Melissa McIntosh's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Lindsay Electorate: Australia Day Honours and Awards | Constituency Statements | House debates
People in my community of Lindsay love Australia Day. They celebrate it. We have a great time making sure that we acknowledge our neighbours and celebrate loving our country. Part of that is, of...
People in my community of Lindsay love Australia Day. They celebrate it. We have a great time making sure that we acknowledge our neighbours and celebrate loving our country. Part of that is, of course, celebrating the Australians that are on the Australia Day Honours List. It is really wonderful that this year there were two Lindsay locals who received the Medal of the Order of Australia. This is a deeply respected national honour that recognises, as we know, Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service and commitment to their communities. Being awarded the OAM is a significant tribute, reflecting values Australians hold dear: service, generosity and making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. The award highlights and acknowledges selflessness and a deep commitment to our community. Michael Allen, a respected resident of Regentville, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his outstanding service to the community through a lifetime of voluntary and charitable work. Michael has dedicated most of his life to helping others and ensuring there is support available to our most vulnerable. Currently, he is the chair of our local community housing provider, Link Wentworth, an organisation I worked for prior to entering politics. He also spent many years serving on boards and committees, working in our community on literacy at a foundation for people that have a disability and working with some of our Aboriginal communities across the electorate. Most notably, Michael was a handyman at The Haven, which is a local charity that provides crisis accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence. John Lackey was also one of the incredible Lindsay locals to receive this prestigious award. He was recognised for his service to the community of Penrith, including his longstanding involvement with local arts and cultural organisations. Formerly, he was the director of Penrith Performing and Visual Arts, from 2006 to 2022 and the director and treasurer of Penrith Regional Gallery. His work has helped strengthen Penrith's cultural landscape by ensuring arts experiences are accessible and vibrant. This award is an acknowledgement from the entire nation that the service of these two individuals this year is noticed and it matters. On behalf of the Lindsay community, I wish to offer our sincere appreciation and congratulations. Thank you both for your years of service, volunteer work, countless hours of dedication and unwavering commitment to bettering the lives of the Lindsay community. Your achievements are a source of inspiration to many across our community, and we are profoundly grateful for the lasting impact you've made.
Cost of Living | Grievance Debate | House debates
Every day, the people of Lindsay, in my community, are feeling the very real, growing impact of the failure of the Albanese Labor government to get the cost of living under control. I hear from...
Every day, the people of Lindsay, in my community, are feeling the very real, growing impact of the failure of the Albanese Labor government to get the cost of living under control. I hear from families, small businesses—sadly, too many small businesses are closing—and renters and mortgage holders across my electorate who tell me they don't know how much more they can take. For the community of Lindsay, the cost-of-living crisis is no longer something that's temporary. It's not just a phase; it is relentless and it is entrenched. The latest inflation figures tell the story. Australia's annual CPI rose 3.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2025, which is higher than expected. It's broad based and it's hitting the essentials people in Lindsay simply cannot do without. We talk about how much things have increased—whether it's housing, electricity, rent, new dwellings, meat and seafood or fruit and vegetables—and, when we talk about food, the increase in food prices is something that really concerns me, particularly when it comes to food security. I think every community across the country has people lining up at food banks like they never have before. This is putting pressure on not only people experiencing homelessness but double-income families. They just can't afford the increases in food prices. You can't skip eating, you can't skip paying your power bill, and you can't skip your mortgage repayments. This is exactly why inflation is hitting people in my community so hard, and, by the looks of it, if interest rates go up today, it's going to hit people even more. People are being forced to make decisions that they did not anticipate. The choice of whether to put food on the table or to put the lights or heating on is real. It's not just politicians saying these things, because that's what's happening in our communities. My community was told by this Labor government that the increases would be temporary, and they're seeing it now. They were also promised many things, including that their electricity bills would go down. The hard work of my community to manage their budgets has successfully been undone by a Labor government that has consistently overspent. Around one in three households in the electorate of Lindsay are mortgage holders. The prospect of another interest rate rise—we're merely hours away now—will fall hardest on working families who are already dedicating a significant share of their income to keeping a roof over their heads. They are not reckless borrowers; they are everyday Australians. They're teachers, they're health workers, they're tradies, and they're small-business owners. They are people who are contributing to our economy and to our community. Renters are also facing this grim reality. Rents have increased, vacancy rates remain extremely low, and families are being pushed further from their workplaces, schools and home towns. Young Australians are losing confidence that homeownership will be within reach. For many, the great Australian aspiration, that great Australian dream, of owning a home feels increasingly out of reach and out of step with the harsh reality that is facing them. Small businesses are under extraordinary pressure. Rising energy costs, higher rents, increased insurance premiums and reduced consumer spending are forcing business owners to make difficult choices, and this goes right across the spectrum. You can walk down High Street in Penrith and speak to a cafe owner, and they say the same thing as a manufacturer in heavy industry manufacturing: whether it's high power prices, the cost of having staff or higher rents, it is putting so many good long-term businesses out of business. They're shutting their doors. These pressures demand disciplined economic management. Economists across the country—people with decades of experience, formal qualifications and real-world economic expertise—have been absolutely clear that the government must rein in spending to bring inflation under control. But what has been the Albanese Labor government's response? It's been to ignore the advice, the good advice, that would get this country back on track. According to the Albanese Labor government, every qualified economist who has worked in the field for years and years is wrong and the only person to listen to is the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, who has no formal qualifications in finance and has never worked a day in the field. This is the type of arrogance that is costing Australians deeply. Nearly four years on, after this Labor government was elected on a broken promise to ease the cost of living—you can't deny that—inflation has remained high; interest rates have continued to rise, which I'm sure we're going to see again this afternoon; and household budgets are under greater strain, leaving less money in Australian pockets. Australians are losing confidence, and they are most definitely losing patience. They're getting angry at this government. The Treasurer has sought to deflect responsibility, continually pointing to global conditions and inherited challenges, but all that Australians want is real action. They want to be able to afford their bills. They want to be able to put food on the table. They want to be able to send their kids to afternoon sport and have a bit of leftover money for the weekend. This is not reality right now. Australians, as I said, were promised that their power bills would be cut by $275. Instead, they've received higher bills and a price increase of 21½ per cent. Some people in my community are paying over $1,000 more for their power bills than what was promised by the government. They were promised that interest rates would be lower and would stabilise. Instead, families are bracing, as I said, for another rate rise. For everyday Australians, a rate rise is deeply personal. After today I'll be hearing from my community about whether families can remain in their homes, whether small businesses can survive, and whether young Australians can plan for their future. And yet, as these pressures rise, you will not hear a plan of action from the government; you'll hear more excuses, more spin and more deflection—it's something they're very good at. The pattern of failure does not stop at their lack of action to address the cost of living. It extends to the government's approach to all sorts of issues, including in my portfolio area and online safety—most notably, its much-publicised social media ban for children under 16. This policy was announced with significant fanfare. It was presented as a decisive, world-leading reform designed to protect young Australians from online harm. Parents were told that it would provide reassurance and safety for our youngest Australians, but it's no surprise to anyone that the Albanese Labor government has failed in its execution. In fact, the Prime Minister said, 'Success is a national conversation.' Well, that is not keeping young people safe online. We know that the age verification systems underpinning this ban are deeply flawed. The technology being relied on does not adequately verify age nor identity. It can be easily bypassed. In some cases, facial scans are not meaningfully checked against the user details at all, and, as recently reported, fathers have even been using their own faces for their daughter's accounts and they're not marrying up. Kids are just getting through. The government is saying 4.7 million accounts have been deactivated, but there's no transparency about these figures, how they are calculated or whether kids are in fact offline. This is just another example of the government spinning a story that is not the reality. Whether it is in regard to the cost of living and telling Australians they've never had it better or whether it's saying that kids are now safer online, the PR exercise is very different to the reality that Australian families are facing. I think we all want to keep families safe. We all want to keep kids safe online, and we all want Australians and their families to have a better life. But the headline policy that looks strong in theory is collapsing for this government. The people of Lindsay—and, I think, all across the country—are not asking for miracles; they're just asking for competence in their government, and they're asking for honesty. The Albanese Labor government campaigned on transparency and people are getting anything but from this government. They're asking for a government that understands the pressures they face and acts and gets on the ground and can see what's happening. They want leadership that is focused on outcomes, not announcements. They deserve a government that recognises the toll that these failures are taking on Australian households, and they're just not getting it from this government. The people of Lindsay won't be ignored. They've got pretty loud voices, and they elected me to be their representative in this place. I'll keep fighting for them because they deserve better from their government. I'll ensure that this parliament is aware of the government's failings and what they're not doing for the community of Lindsay.
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Business | House debates
I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. This bill enables eligible registered nurses to prescribe certain medicines under the...
I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. This bill enables eligible registered nurses to prescribe certain medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. It establishes a framework for approving authorised nurse prescribers, including safeguards that allow approvals to be suspended or revoked where necessary. It also formally recognises authorised nurse prescribers as a new category of PBS prescriber, ensuring that patients receiving care from authorised nurses can access medicines under the PBS. Registered nurses make up around half of Australia's health workforce. They serve communities right across the country, including in rural, regional and remote areas, where access to doctors can be limited and where healthcare workforce shortages are most acute. Expanding scope of practice in a safe and regulated way has the potential to improve access to medicines, particularly for Australians living outside metropolitan centres. The introduction of nurse prescribing follows extensive consultation and regulatory development through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. An agreement among health ministers and the first cohort of nurses is expected to begin prescribing from mid-2026. The opposition won't stand in the way of this bill passing the House. On its face, the bill is broadly consistent with the objective of ensuring Australians have timely and affordable access to essential health care, particularly in rural and remote communities. However, as always, the details matter. We will be carefully examining the implementation of these arrangements through the upcoming Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee process and considering any issues or amendments that arise once the committee reports later this month. While this bill deals with prescribing arrangements, it sits within a broader challenge facing Australians—the rising costs and challenge of accessing healthcare. Australians relying on prescription medicines are facing increasing healthcare costs under this government, including the highest out-of-pocket GP fees on record. Patients are now paying, on average, more than $50 out of pocket simply to visit a GP. For many Australians, especially families and those managing chronic conditions, healthcare costs are becoming harder to absorb, particularly amongst the broader cost-of-living challenges impacting household budgets right across this country. Labor's mismanagement is forcing Australians to make difficult decisions about their health—decisions no Australian should ever have to make. We're seeing more Australians delaying doctor visits or putting off refilling their scripts because they simply cannot afford it. The coalition and, of course, the opposition have always supported affordable access to medicines through a strong and sustainable PBS. Our record shows consistent investment and reform to ensure Australians have access to the medicines they need at prices they can afford. Supporting appropriately qualified registered nurses to prescribe PBS medicines is consistent with that commitment to improving access and affordability. But access is not just about who can write the prescription; it is also about whether medicines are available to Australians on the PBS in the first place, and, on this measure, Australia is falling behind. Despite growing healthcare needs, investment in the PBS fell in real terms in the 2024-25 financial year under the Albanese government—a decline of almost $200 million compared to the previous year. This stands in contrast to the record of the former Liberal-National government, which approved more than 2,900 new or amended PBS listings, with investment totalling around $16.5 billion. Meanwhile, Australians are waiting longer than ever for new medicines to become available under the PBS. On average, it now takes around 466 days after registration for a medicine to be listed. That is more than a year's delay. Behind those numbers are real people waiting for treatments that could change or even save lives. Patients, clinicians and industry stakeholders consistently tell us that Australia's system for approving and funding medicines is slow, outdated and overly complex. The health technology assessment review was commissioned to fix precisely this problem, yet, more than 600 days later, many of its recommendations are still sitting unanswered. This review represents a critical opportunity to modernise our processes so they remain world class, responsive to innovation and genuinely patient centred. That opportunity must not be wasted. While we support enabling nurse prescribers to prescribe PBS medicines, we also condemn the government's broader failure to ensure Australians can have timely and affordable access to life-saving and life-changing medicines. This bill also intersects with a broader discussion across the health sector regarding scope of practice reform. There is significant interest in the government's response to the scope of practice review and what it means for workforce reform across the healthcare system. We view this process as an opportunity for the government to provide a clear roadmap for reform. When health professionals are enabled to work to the full extent of their training and capability, patients benefit through improved access and more efficient care. Empowering the workforce is one of the most practical ways to relieve pressure on the health system. But reviews alone do not deliver reform; action does. The government must now respond to the final report as a matter of priority. This review must not join others commissioned by the health minister that ultimately result in delay—we know this; it's a fact—inaction or simply more reviews instead of real reform. Healthcare workers and patients alike deserve clarity and progress. In closing, the opposition supports measures that responsibly improve access to health care for all Australians, particularly in rural and regional Australia, where this remains a significant challenge. We recognise the important role nurses play in our healthcare system, and the potential benefits of sensibly expanding scope of practice. At the same time, we will continue to scrutinise implementation details carefully to ensure patient safety, system efficiency and workforce sustainability are maintained. We look forward to further clarity arising through the committee process, and to ensuring that reforms genuinely improve access to health care for Australians wherever they live. The opposition will not oppose the passage of this bill, and we will continue working to ensure Australia's healthcare system delivers timely, affordable access to health care for all Australians.
Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world, and that success rests on a simple foundation: a strong, fair and orderly immigration system. Australians are generous...
Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world, and that success rests on a simple foundation: a strong, fair and orderly immigration system. Australians are generous people. We welcome migrants. We value their contribution and we are rightly proud of our multicultural society. But Australians also expect their government to manage migration responsibly, to uphold the law and to put community safety first. That is the standard against which the migration section of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026 must be judged. Immigration is not just an abstract policy debate. It affects real people—families trying to find housing, workers competing for jobs, communities relying on already stretched services and migrants who have followed the rules and played by the book. Views on immigration are strong in outer metro electorates such as mine, where infrastructure is under pressure. Western Sydney has a wonderful multicultural community and concerns around immigration levels are not about race but about services and quality of life. In late 2025, results from a local survey showed that many of my constituents believe immigration is too high and impacts roads, hospitals, schools and housing. Eighty-two per cent said that immigration is important to them. Ninety-one per cent said it was placing significant pressure on our services and infrastructure, such as our roads, our schools and our hospitals. Ninety per cent want us to decrease the level of immigration. It's not just about the pressures. Migration concerns are also about the safety of our citizens. Today, I received hundreds of emails from concerned people in my electorate, as well as hundreds more from across Australia, who are deeply concerned about this bill. I say this to them: I have heard you; I have read your emails and your opinions matter. Shane from Orchard Hill shares that immigration is having a negative impact on the community. Housing, infrastructure and schools are his biggest concerns. Louise from Claremont Meadows says: 'Successful societies are based on social cohesion. Immigration in Australia is a failed experiment that has led to high crime rates, lower standards of living and lower social cohesion.' Our communities deserve a migration system built on integrity at its core. That means clear rules, consistent enforcement and decisions that are made in Australia's national interest. Measures that strengthen the government's ability to deal with serious criminal conduct, protect the community and enforce visa conditions are necessary. Australians should not be asked to accept a system that allows dangerous individuals to enter and remain in our country because of weak laws or administrative failure. Integrity cuts both ways. Strong powers must come with strong safeguards. Ministerial discretion must be exercised transparently and responsibly. Decisions that affect people's lives must be lawful, proportionate and subject to proper scrutiny. The rule of law is not optional, and it must apply to government just as much as it applies to everyone else. This parliament has a duty to get it right. With very little time, the coalition has been focused, working hard to ensure that this legislation targets genuine threats. We are working through what's left of the bill to make sure that it works and that it deals with hate and extremist groups. This means enabling the immigration minister to deal with Islamic extremists, who we want to stop coming into this country. These groups are a genuine threat to our safety and to our way of life. The revised legislation no longer includes the provisions that sparked free-speech concerns across the parliament—although, even with the changes, we must ensure that it does not impinge on freedom of expression or freedom of association. Instead, it must focus on the tougher penalties for existing hate crimes, expanded powers to list hate organisations, and stronger visa cancellation and refusal powers in relation to noncitizens engaged in extremist activity and online extremist views and ideology. The migration amendments in this bill sharpen the focus of existing character powers so that they clearly capture extremist advocacy and antisemitic behaviour, including where that conduct occurs online offshore. Antisemitism today is often transnational in nature, spread through digital platforms, imported through overseas networks and amplified by individuals who have no permanent stake in Australia. The coalition supports clearer grounds for refusing or cancelling visas where a noncitizen has demonstrated that they promote racial or ethnic hatred. We have pushed for additional safeguards to address the risks, and we have worked to ensure that there are additional protections contained in the legislation. We need to remember why we're here: to tackle extremist groups, to better protect Jewish Australians—and all Australians—and to ensure that terrorism does not continue. We must ensure that the integrity of this bill is strong and that Australians can have confidence in it.
Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
Her name is a song as poignant and stirring as our national anthem. She was her parents' first Australian. She's the little girl in every home across our country. She is the heartbreak in all our...
Her name is a song as poignant and stirring as our national anthem. She was her parents' first Australian. She's the little girl in every home across our country. She is the heartbreak in all our hearts. She is 10-year-old Matilda. She is one of 15 innocent people murdered in the terror attack in Bondi, an act of senseless, unimaginable violence. In a place known for openness, beauty and belonging, lives were stolen in moments of terror, leaving families shattered, communities grieving and a nation struggling to comprehend how radical Islamic terrorism could erupt in the heart of everyday Australian life. Behind every one of the 15 lives lost was a person whose story mattered deeply. Among them were parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, volunteers who delivered meals to the vulnerable, musicians whose creativity enriched their communities, people of deep faith and service and ordinary Australians simply walking along the beach with those they loved. Some died shielding their families. Some died trying to stop the gunmen. Some died protecting strangers. They were people who gave, people who created, people who served. They were, all in all, good, everyday Australians. Where there is darkness we look for light, and it was in the darkness of this attack in Bondi where we saw the brightest lights of our national character: first responders who ran towards danger; paramedics, doctors and nurses who fought to save lives; lifeguards who sheltered hundreds, triaged the injured on the sand and carried the wounded to safety; ordinary people throwing themselves at the attackers to protect others. Their actions reflected the courage, decency and instinctive solidarity that define the Australian spirit. The antisemitic attack in Bondi has shaken our country awake to what has been building for years: radical Islamic extremism has spewed its hate onto our whole Australian community. The world realised the threat of Islamic extremism on 11 September 2001, a day when 10 Australians also lost their lives. That tattered Australian flag found in the rubble of the Twin Towers nearly 25 years ago in New York has never been restored, and now, in Bondi, it has been torn again, this time on our own soil. We cannot allow ourselves to drift back into the comfort of believing Australia is somehow insulated from terror, because terror has found us and it is looking for war. On the front line are our Jewish Australians—peaceful, good people who, over generations, have given so much to our nation, in the military, in politics, in sport and in every walk of life. Terror will not disappear without strong leadership, clear resolve and decisive action. Australia expects this, and it is what is required to restore safety, restore confidence in our nation's future and safeguard the values that define us and the belief that public spaces belong to all of us and that Australians should be able to walk along the beach, gather in worship or enjoy a family outing without fear. This is what democratic freedom brings. But leadership also requires something more: the ability to offer hope when the country is hurting—hope that we can build a safer Australia; hope that we can strengthen the bonds between communities; hope that we can protect our children and preserve the freedoms that define us; hope that love, not hatred, will shape the future of our nation. Hope is not naive. Hope is the work of rebuilding. Hope is the discipline of refusing to let terror write our story. Hope is the belief that we can rise from this moment stronger, more unified and more determined to defend the values that bind us together. And hope is found in the youngest voice in this tragedy: the voice of a child—of little Matilda B, as her family called her. It's a reminder that even the smallest among us can bring the light and bring the purpose—an extraordinary impact; a tiny ray of sunshine with the power to touch a nation. She will not be known only as the youngest victim of an act of terror that has devastated our country; she will be known as the light, the hope and the love that will inspire change for the better. May her memory be a blessing, may her light guide us and may we honour her by choosing love over fear, unity over division and hope that carries us forward in peace.
Personal Explanation | Statements | House debates
Today in question time, the Minister for Communications badly misrepresented comments I've made regarding the government's social media ban. The minister told the chamber I said yesterday that,...
Today in question time, the Minister for Communications badly misrepresented comments I've made regarding the government's social media ban. The minister told the chamber I said yesterday that, in hindsight, I would not have supported the law. That is incorrect, and the minister needs to tell the truth. I said that I want it to work the way it is intended for Australian kids. I fear the rushed nature, the drip-feeding of platforms and now the revelation that a digital ID might be required are causing doubt and uncertainty. The minister needs to stop doing PR trips to New York during a triple 0 crisis and make this work for Australian children.
I wish to make a personal explanation.
Lindsay Awards | Constituency Statements | House debates
It's a real privilege to represent the best constituents in the country. A testament to this was my 2025 Lindsay Awards last Friday evening. Attended by more than 200 people, the evening...
It's a real privilege to represent the best constituents in the country. A testament to this was my 2025 Lindsay Awards last Friday evening. Attended by more than 200 people, the evening showcased the strength, leadership and generosity that drive our community forward. This is the Lindsay Awards' second year, with 91 finalists recognised across 12 categories. It's a remarkable achievement and reflection of the depth of talent in, and commitment to, our region. Each winner represented something unique in not just the success in their field but the impact that their work makes in the lives of others. In leadership, Adam Fletcher was recognised for his work building local rugby across the Penrith region, strengthening sport from the grassroots up. The Woman in Leadership award went to Danielle Schwarzer for her work leading all-abilities programs in basketball, making inclusion a standard and not an exception. Our Youth in Leadership winner, Seamus McCauley, has already made his mark through leadership in the hospitality sector—proof that age is not a barrier to creating influence and having an impact on your community. In our emergency services, Stephen Payne was acknowledged for his longstanding service with Fire and Rescue New South Wales—a steady presence when our community needs it most. Our Health Advocates of the Year award, presented jointly to Professor Sam Orde and Professor Ian Seppelt, recognised world-leading innovations in intensive care, research that is saving lives well beyond our electorate. I particularly acknowledge all of our doctors and nurses at Nepean Hospital. Education remains a pillar of our community, and Supinder Bains received Educator of the Year for intergenerational programs in early childhood learning, bringing generations together through teaching and care. In sport, Hayley Muir was awarded Sportsperson of the Year for her outstanding achievements in national and international football. Accessibility in sport was also recognised, with Allen Thorpe receiving Club Member of the Year. In community service, Mark Geerin received the Individual Community Service Award for his programs, while Cancer Wellness Support received the Organisation Community Service Award. Our business sector was also celebrated. Western Sydney Publishing Group was awarded Small Business of the Year. Finally Clover Fields was awarded Aussie Made Business of the Year. It is a family owned company leading the way in sustainable Australian manufacturing. It's not just about a single night. It's about recognising people who make our community stronger every day. Lindsay is defined by action, leadership and heart, and this year's winners prove that again. It is my honour to serve and to celebrate the best community in the country.
Every day, when I am speaking to constituents in my community of Lindsay and Western Sydney, one of their top concerns is the astronomical cost of power. In my community and right across Western...
Every day, when I am speaking to constituents in my community of Lindsay and Western Sydney, one of their top concerns is the astronomical cost of power. In my community and right across Western Sydney—in fact, right across the country—we're paying $1,300 more for energy this year compared to when the Albanese Labor government took office in 2022. It is a shame. Shame on them! Shame on you for doing that! Thirteen hundred dollars in three years—it shouldn't be a joke, but it is. This government is treating everyday Australians as jokes and taking them for granted. It's no small sum of money for many hardworking everyday Australians who live in Lindsay, from Penrith to St Marys and Londonderry down to Luddenham. So many people across the country right now are picking up a second job just to make sure they can cook dinner for their kids and keep the lights on. Seniors are struggling under cost-of-living pressures. As I walk down the high street of Penrith, I can see people living on the streets and double-income families lining up at food banks. I'm particularly worried about seniors in these hot summer days ahead when they're having to make that choice about turning on the air conditioning or not. I'll tell you who needed the $275 reduction in power prices by 2025 from 2022 levels—it's these Australians, the ones I proudly fight for every single day in this place and in my community. In my most recent community survey, Lindsay residents said they overwhelmingly reject net zero by 2050, with less than a quarter supporting it. Almost 90 per cent of Lindsay people said their energy bills have increased, with nearly half saying this has actually severely impacted their standard of living. Energy prices have soared 40 per cent. How does the government think its renewables-only approach to energy production in this country will keep our manufacturers here? A future made in Australia—that's what the Prime Minister is saying when he runs across the country, putting on a hard hat for a few pictures before he heads off overseas. A future made in Australia under this Labor government's ideological obsession for renewables is contempt for Australian industry. Manufacturers are being suffocated by their bills piling up because of Labor's abandonment of the 24/7 baseload power that they need to power manufacturing in this country. I've been on many manufacturing floors across Western Sydney, and they all tell me the same thing. Energy prices have increased so much under the Albanese Labor government that they just don't know what to do. For Mascot Steel in Penrith, their energy costs are up more than 40 per cent. Local small businesses have told me their costs have doubled since 2022. Austral Bricks said they're trying to play their part in reducing emissions, but the solar they produce only powers the office, not their manufacturing that we so need in the building of homes across this country. Do you know what fires Austral Bricks' kilns to create thousands of bricks per day for new homes across Western Sydney? It's gas. They need a lot of it. They need more gas, and we need to be pumping more gas into the system. We need to be keeping it for our own domestic consumption. This will lower power prices right now for families and businesses right across Australia. More than half of my community said affordable energy is their top priority. Gas will help with this. For the sake of Australian industry, we need a sensible, pragmatic energy policy that puts more gas into the system and ensures reliability and affordability. A third of Lindsay residents said 24/7 baseload power was important, with almost 11 per cent saying reducing emissions was their priority—only 11 per cent. The best solution to these two wants is nuclear energy. Scores of countries use nuclear energy or are in the process of creating nuclear power stations. How else will we power the data centres of the future that we can use? In Western Sydney, when we're looking to the future, we are talking about the data centres of the future. People in this country want to store our data at home, not offshore. But we need power right now. That power is drawn from our local energy grids. My community recognises the need for nuclear energy in the future. That's why, in the results from my survey, it came across strongly—with percentages in the 70s—that people wanted the ban on nuclear energy to be lifted. It's time that Labor fesses up. Their renewables-only tirade must come to an end, for the sake of Australians—everyday Australians, in my electorate of Lindsay in Western Sydney and right across this country. Labor, listen to the sensible calls. The sensible calls of the Lindsay electorate put cheaper, reliable, 24/7 baseload power before your ideological obsessions.
Communications, the Arts and Sport Committee; Reference | Committees | House debates
Yes, through you. I understand. On 6 August this year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the ACCC— which is what I'm discussing now, thank you for your...
Yes, through you. I understand. On 6 August this year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the ACCC— which is what I'm discussing now, thank you for your assistance—released its draft final access determination and associated cost modelling for declared voice interconnection services. This determination includes fixed terminating access service, fixed originating access service and mobile terminating access service. Fixed terminating access service covers the cost of terminating a call to a fixed number, while mobile terminating access service applies to mobile calls. Together, they make up the voice usage component of a phone service. When a customer on one network calls a customer on another, a regulated fee applies for the handover of the call. The ACCC's draft report proposes a 75.6 per cent reduction in fixed terminating access service rates and a 24.4 per cent reduction in mobile terminating access service rates, effective 1 January 2026. Our telecommunications fixed voice networks continue to play a critical role in national communications infrastructure, providing redundancy during mobile outages, supporting emergency call systems and underpinning essential services in health, enterprise and government. The communities most at risk of being impacted are those in regional and remote areas. What a surprise! Some challenger and fixed-only providers—and by this I may be smaller end of town, not Telstra, Optus or TPG but Aussie Broadband, Symbio and the like—have expressed to me their concern that the proposed reductions and non-price provisions could undermine service continuity, competition and investment in these essential networks. It is really important, given the current state of our telecommunications sector, that all providers, particularly smaller providers, are able to sustain themselves in the market. They feel that this inquiry would go a long way to testing the viability, transparency and cost implications of these changes before they are enacted. As detailed in the motion, we propose the inquiry look specifically at the cost modelling inputs and assumptions used by the ACCC, including the framing and definition of 'modern efficient operator', the treatment of fixed-only versus integrated mobile/fixed operators, the exclusion of key cost components, such as transmission and backhaul to points of interconnect, and the assumptions regarding economies of scale and technology mix. We also request that the committee review the discrepancy between fixed and mobile termination rates, including the rationale for the differential rate reductions between fixed originating access service and mobile terminating access service. Before any change is enacted we must look at the implications of this discrepancy for market neutrality and regulatory consistency. As I foreshadowed earlier, investigating the impact of these changes on the telecommunications industry is vital, particularly the financial and operational impact on fixed-only voice providers, including potential revenue loss, cost recovery challenges and investment disincentives. It is imperative that we understand any flow-on impacts of these changes, not only on the industry but, more importantly, on everyday Australians. There are likely to be broader implications for wholesale and retail providers, which has the potential of resulting in operator consolidation or the withdrawal of smaller providers from the market. There is no competition when smaller providers have to leave the market. We know all too well that, where there are flow-on effects for businesses, there are flow-on effect for Australians. We ask the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sports to investigate the likely consequences for end-user pricing, service availability and quality, particularly in regional, rural and vulnerable communities. In parallel, the committee should also review the impact on enterprise, government and emergency services that rely on fixed voice infrastructure, as well as the risk of reduced choice and innovation in the market. Fixed voice services in regional, rural and remote communities are essential. Before any changes are enacted, we should understand the impacts for regional and remote communities. Fixed voice networks play an essential role. Any reduced service availability, increased costs or diminished competition in these communities would be an unacceptable outcome, especially for vulnerable communities reliant on fixed voice infrastructure. Further, the committee should test whether these changes will have the unintended consequence of reduced investment in the network, its resilience and our critical telecommunications infrastructure. The ACCC draft report proposed implementation timeframes of 1 January 2026. This is just eight weeks away. The world could change in the telecommunications space in such a short period of time. I hope that without further inquiries and consultation this implementation timeframe is reviewed. As I said, the committees' work in this place is so important. The Australian public expects each and every one of us to take our job seriously—jobs that their well-earned taxpayer money funds. If Australians knew that committees were sitting idle—I don't think one single Australian would think it was a good use of their hard-earned taxpayer money to have politicians sitting around parliament when they should be working. Some of that work is the work that I've just mentioned. We're handing over a very important job that could be started now. It could have major impacts, particularly in regional and rural Australia, where people are already suffering telecommunications failures. We are seeing that right now with Optus. If the smaller providers leave the market and only three large providers are left—well, we know what happens when there's not enough competition. Hopefully, with the committee's assistance and inquiry into this matter, we can ensure that our telecommunications network is safe and resilient and that it remains competitive. That is the very least that we can do for regional Australia and for all Australians, who expect every politician in this place to be working hard for them.
I seek leave to move the following motion: That the following matter be referred to the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, for inquiry and report: Australian...
I seek leave to move the following motion: That the following matter be referred to the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, for inquiry and report: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's Draft Determination on Voice lnterconnection Services, with particular reference to: (1) the cost modelling inputs and assumptions used in the ACCC's modelling for declared voice interconnection services; (2) the discrepancy between fixed and mobile termination rates and the potential implications for market neutrality; (3) the financial and operational impact on fixed-only voice telecommunications providers; (4) the potential consequences for businesses and consumers in relation to end-user pricing, service availability, and quality—particularly in regional, rural, remote and isolated communities; (5) the implications of the proposed determination for regional, rural and remote communities, where fixed voice services remain essential due to limited mobile coverage; (6) the resilience and redundancy of national voice infrastructure in ensuring service continuity during mobile outages and emergencies; (7) the implementation and transition arrangements required; and (8) any other related matters. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Lindsay moving a motion to refer the following matter to the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, for inquiry and report: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's Draft Determination on Voice lnterconnection Services, with particular reference to: (1) the cost modelling inputs and assumptions used in the ACCC's modelling for declared voice interconnection services; (2) the discrepancy between fixed and mobile termination rates and the potential implications for market neutrality; (3) the financial and operational impact on fixed-only voice telecommunications providers; (4) the potential consequences for businesses and consumers in relation to end-user pricing, service availability, and quality—particularly in regional, rural, remote and isolated communities; (5) the implications of the proposed determination for regional, rural and remote communities, where fixed voice services remain essential due to limited mobile coverage; (6) the resilience and redundancy of national voice infrastructure in ensuring service continuity during mobile outages and emergencies; (7) the implementation and transition arrangements required; and (8) any other related matters. House standing committees in this place play an important role in our democracy. They are a way for the communities, stakeholders and experts to have their say, to challenge ideas and approaches and to test legislative and regulatory changes that impact Australians. House standing committees not only investigate any matter referred to them by the relevant minister but also propose their own topics of inquiry. Committee chairs are appointed by the Prime Minister and receive an 11 per cent salary increase, equivalent to more than $26,000 a year. Since the 48th Parliament began, only three of the 10 House standing committees have launched inquiries. The Chair of the Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport has been sitting idle, with not a single referral from the Minister for Communications and no proactive measures that they wish to investigate. I note the member for Macquarie is the chair of this committee and recently stated the committee had been receiving private briefings from departments to prepare for an inquiry. The member for Macquarie further stated: The committee is considering options for inquiries, and we expect those inquiries to kick-off in the near term. Well, it has been six months since the election, and we have not seen a single scrap of fruit from the efforts of those very important briefings and preparatory work. There are a plethora of ideas for the standing committee to investigate, and today I stand here to present just one of them for you to take up. The committee can thank me for this.
Economy | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Western Sydney suburbs of Campbelltown, Mount Druitt and Liverpool have two things in common: (1) more than 90 per cent of mortgage holders are...
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Western Sydney suburbs of Campbelltown, Mount Druitt and Liverpool have two things in common: (1) more than 90 per cent of mortgage holders are struggling to pay their mortgage and (2) they're represented by Labor MPs. Prime Minister, why do Australian households have to suffer because this government can't control its reckless spending and inflation? Does the Prime Minister have any plan to address mortgage stress in these Western Sydney suburbs?
Energy | Constituency Statements | House debates
The people of Lindsay are proud, everyday Australians. We love our country and care about our environment, from the Nepean River to the bushland on the urban fringe that frames our suburbs. We've...
The people of Lindsay are proud, everyday Australians. We love our country and care about our environment, from the Nepean River to the bushland on the urban fringe that frames our suburbs. We've embraced solar; we conserve energy. We want a future that our kids can thrive in. But we will not have our way of life sacrificed, in the name of energy ideology, to such a level where people can barely keep a roof over their heads. This has been made clear in a survey I put out to my community over the last month through emails, social media and every resident's letterbox. So far I've received over 1,500 responses from locals, and the surveys that hit letterboxes just over the last couple of weeks are pouring into my office in the hundreds per day. There is nothing is more important for a member of parliament to do than listen to their community and be their strongest voice in the public sphere. I've listened, and, on Australia's energy future, my community's views are very clear. As of today 65 per cent of people who responded do not support net zero by 2050. When asked if they support net zero at any cost, the number who do not support net zero jumped to 87 per cent. Sixty-eight per cent of people oppose Labor's 2035 emissions reduction target. This isn't politics; it's the real-life struggles of everyday Australians who don't want a target that is destroying them and their families financially and our country economically. These are everyday Australians who are not being listened to by the Albanese Labor government, but they are certainly being listened to by their local member of parliament. A shocking 89 per cent of people said their energy bills have increased. It's concerning that, when respondents were asked how much their energy bills had increased by, many said 50 per cent, hundreds of dollars and that they had at least doubled. Again, 89 per cent say higher energy bills have impacted their standard of living. They're skipping meals to pay for power. They're afraid to turn on the heater and the air conditioner. They are doing everything that is right—they are installing solar; they're cutting back on their energy—and they are still falling behind. Only four per cent of people who responded said emissions targets were the most important issue for Australia's energy future. The majority, at 52 per cent, said affordable energy was their top priority. The people of Lindsay are not antienvironment; they are pro-reality. They are a community that think for themselves on issues that matters. They are open to nuclear; 73 per cent of respondents support lifting the ban. People in my community want Australia prioritised when it comes to the gas, coal and uranium that we produce. Ninety-four per cent agree with putting our nation first. What I've heard in my survey is clear. The Albanese Labor government's renewables-only approach, with a 2035 emissions reduction target and net zero by 2050, is hurting families. These policies are driving up prices, destabilising supply and ignoring the voices of everyday Australians. The people of Lindsay, our everyday Australians, are speaking up.
Telecommunications | Motions | House debates
I seek leave to move the following motion: That the House: (1) notes: (a) the Senate has passed a motion to establish an inquiry, to be conducted by the Environment and Communications References...
I seek leave to move the following motion: That the House: (1) notes: (a) the Senate has passed a motion to establish an inquiry, to be conducted by the Environment and Communications References Committee, on the triple zero outages of 18 September 2025, with the committee to report by 11 February 2026; (b) the Senate has requested that its resolution on this matter be communicated to the House; (c) on 8 October 2025, the Government blocked a motion moved by the Member for Lindsay to establish a select committee to be known as a House Select Committee on the Triple Zero Ecosystem to inquire into and report on the health of the triple zero ecosystem; (d) the Opposition expedited the passage of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Triple Zero Custodian and Emergency Calling Powers) Bill 2025 through the House upon a motion first moved by the Opposition; and (e) the recommendations of the Australian Government review into the Optus outage of 8 November 2023 (the Bean Review) have still not been fully implemented by the Government; and (2) requires: (a) the Minister for Communications, as a House Minister, to fully cooperate with the inquiry and appear in person to outline in full her role in the serious outages that have occurred in the triple zero ecosystem; and (b) that the Minister provide transparency around the failure of the Government to ensure that the legal obligations of telecommunications providers to enable emergency services calls at all times are met. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Lindsay from moving the following motion immediately: That the House: (1) notes: (a) the Senate has passed a motion to establish an inquiry, to be conducted by the Environment and Communications References Committee, on the triple zero outages of 18 September 2025, with the committee to report by 11 February 2026; (b) the Senate has requested that its resolution on this matter be communicated to the House; (c) on 8 October 2025, the Government blocked a motion moved by the Member for Lindsay to establish a select committee to be known as a House Select Committee on the Triple Zero Ecosystem to inquire into and report on the health of the triple zero ecosystem; (d) the Opposition expedited the passage of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Triple Zero Custodian and Emergency Calling Powers) Bill 2025 through the House upon a motion first moved by the Opposition; and (e) the recommendations of the Australian Government review into the Optus outage of 8 November 2023 (the Bean Review) have still not been fully implemented by the Government; and (2) requires: (a) the Minister for Communications, as a House Minister, to fully cooperate with the inquiry and appear in person to outline in full her role in the serious outages that have occurred in the triple zero ecosystem; and (b) that the Minister provide transparency around the failure of the Government to ensure that the legal obligations of telecommunications providers to enable emergency services calls at all times are met. Mr Speaker, people died when they couldn't call triple 0 during that Optus outage, and the Albanese Labor government has had multiple chances to come in here. We have moved amendments. We have suspended standing orders. We have reached out to the minister and offered our assistance in coming to a solution so that this never happens again. Yet the government and the Greens have teamed up to block increased penalties for telcos who do the wrong thing. We moved amendments three times. Three times the government had opportunities to increase those penalties from $10 million. We said it should be $40 million. They did a dirty deal with the Greens and now we're at $30 million. But we gave them that chance. This could have been done weeks and weeks ago. Shame on the government for failing every Australian in this country and not holding telcos to account for their failures. The Albanese Labor government teamed up with the Greens and blocked each and every coalition amendment on the bill that would have forced those telcos to pay for their mistakes. They blocked the coalition's amendment for a public triple 0 outage register. They have, however, instructed ACMA to change the industry standard to require the telcos to publish this data, not publicly but on their own website—so, multiple telcos publishing their own outages. Do you think that's really going to happen? These are the very telcos, like Optus, who failed to detect an outage for almost 13 hours and then failed abysmally at every turn to provide notifications of the outage to everyone. Every update that they provided to the minister, to her office, to the Department of Communications and to ACMA, the regulator, was wrong. How on Earth can Australians have their confidence in the triple 0 network restored when the Albanese Labor government is choosing to outsource this work right back to the very telcos that have failed to uphold it? Even worse, the reporting mechanisms created by the triple 0 custodian bill are absolutely useless. The bill requires a report to be produced every six months by the new custodian and ACMA, but the reports won't be publicly available. People won't know what is in those reports. Both the coalition and Senator Payman called for this amendment in the other place, but the Albanese government and the Greens blocked both amendments. I, along with so many Australians, am disgusted at the actions of the Albanese government on this matter of protecting Australians. Yesterday the Senate supported the establishment of a Senate inquiry into the absolutely catastrophic Optus outage that occurred in September. I moved a motion in this place three weeks ago that would have established a House inquiry that could have already been underway. Parliament has now wasted three weeks in getting on with the job. Those on the other side of the chamber chose to block that inquiry, despite its being supported by the coalition and the full crossbench. This is despite the Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport having absolutely nothing to do, as was revealed in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday. Rather than have common sense prevail and put the safety and wellbeing of all Australians first, this arrogant and transparency-phobic Albanese government have tried to dodge a bullet, but they've failed. The Senate inquiry established will use all its powers to interrogate not just Optus but also the Department of Communications, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, and any other relevant and involved stakeholder. Relevant stakeholders, I will point out, include the Minister for Communications. I expect that a request for the minister to attend a committee hearing will arrive very soon. I don't have to use any psychic abilities to foreshadow what will happen; I can guess that the minister won't be available. I think that's a pretty strong prediction. There will be some sporting event or international travel commitment that will prevent her from attending. They love scrutiny on that side of the House, which leads me to the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Triple Zero Custodian and Emergency Calling Powers) Bill 2025. You can duck and you can weave and you can stack the numbers in this place all you like. You can't dodge the Senate inquiry on this matter. I've no doubt that the government will try. Just the other day, there were media reports on yet another triple 0 outage in Gippsland, Victoria. According to the ABC, a 70-year-old retired nurse discovered the triple 0 network outage after she attempted to call an ambulance when she had a fall. Her call, just like more than 600 calls back in September, failed to connect. Optus have advised my office that this outage was due to a site upgrade in the area. But what concerns me is the apparent lack of communication to the community that services may be impacted. People didn't know. In the current environment, after so many catastrophic failures, failures that have cost Australia, communication outages, planned or unplanned, should be at the forefront of every telco's mind. When it comes to the Senate inquiry, it needs to be about the full ecosystem. The inquiry needs to ask the question: how can a telco receive millions of dollars in government contracts at the same time as potentially having to pay millions of dollars in fines for letting down Australians? That just doesn't stack up. Every single Australian will be asking how they can get away with that. The inquiry needs to look at every single telco and what they do to ensure the safety of Australians. It is unconscionable that a human error within a telco could cause a complete failure where hundreds of people could not call our most essential triple 0 service. How can a process error cause such disaster? What is happening within these companies? Where is the accountability? How can ACMA, the regulator, be the investigator in this matter when they are caught up in the failed process? ACMA knew about the outage on the Thursday. By law, Optus had to alert them. Yet, the minister didn't know about the outage until the Friday. Multiple emails went to ACMA and to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, yet the minister didn't know. How can ACMA investigate itself? There needs to be a thorough independent investigation, which is what we on this side, the coalition, have been calling for all along. More communication, not less, is required to ensure that every Australian is informed and can take appropriate steps to protect themselves. More needs to be done. What will it take for the Albanese Labor government and telcos to take this seriously and put the needs of all Australians first, protecting the triple 0 network from these outages? There is nothing more important, no other higher priority, for a government than to protect its own citizens.
Telecommunications | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
It is a tragic circumstance. We have to remember why we are even discussing this. Sadly, four people passed away during an Optus outage, and we are still seeking answers. If there was a gold star...
It is a tragic circumstance. We have to remember why we are even discussing this. Sadly, four people passed away during an Optus outage, and we are still seeking answers. If there was a gold star for confused tactics today, it would have gone to the Minister for Communications. She is still saying she didn't know about the outage until the Friday, although one of her answers may have suggested she did in fact know on Thursday, but we have an email that was revealed in Senate estimates that actually said her office did find out on the Thursday. Yet she still comes here and declares that we've got it wrong. Her office doesn't have it wrong, the department doesn't have it wrong, ACMA, who is involved, doesn't have it wrong, and certainly she doesn't have it wrong. She also disclosed that she did hold a press conference on the Saturday and then left the country even though there was a crisis unfolding. And where did she go? She went to New York. Sounds great, doesn't it—the Big Apple. She said she delayed her flight, though. Thanks, Minister, for delaying your flight. You certainly delayed the action that was required to address this serious issue. She also seems a bit confused about whether she should apologise or not and says that she shouldn't meet with the families, because that would be disrespectful. In what world is it disrespectful for a government minister representing the crown not to meet with families who have been devastated by such an outage, such a horrible circumstance that no-one would want to happen in this country in 2025? The minister is lacking empathy—even the press gallery knows; it's no hidden secret—and she's lacking knowledge about the time that she received this notification. This goes back to 18 September, where there was an outage that impacted 600. Then four people died, and the Optus CEO got up and promised—and the Optus CEO should not get off free here—Australians that he would do everything in his power to hold his organisation to account and find out what went on. Then the minister got up and promised Australians that she would do the same, and then she appointed ACMA, the regulator. But ACMA is actually part of the problem because the emails also reveal that ACMA received notification of the outage on the Thursday but didn't alert the minister's office and the minister. So it's like no-one is talking. No-one can read an email. No-one can pick up the phone when there is a major outage that is impacting so many Australians. But this is not news. We could see the warning signs. This happened in 2023, when there were no deaths. There was a review, and there were 18 recommendations. We only found out yesterday that a custodian has been in place inside the department of communications since March this year. What was that custodian doing during the outage? What have they been doing during this time? Why didn't they prevent this from happening? Now we've been dragged in here to pass legislation quickly so they can do something in the future but couldn't do it this time. It just doesn't make sense. We had about 24 hours to review really important legislation to save lives, even though the government has been sitting on this for a year and a half. Now it is urgent and we had to review it overnight. Yet the minister came in here and said she couldn't review recommendations—there were about four of them—in 24 hours and that wasn't fair on us and so we should just pass the bureaucracy. That is what it is. It is bureaucracy within a department overseeing another department. It is pretty much insane. We will do it in the interests of the Australian people, but we wanted to do it better, and we offered the government that today. We offered the government some strengthening of their legislation. All of us on this side came together. People contributed to this on our side because we care about Australians and we want to get this done. We asked for a triple 0 register so the public can have transparency when outages occur. That's pretty fair enough. I think Australians are always shocked when there's an outage, but it happens more often than not. So a register makes sense. What did the government do? They said no. We asked for the triple 0 system to be put on the critical infrastructure list. We have water, energy and sewage. But when someone's wanting to call triple 0 in their time of greatest need it's not critical? The minister got up today and said: 'That is not important. Why are we even considering that it should be critical infrastructure?' So they said no to that too and that it seems okay that the reporting in their legislation is every six months. Well, something really bad has happened. People have died. We want it every three months and we want the outcomes to be made public. Finally—and this was a doozy in question time—it's fair enough that Optus has its penalties increased—doubled, in fact. That's fair enough, when people have died. We want $20 million as a fine for each breach. That's fair enough, I think Australians would be calling for that too. But the minister came in here and said: 'What are they doing? We're passing a bill that says $10 million. It was from the beginning of September. You should be coming on board with this because we are already doing it.' This was before the catastrophic outage when four people died. These telcos should be held accountable. Obviously $10 million is not enough to stop this kind of thing happening. I think every Australian would be very happy with $20 million and they would expect it. They would expect us to be putting extra things in place to ensure we are doing anything we can do, pulling every lever we can pull, to make sure this never happens again. It's inexcusable that the government voted down these commonsense amendments. The minister walked away from our amendments. She's walked out of this chamber now. She's walking away from Australians in their time of greatest need. She also said no to a committee. It's fair enough that we have asked for a committee, for the government, the opposition and crossbenchers to come together and examine this and, most importantly, invite Australians impacted by triple 0 outages to tell their stories. Isn't that what all of us are meant to do—represent our communities from right across Australia? The shadow minister for regional communications has been telling those stories about the regions and how much they're impacted. Those people should have a chance to tell their stories. We should be listening to them from the top of Australia to the bottom and from east to west. But no. The government does not want parliamentarians to hear about the struggles of Australians when they're trying to call triple 0. They don't want to hear from emergency services about what they're going through on the ground, and they said no to this too. Commonsense options from us are presented to the government, and the minister walks out the door. Maybe she's flying overseas again on another junket. When a crisis unfolds, it seems like a standard thing to do. It is really concerning that the minister walks away from Australians in their greatest time of need and that she places the blame purely on a company when the government, as a regulator, has a big job to do. She appoints ACMA, the regulator, as the investigator when they are part of the failed process. How can the regulator investigate themselves? What is going to be the outcome there? Where's the transparency? The minister is still saying, even though we have evidence from Senate estimates that her office was aware of an outage on the Thursday, that she knew nothing and that there were welfare checks made. How can you not follow up when you're being told that welfare checks are being made or think that that's not important? When she was asked again today, 'Have you called the families of the victims?' what did she say? 'It's not up to me to do that. That's not my job. It might make them feel uncomfortable. It is an extraordinary time. I'm a new minister. I don't know how to pick up the phone and call people in their greatest time of need.' So many things went wrong over the last three weeks—firstly, Optus and the outage, where people couldn't make those very important calls. But it does not stop there. We have exposed major faults in our most essential telecommunications service. Every single Australian should be able to pick up a phone and call triple 0 in their greatest time of need. There is nothing more important for a government to do than to protect its citizens, and what this government and this minister are doing now is letting every single citizen down.
Telecommunications | Questions without Notice | House debates
I refer to the minister's previous answer, where she refused to address whether welfare checks have been conducted. It is an open secret in the press gallery that Labor MPs are complaining to...
I refer to the minister's previous answer, where she refused to address whether welfare checks have been conducted. It is an open secret in the press gallery that Labor MPs are complaining to journalists that the minister continually fails to show any compassion for victims. Today, secret emails have revealed the minister's office was aware of this crisis 24 hours before the time at which the minister told the House she found out. Yesterday, the minister refused to apologise for this failure. Will the minister finally now apologise to victims and their families? Government members interjecting—
My question is to the Minister for Communications. I refer to the minister's previous answer, where she refused to address whether welfare checks have been conducted. It is an open secret in the...
My question is to the Minister for Communications. I refer to the minister's previous answer, where she refused to address whether welfare checks have been conducted. It is an open secret in the press gallery that Labor MPs are complaining to journalists that the minister continually fails to show any compassion for victims. Today, secret emails have revealed the minister—
My question is to the Minister for Communications. Noting the minister's determination to hold Optus to account, why did the minister express confusion about the opposition's amendment to double...
My question is to the Minister for Communications. Noting the minister's determination to hold Optus to account, why did the minister express confusion about the opposition's amendment to double the maximum penalty for getting things so badly wrong on behalf of Australians dialling triple 0? Will the minister review her decision and act to double this penalty as the opposition has suggested?