Alicia Payne (Canberra, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the package of appropriation bills. Budget management is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government. It's about ensuring the resources and the wealth of this nation and its people are managed well. It's about ensuring that the services that Australians rely on and expect and deserve are funded and delivered. It's about protecting our people and our nation, whether from the global challenge of climate change or from other threats in an increasingly uncertain world. Most importantly, budget management is about priorities—the priorities that reflect the values and choices of the Australian people when they cast their vote.

Since coming to government in 2022, this government has delivered meaningful reform and real progress for our nation. We are a government that acts, whether it's action on climate change after a decade of denial and delay; whether it's the introduction of the National Anti-Corruption Commission that is restoring accountability and integrity into public life; whether it's more affordable early childhood education, cheaper medicines or cheaper home batteries; whether it's the ambition to build 1.2 million new homes and help young Australians achieve the dream of homeownership; or whether it's cutting student debt or the introduction of fee-free TAFE and paid prac placements. At every step, the Albanese Labor government has been guided by the core Labor values of fairness, opportunity and support for those who need it most. We have delivered these reforms while maintaining strong fiscal discipline under the leadership of the Treasurer and the Minister for Finance.

In the last term, we delivered the largest nominal budget improvement in a single parliamentary term. We delivered the first back-to-back budget surpluses in nearly two decades because, for all the bluff and bluster about surpluses from those opposite when they were in government, it took Labor to actually deliver one. That is the harsh reality for those opposite. This is responsible economic management in action, and it's what we are continuing to deliver in this second term in government.

When Australians went to the polls, they voted for a government that would tackle the big challenges, invest in the services they rely on and build a stronger, fairer future. These appropriation bills reflect that choice. They give effect to the commitments we took to the people, commitments we are proud to deliver, commitments to reduce the cost of living and fight inflation, including more relief on energy bills, tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer, cheaper medicines and a 20 per cent cut to student debt.

We are strengthening Medicare, including funding so that, by 2030, nine out of 10 GP visits will be bulk-billed; a huge issue in my community. There'll be more investment in our public hospitals; more urgent care clinics—with 137 right across the nation, including a new one right here in Canberra; more doctors and nurses in the system; and lower costs, more choice and more accessible health care for women.

We're also making it easier to buy and rent a home. We're building more homes faster, using modern construction methods and expanding the Help to Buy scheme. We're providing up to $10,000 for apprentices in housing construction to ensure we have the tradies we need to build the homes Australians need. We're expanding the five per cent deposit scheme to all first home buyers, so the once insurmountable burden of saving for a deposit is less of a hurdle. We've invested $43 billion in our Homes for Australia plan, as we work towards our 1.2 million new homes by 2030. We're fast-tracking the approvals of 26,000 homes that have stagnated, and we're freezing changes to the Construction Code so that builders can get on with the job of building. Alongside the Housing Australia Future Fund, build-to-rent, our shared equity schemes and other initiatives, this government is by far the most ambitious when it comes to housing policy in a generation.

On education, we're investing at every stage. We're guaranteeing access to at least three days a week of subsidised early childhood education and care. We're fully funding every public school. We've made free TAFE permanent, and we're delivering reform to the university sector through the Universities Accord.

We're building a stronger, more resilient economy through our new National Competition Policy, the Future Made in Australia plan supporting green metals production and clean energy manufacturing, and through expanded funding for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

I also want to talk about some of the commitments we made at the election specifically for the people of Canberra. Our flagship announcement at our campaign launch was game-changing for our city. Labor announced a $200 million investment to green-light a new national convention and entertainment precinct and a new aquatic centre in Commonwealth Park. This is something that I have advocated for the whole time I have been in parliament, because this new convention centre will be befitting of a national capital. It's so important that our city can host the sort of events that we need to play our part on the world stage. This will be a game changer for our local economy as well.

The joint project with the ACT government will create jobs, boost our local economy and give Canberra the modern facilities the national capital deserves. It will deliver a new convention and entertainment precinct capable of hosting major summits, conferences and events befitting a national capital, as well as a new aquatic centre to replace the ageing Civic Pool. This investment is about building Canberra's future, supporting local business, tourism and hospitality, and ensuring our city has the infrastructure it needs to grow. It shows the difference a federal Labor government makes when it works hand in hand with an ACT Labor government to deliver for Canberra—a government that's not ashamed of our national capital and that doesn't engage in cheap pointscoring, as the former opposition leader did with his attacks on the public service, which clearly backfired in the last election.

We're also backing our local sporting community with $1.5 million for Hockey ACT to upgrade and replace the ageing Carter Field at the National Hockey Centre in Lyneham. This is another project I was very proud to advocate for on behalf of my community, and I'm very pleased that we can deliver. The Carter Field is Canberra's premier hockey pitch, home to the Canberra Chill and the large Canberra hockey community. Everyone who plays hockey in Canberra plays at the Lyneham fields. But, after nine seasons, the playing surface has deteriorated, posing a safety risk to players and falling below international standards.

I was very proud to run a petition which saw over 1,000 Canberra hockey players and fans show their support for an upgrade to our hockey centre. With this strong community support, I was pleased to secure a commitment from the government. Our commitment will deliver a full pitch replacement, including a new international category 1 surface—the same as what was used in the Paris Olympics. This investment will also upgrade irrigation, fencing and other essential infrastructure. The new surface will reduce water consumption by 45 per cent and will support over 10,000 community fixtures and training sessions over the next decade. Our commitment secures the future of hockey in Canberra and ensures that players at all levels, from juniors through to elite athletes, have access to a world-class facility.

Our government recognises the specific challenges Canberrans face when seeing a GP. Our city has some of the lowest bulk-billing rates in the country and Canberrans pay some of the highest GP fees. It's simply not good enough. That is why, on top of our national commitment to make nine in 10 GP appointments free by 2030, we're investing $14.3 million to directly boost bulk-billing GP rates in Canberra. This funding will go towards funding three new fully bulk-billed GP practices across the city and will guarantee the ongoing operation of Interchange Health Co-operative in Tuggeranong.

We're also delivering new training initiatives, including the first metropolitan trial of the single-employer model, to attract more GPs to Canberra and keep them here. This is a game-changing investment for our city. It will mean more choice, better access and more affordable health care for Canberra families. Labor has also committed to delivering a new Medicare urgent care clinic in Woden, which is much needed. This clinic will be open seven days a week, over extended hours, with no appointment needed, and every patient will be fully bulk-billed. It will provide urgent medical care close to home without the stress of going to the emergency department.

The Woden clinic will also take pressure off Canberra Hospital and make sure that families in Woden and across the city can see a doctor when it really matters. It will build on the five existing nurse led walk-in clinics already operating in the ACT, which have seen more than 236,000 presentations since opening, and it shows once again the difference a Labor government makes when it invests in the health of our community. We're also investing an extra $10 million into respite services here in Canberra to ensure that people who need a bed in a respite centre will get one, because the health and wellbeing of Canberrans matters to our government.

We are also helping Canberrans electrify their homes and reduce energy bills through the Albanese government's suburb-wide electrification programs. Building on the success of early pilots like Electrify 2015, we are expanding this approach here in Canberra and working with communities such as Giralang to help households transition from gas to electric heating, cooking and hot water. These programs provide funding support, expert guidance and practical solutions to make upgrades easier and more affordable for families. Early results from similar pilots have been very encouraging. Households have cut energy use, lowered bills by thousands of dollars a year and reduced emissions, all while improving comfort and efficiency. By bringing this program to Canberra, we are giving residents choice, saving families money and building the renewable energy infrastructure that will power our city into the future.

We're also contributing $5 million to stage 2 of the Garden City Cycleway through the inner north. Stage 1 has been an absolutely massive success. I'm looking forward to seeing the cycleway extend to Watson. I was thrilled to join the minister for infrastructure, the Chief Minister and the ACT transport minister to turn the sod of the light rail stage 2A to Commonwealth Park. It is a great example of our two governments working together. The government is also investing in the roads infrastructure that Canberrans need. We're providing $53.5 million to support key projects, including completing stage 1 of the Monaro Highway upgrade, planning for stage 2 and finishing the duplication of Gundaroo Drive. These upgrades will improve safety, ease congestion and make daily commutes faster and smoother for Canberran residents on these key arterial roads.

The Albanese government is also backing Canberra's local defence industry, and building Australia's future through this. It was great to join Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy in the last term to announce a $272 million investment in CEA Technologies in Fyshwick, supporting 720 local Canberra jobs and delivering 14 world-class active phased array radars to the Australian Army's long-range fire capability. CEA is a Canberra success story, producing cutting-edge radar technology that strengthens our Defence Force, and has exported globally. This project highlights how the Albanese government is creating high-tech Australian made solutions while boosting local employment and capability. It was wonderful to tour this facility and hear about the Canberra history of this major employer in our city. They are a great example of Canberra punching above our weight when it comes to innovation and incredible capability in our city that is exported to the world.

Many in Canberra who commute through or around State Circle would also know our government is building a brand new national security precinct in Barton which will employ around 10,000 people. The multiplier effect will be major, with this project providing a huge economic boost to our city. Just this week, we are one step closer to setting up Australia's Centre for Disease Control, which will be headquartered right here in Canberra, something I and the other Labor representatives—the members for Fenner and Bean, and Senator Gallagher—were very keen to see. The Minister for Health and Ageing has introduced legislation to establish the agency which will deliver $251.7 million to set up the CDC and ongoing annual funding of $73.3 million in 2028.

These bills deliver for Canberra and deliver for Australia. They are about keeping faith for the Australian people, delivering on the commitments we have made, strengthening the services that Australians rely on and building a stronger, fairer future for our economy. They reflect the values of this Labor government—fairness, opportunity and responsibility. I commend them to the House.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It being 1 pm, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.