Sam Lim's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I'm pleased to speak to the Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025. This bill is about providing a clear statutory framework for the essential services that TIS National has provided for...
I'm pleased to speak to the Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025. This bill is about providing a clear statutory framework for the essential services that TIS National has provided for more than 75 years. Their services have benefited so many Australians. This bill is important because it is another way that the Albanese government is delivering for Australians with limited English proficiency by ensuring they have the resources to get the help they need. The Australian government began providing translating services in 1947 and interpreting services in the 1950s to support postwar migrants. In 1973, Australia became the first country in the world to provide a telephone interpreting service. This is a service that so many people, including those in my electorate of Tangney, continue to use today. TIS National provides some really important services for our communities, with translating and interpreting services for government agencies, for the private sector and for individuals. Telephone interpreting services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure these services are always available for triple zero emergency calls and other urgent matters. TIS National also provides remote interpreting, video and onsite interpreting, and translation services. TIS National also provides free services including free interpreting services for doctors, pharmacists and other medical professionals, as well as trade unions, real estate agencies and parliamentarians. The free translation services provide new arrivals with translations of their key personal documents into English to help support migrants' participation in employment, education and community life. I want to speak about my electorate of Tangney, which is one of the most diverse electorates in Western Australia. I also want to touch on my own story as someone who migrated to Australia with my wife and three children back in 2002, when I was in my early 40s. When my wife and I first arrived in Perth, we did not speak much English. Navigating a new country with different systems is not easy for any migrants. For those with limited English proficiency, it can be even more challenging. Learning terms like 'Medicare', '100-point ID check' or 'bulk-billing' can be confusing. Documents that prove your qualifications or show your children's progress at school can also be challenging when they are all in English. TIS National services can make all the difference to all migrants, especially the new arrivals. I enrolled in English classes when I arrived in Australia, first at a local library, then at TAFE, before I joined the WA police force. I think my English has improved in the many years that I have called Australia home, but I will never forget what it was like to be a new migrant with limited English trying to navigate my way in my new home. I will also never forget how difficult it can be to try to access these services in English when you have limited English skills. I acknowledge not only the friends, neighbours and communities that helped me become more Aussie but also the important services like TIS National that help make it easier for all new migrants. As the federal member for Tangney, I have had many constituents with limited English skill come to my office for support. The TIS National service has been so helpful in assisting them to connect with the services they need. One of my constituents migrated to Australia as an adult with very limited English skill. He spent long days and years on his feet working in a hot and busy kitchen and doing manual labour. It is tiring, backbreaking work. After he was involved in a car accident and was without any family to assist him, TIS National helped by providing interpretation services when he contacted my office. TIS National helped him to access services such as the ATO and the hospital that treated him. TIS National provided him with trusted interpretation and ensured he could access and communicate with these government services in a safe manner. All Australians must be able to access government programs and services, regardless of their culture or language background. When I was a police officer in Western Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw firsthand the critical nature of this access. As someone who speaks many languages, I have over the years developed close and trusting relationships with many different multicultural communities in Western Australia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, multicultural communities were concerned, in part due to the rumours and misinformation that were everywhere. These rumours and misinformation contributed to the low vaccination rates that we saw in all the multicultural communities, especially in Western Australia. Many of the families and communities with limited English skill were unable to access the accurate information being provided in English by the government. Instead, they saw the misinformation in their home and community languages. Some communities believed this misinformation and refused to get themselves vaccinated. I saw that we needed to provide all Australians, regardless of their culture or linguistic background, with access to the correct information. As part of my role with the WA police force, I helped to translate the correct information into different languages. Many of my colleagues helped as well, and all of us worked every day to get the translations of the correct information out into the multicultural communities. We had medical professionals go out into the community and we helped translate their words so that communities with limited English could access these experts and professionals. They could ask questions and understand the correct information, and once they were able to access the program and services, I saw how they began to trust information that was based on evidence, not rumours. This ultimately led to increased vaccination rates in our communities. The WA police force, the health department and all governments and community leaders worked together to make sure communities and people understood the health advice about vaccinations. We made sure people were fully informed about COVID-19 and about vaccination. Key to their understanding was translating and interpreting. This bill— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 17:25 to 17:3 7 This bill reflects our government's commitment to a united, cohesive and multicultural Australia. By passing this legislation, we can continue to build a stronger Australian community for the benefit of all Australians. TIS National's services are essential services for social cohesion. Language support is fundamental to safety, participation, fairness and equality. All Australians must be able to access important services. I speak in support of this bill, which will help ensure these services remain strong, accessible and future ready. If enacted, the proposed legislation will ensure clear and enduring statutory support for TIS National's services. The bill sets out the functions provided by TIS National, which operates as part of the Department of Home Affairs. The proposed legislation would provide for the performance of these functions. It would enable the Secretary of the Department to provide or arrange for the provision of translating and interpreting services to support communication involving the Commonwealth and its agencies, as well as state and territory and their agencies, by people interacting with the Commonwealth and its agencies as well as with states and territories and their agencies. It would also, in coordination with states and territories, address national needs that would not otherwise be met. The legislation will also expressly provide for other services provided by TIS National, including developing, training and supporting translators and interpreters to provide services for the purposes of TIS National's core functions. The functions provided for in the proposed legislation support the ongoing provision of these existing services, which are crucial to facilitate communication and engagement with people with limited English language proficiency. This bill provides a clear statutory framework for TIS National's essential services, and I commend it to the House.
Asbestos Related Diseases | Constituency Statements | House debates
My first neighbour in Australia was Bruce Baker. My family and I migrated to Australia in 2002, and our first house was in Bull Creek, in my electorate of Tangney. One day Bruce looked over the...
My first neighbour in Australia was Bruce Baker. My family and I migrated to Australia in 2002, and our first house was in Bull Creek, in my electorate of Tangney. One day Bruce looked over the fence and saw that I needed help—help with how to mow my lawn, clean the swimming pool, cook a barbie and, more importantly, repair my retic. He helped me to become more Aussie. My wife, my kids and I all call him Uncle Bruce. My kids would go over to his house for treats and to be spoiled. Today my grandchildren also call him Uncle Bruce. 'Mesothelioma' is a word I didn't know until last year, when Uncle Bruce told me he had been diagnosed with this rare cancer that has no cure. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. It is terminal and aggressive. This is a painful disease. Bruce can't breathe very well. Some nights he barely sleeps. Australia has one of the highest incidences of mesothelioma in the world. Every year more than 4,100 deaths occur due to asbestos related diseases in Australia. Australia bears a significant asbestos burden, with 10 million tonnes. It is a pressing health concern. I want to acknowledge the Asbestos Disease Society of Australia, who have been very helpful to Uncle Bruce. Uncle Bruce is a constituent of Tangney, my first neighbour and a very dear family friend. I have more memories and gratitude than I can ever say in one speech. I speak not only to raise awareness about mesothelioma and to advocate for eliminating this terrible disease but also to raise awareness about the importance of having people like Uncle Bruce in Australia and in our life. A few months ago, even though Uncle Bruce was not well, Uncle Bruce stood beside me at pre-polling. His presence meant so much to me. I would never, never forget you, Uncle Bruce, and thank you for everything you have done for me and my family.
Low-Income Superannuation Tax Offset | Motions | House debates
Every dollar saved for retirement matters. I'm proud that our government is delivering more help to low-income workers with changes to the low-income superannuation tax offset, or LISTO. The...
Every dollar saved for retirement matters. I'm proud that our government is delivering more help to low-income workers with changes to the low-income superannuation tax offset, or LISTO. The government is raising the eligibility threshold from $37,000 to $45,000 from 1 July 2027 and boosting the maximum payment to $810. We are ensuring that the superannuation system is stronger and fairer for low-income workers, many of whom are women and young people. This change will ensure that low-income workers receive a fairer tax concession on their super contribution. The average increase in the LISTO payment will be $410 for affected workers, and workers could receive a potential benefit of around $15,000, depending on the individual's income over their career. In 2027-28, more than 770,000 Australians will be eligible for the LISTO, and 490,000 Australians will receive a higher LISTO contribution. These changes are meaningful. I meet with women in my electorate of Tangney who work as sales assistants or in the care sector as aged and disability carers. I speak with young people who are balancing work and study. These changes mean that a total of 3.1 million Australians will be eligible for the LISTO. Around 60 per cent of these Australians are women. The gender super gap is an issue my constituents regularly raise with me. According to research by the Super Members Council, the gender super gap between men and women in my electorate of Tangney is the worst in Western Australia and also in the whole of Australia. As people near retirement, the median super balance of women in Tangney is 41 per cent less than the median super balance of men. The Super Members Council estimates that more than 9,300 people in Tangney will benefit from the LISTO payment. In my electorate of Tangney, 62 per cent of the beneficiaries will be women. The Albanese Labor government is focused on women's economic equality, including action to promote better and greater equity in women's superannuation. Since July, parents have been eligible to receive superannuation on their government funded paid parental leave, a change I'm very proud to have supported. Paying super on government funded paid parental leave will benefit around 180,000 Australian mothers each year. Families in Tangney, including my own, have told me about how important this change is to reduce the super gender gap. I also want to briefly touch on the legislation the government passed to deliver pay day super. This legislation will be of particular benefit to women who are overrepresented in paid, casual and insecure work. It will also benefit people in Tangney, which has some of the highest rates of unpaid super in Western Australia. The Super Members Council estimated that almost $40 million in super went unpaid in 2020-21. The Albanese Labor government is working at every point across women's lives to make sure they are earning more and keeping more of what they earn. This is working. The gender pay gap is the lowest on record, and we continue to invest in increased wages, support increases to the minimum wage and deliver tax breaks and important reforms to superannuation.
Wendy's husband, Keith, was diagnosed with dementia when he was only 52 years old. After Keith was diagnosed with younger onset dementia, he stopped working because he was finding his job too...
Wendy's husband, Keith, was diagnosed with dementia when he was only 52 years old. After Keith was diagnosed with younger onset dementia, he stopped working because he was finding his job too difficult. Dementia can be very lonely. Wendy and most of Keith's friends were still working. Keith did some volunteer work, but he missed being with his peers. One day, Wendy and Keith were invited by the City of Melville in my electorate of Tangney to give a talk about their experiences with younger onset dementia. At the end of the talk, someone asked him: if there was one change he himself could make, what would it be? Keith replied: a cafe for people with dementia and a carer who would offer fellowship and support. Six weeks later, Keith and Wendy attended the City of Melville's first memory cafe. Fast forward nine years. Last month I was honoured to attend that memory cafe's ninth anniversary and see how this cafe is so meaningful to so many people in our Tangney community. In Tangney there are more than 3,300 people living with dementia. The prevalence of dementia is higher in Tangney than in most parts of Western Australia. Dementia Australia reports that in 2054 there will be 7,300 people in Tangney living with dementia, an increase of 116 per cent. The people I met at the cafe were some of the 433,300 people across Australia living with dementia. The carers I met were a few of the estimated 1.7 million people in Australia involved in the care of someone living with dementia. Keith has, sadly, passed away, but at the memory cafe I had a chance to meet up with Wendy, his wife, a Tangney resident, and listen to her story. I want to say thank you to the City of Melville for organising this monthly cafe and to Westfield Booragoon, which partners with the city and sponsors all their coffees for free. The memory cafe meets monthly and welcomes both new and familiar faces and friends. Wendy said her husband, Keith, looked forward to it every month. They made friends with other couples where one or the other partner was also living with dementia. The cafe helped maintain social connections, an important part of keeping the brain active and looking after brain health. Maintaining brain health also includes looking after your body, including physical exercise, taking care of your heart and looking after how you eat and what you drink. Wendy told me how Keith sometimes felt a little awkward when he began to struggle using a knife and a fork and with his glass. He became embarrassed and afraid to be out in the public. The memory cafe gave him an opportunity to be comfortable among other people who faced similar challenges. Wendy still attends the cafe, catching up with friends and supporting people who have just joined the group. I admire everyone's warmth and care. I congratulate the cafe on nine years of success and support and friendship with all the communities. I want to close with Wendy's words on the importance of community groups for people with dementia: It's about creating situations for the person living with dementia to live well. Anything that makes the person living with dementia feel part of a group. The carers get a lot of joy seeing their loved ones live well.
Peters, Ms Joan, OAM | Constituency Statements | House debates
When I first walked into the home studio of Tangney artist Joan Peters I saw a painting from her time in Iceland that caught my eyes. I was moved by the painting and could feel the coolness of...
When I first walked into the home studio of Tangney artist Joan Peters I saw a painting from her time in Iceland that caught my eyes. I was moved by the painting and could feel the coolness of the landscape. Joan, I'm proud to say, was a finalist for this year's Lester Prize of Portraiture. Her piece is titled Drop-ins with Marjorie, inspired by her conversations with Marjorie—a 97-year-old textile artist. Joan's accomplishment is even more impressive considering she is 75 years old and only started painting five years ago. Joan's life is one of passion and energy. She was born in Malacca and worked as a flight attendant, including as one of Singapore Airlines' inaugural Singapore Girls. She migrated to Perth in 1975. She was a single parent and has worked as a chef, sound recordist and film producer. She founded an international charity in Kenya. When she received a law degree, she became an entertainment lawyer. In 2022 she was awarded OAM for her contributions to the performing arts and film. When Joan started losing her hearing, she picked up a paintbrush. She told me that this is the course of life and that, if she weren't deaf, she wouldn't have known she could paint. Joan paints her memories—for example her artist residency in Iceland or when she took her caravan and travelled across Western Australia alone. In December Joan will have a new exhibition in Fremantle called Sini Sana, which means 'here and there'. When I met with Joan we reflected on our childhoods. We shared that we have both grown up in a small village. Joan told me that, as she grew up, no-one put any limits on her or expectations that she had to go in one direction or the other. Her motto is to always say yes. She has said yes to so many opportunities and now she's saying yes to being one of Tangney's great artists. Thanks, Joan.
Motor Neurone Disease | Statements by Members | House debates
I first met Lindsay, David and Trevor when I was out doorknocking. These three longtime friends all live on the same street. They get together every week to talk about everything from their...
I first met Lindsay, David and Trevor when I was out doorknocking. These three longtime friends all live on the same street. They get together every week to talk about everything from their families to the issues that mean the most to them. I call them the three amigos. And when they invited me to join them at their local pub, I couldn't say no. I was very sad to learn that Lindsay had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. There is no recovery from this horrible disease. As Lindsay told me, for many people, two to four years is what you've got. One day they were walking to the pub and they noticed a change in Lindsay's steps. Then came tests and appointments with specialists, and then the eventual diagnosis of MND. A little while ago, the three amigos moved their catch-up to Lindsay's verandah. I saw the three amigos last week before I headed to Canberra. Lindsay is as sharp and funny as ever, even as his muscles are weakening and his health is declining. I want to acknowledge Lindsay's wife of over 50 years and the love and care she provides Lindsay. Many people know very little about MND. Thank you, Lindsay, for letting me share your story here.
Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
The Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 will establish the Australian Centre for Disease Control, the CDC. This delivers on a commitment made by the Albanese Labor government to...
The Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 will establish the Australian Centre for Disease Control, the CDC. This delivers on a commitment made by the Albanese Labor government to Australians: to establish a transparent, trusted and independent centre for disease control. Before we came to government, Australia was the only OECD country without a CDC equivalent. We saw highlighted in the Commonwealth Government COVID-19 Response Inquiry that Australia wasn't prepared for a pandemic. There is much support for the establishment of an Australian CDC. Many consumers and health peak bodies, as well as infectious disease experts and researchers, support the establishment of an Australian CDC. I have spoken with researchers in my electorate of Tangney who are also in support of establishing an Australian CDC. I support the establishment of an Australian CDC in part due to my own experiences working on the COVID-19 response. I was working as a frontline police officer with the WA Police Force when COVID-19 happened. Because of my connections with Perth multicultural communities and my different language skills, I was tasked to work on the Western Australian COVID-19 response. At the time, we were facing low vaccination rates, especially in many of the multicultural communities, because people were scared and confused. They did not have the correct information from a single, independent and transparent voice. Misinformation was everywhere, and it was especially challenging for multicultural communities. Some communities believed the misinformation and were refusing to get vaccinated as it went against their beliefs. I helped translate correct information into different languages and then I worked to disseminate information about the importance of getting vaccinated. I had the trust of the grassroots organisations, and so, together with some very good colleagues, we worked to get the message out. As a result of the combined effort of the WA Police Force, Health and government, we increased the vaccination rate from less than 50 per cent to almost 80 per cent and then improved it again to 90 per cent. Our work involved providing the correct information. We explained the evidence based information and we worked closely with the communities to make sure people understood the health advice about vaccinations. Our small team was called the 'COVID vaccine command' and it was led by the then police commissioner, now our governor of WA. He tasked my very good friend Inspector Don Emanuel-Smith and I to be in his team to fight the misinformation and people's fear of coming forward to get vaccinated. Everywhere I went, I dragged my good supervisor, Inspector Don Emanuel-Smith, with me, and the two of us did a lot of multicultural outreach in WA. Our outreach effort included working with community places, such as the mosques, the temples, the churches, the gurdwaras, the community centres and the peak body associations, and sharing the latest medical advice and the importance of vaccination. We listened to the concerns of the community and helped them understand the accurate information that was based on health advice and from sources they could trust. We spoke to them in their languages and we tried to allay their fears. We brought doctors and nurses directly to the communities. I'm proud that these efforts made a positive contribution to protect the health and welfare of people being harmed by COVID. On the front line, we were working very hard. It also felt like we were working fast, but this was because we were playing catch-up. Because of the lack of planning, Australia's pandemic response to COVID was extremely slow and confused and lacked authority. An Australian CDC can help change this, and it will help us improve our preparedness. This bill will establish the Australian CDC in legislation to deliver its functions related to a broad range of public health matters. This includes preventing communicable disease spread, providing independent advice on public health risks, strengthening data and analytics capability, and building its role as a trusted adviser to all governments on public health risks and threats. The Australian CDC will provide evidence based public health advice to governments, state and territory government health agencies, international agencies—for example, the World Health Organization—and specialist non-government health organisations as well. It will be an authoritative source of public health advice and information for the public and for government officials working in public health. An Australian CDC will help strengthen Australia's public health capability and ultimately how we can look after all Australians. When I reflect on my time working on the COVID response, I see that some of the difficulties we had were due to the lack of authority. People felt they didn't have an authoritative voice to trust, so they were listening to different people telling them different pieces of information. People didn't know what information was correct, and they didn't know who to turn to. This led to confusion and misinformation that spread like wildfire. Combined with other barriers, these challenges were especially difficult to solve for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. We did solve them, but I think, had we had a trusted voice like what is being proposed with the Australian CDC, that this would have been easier, faster and more effective. It took a lot of work to provide people with the correct information that was based on evidence and data. It required my colleagues and me to work closely with multicultural communities where we had already built trust and established a good bond. Only then would people listen to what we were saying. It required a lot of effort to persuade people to listen to the health advice. This is why I believe having a trusted, independent authority will make a difference. An Australian CDC will help combat some of the confusion and provide that authority that we need. It will help support confidence. While my focus during the COVID-19 response was on multicultural communities, I believe many other communities and disadvantaged groups of people could have also benefited from having this trusted voice. An Australian CDC will also support the better use of data and provide greater transparency of advice provided to the governments. Australia has great expertise and great talents to do this important work. I also want to speak a little bit about the Australian National Phenome Centre, which is in my electorate of Tangney. This centre was established in 2019 and is linked to Murdoch University, which is also in my electorate of Tangney. I was recently at the Phenome Centre, where I learned more about the centre's current work, including the world-leading work it did during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly after it was established, the Phenome Centre was deployed to study COVID-19. It generated important work in COVID-19, including being one of the first groups in the world to recognise COVID-19 as a multisystem inflammatory disease. This was done through the deep phenotyping of patient samples, some of which were collected from Fiona Stanley Hospital. The centre collaborated with other universities on world-leading studies to better understand the virus and conducted research into the effects of long COVID. The centre is also committed to public health and solving problems of global significance. The centre is one of the best equipped metabolic laboratories in the world, and, on my recent visit, I saw some of the ultrahigh-resolution instruments for precision medicine and personalised health research. I also learned about the centre's focus on animal health diseases and zoonotic diseases, which forms part of the university's holistic view of looking at diseases, and their approach to infectious disease surveillance, management and control. The Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 will establish the Australian CDC, to commence operation in just a few months, on 1 January 2026. It will be an independent Commonwealth statutory agency. Establishing the Australian CDC in such a way will ensure it remains independent and cannot be subjected to direction from ministers or government departments. My experience of working with multicultural communities shows that this independence is very important. The establishment of the Australian CDC will ensure that we are prepared and can better protect the health and wellbeing of all Australians. As I mentioned earlier, our hard work did manage to improve vaccination rates during COVID-19. However, I believe that, had we been better prepared from the beginning, our outreach work would have been much easier to deploy. The Australian CDC's functions are expected to expand in the future and will respond to emerging public health risks. As someone who was on the frontline of the COVID-19 response and as someone who every day fought to combat misinformation, I believe establishing the Australian CDC is very important and crucial. I am proud to support this bill and be part of an Albanese Labor government that is delivering on its commitment to a transparent, trusted and independent centre for disease control. Debate adjourned.
Climate Change | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. What are the opportunities of acting on climate change? Are there any risks to acting on climate change, and what would not acting...
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. What are the opportunities of acting on climate change? Are there any risks to acting on climate change, and what would not acting mean for Australia's economy?
Medicare, Aged Care | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. After decades of cuts and neglect, why is it so important to strengthen Medicare and to invest in aged care?
Police Week | Private Members' Business | House debates
Thank you, Member for Wide Bay, for this motion. As a police officer who spent almost 16 years in WA Police Force, I want to share with you what it's like to be on the front lines. You may...
Thank you, Member for Wide Bay, for this motion. As a police officer who spent almost 16 years in WA Police Force, I want to share with you what it's like to be on the front lines. You may already know about the long shifts, about how we kit up in our uniform and accoutrements and then head out onto the streets with a job list that never ends. Maybe you can imagine that this job is intense, heartbreaking and overwhelming, but, unless you are a police officer, you can't understand that, even on these most difficult jobs, you don't have a choice. It's your duty. You have to stay and you have to be there. I retired from the WA Police Force when I was elected as the federal member for Tangney. But being a police officer does not leave me; it still stays with me. I can drive by a tree and remember a body I retrieved from that same tree—or from a public toilet, from a bus stop or from a road. I can still feel and smell it. This work stays in our minds forever. National Police Remembrance Day is important to honour the police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty—police officers who were just doing their jobs and have been killed. The loss deeply hits our police brothers and sisters everywhere. We can never forget, because they are part of us. I pay tribute to my two police officer brothers who recently lost their lives in the line of duty and to my police officer brother who is injured. I send my condolences and my sorrow to their families, friends, communities and all police brothers and sisters. My thoughts are also with police officers across Australia who are struggling with or who have lost their lives to injury or mental health. Through this day of remembrance, I hope that the public can appreciate the work done by our good police officers out there. They are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, never resting. They do their job well to protect us and our community. The scars stay long after we hand in our badges. I was speaking to a Tangney constituent who is also a former police officer, and I said, 'Peter, I have had four operations from this job—my back, my knee, my shoulder and my wrist.' The scar is still here. And he replied, 'Sam, I've had six.' Being a police officer was my childhood dream. It is still the dream of many young children. If we want it to keep being a childhood dream, we need to ensure that police officers are well supported, not only when they are active police officers but also in their retirement. I have lost colleagues to work related stress. When they go home, they don't have the energy to take care of their own families, or they try but they burn out, collapse and their family falls apart too. When police officers are in dangerous situations, we don't think for ourselves. We think about how to protect the victims and how to get the job done. We do not know what dangers await us at each and every job. These days, when I drive home from work on the same road I once sped down with my lights and sirens on, I start to think: 'Wow, I was driving so fast. I am lucky there were no cars coming from the left or from the right.' Today I see the risk I took as a police officer. I want the public to know that police officers take this risk every day for us. I want my police brothers and sisters to know that, if you are struggling, please reach out to someone or reach out to my office. Thank you for everything you do for our community to keep us safe.
Women's Health | Statements by Members | House debates
I recently met Bree, a Willetton resident whose small business is dedicated to supporting women's health. Bree is a fitness trainer and she helps new mums return to exercise safely after they...
I recently met Bree, a Willetton resident whose small business is dedicated to supporting women's health. Bree is a fitness trainer and she helps new mums return to exercise safely after they have given birth. She is advocating for better pelvic health support for pregnant and postpartum women, and for more education about a safe return to exercise. Bree and some of the mums taking her classes shared their stories about the specific health needs for new mums. Too often, women's health hasn't been taken seriously. Labor is changing that with more choices, lower costs and better health care for women. In Tangney I meet with women who are happy to see these changes, such as new and amended listings on the PBS, more support for women experiencing menopause. As Bree talked to me about postpartum pelvic health and some of the long-term consequences that can happen without it, I reflected on the women in my own family, including my wife and what she went through as she had our own three children. Women's health and postpartum health are so important. Thank you, Bree, for sharing your story.
Mental Health | Constituency Statements | House debates
How often this week have we done something enjoyable, gone to bed and woken up at a regular time, or had a meaningful conversation? For many of us, not often enough. One Tangney local and his...
How often this week have we done something enjoyable, gone to bed and woken up at a regular time, or had a meaningful conversation? For many of us, not often enough. One Tangney local and his team are trying to change that. Earlier this year, Professor Nick Titov was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to digital mental health and wellness. Nick founded MindSpot, which supports Australian adults with free, confidential psychological assessments, treatments and access to qualified therapies. MindSpot has worked with more than 250,000 Australians. Nick has also started the Big 5—five types of actions that are strongly linked to mental health. Most people do not know what they can do each day to look after their mental health or how often they should do these things. Nick's research shows that doing these five activities at least three or four times a week makes you mentally healthier and more resilient. His research also shows that, if people stop doing these activities, their mental health worsens. When Nick told me about the Big 5, I did a self-check and found I wasn't doing all these healthy activities often enough. Here are the Big 5. The first is meaningful activities to give us a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction or joy. This can be as simple as listening to your favourite song. The second is healthy thinking. This is about having realistic thoughts about self, the world and the future. The third is having goals and plans, which helps us to stay focused and motivated. The fourth is healthy routines like our sleep routine, eating well and staying active. These are critical. The fifth is social connections. Being in touch regularly with people who we love and respect gives us a sense of belonging. Over the last two weeks, I have put these Big 5 into practice, and I strongly recommend everyone give it a go. Why do I like the Big 5? Because it is very practical and it is free. There is a journal to help us to reflect, and there are daily text messages to prompt us. As Nick says, do more and you'll feel better; do less and it gets harder. Thank you, Nick.
National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to make my contribution on the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025. I can only speak highly of this bill and the real cost-of-living relief that cheaper medicines will...
I rise to make my contribution on the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025. I can only speak highly of this bill and the real cost-of-living relief that cheaper medicines will provide. I naturally think of Tangney when I think about why this bill is important and who this bill will benefit. Cheaper medicines benefit so many people, but here is one of them. I first met this gentleman in Willagee when I was a candidate running in the 2022 election. When I knocked on his door, he told me about some of his health issues, including his diabetes and the affordability of medicines. Early this year, I was very happy to go back to him and see him doing well. We talked about how the Albanese government's commitment to strengthen Medicare has benefited him, including the actions we have already taken to make medicine cheaper. He continues to deal with his health conditions daily, and he told me how the changes we have made have helped him. He gave me a big hug, and he told me he was glad to see me. 'This government,' he said, 'has helped me a lot.' A few months ago, I told him about our election commitment to make medicine cheaper, and I'll be excited to go back to see him again in January, when the general patient co-payment drops to a maximum of $25. As of 31 July, people in Tangney have already saved more than $11 million with cheaper medications. Now, with this bill, they will save even more. This bill delivers on the Albanese government's 2025 election commitment. This bill reduces the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme—PBS—general patient co-payment by $6.60, from the $31.60 that it is currently to $25 from 1 January next year. The last time these PBS medicines cost no more than $25 was in 2004, more than 20 years ago. When I talk to my constituents about this, it is easy for us to reflect on what the world was like back in 2004, what we were doing and how we looked. My children were very young. My youngest was still in high school. But truthfully, when I first heard about this information, it touched me because 2004 was only two years before my oldest daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Even though my daughter's diagnosis was two decades ago now, I can still remember it like yesterday. At that time, my daughter was at uni, preparing for exams, and suddenly the oncologist called our family for a meeting. Then, before I could blink, my daughter was having aggressive treatment to fight the cancer. I had just joined the WA Police Force, so I was driving 100 kilometres a day for the police academy training and then rushing back at night to be with my daughter. That was the hardest year for me. The life-saving care was all thanks to Medicare and the PBS. During these difficult years, my family relied on the Medicare system and the PBS. Without our health system, my daughter's treatment would have been very unaffordable. The life-saving medication would have meant many more sacrifices. Although my daughter was unwell for many years, her story is a happy one: she made a full recovery. I really praise Medicare, and I will always advocate to protect and strengthen it. Just as Medicare and the PBS were there for my family during our times of need, cheaper medicines will benefit people in their times of need. My family didn't know when we were going to need it. We didn't know when our children would fall sick or we would fall sick. This is one of the reasons why this legislation is so important. The Albanese Labor government is ensuring that cheaper medicines are there when you need them. With this bill, all medicines that pharmacies can discount today can continue to be discounted once the co-payment is cut to $25. The legislation includes specific provisions to protect the ability of discounting. Cheaper medicines are another key cost-of-living measure delivered by our Labor government. This is another important step being taken to help with rising everyday costs for individuals and families across Australia. This government has taken measures to cut the costs of medicines. In 2023, the government made the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS. Now, our government is going even further and slashing the cost of medicines again. This is more than a 20 per cent cut in the maximum cost of PBS medicines. This will save Australians over $200 million each year. Four out of five PBS medicines will continue to become cheaper because of our government's $689 million investment. When I think about the impact of cheaper medicines, I think of the many Tangney constituents who will benefit. Over the years, I have had a few people stop me at the door and tell me to wait. They come back holding their medication and tell me about why they need this medication. They tell me that these medications are life saving for them. First, they would show me the front of the package. One time I saw a cost of more than $30,000 and I thought to myself, 'Wow, this prescription is so expensive', and then they proudly showed me the back and the cost that they actually paid, thanks to the PBS. I saw it wasn't a big number—like a skyrocketing number—but a two-digit number. This was thanks to the PBS. I had a long discussion with this constituent about their story, about why the PBS has been so meaningful to them and about the importance of affordable medicines. This was not the constituent's only medication, and making medicines even cheaper will make a difference. This person's story stays with me because it is through the PBS that he is able to manage his conditions. I had a great conversation with three friends and neighbours who I like to call the 'three amigos' because they always stay together. When I first met them, they invited me to a local brewery for a beer. I don't drink beer, but they offered me a beer. We had a great conversation. One of our topics was about Medicare. One of the constituents said to me in plain language, 'Without Medicare, I would be broke. There are a lot of things I can't pay for.' His words stay with me because we don't want people to have to choose between their care and other essentials. We are making a stronger Medicare, and cheaper medicines are a part of it. More recently, I have heard from some constituents who manage multiple chronic conditions and need multiple medications. Multiple co-payments add up, and so reducing the maximum co-payment will be especially helpful. When I was young, I didn't think about the need for multiple medications. But now, as I'm getting older and as my friends and family are also ageing, I see how many medications we all need every day. Sometimes it is overwhelming. When I talk to some of my older constituents, seniors like me, we speak to each other about the medications we need to take. A prescription isn't just a one-off. It is every day. Reducing the co-payment will make a difference for all these people—not a one-time difference but an ongoing difference. Cheaper medicines help to take pressure off family budgets. Lowering the cost of co-payments helps to reduce this burden. I think that anything we can do to help families with the cost of living is so important. When medicines are cheaper, more people are likely to get the treatment they need and when they need it. This is good for everyone—for individuals, families, our communities and also our health system. At the end of the day, everyone should have access to the medicines they need. Access shouldn't depend on your income. This legislation builds on action our government has already taken to deliver cost-of-living relief and to make medicines on the PBS more affordable. This action includes changes to the PBS safety net. In July 2022 we implemented a 25 per cent reduction in the number of prescriptions a concessional patient needed to fill before the PBS safety net kicked in. This means concession card holders can get more free and cheaper medicines sooner. In January 2023 the Albanese Labor government made the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS, with the maximum cost of a general prescription falling from $42.50 to only $30. The Albanese Labor government began introducing 60-day prescriptions from September 2023, and doctors now have the option to provide a 60-day supply of medication, rather than just a 30-day supply, to patients with an ongoing condition. These changes have helped people save time and money, reducing the number of times they need to see their GP or attend a pharmacy. It again speaks to the tangible cost-of-living measures taken by our government. In January 2025 the Albanese government froze the cost of PBS medicines for all Australians, with co-payments not rising with inflation for the first time in 25 years. Pensioners and concession card holders had their co-payments frozen at $7.70 for five years. They will continue to benefit, and the cost of their PBS medicines will stay frozen at this level until 2030. Cheaper medicines are good for the hip pocket and good for your health. Now, through this bill, the Albanese government is delivering cheaper medicines and a stronger Medicare.
Ragdoll Foundation | Adjournment | House debates
When I was 16 years old—that was a long time ago—I had to leave school because my family did not have enough money to pay for my school fees. But a few days later my maths teacher, Mr...
When I was 16 years old—that was a long time ago—I had to leave school because my family did not have enough money to pay for my school fees. But a few days later my maths teacher, Mr Lee, helped to pay for my school fees. I was lucky and returned to class. Mr Lee paid both my form 4 and my form 5 school fees. Without his support, I would not have finished high school. When I first learned about Mr Ted Powell's donation of $100 million to Murdoch University, I, like many others, could not believe it. This is the largest donation to a university in Western Australia, and it is one of the largest donations ever to an Australian university. But what also touched my heart was how Ted had, before this donation, supported 150 students to go to Murdoch University through his Ragdoll Foundation. These students were like I had been, facing financial hardship and in need of a helping hand. Like my maths teacher did for me, Ted stepped in and helped these students obtain their education. Education changes lives. This $100 million gift will completely transform Murdoch University's veterinary school and the education that Australian veterinarians receive. Along with the school, there is an animal hospital, livestock and large-animal centres, working vet farms and other research centres. Many of my constituents have used the animal hospital for much-loved members of their families. The veterinary school is a major part of life at Murdoch and in our community. Soon, that school will be completely redeveloped, with a new, 9,600-square-metre state-of-the-art facility. The new school will support 50 per cent more vet students. It will form the heart of a new conservation and life sciences precinct that recognises the link between human, animal and environmental health. It will expand on important biomedical research. It will attract top global talent and experts. Our next generation of veterinary professionals will have a world-class opportunity right there in Tangney. The Ragdoll Foundation was founded in 2010 by Ted and his late wife, Dee, to give to worthy causes. Ted was very successful in business in Hong Kong and South-East Asia before he and Dee migrated to Australia in 2005. Dee was an animal lover, and the Ragdoll Foundation was named after ragdoll cats. Together, Dee and Ted started scholarships at Murdoch and supported Coodanup College, the Salvation Army and programs like Leadership WA. When Dee passed away last year, Ted thought about what he would do with his assets. In supporting the redevelopment and expansion of the Murdoch vet school, Ted is supporting both education and health for years to come. His generosity will have a big impact on our next generation of veterinary professionals and specialists. It will also serve the WA's agricultural and environmental sectors. I want to thank Ted for his generous donation to Murdoch University and for his encouragement of others with wealth to find responsible ways to give back. Ted will be closely involved as the veterinary school is redeveloped. He told me he will continue with the Ragdoll Foundation scholarship—continuing to be the helping hand for students who need it most. Thank you, Ted.
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How is acting on climate change in the national interest as well as the interest of Australian households? What policy proposal would...
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How is acting on climate change in the national interest as well as the interest of Australian households? What policy proposal would take Australia backwards, especially Western Australia?
Artificial Intelligence | Motions | House debates
At a recent visit to Murdoch University, in my electorate of Tangney, I was impressed by how this university is using artificial intelligence. There is a focus on how digital and AI capability...
At a recent visit to Murdoch University, in my electorate of Tangney, I was impressed by how this university is using artificial intelligence. There is a focus on how digital and AI capability can stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation of Murdoch research. There are opportunities to positively impact students, to transform research and to build a more inclusive and connected community. Our Labor government wants to use the opportunities that come with AI to help improve life for working Australians. We want AI to help grow the economy and improve productivity while keeping Australians safe. AI can help solve some of the biggest challenges of the coming decades, challenges like reducing carbon emissions, challenges like improving health care. With incredible health and research campuses located right by Murdoch University, I'm especially excited about what healthcare challenges we might be able to solve right here in Tangney. AI can contribute up to $200 billion a year to Australia's GDP. By 2030, it can create an additional 150,000 jobs. AI can increase annual labour productivity growth by over three per cent by 2030. We need to build AI capability so that we can ensure that Australia benefits from AI as developers, deployers, adaptors and users. This means having the right infrastructure, increasing AI skills and literacy and supporting industry innovation. Australia can leverage our strengths, strengths in research and also as an incubator for innovation, with expertise in the agricultural, financial and health sectors. And we have many talented experts, people like Tangney's own Hamid Laga, from Murdoch University's School of Information Technology. Professor Laga's work in AI saw him awarded a prestigious Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council. Professor Laga will develop targeted mathematical tools and new machine-learning algorithms. Benefits from this research will be seen in the fields of computer vision and graphics, biology and health. These benefits will be felt across Australia and internationally. Australia is also an attractive destination for data centres. Investment in data centres will drive innovation in AI and lead to economic growth, ensuring we remain competitive on the global stage. Sustainable data centre investment is important. As the uptake in AI and data-intensive applications increases, so too does demand for energy and water. We need to minimise the impact on our natural resources, support the transition to net zero and ensure the benefits are shared across the community. The government is also supporting the growth of AI companies. This includes a $17 million network of government funded AI Adopt Centres to help small to medium Australian enterprises responsibly adopt AI tools, the $47 million Next Generation Graduates programs to train job-ready graduates in skills needed by our AI and emerging technology industries, and $15 billion for the National Reconstruction Fund, providing targeted investment to diversify and transform Australian industry. This includes $1 billion for critical technologies, including AI. AI is vital to Australia's future economic resilience, competitiveness and productivity. In the Labor government, we are doing it.
Harty, Detective Senior Sergeant John | Statements by Members | House debates
I joined the WA Police Force in 2006. I was not your typical police officer. I was a migrant. I was 45 years old. I didn't have a network or support in the WA Police Force. Detective Sergeant...
I joined the WA Police Force in 2006. I was not your typical police officer. I was a migrant. I was 45 years old. I didn't have a network or support in the WA Police Force. Detective Sergeant John Harty changed this for me. He has been my mentor in the police force since 2007, one year after I joined. He guided my police career and encouraged me to apply for the rank of sergeant. My career path in the police force was successful because of John. Three days ago our police family lost an invaluable member. John was not only a mentor but my very close dear friend. I could call him at any time and he would respond to me. We were born in the same year, in the same month, only a few days apart. Two weeks ago, John texted me when I was flying from Perth to Canberra. He said, 'Sam, I'm not well, I wish to see you.' I was not expecting to say goodbye to him that soon. As police officers we carry a heavy mental burden. Mentors like John not only helped in learning our duty but also in how to manage the stress of police work. Yesterday, I reflected with my police brothers and sisters, and John's wife, Beth. Goodbye, John. (Time expired)
Resources Sector | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Resources. How is the Albanese Labor government building a future made in Australia by supporting a strong and resilient resources sector?
Housing | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness. How is the Albanese Labor government helping working Australians to buy a home of their own, and are there any...
My question is to the Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness. How is the Albanese Labor government helping working Australians to buy a home of their own, and are there any alternative approaches that would make it harder to buy a home?
Economy | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Treasurer. How is the Albanese Labor government's responsible economic management helping in the fight against inflation and with the cost of living? And, Treasurer, what...
My question is to the Treasurer. How is the Albanese Labor government's responsible economic management helping in the fight against inflation and with the cost of living? And, Treasurer, what economic approaches would leave Australians worse off?