Carol Berry'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: Kena, Ms Jenny, Lawler, Aunty Lindy, Gibb, Ms Barbara | Adjournment | House debates
items: Housing | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Clay, Ms Narelle | Statements by Members | House debates
items: g127.1
items: WorldSkills Australia, Reading Friends Australia | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Whitlam Electorate: Tourism | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Economy | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
items: Southern Highlands Community Hospice | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
items: Illawarra Light Railway Museum, Bowral & District Art Society: 75th Anniversary | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Taxation | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
items: Health Care | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Health Care | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Oceans | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Albion Park Football Club | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Housing Australia Investment Mandate Amendment (Delivering on Our 2025 Election Commitment) Direction 2025; Consideration | Documents | House debates
items: National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Historical Aircraft Restoration Society | Statements by Members | House debates
items: g131.1
items: Whitlam Electorate: Renewable Energy, Albanese Government: Renewable Energy | Constituency Statements | House debates

Kena, Ms Jenny, Lawler, Aunty Lindy, Gibb, Ms Barbara | Adjournment | House debates
type: item
description: I rise today to recognise the extraordinary contribution made by Jenny Kena to the community of Robertson, a beautiful village in the Southern Highlands region within my electorate. In 2025,...
encoded: I rise today to recognise the extraordinary contribution made by Jenny Kena to the community of Robertson, a beautiful village in the Southern Highlands region within my electorate. In 2025, Jenny was named the Wingecarribee Citizen of the Year, and she has performed her role admirably over the past 12 months. Jenny is widely admired and respected for her integrity and character, as well as her hard work in the local community. For over 20 years, Jenny has been a very active member of her community in Robertson. She played a key role in founding CTC Robertson in 2004. CTC Robertson is a not-for-profit organisation that enriches the local community through arts, education and social programs. The initials 'CTC' represent the organisation's three core areas of focus: community, technology and creativity. Jenny has not only been CTC's president for the past 14 years, but her enthusiasm and drive have been critical to the organisation establishing itself as a thriving community hub. Her dedication has been essential to CTC becoming a vital space for education and connection and is an extremely valuable community asset. Jenny also writes for the Robertson News and Robertson E-News, manages the village website and represents CTC on the Robertson Community Association. I thank Jenny Kena today in the Australian parliament for making such a longstanding and valuable contribution to her community. I rise today to recognise an incredible woman from my electorate of Whitlam, Aunty Lindy Lawler, an Aboriginal elder, Yuin woman, community leader and survivor of the stolen generations. Aunty Lindy is highly respected across the Illawarra for her inspiring qualities of strength and resilience and her generous work in the community supporting organisations such as the Illawarra Women's Health Centre, Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, Shellharbour Council, the United Koori Social Club and the Wollongong Cultural Centre. This important work covers so many areas, including mental …
date: 2026-02-05T13:07:00+00:00

Housing | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government providing more opportunities and delivering for first home...
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government providing more opportunities and delivering for first home buyers? What other approaches to housing has the government been asked to consider?
date: 2025-11-26T15:00:00+00:00

Clay, Ms Narelle | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise today to recognise Narelle Clay, the outstanding CEO of Southern Youth and Family Services, an organisation that has had a transformative impact on the lives of many people in my...
encoded: I rise today to recognise Narelle Clay, the outstanding CEO of Southern Youth and Family Services, an organisation that has had a transformative impact on the lives of many people in my electorate and across southern New South Wales. Narelle has spent her entire career supporting vulnerable people in our community, and she's incredibly passionate about social justice. Narelle was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005 for 'distinguished service to the community in the areas of direct service delivery and advocacy for vulnerable people'. In 2017 she received a premier's award for public service. Narelle has held many leadership roles, including President of the Australian Services Union, New South Wales and ACT; and chair of Homelessness Australia. Last week I had the pleasure of joining Narelle and several of my parliamentary colleagues, including the Minister for Social Services, at the Southern Youth and Family Services awards night in Warilla, which is in my electorate of Whitlam. In particular, the organisation's accommodation service in Warilla provides transitional housing to people aged between 18 and 23, supporting their move to independence and improving their chances of completing education, accessing training and gaining employment. We heard wonderful accounts of how this service—one of many offered by Southern Youth and Family Services—has changed lives. I thank and congratulate Narelle, an extraordinary leader who I've admired for many years, and all those involved with Southern Youth and Family Services for the life-changing work they do for our community.
date: 2025-11-24T16:10:00+00:00

g127.1
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title: Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025, National Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2025, Environment Information Australia Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Restoration Charge Imposition) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
description: I was extremely fortunate to grow up in the magnificent Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. During my childhood I spent countless hours with my parents and sisters bushwalking, camping or just being...
encoded: I was extremely fortunate to grow up in the magnificent Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. During my childhood I spent countless hours with my parents and sisters bushwalking, camping or just being outdoors in nature. These experiences cultivated in me a lifelong love of nature and a deep desire to protect it. Australia's national parks, rivers, creeks, beaches, forests and incredible wildlife and landscapes are so unique and breathtakingly beautiful. It's never been so important for us to act swiftly to protect our natural environment, and I've heard from thousands of people in my electorate asking our government to act decisively to protect nature for current and future generations. Labor has delivered all of Australia's major environmental reforms. This includes the establishment of Landcare, saving the Franklin River, protecting the Daintree and Kakadu, protecting the Great Barrier and Ningaloo reefs, building the largest network of marine parks in the world and taking meaningful action to address climate change. As the member for Whitlam, I'm particularly proud of Gough Whitlam's legacy in relation to environmental conservation. The Whitlam government was one of the first governments in the world to support and ratify the World Heritage convention in 1974. This was a seminal moment which confirmed the role of the Commonwealth government in protecting the immense natural and cultural heritage of Australia. Whitlam recognised that protecting the environment was part of a global responsibility that required courage and leadership on the part of the federal government. This leadership role was confirmed when the Hawke government stopped the damming of the Franklin River in Tasmania in 1983. This was a defining environmental decision that cemented Australia's commitment to safeguarding wild rivers and World Heritage landscapes. This landmark decision also set an important precedent for the leadership of the federal government regarding environmental protection and ensh…
date: 2025-11-05T18:41:00+00:00

WorldSkills Australia, Reading Friends Australia | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: I rise today to congratulate Archie Wilkinson, an apprentice plumber in my electorate who won a gold medal at the WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Brisbane earlier this year. These...
encoded: I rise today to congratulate Archie Wilkinson, an apprentice plumber in my electorate who won a gold medal at the WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Brisbane earlier this year. These championships celebrate and showcase vocational excellence, and this year's competition featured over 600 apprentices, trainees and students, who competed over three days across more than 60 skills categories, including Archie's chosen field of plumbing. Following his gold medal in Brisbane, Archie was one of 39 apprentices selected for the WorldSkills Australia national training squad. This is the first step towards gaining a place on the Australian team, the Skillaroos, that will compete against more than 60 other countries at the 48th WorldSkills competition in Shanghai in September next year. In September this year, Archie joined his training squad teammates on a visit to Parliament House, where he met the Minister for Skills and Training and also the Prime Minister. The Australian government proudly supports the WorldSkills program, which plays a vital role in encouraging young Australians to pursue skills based careers. Archie Wilkinson studied at TAFE in Goulburn and is now employed by Graham Isedale Plumbing in Mittagong, which is in the Southern Highlands region within my electorate. I congratulate Archie on all he has achieved so far, and I wish him all the best as he trains to gain selection for the Skillaroos. I also rise today to recognise Reading Friends Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that encapsulates two things I am passionate about: education and community spirit. I'm proud to say that Reading Friends Australia is based in my electorate of Whitlam and that it organises scores of volunteers to assist children at 25 schools across New South Wales to practise reading. Reading Friends Australia trains volunteers and works with each school to tailor its service to suit the individual students at that school. Recent research has found that one in three …
date: 2025-11-04T17:01:00+00:00

Whitlam Electorate: Tourism | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise to acknowledge and celebrate one of Shellharbour's most treasured businesses: Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour. If you've seen the stunning waters of Lake Illawarra, you will know...
encoded: I rise to acknowledge and celebrate one of Shellharbour's most treasured businesses: Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour. If you've seen the stunning waters of Lake Illawarra, you will know what makes this experience so special. Behind this highly successful business is the passion and energy of its owner and head instructor, Bec Dunning . Bec's dedication to sharing the joy of stand up paddle boarding with both locals and visitors alike has built not just a thriving business but a vibrant community on the water. Her commitment to excellence was recognised when Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour was named a finalist in the New South Wales Tourism Awards in the adventure tourism category, an achievement that shines the spotlight not only on Bec's business but also on Shellharbour as a visited destination. Bec is a wonderful advocate for our region. Bec was the driving force behind the successful Shellharbour Stand Up Paddle Boarding Festival, which was on this weekend at the beach at Warilla Beach and Reddall Reserve. Last month she won the open women's title as well as her third over-40 title at the Australian Stand Up Paddle Boarding Championships. Bec is such a dynamic person and such an asset to the Shellharbour region. I congratulate Bec on her success, as well as everyone who makes Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour such an inspiring part of our community.
date: 2025-11-03T16:19:00+00:00

Economy | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
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description: I am one of those members that represents a regional community. Just this morning we announced that we are investing $1 million to address potholes and drainage in a road at Bass...
encoded: I am one of those members that represents a regional community. Just this morning we announced that we are investing $1 million to address potholes and drainage in a road at Bass Point—which is a jewel in the crown of our community, not only for locals but for the visitor economy. So I wonder: is that to be considered an investment, or a spending spree? The federal government cares about reducing cost-of-living pressures on individuals and families across Australia. More than that, we have taken practical steps to reduce those pressures. To begin, we've reduced personal income tax rates for Australians on lower incomes, and further tax cuts are coming. These are tax cuts that the opposition opposed. Of course, the opposition is good at one thing; it's good at opposing. We have taken practical steps to reduce the tax burden on people who have lower incomes, because Labor cares about ensuring people on lower incomes keep more of what they earn. In relation to energy prices, we have been working hard to address the burden of energy costs, because we acknowledge that for many households and small businesses this remains a significant pressure. The federal government has extended the national energy bill relief program, offering every household and around one million small businesses automatic electricity bill rebates. Beyond rebates, important structural reforms relating to energy are underway in the transition to renewable energy. The Australian Energy Market Commission projects that, with a coordinated transition to renewables and electrification, households could reduce their energy spending significantly over the next decade. With the transition to renewable energy, our government aims to create jobs, reduce pressure on energy bills, and lower emissions. These steps combine immediate relief with the longer-term structural reform of the energy system, which will be good for the environment and will reduce energy bill costs for Australians. Regarding unemployment, ave…
date: 2025-10-30T15:58:00+00:00

Southern Highlands Community Hospice | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: I rise today to recognise the Southern Highlands Community Hospice, a charitable organisation that provides hospice and palliative care services for the Southern Highlands community. The...
encoded: I rise today to recognise the Southern Highlands Community Hospice, a charitable organisation that provides hospice and palliative care services for the Southern Highlands community. The volunteers who deliver these services on behalf on the Southern Highlands Community Hospice do so with great care and compassion. Last month I was lucky enough to meet many of these volunteers and hear firsthand about the wonderful work they do. Southern Highlands Community Hospice provides funding for accommodation and medical costs for end-of-life patients without private health care; additional palliative care nursing, carer support and associated equipment hire costs for those choosing to die at home; one-off payments to fund medical equipment for palliative care patients to optimise their quality of life; and additional palliative care nursing at two aged-care facilities. The hospice also provides funding for palliative medications; specially trained palliative care volunteers to support residents in aged-care facilities; a free biography service which documents a person's memories, which is a beautiful service; and end-of-life planning and bereavement counselling services. These services are highly valued by the community. The sense of care and concern for people at what is often a vulnerable or lonely time of life is an incredibly generous gesture on the part of volunteers. I sincerely thank all those associated with the Southern Highlands Community Hospice for the extremely valuable and important work they do for the community.
date: 2025-10-27T16:44:00+00:00

Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
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description: I have a strong personal interest in this issue. My maternal grandfather fought in the Borneo campaign towards the end of World War II, an operation conducted to liberate British North Borneo, as...
encoded: I have a strong personal interest in this issue. My maternal grandfather fought in the Borneo campaign towards the end of World War II, an operation conducted to liberate British North Borneo, as it was then called, from occupation by Japanese forces. My great uncle also served in World War II, including as part of the Kokoda campaign fought in Papua New Guinea. For both these men, particularly my grandfather, the scars left by those experiences affected them and their broader families for the rest of their lives. Tragically, the pain and anguish my relatives suffered, mostly in silence, after they returned home was similar to the internal battles faced by so many other veterans. In more recent times we have recognised that we have a duty to support the mental health and wellbeing of our defence and veteran community. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was established in 2021, and I note the substantial contribution of Senator Lambie, who joined with us to secure its establishment. The royal commission heard from thousands of current and former defence members and families—importantly, this included the families of those who were not there to speak for themselves. These stories were frequently heartbreaking. It was clear that systems were broken and not enough was being done to support our personnel both during and after their service. The royal commission released an interim report in August 2022, and this contained a list of urgent recommendations. I am pleased to say that the Labor government acted on all of them. We have cleared the unallocated compensation claims backlog, which included 41,000 cases that had been waiting to be actioned. We have ensured that new claims are now being looked at by someone in the Department of Veterans' Affairs within 14 days of being submitted. We are making good progress speeding up the system, with new liability claims under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 being processed in around 100 da…
date: 2025-09-04T12:19:00+00:00

Illawarra Light Railway Museum, Bowral & District Art Society: 75th Anniversary | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: I rise today to recognise the volunteers who operate the Illawarra Light Railway Museum, which is located at Albion Park in the electorate of Whitlam. A huge crowd attended the opening of the...
encoded: I rise today to recognise the volunteers who operate the Illawarra Light Railway Museum, which is located at Albion Park in the electorate of Whitlam. A huge crowd attended the opening of the museum on 10 November 1984, and four decades later it attracts an extraordinary 40,000 visitors each year. These visitors come to see the wide range of historic light railway locomotives on exhibition, including some powered by steam, as well as passenger cars and other rolling stock. There is also the 1890 Yallah Railway Station building, which stood on the Illawarra main line between Dapto and Albion Park before it was close to traffic in 1974, and a 1915 signal box from Otford, which was closed in 1985 due to electrification of the Illawarra line. The Ken McCarthy Museum, named after the museum's foundation chairman, features a fascinating collection of photographs, artefacts and memorabilia. Visitors can enjoy a miniature train ride and, on allocated days, can experience a slice of history by taking a steam- or diesel-driven journey on the museum's own narrow gauge track. I was delighted to visit the Illawarra Light Railway Museum in June and discovered its volunteers are passionate about educating the public in relation to the role of both steam engines and other mechanical devices in light railway operations and industry in general and the use of railways and tramways in the Illawarra Region, in particular. In today's fast paced world, I congratulate these volunteers for preserving this important part of our history while educating and entertaining tens of thousands of visitors each year. I rise today to pay tribute to the Bowral & District Art Society, which recently celebrated an extraordinary milestone: its 75th anniversary. The organisation was founded in 1950 as the Berrima District Art Society and held its early meetings in the Country Women's Association rooms in Moss Vale and then Berrima Courthouse before moving, in 1970, to its current premises in Bowral, thanks…
date: 2025-09-03T10:21:00+00:00

Taxation | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
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description: I'm pleased to have this opportunity to speak about one of the most important challenges facing our nation—ensuring our economy and our tax system are fair and that we deliver the...
encoded: I'm pleased to have this opportunity to speak about one of the most important challenges facing our nation—ensuring our economy and our tax system are fair and that we deliver the opportunity to flourish for all Australians, particularly young people, both now and into the future. There's no-one better placed than our current leadership team of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer, as well as the broader Labor government, to ensure our economy and our tax system deliver for all Australians, particularly young people. The foundational principle that drives the Australian Labor Party is the concept of fairness. The Prime Minister has humble beginnings, with his roots in housing commission, as does my family. And, when you come from humble beginnings, you don't forget it. You understand the importance of leaving no-one behind, because you have direct experience of being at risk of being left behind. Social justice is a reality; it's not just a concept. The Albanese Labor government is deeply committed to ensuring our economy works for everyone, especially for young people. Due to this government's good management, our economy is in a strong position: annual real wages have been growing for seven consecutive quarters; the economy continues to expand; interest rates have been cut three times in six months; more than 1.1 million jobs have been created since we came to government; the average unemployment rate is the lowest of any Australian government in 50 years; the budget position has improved by more than $207 billion; and we've found more than $100 billion in savings, while our predecessors had none in their last budget. When it comes to tax, this government has a clear agenda. We are delivering three tax cuts for every single Australian taxpayer—one last year, one next year and another the year after. Labor's tax cuts benefit 14 million Australians. We are working hard to make things easier for all Australians. Eight important changes come into effect from 1 July, i…
date: 2025-09-03T15:59:00+00:00

Health Care | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. How is the Albanese Labor government improving the lives and health of people living in regional and...
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. How is the Albanese Labor government improving the lives and health of people living in regional and rural Australia?
date: 2025-09-02T14:35:00+00:00

Health Care | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I'm delighted to highlight the ways in which the Albanese Labor government is strengthening Medicare in my electorate of Whitlam and also across the country. Our legislation to make cheaper...
encoded: I'm delighted to highlight the ways in which the Albanese Labor government is strengthening Medicare in my electorate of Whitlam and also across the country. Our legislation to make cheaper medicines even cheaper cuts more than 20 per cent from the maximum cost of PBS medicines, and this will save Australians over $200 million each year. This builds on other actions taken by this government over the past three years to deliver cost-of-living relief through cheaper medicines. I'm proud to report that, since winning government in 2022, Labor's cheaper medicines initiatives have saved the people in the Whitlam electorate a substantial $12.6 million. The people of Whitlam are also benefiting from Labor's Medicare urgent care clinics, which are open for extended hours seven days a week with no appointment needed. Importantly, all patients at these urgent care clinics are fully bulk-billed, which means they receive care for free. A Medicare urgent care clinic opened in Dapto last year, and last week we launched the tender process for a second urgent care clinic in Whitlam, in Shellharbour. So far, 90 Medicare urgent care clinics have opened across Australia, with more than 1.8 million presentations since the first sites opened in June 2023. The success of these clinics is taking pressure off our hospitals, which means hospital staff can spend more time on life-threatening emergencies. I'm proud to serve in this government, which is making the largest investment in Medicare since it was created four decades ago, and this includes delivering cheaper medicines and more urgent care clinics.
date: 2025-09-02T13:38:00+00:00

Oceans | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: One of the jewels in the electorate of Whitlam is The Farm at Killalea, which has been named the best beach in New South Wales and the second-best beach in Australia. This extraordinary place was...
encoded: One of the jewels in the electorate of Whitlam is The Farm at Killalea, which has been named the best beach in New South Wales and the second-best beach in Australia. This extraordinary place was protected by the local community, and was also where I learnt to surf, an experience that has only deepened my love of the ocean. Australia's beaches are iconic and form an important part of our national identity. Oceans are a vital life-support system for our planet, producing 50 to 80 per cent of the world's oxygen and acting as a significant carbon sink. I'm therefore delighted and honoured to be the co-chair of Parliamentary Friends of Oceans and Sustainable Development. This group will provide a platform for politicians from all parties, including independents, to engage with key issues affecting Australia's oceans. I am proud of the Albanese government's achievements when it comes to protecting our oceans. We've substantially expanded our marine parks so that over 50 per cent of Australia's oceans are now under protection. Australia now protects more ocean than any other country. Australia is a world leader in ocean protection, working domestically and with our Pacific and Indian Ocean neighbours to protect this precious and incredibly important shared resource. Our oceans support hundreds of thousands of species of marine life. We need to protect our oceans from plastic waste, pollution and overfishing to ensure we look after these amazing environments for our future generations. I look forward to working with my colleagues who've joined Parliamentary Friends of Oceans to ensure we continue to take action to protect this incredibly valuable resource for our nation.
date: 2025-09-01T16:17:00+00:00

Albion Park Football Club | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise today to congratulate Albion Park Football Club on achieving a wonderful milestone: its 50th anniversary. The club was small when it was established in 1975 by Neil Young, Robert Musgrove...
encoded: I rise today to congratulate Albion Park Football Club on achieving a wonderful milestone: its 50th anniversary. The club was small when it was established in 1975 by Neil Young, Robert Musgrove and John Synott, but it grew significantly during the 1980s as the local population increased, and this growth has continued into the 21st century. Today, Albion Park Football Club has more than 900 registered players, and it makes a valuable contribution to our community. Other sports may receive more television coverage, but football is the most widely played team sport in Australia and is enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. I note that Albion Park Football Club has contributed to the youth careers of two Socceroos, Luke Wilkshire and Stephen Laybutt, as well as the current Matilda's megastar, Caitlin Foord. The club has won numerous trophies since its first silverware in 1990. I would like to make special mention of the extraordinary success of the senior women's teams during the 2010s, including state cups and champion of champions titles. Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the gala dinner held to celebrate this golden anniversary. The club has gone from strength to strength over half a century, and it has a bright future. The culture of the club is wonderful and a credit to all involved. I congratulate the hardworking, long-serving current president, Simon Sciberras, and all the volunteers who've contributed to making this great community club so fantastic over the last 50 years.
date: 2025-08-28T13:34:00+00:00

Housing Australia Investment Mandate Amendment (Delivering on Our 2025 Election Commitment) Direction 2025; Consideration | Documents | House debates
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description: The great Australian dream of owning your own home crystallised in the decades after World War II. There was a construction boom following the end of the war, with new suburbs and towns created...
encoded: The great Australian dream of owning your own home crystallised in the decades after World War II. There was a construction boom following the end of the war, with new suburbs and towns created to cater for returning servicemen and the growing number of migrants—and there was also a baby boom. My grandfather fought in Borneo in the Second World War, and my family were the beneficiaries of this construction boom for returning servicemen, moving into their Housing Commission home in Dundas Valley in the New South Wales western suburbs, where my mother was raised. At this time there were plenty of jobs, and homeownership was not just a dream for many; it was a tangible reality. By 1966, homeownership in Australia hit its peak of 73 per cent. Homeownership has become increasingly more difficult to achieve over the past 50 years, particularly in recent decades; however, it remains a major goal for many Australians. The Albanese Labor government is helping more Australians realise this dream of homeownership by launching five per cent deposits for all first home buyers early, on 1 October 2025 instead of next year. Under these changes, all first home buyers will have access, with no caps on places and no income limits. We are doing this by expanding the Home Guarantee Scheme. The Home Guarantee Scheme involves the Albanese government guaranteeing a portion of a first home buyer's home loan so they can purchase with a lower deposit and not pay lenders mortgage insurance. The fact that these first home buyers will not have to pay lenders mortgage insurance should not be underestimated. Lenders mortgage insurance is insurance that a lender takes out to insure itself against the risk of not recovering the outstanding loan balance if a borrower is unable to meet their loan payments and the property is sold for less than the outstanding loan balance. Lenders mortgage insurance is usually required if a borrower does not have a 20 per cent deposit, which is the case for a substan…
date: 2025-08-28T10:48:00+00:00

National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: To begin with, I do need to address some of the comments made by the member for Macpherson. I challenge the idea that consistent performance on the part of the coalition has been there in...
encoded: To begin with, I do need to address some of the comments made by the member for Macpherson. I challenge the idea that consistent performance on the part of the coalition has been there in relation to the defence of the PBS and the defence of public health. Only the Labor Party has consistently defended public health and consistently defended the PBS. In fact, we introduced the PBS. I think it's important that we recognise that the Australian public likewise understands and believes in the Australian Labor Party's commitment to public health. That's why we were backed in at the last election. I support the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 because it reinforces the Albanese government's record of making cheaper medicines even cheaper. It delivers on a commitment we made before the 2025 election. Specifically, this bill reduces the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme general patient co-payment from $31.60 to $25 from 1 January next year. The last time PBS medicines cost no more than $25 was more than two decades ago, in 2004, and a lot has happened in those 21 years. It's sobering to realise that 2004 was the year that a young Harvard university student Mark Zuckerberg first launched an idea he called 'the Facebook' from his dormitory. The launch of the iPhone was still three years away. 2004 was the year that the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement was signed, Jetstar took its first flight, Ian Thorpe led Australia's record gold medal tally at the Athens Olympics and Tasmania's Mary Donaldson married Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark. Remarkably, it was also the year my colleague in the upper house, Senator Charlotte Walker, was born. Surely that can't be true, and it makes us all feel very old! By making cheaper medicines even cheaper, Labor is further easing the cost-of-living challenges facing so many Australians. This cut of more than 20 per cent to the maximum cost of PBS medicines will save Australians over $200 million each year. Impo…
date: 2025-08-27T10:25:00+00:00

Historical Aircraft Restoration Society | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: I rise today to recognise the outstanding work carried out in my electorate by volunteers at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, which is known by the acronym HARS. HARS is a...
encoded: I rise today to recognise the outstanding work carried out in my electorate by volunteers at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, which is known by the acronym HARS. HARS is a not-for-profit organisation that operates an aviation museum as well as the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame at Shellharbour Airport. The society was established in 1979, and its mission is to recover and, where possible, restore to flying condition aircraft or types of aircraft that have played a significant part in Australian aviation history, in both civil and military arenas. I visited the museum in May and found it enthralling. I discovered that over 50 aircraft are currently on display, with about 20 of them still airworthy. HARS' aviation museum has won a number of international awards, and its global reputation was epitomised when John Travolta, a pilot and aviation buff since he was a boy, donated his vintage Boeing 707 painted in Qantas livery to the museum. Remarkably, the museum is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, and I once again say this is done entirely by volunteers. I congratulate and applaud the hundreds of volunteer engineers, pilots and aviation enthusiasts at HARS' aviation museum, who conduct their work with great professionalism and pride. They do this not just to pursue their passion but to preserve and celebrate Australia's extraordinary aviation history for both current and future generations.
date: 2025-08-25T16:05:00+00:00

g131.1
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title: Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025, Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
description: I rise to speak in support of the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025 and, alongside it, the Universities Accord...
encoded: I rise to speak in support of the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025 and, alongside it, the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2025. We are debating legislation shaped by the stories of students and staff who have endured the unthinkable in places that should serve as safe harbours of learning and growth. Over the last several years, evidence has shown that gender based violence—specifically, sexual harassment and violence—continues to occur in higher education settings at unacceptable rates. Unfortunately, many students and staff don't know where to seek support or make a formal complaint to their tertiary education provider, and those who do are too often dissatisfied with the process. This is all very concerning for parents and friends of students who are worried about what their loved ones may experience during their tertiary education years. This should not be the case. Students should be able to prepare eagerly for higher education and embrace everything campus life has to offer whilst knowing they are safe and supported. At the start of each semester, students are warned about drink spiking at O-week events and told how to stay safe at campus parties and what support services are available to them. They receive training from universities on consent and how to recognise dangerous situations and safely intervene. The onus has been placed on students time and time again to keep themselves safe. I am pleased that this bill shifts some of the accountability and responsibility to ensure safe environments onto institutions and providers of services to students. Stamping out gender based violence is everyone's business and requires a zero-tolerance approach in every context. It is in that spirit that I rise to support this bill, as it recognises the problem that we collectively face and proposes …
date: 2025-08-25T16:46:00+00:00

Whitlam Electorate: Renewable Energy, Albanese Government: Renewable Energy | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: Today I would like to highlight two outstanding clean energy initiatives in the electorate of Whitlam. The first is the recently launched Illawarra Clean Energy Roadmap, which was commissioned by...
encoded: Today I would like to highlight two outstanding clean energy initiatives in the electorate of Whitlam. The first is the recently launched Illawarra Clean Energy Roadmap, which was commissioned by Business Illawarra and delivered in partnership with the University of Wollongong's Energy Futures Network as well as a dozen other government and industry collaborators. The roadmap outlines a strategy for the Illawarra to be Australia's leading clean energy hub by 2050 through the delivery of renewable energy, green hydrogen and advanced manufacturing. The Illawarra is strongly positioned to deliver the strategy because it has been designated a renewable energy zone, it has a strong industrial base with a skilled workforce, it has key infrastructure, including established rail links and a deep-water port, and there is real industry demand for renewable energy solutions. The economic opportunity that will flow from the Illawarra Clean Energy Roadmap is substantial, with the potential to generate more than 15,000 local jobs and inject more than $10 billion into the New South Wales economy. The second initiative I would like to highlight was launched last year in the Southern Highlands by WinZero, or Wingecarribee Net Zero Emissions. WinZero's virtual energy network is a community-led initiative that connects local solar energy generators with their neighbours, including small businesses, allowing the sharing of excess solar power within the community. This benefits both the solar producers, who want to sell their surplus energy at a fair price and those households and businesses that don't have solar panels but would like to purchase local clean energy. The Southern Highlands trial has been so successful that Deakin University is leading a new study to see if the scope can be widened to the entire national electricity market. I applaud all those involved in both of these initiatives to make such a valuable contribution to Australia's transition to renewable energy. I'm hono…
date: 2025-07-30T09:44:00+00:00