; the wonderful Jeremy Graham, who was so kind to me during the campaign; Simon Zulian and Dionne Garcia. It was such a pleasure to work with you all.

I'd also like to thank Linda and Graham McLaughlin, whose hard work and generosity I'm so grateful for.

Thank you also to the members of my staff who've joined my team since the election: Michael Sharp, Jye Langley, Josie Stuart and Jack Fernon. I honestly can't thank you all enough.

I'd like to thank my beautiful husband and soulmate, Calum. I am the luckiest woman in the world to have you as my husband. Thank you to my stepdaughter, Amelie; my son, Will; and my daughter, Stella, for your patience, kindness, honesty and unflinching support. I'm so deeply proud of you all. Thank you to my parents, Geoff and Diane; my aunty Judith; and my beautiful sisters, Julie and Jane.

Thank you to my wonderful extended family—the gorgeous Emma, Matt, Steve, Csaba, Blake, Barish, Fiona, Jack, Joan, Heather and Elizabeth.

To my very best friend in the world for over 30 years, Jane Andrew: thank you. I can't imagine my life without you in it. To my wonderful friends Damien, Elissa, Naomi, Zadie, Feargus, Amy, Patrick, Penny, Mel, Shane, Kara, Taylor, Indie, Jane, Annie, Emma, Jemma, Mithra, Martin, Shady, Ben, Scotty, Caz and Nathan: thank you.

I'm so grateful to my family, friends and supporters and for the opportunity to represent the people of Whitlam. I'm optimistic about our future, and I'm thrilled to be in this place. I will work harder than I ever have before in my life to shape our presence and to build Australia's future for the better. Thank you.

Cameron Caldwell (Fadden, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I add my congratulations to the new member for Whitlam on her maiden speech. It's a great honour to rise for the first time to address this place and to speak to her constituents that recently elected her. I do so today, not for my first time, but the first time following a general election, where I have the opportunity to genuinely speak in reply to the Governor-General's address last Tuesday. I do so with a deep sense of responsibility to the people of my electorate of Fadden and to the people of the Gold Coast in Queensland, who have entrusted me to be their voice in this chamber.

As we begin the 48th parliament, Australians face a government determined to dress up inaction as progress and spin as strategy. I want to respond directly to the agenda that was outlined by the Governor-General on behalf of the Labor government, because, while the rhetoric was polished, the reality for Australians is anything but.

Let us begin with the issue that weighs most heavily on families, young Australians and retirees alike: housing. The Governor-General declared that homeownership is within reach, thanks to Labor's so-called Homes for Australia plan—a headline commitment of 1.2 million new homes over five years. It sounds impressive, until you realise that the government has no credible plan to meet it. Approvals are down, completions are down and costs broadly are up.

In my own local electorate of Fadden, young couples tell me that they're giving up on the dream of owning a home, not because they don't work hard, not because they are not willing to save, but because Labor's policies are pushing affordability further and further out of reach with every passing financial quarter.

The Help to Buy scheme, offering government equity in private homes, is not a solution; it's a sign of surrender. Instead of addressing the root cause of unaffordable housing—namely, land release delays, excessive regulation and chronic underinvestment in enabling infrastructure—Labor is embedding state dependency into homeownership. We should be unlocking private capital, reducing development bottlenecks and unleashing the construction sector. Instead, we have a government that centralises control while hiding behind targets it knows it won't meet. And let's not forget the build-to-rent scheme, announced with much fanfare but with almost nothing built and little hope of making a real dent in the rental crisis.

The Labor government says it will train more tradies—and that's welcome. But where is the urgency? Where is the national coordination, and where is the recognition that you cannot build homes without workers? You can't attract workers without supporting small businesses, the ones that employ and train them. We, on this side of the House, believe in home ownership as a pillar of social stability and personal empowerment. We see that as your stake in Australia. Unfortunately, the Albanese Labor government now see it as a distant dream that needs to be rationed and managed.

Turning to energy, the Governor-General spoke of 'energy bill relief' and a 'renewable transition', yet, most significantly, electricity prices have surged by 20 per cent in some parts of the country under this government, despite $40 billion in renewables subsidies and endless fanfare over battery programs. Families in my electorate of Fadden and across Australia still struggle to pay their power bills. The government proudly announced its Cheaper Home Batteries Program, but I ask: how many households can actually afford the upfront cost of installing a $15,000 battery, even with a subsidy? For most Australians, this is not relief; it's a rebate for the well off.

Meanwhile, our base load power capacity is shrinking. The Liddell plant has closed, and other power generators are under threat. Labor continues to sideline dispatchable, affordable energy sources that have powered our industries and homes for decades. It is clear that this government is more interested in virtue signalling to international climate conferences than delivering energy that's reliable and affordable for everyday Australians. We should be investing in technology-neutral solutions, including gas, carbon capture and greater grid resilience alongside renewables. Instead, Labor is driving out investment, creating grid instability and condemning Australian industry to higher costs and greater uncertainty. Energy is not just a household expense. It should be a national competitive advantage, but, under this government, it's becoming a national liability.

Let me speak about national security and defence. The Governor-General said this is a time of 'global uncertainty', words which have been mentioned in this chamber many times of late, and I think we all agree. But Labor's record on defence is one of delay, deferral and, quite frankly, underdelivery. The Prime Minister flies to summits and hosts some warm photo opportunities, but, behind the scenes, key procurement projects are stalling and our naval shipbuilding program is under constant review. Critical defence infrastructure is behind schedule. Recruitment numbers are falling, and morale is low. The AUKUS agreement, an initiative born under a coalition government, is being treated as a political trophy by Labor rather than the vital security undertaking that it truly is. We cannot wait until the 2030s for the first submarines to arrive while our adversaries modernise at a much faster pace.

In cybersecurity, our agencies our stretched. In immigration, border integrity is weakening and we've seen illegal boat arrivals. Once stopped, they're now creeping back onto the radar. The coalition has always believed in strong borders and a strong defence force. We do not apologise for prioritising national security, nor will we sit quietly while Labor talks tough but acts slow. We must increase our defence readiness, support our veterans with timely DVA services and invest in sovereign capabilities across missiles, drones, cyber and logistics. National security is not just a media cycle; it's a generational responsibility.

Now, probably the issue that got the most discussion during the last parliament was the cost of living. The Governor-General claimed that inflation is moderating, interest rates are falling and real wages are growing. This, in terms of headlines, comes as news to millions of Australians who are still paying over $4 for a litre of milk, $2.20 for a litre of petrol and thousands a year extra on their mortgage repayments. The government boasted of tax cuts, but let's be clear; these were not really new tax cuts at all. They were a repackaged version of coalition policies, and they do not undo the financial pain caused by Labor's reckless spending and inflationary budgets, and bracket creep continues to penalise aspiration.

This is a government that claims to help families while adding to their burdens—a government that celebrates economic indicators while ignoring economic lived experience by the average Australian. Labor is creating a two-tiered economy—one of bureaucratic subsidies and short-term handouts; the other of small businesses and working Australians who are keeping the country running. It's small businesses like the one that I ran in Hope Island that carry the real weight of economic responsibility. They are the ones that hire the apprentices, sponsor our local footy clubs and keep the lights on during downturns. And what do they get in return? They get higher costs, more red tape and compliance requirements and less support from this government.

Labor says it will ban supermarket price gouging, but, if the government truly wanted to bring prices down, it would start by unleashing supply, especially in agriculture, energy and housing. Instead it gives us taskforces and temporary relief while keeping the same broken policies that caused the crisis.

On education, the government says it will pursue universal early learning and free TAFE. These sound noble, but we must ask: where is the substance and when will it be delivered? Where, more importantly, is the national curriculum review to lift standards in literacy and numeracy? Where is the accountability to ensure funding translates into better outcomes, not just more bureaucracy? The coalition believes in empowering parents and educators, not overloading them with ideological agendas. We want an education system that builds character, rewards excellence and prepares our youth for a life of contribution, not dependence.

And let us be honest about universities. They must be places of learning, not activism. Free speech must be protected, and practical degrees, particularly in teaching, health and engineering, must be supported by real-world placements, not just ideological frameworks.

I wanted to say a word or two about values. The Governor-General spoke of fairness, aspiration and opportunities. These words matter, but under Labor they are being redefined. Fairness is not promising more while delivering less, aspiration is not penalising those who strive hard, and opportunity is not creating a culture of dependency. We on this side of the House believe in freedom—the freedom to work, to speak, to worship and to build. We believe in responsibility—the idea that actions have consequences and that rewards come to those who contribute. And we believe in the family, the first and most important institution in our society. That is why we oppose policies that define Australians by race, class or postcode. We believe in a nation united by common values, not by endless grievance.

This parliament has a choice. It can be a theatre of slogans or a forum of substance. It can rubberstamp more of the same, or it can challenge the direction in which we're heading. At the recent election, whilst the result was not in favour of the coalition, I still believe that Australians expect us to deliver a strong robust opposition to hold this government to account, to ensure that it's delivering on what it says it will deliver and to ensure that we have a strong and enduring democracy. I choose the challenge. I choose to speak up for the people of Fadden and of all around Australia, for the young couple who are priced out of the market, for the pensioner who's, quite frankly, too afraid to open their power bill and for the small businesses who are just trying to stay afloat.

This is not just politics. It's personal. I've lived it. I've built a business, I've raised a family, I've served in local government, and now I serve here with one purpose: to defend the dignity of work, the value of aspiration, the hope of a better tomorrow and the inherent values that we have as Australians.

I will always oppose policies that entrench dependence. I will support policies that lift people up, and I will hold this government to account every step of the way, because Australians deserve better. They deserve a government that doesn't just promise but performs, one that doesn't just talk but actually delivers. I, as always, will be here on this side ready to serve, and we as a coalition will not remain silent.

Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I acknowledge that we meet on the traditional lands of Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. I pay my respects to their elders past and present. I represent Dunkley, a community on Bunurong and Boon Wurrong country, the land by the sea, the home of Nairm Marr Djambana, our local gathering place.

I'm a Frankston mum—with a husband, a son, two dogs and a mortgage—a community sector professional, an avid walker and lover of a good latte in the morning. I am the MP for Dunkley. This past week, this proud mum from Dunkley visited Governor-General Sam Moyston's house for a democracy sausage with MPs and senators from all parties and all parts of this country. We are the best democracy in the world—youthful when we compare ourselves to other democracies but also home to the world's oldest living culture.

As a white fella and proud Aussie, I'm very proud to call the Aboriginal people, First Nations people, my ancestors. I was born on Naarm land in Victoria, so First Nations people, in my mind, are my ancestors, and, because of this, I'm committed to advancing the independence and sovereignty of our nation's First Peoples locally and nationally, doing my bit through truth-telling and ensuring self-determination.

I was pleased to hear just last week that Frankston City Council agreed to extend the lease of the land of the building for Nairm Marr Djambana. I want to recognise Councillor Emily Green's role in forwarding the motion, which passed unanimously. It is also worth acknowledging the councillors and Mayor Councillor Bolam for supporting this measure. I look forward to working constructively with Deb Mellett OAM from The Gathering Place, Frankston City Council and Paul Edbrook, the state MP for Frankston, to ensure our local gathering place has the financial support to create a suitable cultural space, a place to call home for what is the fastest growing community of Aboriginal people in Victoria.

To be here today has been a marathon. The work of an incredible team of people supported me in the by-election over 18 months ago and the federal election just two months ago. To be able to climb two Everests in 14 months was possible because of my amazing husband, Dave Glazebrook, and son, Flynn. It was a family affair, with Dave being the chief bottle washer, cook and dog walker throughout this time while working and Flynn patiently by his side and helping me with social media messaging.

I was also supported by an incredible team of dedicated and committed volunteers and staff, friends and, of course, family who knew round 2 was coming swiftly after the by-election. We had no time to waste. There are a number of people I need to thank for their dedication to me and Dunkley: Deb and Roger Child, Sam Touren, Damon Jacobs, Robyna Cozens, Ann McGillvray, Colleen Gill, Aaron Robinson, Patrick Freeman, Pip Coulthurst, Quinney Brownfield-Hanna, Carter Wrangles, Noel Gregory, Rudy Blums, Pat and Ken Dreschler, Barb Kuhl, and Jamie Trotter. To Rod Glover: thank you for always being there on the other end of the phone no matter what.

Thank you to my state MPs from the south-east; your encouragement and wise words as I learnt the ropes were always welcomed: Paul Edbrooke, Sonya Kilkenny, Paul Mercurio, Lee Tarlamis, Pauline Richards, Michael Galea and Tim Richardson.

Thank you to my staff and campaign team: campaign manager Hamish Morrison, Majella, Jarrod, Maddy, Louis, Ana, Erin, Alyssa, Jasmine, Neo and of course Alfonso. This win is our win because of your work.

Thank you also to the supporters from the ALP, ASU Private Sector, ASU Authorities, Finance Sector Union, United Workers Union, Allan Griffin and Kat Hardy, and also to Senator Lisa Darmanin, Senator Jess Walsh, the member for Bruce and the member for Isaacs.

I may be the federal MP for Dunkley, the face on the building, but this win was our win, a result of dedication by all of you to our community—the party and the values of justice, equity and fairness. To the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and the Australian Electoral Commission: participating in two elections in 14 months means I can say with some experience that we must make the election process more engaging and safer for voters. We need to lift the bar and raise the standards to ensure that all candidates operate with integrity as our positions of office require of us here in parliament. Furthermore, as we work to reduce the pollution caused by plastics we must reduce corflutes and bunting and the number of DLs we place in people 's letterboxes.

Engagement with politics and politicians is at an all-time low. If we are serious about lifting engagement we must do better and make changes to the processes and behaviour. I cannot forget election eve, when the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister visited a prepoll centre in Carrum Downs with me, and the horrendous, intimidating and aggressive behaviour from the opposition. We do not condone bad and inflammatory behaviour on social media for other sectors and professions by young people on the streets. We must expect the same for candidates, politicians, parties and the political process and walk the talk that we legislate.

I was part of the 47th Parliament for 14 months. I landed with a thud, dusted myself off after the by-election and got down to learning as much as I could before the federal election. I need to give a shout-out to be MP for Lalor for being a fabulous mentor during that time. You kept me moving in the right direction despite my being a deer in the headlights, sometimes going around in circles in the big house on the hill.

I also want to take the time to thank all my parliamentary colleagues. Unfortunately, politicians get a bad rap. Question time, or Hollywood hour theatrics, is often what the public judges us by. But actually my colleagues, the ALP caucus, are an incredible bunch of humans who care deeply about their communities, their constituents and this fine country. Their care and support of me in my first term was heartwarming. Thank you all.

When people say to me that parliamentarians like to hear the sound of their own voices, I now politely respond with confidence that parliamentarians are some of the best listeners going around. Look at our diaries and you will see a sea of meetings and events where the focus is on listening, learning and finding a solution—a job supported by our equally dedicated staff—providing information and support to our constituents with myriad issues, such as the NDIS, immigration and aged care.

During the federal election the Dunkley team and I knocked 37,000 doors, made 35,000 phone calls and had 20,000 conversations—a massive effort and the result of the diligent work of Jarrod Smyth and Neo Williams. Thank you both. When I was out on doors I was able to listen to locals' issues and concerns and support them to get help from the many incredible organisations in the electorate of Dunkley. I was able to write insights into what we are delivering to help Aussies, into government policy and to provide civics education—a doorstop take on the three levels of government in Australia and why voting is important. I learned we must deliver more civics education in our communities to ensure we bring politics to the people. In my second term I now have the incredible opportunity to action a number of priorities I spoke to in my first speech. One such commitment is building on civic leadership agenda of the Governor-General and Speaker of the House, and delivering the Dunkley emerging leaders program. I will be launching this in September so young people aged 16 to 19 from Dunkley interested in becoming change makers in the community can learn how to do just that. I will also host a series of forums and roundtables, a woman's roundtable with the Minister for Social Services and the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention Family Violence, where leaders from community organisations and women with lived experience will be able to discuss experiences, issues, and explore solutions with federal representatives.

I cannot wait to welcome the member Hunter, the Special Envoy for Men's Health to host a forum with the Men's Sheds in Dunkley and a roundtable with service providers. All of this and more will be included in my September newsletter.

The reforms the Albanese Labor government have initiated are phenomenal. On 1 July we announced the cost-of-living measures introduced last week, building on the important cost-of-living relief the government delivered in its first term. We've got the superannuation guarantee, which has risen from 11.5 to 12 per cent; and a new pay rise for millions of Australians, with three million people getting a 3.5 per cent pay rise. We have also introduced a 30 per cent discount on home batteries to cut power bills. We have introduced paid prac for student nurses, teachers, social workers and midwives, and a 10k bonus for construction apprentices over the life of their apprenticeship—this and so much more.

Over the last three years we have delivered the following in Dunkley, thanks to the leadership of my predecessor the late Peta Murphy: the Jubilee Park Stadium; Kananook and Frankston Station car parks, a Medicare urgent care clinic and funding for a Frankston district basketball stadium of $15 million, which commenced last week. And over the next three years I will do what the Prime Minister has asked us to do: be focused and vigilant about delivering for our communities. I will follow through with the Homes for Australia plan, the biggest-ever housing spend in Australia since World War II, ensuring I do my bit to ensure we build 1.2 million homes in Australia. I have been working behind the scenes this past 12 months with key stakeholders in the community of Dunkley to support the planning so we can build more social and affordable housing in our community for families, for women and for key workers so no-one is left behind.

At the federal election the Albanese government committed $109 million to Dunkley. That is phenomenal. Over the next three years, with my state and local colleagues and many community organisations, I will work to address and build: the $50 million Nepean Highway-Overton Road intersection; the $25 million Thompson Road upgrades; the $5 million upgrade to Bruce Park and Len Phelps Pavilion; and the $1.7 million upgrade to Frankston Bowling Club, including $500,000 to seek volunteers. That and so much more. Just last week I announced that 12 organisations received a share of $120,000 through the Stronger Communities funding. These local organisations are doing great work for local people and include the Miscarriage Information Support Service, Mums Supporting Families in Need, the Lyrebird Community Centre, the Hindu Society of Victoria, Local 2 Community, Langwarrin Community Centre, Kunyung Pre School, Wannai Preschool, the Pines Community Men's Shed. BAM Arts, Street Peace and 1st Ballam Park Scout Group. Thanks to Kathy Heffernan, Pip Coulthurst, Wayne Holdsworth and Stephen Sparrow for being part of the working group that was part of the selection process.

In addition to this, we will continue to invest millions into mental health through Medicare mental health hubs, headspace, men's sheds and Movember as well as increasing medications on the PBS, but there is more that we need to do, and I'm committed to doing just that. I'm proud that in the 47th Parliament the Albanese Labor government implemented seven out of the 31 recommendations from the Murphy report on the harm of gambling advertising. This government takes seriously its responsibility to protect children from harm. Last year, we passed a social media ban to ensure children and young people under the age of 16 are safer from predators. Mental health is a silent epidemic in this country, and this ban goes one step further towards creating protective barriers so our children don't fall victim to malicious and harmful content.

My other priority is, of course, the environment. Dunkley has an abundance of natural beauty, beaches and reserves on offer, and it's fair to say that as residents we make the most of them. I certainly know I do. However, I'm acutely conscious of plastic pollution. This global issue is worsening, with plastic production set to triple by 2050 and with plastic outweighing the number of fish by that date. Dunkley and Australia's beaches are iconic and part of who we are as Australians. I look forward to working with the minister for the environment to do what I can to make our beaches, natural reserves and biodiversity preserved for the longer term.

From helping community sport to investing in men's mental health, this government has its priorities right because we listen to our communities. Crucially, this investment by the Albanese Labor government in Dunkley means that residents can live, work, study, raise a family and retire in our beautiful community. I am a Dunkley local, along with Dave and Flynn and the two dogs. We walk and drive through the same streets as you. I have worked and volunteered in this community. I know what is important to this community. As the MP for Dunkley in the federal government, I am here to listen, learn and advocate for you, the people of Dunkley, because you are my people. I will serve this community with authenticity and work diligently every day with integrity, kindness and respect. I will be your strong local voice in the big house on the hill in Canberra and deliver for Dunkley. Thank you, Dunkley, for the privilege to represent you.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I must say that I feel privileged and the burden of responsibility which goes with being elected for the seventh time as the member for Gippsland, and I want to recognise the people who allowed me to get here. I also want to congratulate all the 150 MPs from across Australia on their success in the election. It's no mean feat to be chosen to come to this place, and you've all earned your space in the 48th Parliament.

Firstly, to the more than 55,000 Gippslanders who honoured me with their first preference, I say to you with great sincerity that I am determined to not let you down and to keep delivering for all Gippslanders. I want to acknowledge my family members who assisted me in this campaign and in previous campaigns. To my staff in Sale and Traralgon: without your dedication and hard work over a long period of time, I know that our success and margin in the seat of Gippsland would be greatly diminished. To the party members of the Nationals, our booth volunteers, our state and federal directors and their campaign teams—all of these people make a contribution to helping individual members win their seats, and I don't take that support for granted.

I also want to acknowledge the Australian Electoral Commission, its senior staff and workers on the ground, who made sure that we ran an election here in Australia which was not contested in terms of the integrity of the process and the result—the final outcome and the counting of votes. It is a good process; it's one that requires constant supervision and regulatory oversight. I congratulate the AEC on another great performance across the seat of Gippsland.

On my side of the house the final result in the election campaign was not the one we were hoping for. To deliver for regional Australians the Nationals know we need to be in government, because we don't get much out of the Labor Party. The Nationals, though, performed very well in this most recent election. We were able to hold all existing seats we held going into the election; we managed to transition three seats, which is always a difficult task in regional areas; and we came within one per cent of winning the seat of Bendigo, which would have been the biggest upset in Australia. We achieved the biggest swing in Australia, a 10 per cent two-party preferred swing, against the Labor Party in Bendigo, and the reason we were so successful in our own seats but also the seat of Bendigo is that our approach is to have local champions as our candidates. In this case, in the seat of Bendigo, it was Andrew Lethlean, a local champion, a grassroots campaigner and someone who is focused on the issues that matter to the people of Bendigo district and delivering on local priorities.

Our localism, our focus on local issues, stands in stark contrast to the Canberra-knows-best attitude which has come to dominate the modern Australian Labor Party. Sadly, when you look at the outcome of the election it has become apparent that Australia is more divided now on city-country lines than perhaps ever before. Regional Australians are being left behind by a government that makes no apology whatsoever for buying votes in the cities with policies like the HECS debt reduction. This proposal, which will go through the House this week, will potentially benefit 12,777 people in Gippsland but help 28,009 former students in the Prime Minister's seat of Grayndler and 25,901 people in the education minister's seat of Blaxland. Data from the Parliamentary Library which shows the average number of people who will benefit under this scheme in seats held by the Nationals in rural and regional Australia is 13,384 per seat. However, in the seats held by the Greens in the inner city, which were key targets of Labor going to the election, the average number of people who will benefit under this vote-buying scheme is 32,888—2.5 times the benefits, flowing into the targeted seats by the Australian Labor Party. This was industrial-scale tertiary-level vote-buying, with working-class people in my electorate picking up the tab for students who will earn more over their lifetime as a result of having benefited from Australian university education.

The address-in-reply, including in the other place, was consistent with the Albanese government's first term. There was no plan for the future of Gippsland and no plan for the future of regional Australia. In fact regional Australia hardly rated a mention in the entire speech. I think it was mentioned once in the entire speech. This was meant to demonstrate the government's second-term agenda. We shouldn't be surprised, because this is a cynical, city focused government which has been elected on the back of deception, misconceptions and the mother of all scare campaigns targeting the former member for Dickson. Throughout the campaign the Prime Minister repeatedly waved his Medicare card around and told Australians, 'This is all you're going to need to see a doctor,' but it's not true. We've now learned just this week that 23 per cent of GP clinics won't be taking up the new bulk-billing initiatives, so you won't just need your Medicare card; you'll need your credit card as well.

This is just like how the Prime Minister told the Australian people before the 2022 election that their energy bills would go down by $275. He repeated that claim I think 97 times in the lead-up to that election and, guess what, the bills went up in your electorate and my electorate as well. Now we have the most recent 'did he or didn't he' fiasco surrounding US beef imports and whether the Trump administration raised it with the Prime Minister during discussions. We have the trade minister, who told journalists:

Of course, the president of the United States has raised it with the prime minister.

But the Prime Minister says that's not true, and now the trade minister has had to back down. I want to know who pressured Senator Farrell to change his story. We know from previous experience this prime minister is very loose with the truth, whether it's on Medicare, on energy bills or now in relation to beef imports from the United States.

What we've seen—and you've got to give credit where credit's due—is that Labor are very good at campaigning. It's just a pity they're so hopeless at governing. This prime minister has promised to govern for all Australians, but the one-third of Australians who live outside our capital cities will believe it when they see it. If you take a look at the electoral map, Deputy Speaker Young, you'll see what I mean.

Rural, regional and remote Australians didn't buy what the Prime Minister was selling at the election, and there are plenty of reasons for that, as I explained to the House last week. It its first term, the Albanese government cut the guts out of regional programs. There's no pipeline of projects in regional Australia in this second-term agenda because the Prime Minister cut the Roads of Strategic Importance program and he cut the Building Better Regions Fund. They cut regional airports funding. They even cut the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program after turning up to the opening of all the projects. They cut the Stronger Communities program for a year, and then they brought it back. Who knows when they'll cut it again?

But, after all these cuts, the Albanese government triumphantly introduced the Growing Regions Program. Who can forget the Growing Regions Program? It was for $600 million over three years. But then they cut that too. It's quite extraordinary. You set up your own regional grants program and then you cut it anyway. Not satisfied with cutting all the coalition-era regional grants program, they cut their own program. It begs the question: why do they hate regional Australians so much? It's probably because regional Australians don't vote for them. Regional Australians have got the common sense to see through the bulldust. They don't vote for all the spin and the bulldust coming their way.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've woken a few of them up! Are you going to defend the cuts to the Building Better Regions Fund? Are you going to defend the cuts to Roads of Strategic Importance? What about defending the regional airports funding cuts?

Government members interjecting—

I can't hear you. You're so far back I can't hear you! It's hypocritical of these Labor ministers, who spent the entire first term coming into this place and complaining about the coalition government. They talked about a wasted decade, as they liked to say. But then they leave this place, they race out to their electorates, and what do they do, Member for Riverina? They cut the ribbons, they open the plaques, they get their names in the paper.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They're very good at ribbon cutting.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They were very good at ribbon cutting but not very good at actually announcing projects of their own and funding and delivering them to their communities. In fact, Member for Riverina, I'm not sure about you, but I'd like you to fact-check this for me. I'm still waiting to see the first Growing Regions Program project completed and a ribbon being cut. I don't think they've finished anything in three years. There's no funding in their budget this year that provides a pathway to the community facilities that we need in our regional communities.

I have to draw a stark contrast between my electorate of Gippsland and the previous speaker's, who proudly said that about $100 million worth of projects were announced in Dunkley—the way the Labor Party treated the people of Gippsland with contempt during this election. They did actually make one promise. In the entire electorate of Gippsland, the Labor Party committed $500,000 to a senior citizens facility in Bairnsdale. Across the entire electorate of Gippsland, that was their sole contribution. Contrast that with the electorate of the previous speaker, Dunkley, with over $100 million worth of projects.

And contrast that with my experience on the ground in the seat of Bendigo, where, once the Labor Party realised that Andrew Lethlean was tearing the house down, was making massive inroads on their primary vote and was about to win the seat, suddenly we caught the attention of the Australian Labor Party, and the largesse started to flow. After 27 years of taking the seat of Bendigo for granted and starving them of resources, the Labor Party realised they were in trouble, and the money started to flow into Bendigo.

It's this approach which has infuriated rural and regional Australians. It's this approach which has made the people who work and live in rural and regional Australia so angry with an Albanese government which has no agenda for growth in regional Australia and is so obsessed with city votes that it's prepared to buy those votes with the HECS 20 per cent debt reduction. As I've explained previously, this was the most cynical, industrial-scale tertiary-level vote-buying scheme that I've ever seen in my 17 years in this place, because it disproportionately benefits the wealthiest students in those metropolitan areas and screws over the country kids every day of the week.

Time's against me, and I know that I'll have the opportunity to continue my comments at a later date, but, at that point when I resume, I'll make it very clear that only on this side of the House do we have a plan for the future of regional Australia, which stands in stark contrast to the Albanese Labor government's continued neglect and—

I can't hear you. You're so far back, Shayne. Why aren't you down the front? I can't hear you; you're so far away! Come closer.

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 43. The debate may be resumed at a later hour, and the member will be granted leave when the debate is resumed.