Ash Ambihaipahar's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
type: channel
language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2026-02-05T22:06:04+00:00
items: Gender Equality | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Barton Electorate: Hurstville Public School | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
items: Racial Discrimination Act 1975: 50th Anniversary | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
items: Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Commonwealth Prac Payment | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
items: Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Raise Our Voice in Parliament | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Energy | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Aged Care | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Housing | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Climate Change | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates

Gender Equality | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is gender equality a priority for our Labor government? And why do all Australians have a responsibility to do more and do better on matters of gender...
encoded: My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is gender equality a priority for our Labor government? And why do all Australians have a responsibility to do more and do better on matters of gender equality?
date: 2026-02-05T14:25:00+00:00

Barton Electorate: Hurstville Public School | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: I rise today to celebrate one of the many examples of community collaboration and inclusivity that define my electorate of Barton. In December last year, Hurstville Public School opened the first...
encoded: I rise today to celebrate one of the many examples of community collaboration and inclusivity that define my electorate of Barton. In December last year, Hurstville Public School opened the first dedicated sensory play area within the Georges River LGA—a wonderful playground designed to support childhood development through the engagement and exploration of their senses. Through the sensory playground, the lucky kids of Hurstville Public School are encouraged to meander along footpaths varying in texture from asphalt to sand to grass, and to spin totem poles and abacuses. It invites hands-on engagement with their environments. In another zone, the smell of scent infused playdough wafts around the air. A special auditory zone allows the kids to experiment with outdoor musical instruments including drums and xylophones—something I'm sure many parents in the local area are happy for their kids to get out of their system before coming back home. These types of spaces have been shown to enrich cognitive, emotional and social development for all students, particularly neurodivergent children, and they redefine how we think about childhood development and inclusion. Never has it been more important to foster reaching out into our environment, into our communities and to our neighbours with an attitude of curiosity, open-mindedness and willingness to grow together. These are not only values that are important for the younger generation but values that we must continuously remind ourselves to embody as well. In addition to vital funding support from the Community Building Partnership grant program, I pay special thanks to Mark Steed, the principal of Hurstville Public School, without whom the idea for the sensory playground would not have been sparked, as well as the Hurstville P? St George's Hurstville Anglican Church; Kingsgrove Community Aid Centre; and X-Life running group, headed by a wonderful councillor, Councillor Ben Wang of Georges River Council. These Barton commu…
date: 2026-02-04T11:17:00+00:00

Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. This is a bill that goes to the heart of how we deliver health care in this country, who we...
encoded: I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. This is a bill that goes to the heart of how we deliver health care in this country, who we trust, how we use our workforce, and whether Australians can access the medicines they need when they need them without unnecessary delay or cost. This bill is more than a legislative amendment; it is absolutely about modernising our health system in a way that reflects reality on the ground. It is about recognising the skill, training and professionalism of nurses, and it is also about ensuring Medicare continues to serve Australians not just for today but into the future. This reform matters because Australia's health system is facing pressures that are both known and deeply felt by communities across the country. We have an ageing population. We are seeing higher rates of chronic and complex disease. Demand for primary and acute care continues to rise while workforce shortages—particularly in general practice, aged care and rural and remote services—place real strain on patients and providers alike. For too many Australians, accessing health care has become more difficult than it should be. We know people are waiting longer for appointments. Emergency departments are under pressure, and in some communities people are travelling long distances or delaying care altogether. If we are serious about strengthening Medicare then we must look honestly at how our health system operates and how it can operate better. That means using the skills we already have in our workforce more effectively. Before coming into this place, I worked closely with the New South Wales Nurses & Midwives' Association. In that role, I had the privilege of listening to nurses from every corner of our health system, whether it was in the public or private system, in metro hospitals or regional clinics, or in aged-care facilities or community health services. I witnessed their pride in their professionali…
date: 2026-02-04T11:46:00+00:00

Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: My question is to the Attorney-General. How is the government addressing antisemitism and social cohesion after the Bondi terror attack? What role will the royal commission play?
encoded: My question is to the Attorney-General. How is the government addressing antisemitism and social cohesion after the Bondi terror attack? What role will the royal commission play?
date: 2026-01-20T15:02:00+00:00

Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: It is no secret that we are seeing a rise in antisemitism, hatred and extremism in this country, and, more recently, the nation experienced its darkest day, at Bondi Beach in December last year....
encoded: It is no secret that we are seeing a rise in antisemitism, hatred and extremism in this country, and, more recently, the nation experienced its darkest day, at Bondi Beach in December last year. The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill is part of our response to this horrific event and a piece in the puzzle of restoring social cohesion in our wonderful nation. There are key reforms presented in this bill that I want to highlight because a few constituents have reached out to me with claims about the bill's effects that are untrue and inflammatory. Such claims stem from online disinformation and, sometimes, from those across the chamber. I'm glad we've come together as a parliament to make these changes. Let's be clear about what they do and not fall into a dangerous echo chamber that seeks only to divide this nation. Firstly, there's the introduction of a new aggravated offence for preachers and leaders and for adults radicalising children. Where these actors advocate for violence against others, they will face penalties of up to 12 years of imprisonment. Secondly, the bill will significantly increase penalties for hate crimes. These will capture offences involving advocating or threatening force or violence against protected groups, members of groups, their close associates and their property. Penalties will increase from five to seven years for base offences and from seven to 10 years where there's an added threat to the public order. Thirdly, the bill will amend the Crimes Act 1914 to introduce a new general sentencing principle that will require the courts, when sentencing a person for a Commonwealth offence, to consider an offender's hate motivation based on race or national or ethnic origin as an aggravating factor. This will encourage judges to apply a higher penalty within the maximum penalty range where hate motivation is a factor in the commission of a crime. Moreover, this bill will establish a new framework withi…
date: 2026-01-20T12:02:00+00:00

Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
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description: Across our country, people are grieving, searching for answers and struggling to comprehend how 15 innocent lives were taken and many people were injured at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025. That...
encoded: Across our country, people are grieving, searching for answers and struggling to comprehend how 15 innocent lives were taken and many people were injured at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025. That night it started off as a place of joy and celebration, and it was turned into a scene of terror. On behalf of the people of Barton, our thoughts and prayers are, first and foremost, with the families and loved ones of those who were murdered and the Jewish community. Their loss is immense, and no words offered here today can truly ease their pain, but they deserve to know that this parliament stands with them in solidarity. This attack was not random. It was an act of terror, deliberately targeting the Australian Jewish community as they gathered together to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, a festival that symbolises light, resilience and hope. Many other cultural groups, in a similar vein, celebrate light over darkness. That such hatred was unleashed at a moment of faith and joy is deeply confronting for all Australians. From the night of the attack, in the days that followed, I was in contact and met with the members of my local Jewish community—including Dr George Foster from the Southern Sydney Synagogue based in Allawah, who has done an amazing job to support the local Jewish community in such a challenging time. What I heard was not just sorrow, but distress—distress that simply gathering to celebrate or to be visibly Jewish in public comes with risk. That should absolutely disturb every one of us in this place. Antisemitism, along with all forms of hatred, is not something we can afford to downplay or tolerate. It is an evil hatred and has no place in Australia. As a parliament, we must be condemning it and committed to taking meaningful action to remove all forms of hatred to all community groups. This tragedy has also touched my community of Barton. We were devastated to learn that Dan Elkayam, a football player with Rockdale Ilinden Football Club, was tragic…
date: 2026-01-19T19:20:00+00:00

Racial Discrimination Act 1975: 50th Anniversary | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
type: item
description: Today I rise to acknowledge and honour the 50th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from...
encoded: Today I rise to acknowledge and honour the 50th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 16:22 to 16:46 This is one of the most profound legislative markers in Australia's modern story and a law that has shaped the lived experience of millions, including families like mine and communities like Barton. The passage of the Racial Discrimination Act was not just a legal reform. It was Australia declaring formally and finally that equality before the law is not optional, not conditional, not aspirational, but fundamental. Half a century on, we recognise that this act continues to be a pillar of our democracy, our social cohesion and our identity as a nation that believes in fairness. When I delivered my first speech in this place, I spoke about the journey of my life. So many migrants arrived here with hope, humility and a fierce determination to build a much better life. I spoke about growing up in my electorate, about the pride I feel in my Sri Lankan and Papua New Guinean heritage—raised by a Maltese and Italian family—and about the pride I feel being Australian. I spoke about the lessons of my late grandfather, a man who taught me that service, kindness and dignity are the measure of a life well lived. What I did not get the chance to say, but wish to say today, is that their lives and mine would have been very different if not for the Racial Discrimination Act. When the Racial Discrimination Act passed this parliament in 1975, it did something incredibly simple yet profoundly transformative. It recognised that everyone in this country is entitled to the same respect, the same safety and the same dignity, regardless of race or background. That principle sits at the heart of the electorate of Barton. Barton is one of the most multicultural communities in the nation. Our residents come from every continent, every faith tradition and every culture, and we are stronger because…
date: 2025-11-26T16:21:00+00:00

Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: I rise to speak on the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025. I do so as not only the federal member for Barton but also someone whose professional life before entering...
encoded: I rise to speak on the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025. I do so as not only the federal member for Barton but also someone whose professional life before entering parliament was spent, for a lot of the time, in the space of employment law. For over a decade, I represented workers who were underpaid, mistreated, threatened or simply too scared to speak up. I saw firsthand how vulnerable temporary migrant workers can be and how quickly hope turns into fear when safeguards fail or when devious employers—and I must say, only a few—see vulnerability as an invitation. I heard some comments from the member for Mallee tonight, particularly around bold assertions regarding the United Workers Union. I must say, the United Workers Union does important work to support migrant workers here in this country, because the reality is that migrant exploitation happens in Australia. It happens in our cities, suburbs and regions. It happens in our restaurants, construction sites, food processing plants, farms, cleaning companies, care sectors and gig work. It often involves workers who are here legally and are doing the right thing, yet are taken advantage of by someone who believes that they will never speak out. This is a serious issue. It's a moral issue, it's an issue of economic fairness and it's an issue of national character, because any system that depends on silence or fear is a system that fails not only migrant workers but every worker. Moreover, the bill aligns with this government's commitment to promoting Australia as a destination for highly skilled migrants. We need smart, qualified people to meet the skills shortage in our economy and boost productivity. Those people are going to work in Australia only if they can be guaranteed safe, secure work. The bill before us today is a practical, targeted and integrity-focused reform that strengthens protections for temporary skilled migrants. It creates a public register of approved work sponsors,…
date: 2025-11-26T17:53:00+00:00

Commonwealth Prac Payment | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
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description: I would like to thank the member for Indi for raising her matter of public importance for discussion in this House, the example of Darcy's story and the other issues raised in the member for...
encoded: I would like to thank the member for Indi for raising her matter of public importance for discussion in this House, the example of Darcy's story and the other issues raised in the member for Indi's contributions this afternoon. I can hear that there's a bit of consensus in this chamber around some of the challenges for students in higher education. I also speak from a place of experience. Before I was a solicitor, I worked at the University of Sydney for about eight years in the anatomy department—specifically, teaching medical students and a number of other students in the allied health profession. I understand from that experience a lot of challenges that students go through on campus and also in dealing with cost-of-living challenges and accommodation. On the tail end, prior to coming into this House, I had the opportunity to work with St Vincent de Paul Society for a couple of years. In that capacity, I had the opportunity to look after a very big patch of New South Wales going up from Wyong, out to the Blue Mountains and down to Helensburgh. That captured a number of great institutions, a number of universities, where a lot of youth Vinnies members did a lot of engagement on those campuses with students dealing with cost-of-living challenges, with housing and accommodation. So this comes from a place of experience and understanding. I want to acknowledge that everyone in this chamber seems to be singing from the same song sheet, knowing that those are the challenges for a lot of students in this industry. Also I've had the opportunity to speak to a number of HSU members—and I've had really active conversations more recently—who work in the allied health profession. This Labor government understands that it's quite tough for students when they're completing mandatory placements. That is why we are delivering on real cost-of-living support, which includes this Commonwealth prac payment. I believe this assistance is quite careful; it's quite considered. The paymen…
date: 2025-11-26T16:01:00+00:00

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: I rise today in support of the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, which goes right to the centre of communities, jobs, small businesses and Australian social life. This bill...
encoded: I rise today in support of the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, which goes right to the centre of communities, jobs, small businesses and Australian social life. This bill reinforces the Albanese Labor government's decision to pause indexation on draught beer excise and excise equivalent customs duties for two years, beginning 1 August 2025. It is a policy underpinned by fairness, community values and economic responsibility. It is a policy that recognises and supports Australian pubs, clubs, brewers, hospitality workers and the millions of Australians who rely on these venues for work, connection and community life. It is a policy that speaks directly to the people and businesses in my electorate of Barton, from Hurstville to Wolli Creek, Beverly Hills to Clemton Park and Rockdale to Earlwood. This measure does one simple, clear thing. It pauses automatic inflation-linked increases to draught beer excise for two years. It applies specifically to containers of eight to 48 litres designed for gas or pump systems—our standard kegs in pubs and clubs—and containers over 48 litres, used by larger hospitality venues. This pause does not apply to bottled beer, canned beer, spirits or retail alcohol. This is targeted, disciplined policy designed to support hospitality venues and the sector, not supermarkets, not bottling multinationals, not liquor companies but the pubs, clubs and taverns and small brewers who serve our communities directly from a tap. (Quorum formed) This policy supports 10,000 hospitality venues across Australia, and about 75 per cent of them are small, family-run businesses. This policy will be supporting approximately 160,000 workers in hospitality and brewing. Further, this will support thousands more in supply chains, like farmers, those in logistics, tradies, cleaners, entertainers and local suppliers. These are the venues that sponsor the local footy club, host family dinners, employ young people, train chefs, host charity events an…
date: 2025-11-25T17:22:00+00:00

Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: I rise to speak in support of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025. This bill is a significant...
encoded: I rise to speak in support of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025. This bill is a significant step forward for our cultural influence, for our local screen sector and for every Australian who deserves to see their own stories reflected in shows they watch, no matter what screen they view them on. When Australians think about stories that have shaped us, connected us and helped to define who we are, they are not thinking about content created overseas; they are thinking of shows, characters and worlds that feel distinctly Australian. We think of classics like Kath & Kim, which captured the humour and charm of Aussie suburban life. We think of Bluey, which has become a world success because it speaks to families everywhere while staying very much true to Australians. We think of The Secret Life of Us and its portrayal of friendships and young adulthood in St Kilda. We think of documentaries like Fire Front, which helped the nation understand the summer bushfires through the voices of those who lived them. Australian storytelling is not just produced by large studios or major broadcasters; it is nurtured in our communities, in our suburbs and in grassroots creative organisations that provide pathways for people who would otherwise never get the opportunity to see themselves on screen or contribute to the creative process. My electorate of Barton is home to two extraordinary organisations that embody the spirit of Australian storytelling: Shopfront Arts Co-op and Bus Stop Films. Shopfront Arts has been a local establishment for youth arts development for decades. It is a place where young people come to tell their own stories and to learn the craft of performance, filmmaking, writing and collaboration. It is a place that celebrate difference and creativity. When you walk into Shopfront in Carlton, you feel the energy of young people who are being empowered to speak in t…
date: 2025-11-24T16:01:00+00:00

VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I rise today to speak in strong support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025. That might sound technical in nature, but it is in fact deeply grounded in fairness, integrity...
encoded: I rise today to speak in strong support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025. That might sound technical in nature, but it is in fact deeply grounded in fairness, integrity and opportunity. This bill goes to the heart of something deeply important to the people of Barton and to communities right across our wonderful country: ensuring that vocational education remains accessible, accountable and very much trusted. In my electorate, families know the value of vocational education and training. Our nurses, aged-care workers, tradespeople, early-childhood educators, hospitality staff and emerging innovators are the backbone of our local economy and the backbone of our nation. When we invest in VET, we invest in our future workforce, in economic growth and in giving Australians—particularly young Australians, career changers and parents re-entering the workforce—a genuine pathway to skills and dignity through secure work. That is exactly what this Albanese Labor government is doing. But with investment comes responsibility to ensure our VET system is fair, transparent, modern and worthy of public trust. That's why this bill matters. Let me be very clear about what this legislation does and why it's absolutely necessary. During a review of the administration of VET student loans, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations identified that VET student loan providers had historically handled students' tax file numbers, even though that authority was not clearly set out in the VET Student Loans Act 2016. Now, I want to be absolutely clear—for the public, for students, for parents and for institutions—this was not misused. This was not misconduct. There were no student complaints, no privacy breaches and no adverse impacts on students or repayments. Providers acted in good faith, in line with practice and administrative expectations. The handling of tax file numbers was necessary to verify students and ensure loans and repayments could occur th…
date: 2025-11-05T18:04:00+00:00

Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to speak on the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 to reform the Freedom of Information Act, which is well overdue, necessary and grounded in one simple democratic principle: the...
encoded: I rise to speak on the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 to reform the Freedom of Information Act, which is well overdue, necessary and grounded in one simple democratic principle: the public has a right to know. Freedom of information laws sit at the heart of a functioning democracy. They create transparency, they forward accountability, and they ensure that government at every level remembers who we serve—that is, the people. I had the opportunity to hear the member for New England's speech on the amendment bill, and I want to quote something he said tonight. He said, 'When a government becomes too powerful, it covers its tracks.' Now, I'm not going to listen to advice from a member who was part of a former government that provided multiple secret ministerial portfolios to a former prime minister. For me, transparency is not an abstract principle. It is a lived value that all Australians expect that governments of the day will uphold. Before entering this house, I spent a decade working in employment and industrial relations law. In that role, I stood next to working people like nurses and electricians—people who relied on accurate information to stand up for their rights. I've seen firsthand that, when transparency fails, working people lose power, and, when systems become confusing, slow or difficult, it is everyday Australians who are left behind. FOI is no different. Access to government information empowers our communities. It builds trust. It gives people confidence that public institutions serve them, not themselves. Yet we must also be honest. The FOI framework as it stands today is not working as intended—not for government, not for public servants and certainly not for the public. When the FOI Act came into force over 40 years ago, the Public Service did not operate in the world we live in today. There was no email inbox overflow every morning, there were no digital archives holding decades of communications, and there were no thousands of pages…
date: 2025-11-04T17:40:00+00:00

Raise Our Voice in Parliament | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: I rise to read one of the selected speeches I received from students in Barton through the Raise Our Voice in Parliament initiative. This one comes from Angela, Dhanvi, Swara, Jaai and Grace from...
encoded: I rise to read one of the selected speeches I received from students in Barton through the Raise Our Voice in Parliament initiative. This one comes from Angela, Dhanvi, Swara, Jaai and Grace from Kogarah Public School. I want to thank them for their passionate and insightful submission. They say the following: As young Australians, we know how important mental health is for our future. We want to see change that ensures every student feels supported, valued, and able to thrive. Too many students face body-shaming, insecurities, and judgement every single day, often made worse by the pressures of social media. It's no surprise that 1 in 7 Australians aged 4 to 17 experience mental health challenges. These struggles affect how we learn, how we connect with others, and how we see ourselves. But we believe it doesn't have to stay this way. The government can make a difference. First, by funding more school-based programs so every student has access to help during and after school. Second, by creating awareness campaigns that show it's okay to ask for support and that no one is alone. Third, by upskilling young Australians by integrating real strategies for resilience, online safety, and wellbeing into the school syllabus. We want to see it, and we know it will make a difference. This is about more than today, it's about tomorrow. Supporting students' mental health means shaping a future where young Australians are confident, resilient, and ready to lead. With the right support today, we can ensure tomorrow's Australia is filled with resilient, healthy, and empowered young people. It is so important to highlight in my community of Kogarah Public School— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 16:34 to 16:45 That speech is a really good reflection of the kinds of students that we have in my electorate of Barton. Kogarah Public School has amazing students like the students who provided this speech. I had an opportunity to meet …
date: 2025-11-04T16:32:00+00:00

Energy | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: As someone who's worked on the frontline of community support at St Vincent de Paul Society and someone deeply connected to the people of Barton, I see firsthand the pressures that Australians...
encoded: As someone who's worked on the frontline of community support at St Vincent de Paul Society and someone deeply connected to the people of Barton, I see firsthand the pressures that Australians are carrying. Right now, the cost of living is the No. 1 concern for Australians and across the globe. We on this side of the chamber are not ignorant to the energy bills being high, and we are fixing this energy bin fire that we inherited from those opposite. Those opposite left Australians with an energy system that was fragile, outdated and vulnerable to global shocks. They walked away from renewable investment and refused to build a modern grid. And now, as history repeats itself, those opposite stand here pretending they have a plan. Let's be clear. Their plan is nuclear energy—the most expensive, slowest, riskiest and least pragmatic option available—a plan that will do nothing to help families here in Australia. The truth is simple. In times like these, people don't need slogans. They don't need a scare campaign. We are addressing the cost of electricity across all levels, such as with retail reforms to make sure Australians get the best possible deal and making sure more Australians can bring down the bills for good with more access to rooftop solar and cheaper home batteries, as well as better energy efficiency options. The Australian people need a government—a steady one, a practical one, a responsible one—on their side and that is what this Albanese Labor government is delivering. While those across the chamber point their fingers, we on this side of the chamber are getting on with the job. Since 2022, the wholesale electricity prices are coming down. The independent Australian Energy Market Commission forecast that prices will decline to 2030 as more renewables enter the grid. This is something we are proud of and is important also for our large-scale consumers like manufacturers and smelters. From next year, the Australian Energy Market Commission will implement n…
date: 2025-11-03T11:48:00+00:00

Aged Care | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to speak on the government's reforms to aged care that came into effect over the weekend just passed. Every older Australian deserves the same care and respect they gave this country...
encoded: I rise to speak on the government's reforms to aged care that came into effect over the weekend just passed. Every older Australian deserves the same care and respect they gave this country through a lifetime of work, love and contribution. These long overdue reforms put care and respect back at the heart of the system. Everyone with older loved ones has had to battle with the aged-care system at one point or another. It is a difficult transition period and you find yourself confronted by tough decisions around your loved one's health, home and quality of life. On top of this, we have all heard and lived the horror stories unearthed by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. In the words of the commission, the system was delivering substandard and unsafe care for Australians. It was too focused on providers and institutions and not on the rights, preferences and dignity for older Australians. These reforms build on the good work we have already completed as a government. We've already mandated 24/7 registered nursing. Because of this, there is a registered nurse on site in aged care more than 99 per cent of the time. We've also invested $17.7 billion to increase the wages of aged-care workers. This means that dedicated staff are paid what they deserve and that their deep knowledge of their residents and the care they need stays in the system. We've also improved the standard of care. In December 2023, only 54 per cent of aged-care homes had an overall star rating of four or five stars—that's 'good' or 'excellent'. Today, 79 per cent of homes do. These new reforms build on this work and further the fight to deliver rights based, dignified aged care for every older Australian. These reforms include three key changes. Firstly, they introduce a rights based framework. The statement of rights makes sure that older people can make their own decisions about their own lives and have those decisions respected. The statement includes the right for every person…
date: 2025-11-03T11:33:00+00:00

Housing | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government working to build more homes for Australians, what other...
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government working to build more homes for Australians, what other approaches are there and what is standing in our way?
date: 2025-10-30T14:53:00+00:00

Climate Change | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to speak on this motion moved by the wonderful member for Griffith. It's a very important motion for my community in Barton as well. It outlines the Albanese government's commitment to...
encoded: I rise to speak on this motion moved by the wonderful member for Griffith. It's a very important motion for my community in Barton as well. It outlines the Albanese government's commitment to both recognising and responding to climate change. Recognising and responding are two separate things. The first, recognition, was delivered by the Labor Party way back in 2007 when the wonderful Kevin Rudd—Kevin 07—called climate change 'the great moral challenge of our generation' and warned that delaying action would be 'reckless and irresponsible'. It's now 2025, and the National and Liberal parties still can't get their head around it at all. Climate change is real, and we're feeling the impacts right now: more floods, more fires, more extreme heat and more violent storms. This is the reality for communities across Australia, yet the opposition are still in denial. Maybe they're too busy fighting themselves in some back room of parliament to step outside and actually see it. Whatever it is, they have their heads in the sand and we don't have time to wait for the tide to come in. As Rudd said, that would be reckless and irresponsible, and we must act now. The government accepts the Climate Change Authority's recently published national climate risk assessment. Every action we take today towards our climate goal of net zero by 2050 can help avoid the worst impacts on Australians. Following the authority's advice, we've set an emissions reduction target of between 62 and 70 per cent by 2035. And emissions are coming down. Our most recent data shows that emissions fell by 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in the year to March 2025. This is a result of our work in slashing waiting times for renewable projects, incentivising home batteries and expanding clean fuel use. This is just the beginning, and we know there is much more work to be done. Our biggest sources of emissions are electricity, transport and industry, and we have a plan for each of them. On electrici…
date: 2025-10-27T18:38:00+00:00

Climate Change | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.
encoded: I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.
date: 2025-10-27T18:28:00+00:00

Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I want to speak about this piece of legislation, the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025, that cuts to the very heart of fairness in our social...
encoded: I want to speak about this piece of legislation, the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025, that cuts to the very heart of fairness in our social security system. For way too long, the rules that govern how debts are raised and managed have been outdated, inefficient and, at times, downright unfair. This bill before the House finally begins to put that right. I come to this debate not only as a member for Barton but as someone who spent more than a decade in the law, advocating for people who were often up against systems that were stacked against them. For many people that find themselves relying on social security payments, the system can either be a bridge to a new life and a bright future or a bureaucratic barrier that keeps them trapped. I can tell you, when a person feels like they're being buried in red tape, when they've been hit with a debt they don't understand, when they are made to feel like a criminal for a simple mistake, that is not just a policy failure; that is a failure of justice. This bill delivers a long-overdue reform. It brings compassion, common sense and accountability back to the way we treat people who rely on our social security system. We want the system to be a bridge, not a barrier. That's why we've introduced this bill into the House. Firstly, this bill amends the small debt waiver threshold. The small debt waiver is a legal mechanism under the Social Security Act that allows the government to forgive certain low-value debts owed by welfare recipients where it's not cost-effective for the Commonwealth to take action to recover them. For 30 years, the so-called small debt waiver has been frozen. It's current range is $50 to $200—$50, unchanged since the 1990s, when the average cost of rent or a grocery bill looked nothing like it does today. In 2025, a small debt of $50 is insulting. It doesn't reflect the real world. This so-called small debt is no longer a reflection of what 'small debt' …
date: 2025-10-27T17:26:00+00:00