Renee Coffey's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
The Albanese Labor government is helping more Australians to realise the dream of homeownership sooner, and I'm thrilled that more than 50,000 Queenslanders have now bought their first home with...
The Albanese Labor government is helping more Australians to realise the dream of homeownership sooner, and I'm thrilled that more than 50,000 Queenslanders have now bought their first home with the help of our five per cent deposit scheme. At my last weekend mobile office in West End, I spoke with Mitchell, a young man in my electorate who finally has a real chance to enter the housing market through Labor's Help to Buy scheme. For thousands of Australians who've been locked out for too long, this is what practical support looks like, turning hope into a genuine pathway for a home. I have seen the difference this work makes through the Brisbane Housing Company project in Stones Corner. When I first visited early last year the Prime Minister and I had to wear hard hats because it was a construction site. Late last year I was delighted to welcome the Prime Minister back and to see residents moving into 82 brand-new social and affordable homes. We met John, Jan and Karen, and heard firsthand what safe, secure housing means for their lives right in the heart of our community. John said that it was the first time in years he had been able to sleep soundly. After a decade of coalition neglect we know there is more work to do, but I am proud to be part of a government that is the boldest and most ambitious on housing. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. The Albanese Labor government is tackling Australia's housing crisis by making it easier to buy and better to rent, and by building more homes faster. We are focused on delivery and we are focused on delivering for the people of Griffith and the people of Australia.
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
Griffith is home to one of the busiest health precincts in the country, and our workforce numbers reflect that, with more than 16½ thousand healthcare and social assistance workers across my...
Griffith is home to one of the busiest health precincts in the country, and our workforce numbers reflect that, with more than 16½ thousand healthcare and social assistance workers across my electorate—the fourth highest in the country by percentage. Griffith is also home to some of Queensland's and our country's most important hospitals. The Princess Alexandra Hospital is a major teaching and research hospital, leading in major trauma care and home to Queensland's specialist adult spinal injuries rehabilitation unit. The Mater Hospital is a leader in obstetrics and provides specialist neonatal intensive care for some of our tiniest and sickest babies. I would like to shout out the Mater Foundation and also the work of the Mater Little Miracles. The Queensland Children's Hospital delivers specialist health services and care for kids and young people from right across the country, and our community also relies on the high-quality care and treatment provided by Greenslopes Private Hospital and St Vincent's private hospital. So, when we talk about strengthening Medicare, improving access to care and pursuing better health outcomes, Griffith is not watching from the sidelines. We are living it, we are staffing it and we are relying on it. But we also see the strain. We see it in how hard it can be to get a timely appointment in primary care. We see it in the pressure on emergency departments when people cannot get the right care early. We see it in aged care, where clinicians are working to keep residents stable, comfortable and safe. But the system can still create delays for matters that should be straightforward. The Albanese government made an election commitment to prioritise scope-of-practice reforms for health professionals because we know these reforms deliver real benefits to Australian patients through improved access to health care. This bill, the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025, is an important step in delivering on that commitment. It will help ensure Australians have better access to the affordable medicines they need when they need them, and it backs our registered nurses to deliver safe, high-quality care, particularly in primary care and aged care. This bill does two things. First, it amends the National Health Act to allow registered nurses endorsed against the relevant registration standard to be authorised prescribers. This enables them to prescribe certain medicines that can be supplied under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and attract Commonwealth subsidy. That matters because the PBS is what makes medicines affordable for millions of Australians. If someone can receive the right prescription but cannot access it affordably, we are not improving health outcomes. Second, it strengthens integrity by amending the Health Insurance Act so that registered nurses providing these prescribing services are included under the Professional Services Review Scheme. As a result, designated registered nurse prescribing under the PBS will be subject to the same peer review safeguards that protect Medicare and protect the PBS, reinforcing public confidence in a system that must always put safety first. Designated registered nurse prescribing enables safe, timely and effective prescribing by registered nurses, extending their scope of practice, particularly in primary care and aged-care settings. This reform builds on careful design and consultation already taken right across the sector. In December 2024, health ministers approved a new registration standard that allows suitably qualified registered nurses to become designated registered nurse prescribers. That standard took effect on 30 September last year. Importantly, the first cohort of designated registered nurse prescribers are expected to complete their education, receive endorsement and begin prescribing from July this year. Our communities know when our health system is not keeping up. They experience it when a script needs renewal and the next available appointment is too far away. They experience it when an older person in aged care needs a timely medicines review. They experience it when someone is discharged from hospital and needs coordinated follow-up to stay well rather than ending right back in emergency once again. In those settings, registered nurses are already doing extraordinary work: assessing, monitoring, educating, coordinating care and keeping people safe. But too often the system still forces extra steps, extra appointments and extra delays just to obtain a prescription, even where the care is already structured and the clinical pathway is clear. Designated registered nurse prescribing helps close that gap. It supports earlier, more seamless care, reduces avoidable waits and helps patients receive the right care in the right setting. And it supports affordability. By enabling PBS prescribing by authorised, appropriately endorsed registered nurses, this bill ensures the medicines they prescribe can attract Commonwealth subsidy and remain affordable for patients. Expanding access must never mean compromising safety. This reform is designed around education, endorsement and governance. It is grounded in a registration standard approved by health ministers, and it operates within a defined scope, with safeguards around which medicines can be prescribed. The bill provides that the minister will determine which pharmaceutical benefits can be prescribed by authorised nurse prescribers and requires the minister to have regard to advice from the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. And, by bringing these prescribing services within the Professional Services Review Scheme, the bill strengthens accountability and protects the PBS. This bill is also part of a broader, consistent agenda from this Labor government to strengthen Medicare, improve health outcomes and deliver real cost-of-living relief. That includes more free medicines and more cheaper medicines sooner, with a 25 per cent reduction in the number of scripts a concessional patient must fill before the PBS Safety Net kicks in; the largest cut to the cost of medicines—just $25 as of this year—in the history of the PBS; 60-day prescriptions, saving time and money for millions of Australians with an ongoing health condition, now covering more than 300 medicines; and freezing the cost of PBS medicines, with co-payments not rising with inflation, for all Australians for the first time in 25 years. And, with 1800MEDICARE, the Albanese government is making it easier for Australians to access healthcare when and where they need it. I'm also proud that the new Medicare urgent care clinic in Coorparoo, which I have secured for our community, will open in the coming weeks. This is in addition to the new urgent care clinic we opened in Carina just 43 days ago, which joined the existing network of 16 urgent care clinics right across Queensland, including the South Brisbane urgent care clinic in Woolloongabba, which has been servicing our community for some time now. Ninety Medicare urgent care clinics are in operation across Australia, which have already seen more than 2.4 million presentations since the sites first opened in June 2023—including just under half a million presentations in Queensland alone. It was a Labor government that built Medicare, and it is only a Labor government who will continue to protect and strengthen Medicare. When medicines are cheaper, families feel that relief immediately. When the system enables the health workforce to operate effectively, patients receive care sooner and avoidable hospital presentations reduce. I acknowledge the contribution of my good friend the Queensland state member for Greenslopes, Joe Kelly MP. Joe and I have known each other for many years now, and it's a joy to work closely together with him to support the constituents we jointly represent in that part of my electorate. Joe brings decades of nursing experience to public life, and he speaks about health care with the credibility that comes from having been there on the ward with patients alongside colleagues who carry the load day after day. I'm so honoured that I have colleagues here in the House who also bring such rich experience into this place. Like some in elected positions, including in this place, Joe has stayed close to the front line so that his perspective stays grounded in the realities of care and the pressures our workforce is facing. When he talks about why scope-of-practice reform matters, he puts it very simply: 'Every time I do a shift, I work with caring, passionate, highly-qualified and skilled nurses with decades of experience. Supporting nurses to use their skills to the fullest extent will be fantastic for patients.' I have to say, that is typical Joe Kelly; his focus is always on patients, on the community and on constituents. I could not agree more: this bill is about backing that skill, backing that experience and making it easier for Australians to get the care and medicines they need sooner, safely, affordably and closer to home. It reflects the direction identified through the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and the work to unleash the potential of our health workforce, with patients at the very centre.
Copyright Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
In Griffith, we are lucky to live in a place that tells stories everywhere you turn. Along the Brisbane River, through the backstreets of West End, at the school crossings at Coorparoo and Camp...
In Griffith, we are lucky to live in a place that tells stories everywhere you turn. Along the Brisbane River, through the backstreets of West End, at the school crossings at Coorparoo and Camp Hill, at the weekend sports fields and in the cafes that hold a thousand conversations every day, our community is made up of people sharing knowledge, memory, culture and connection. Sometimes it's big and public, sometimes it's quiet and personal, but it is how we make sense of who we are and how we pass that on. And that brings me to copyright. Deputy Speaker, 'You wouldn't steal a car, you wouldn't steal a handbag,' and, I confidently say, 'you wouldn't steal a television.' For many Australians, that old piracy ad from 2004 is still our most vivid introduction to copyright; it has become somewhat of a cultural joke, but the point behind it still matters. Australians want to do the right thing. We want rules to be fair. We want to know what is allowed and what is not, and how to respect the people who make the work we all rely on: writers, musicians, educators, film-makers, photographers, publishers, artists and so many more. When the rules are clear and practical, people follow them—not just because they have to, but because we understand that copyright is one of the ways we recognise labour, reward creativity and keep Australian stories being made. That is the balance that this bill is working hard to strike. The Copyright Amendment Bill 2025 makes two important improvements. First, it creates a sensible way to deal with 'orphan works'—material that is still in copyright but where no-one can identify or locate the owner. Second, it makes sure the laws apply consistently in classrooms, whether teaching is happening face to face, online or in a hybrid model, including when parents or community members are supporting students. These reforms are not coming out of nowhere. They are the product of the copyright roundtables held across 2023, where stakeholders across the creative sector, education, libraries, archives and institutions came together to name the practical problems and work through sensible solutions. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the member for Isaacs for the diligent work he undertook during his time as Attorney-General and for the expertise and persistence he brought to progressing this reform. If we step outside the formal language for a moment, the problem this bill is trying to solve is simple. We have valuable material in this country—photographs, recordings, documents, newsletters, teaching resources—that people want to share responsibly for the public good. But they cannot, because the law makes it too risky, even when the owner cannot be found. So the safest option is to do nothing, and that means history sits in boxes. It means culture sits on hard drives. It means material that could be educating students or enriching exhibitions stays locked away from the very communities that it belongs to. In Griffith, in particular, that matters, because we are home to some of Queensland's most important collecting and archival institutions: the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Maritime Museum, the State Library of Queensland and the Queensland State Archives. In those places there are shelves and strongrooms that hold the texture of our state: maps, letters, photographs, government records, film reels and the kind of everyday documents that later become a record of who we were. And there are people in reading rooms: students, researchers and family historians carefully piecing together stories of country, community and public life. When the law supports responsible access, staff can bring more of that material into the light, into exhibitions, into classrooms and into online collections, so it is used, learned from and valued rather than kept out of reach. That is what the orphan works scheme does. It creates a clear pathway for a library, an archive, a museum, a community organisation or an educator to use material when the owner cannot be found, provided they have done the right thing first. They must make a responsibly diligent search for the owner, they must keep a record of that search, and they must clearly note when they are relying on the scheme. This is not a free-for-all. It's not about ignoring copyright; it's about recognising that if someone has genuinely tried to do the right thing, they should not face the same legal risk as someone who never cared about the rules in the first place. Importantly, it remains fair to rights holders. If a copyright owner later comes forward, they can seek reasonable payment for that past use, and they can negotiate terms for ongoing use. If they cannot agree, a court can set the terms and an owner can seek to stop future use. In other words, the scheme unlocks public benefit while still respecting the people whose work sits behind these materials. It also has another important effect. It can help reunite owners with works that have unintentionally become orphaned, which may open up new revenue streams and new audiences for their work. The government amendments also make something clear for education users. In some circumstances, a teacher or a school might choose to rely on the orphan works scheme rather than the education statutory licence for a particular use. That choice is available, but it does come with a responsibility. If they use the orphan works scheme, they have to meet the scheme's conditions, and, if an owner later comes forward, they cannot then fall back on the statutory licence for that same use. That is a fair balance: choice for education users and clear protection for rights holders. The second main measure is about the reality of modern teaching. When I graduated with my teaching qualifications in 2008, I could not have imagined the changes we are now seeing in education. Many schools now teach in ways that move between classrooms and screens, particularly when students are unwell, when families are juggling work and care or when schools need flexibility. But the laws have not always kept up with that reality. This bill clarifies that the same copyright rules apply in a live class whether it is happening online or in person or is a mix of both. It also makes clear that parents and carers can be involved and that other people can assist in teaching or supporting students, including members of the community, as long as the instruction is not for profit. That matters because when learning works best it is not only teachers carrying it alone. It's families. It's carers. It's community mentors. It's the people who step up to help a child keep going. And the bill is careful about its limits. This does not change licensing arrangements that support creators and publishers. It is still about live instruction. It does not cover streaming recordings for students to watch later. It does not extend to private tutoring. It does not turn school concerts into something unlicensed. It simply gives schools and educators the certainty to teach effectively in the world that we actually live in. The bill also includes a small set of technical amendments—practical updates to keep the system running smoothly, including tribunal appointments, modernising notification processes, updating references to archives, and clarifying rules around Crown copyright so that ownership changes do not accidentally distort the length of the protection. These are the kinds of changes that do not make headlines, but they do make the law work better. This bill is a good example of practical reform. It backs our creative and media sectors by keeping rights clear and enforceable. It supports education by making sure teaching can happen confidently, whether students are in the classroom or learning from home and whether parents or community members are helping. And it supports public access to culture and history by unlocking orphan works in a responsible way so that our communities can see more of their own stories and our institutions can share more of what they hold in trust for all of us, and, as I've said, that's particularly important in my community of Griffith. This is balanced, proportionate reform. It is grounded in consultation and will deliver real benefits in Griffith and right across Australia.
Sharing for Kids | Constituency Statements | House debates
In Griffith, going back to school can bring a sense of routine back to the house. I know it has for my household. But for some families it also brings a quiet stress, because the book list is...
In Griffith, going back to school can bring a sense of routine back to the house. I know it has for my household. But for some families it also brings a quiet stress, because the book list is long, the uniforms need replacing, the shoes have been outgrown and the basics can add up fast. That's why I want to speak today about a small idea from a young person in my Griffith community that has made a real difference. That amazing young person is seven-year-old Zoe. Zoe noticed that some children start the school year without the things many of us take for granted—a pencil case with pencils, a new notebook, glue sticks, rulers; the everyday tools that help kids feel ready to learn. And that gave Zoe an idea. She rolled into her kitchen with roller skates on, and she told her mummy that she wanted to collect supplies for kids who might not have everything they need. With that, Zoe started Sharing for Kids, a little idea from a big heart. Zoe went to different places in our community. She set up donation boxes and asked people to give what they could, and our community responded overwhelmingly. We received so many donations at our office. It absolutely filled our office with boxes of pencil cases, lunchboxes and school supplies. We had families collect these from our Stones Corner office, and we also dropped these off to many of our local schools, including the Seville Road State School, where Zara and Mia, the school leaders there, gratefully accepted these on behalf of students in their community. Sometimes the biggest ideas come from the smallest people, and that is exactly what our community knows, thanks to people like little Zoe. It's exactly stories like these that make me so proud and so honoured to represent the Griffith community. When a seven-year-old takes the lead on helping our neighbours, it tells us something important about the values being lived out in our suburbs and in our streets, of compassion, of empathy and of connectedness. It shows that our kids are growing up with a sense of responsibility for one another, and that is something worth celebrating. That's what I see again and again in Griffith, in our school P&Cs, our local volunteers, our neighbourhood and community groups and the simple way people look after one another when times get tough. In my role, I get to hear so many stories, but the ones that stay with me are the ones that show the heart of our electorate. Zoe's story and Sharing for Kids is one of them. To everyone in Griffith who donated, who shared and who backed this idea, thank you. You have helped children start the year with confidence, and you have shown, in the most practical way, what it means to be a part of our wonderful community in Griffith.
Bondi Beach: Attack | Adjournment | House debates
Days after the horrific antisemitic attack at Bondi on 14 December, people in my community of Griffith were shaken. I was shaken, as I know every single Australian was. If we are honest, that...
Days after the horrific antisemitic attack at Bondi on 14 December, people in my community of Griffith were shaken. I was shaken, as I know every single Australian was. If we are honest, that shock has landed on top of something else that has been building for too long, a sense in parts of our community that it is getting harder to simply belong. Over recent months, and especially in the last few weeks, as I have met with constituents and community groups across Griffith, I have heard stories that have stayed with me. I've heard from a Jewish community member who no longer feels comfortable in his own gym, a man who feels judged and condemned by those around him. I have heard from Muslim families, including a father whose daughter-in-law is now afraid to wear her hijab on the way to work or to the shop simply because of her faith. This fear and concern did not start on the on 14 December last year. Our community is clear on this. It has been building for some time through the drip of hateful rhetoric, the spread of misinformation and the steady normalisation of behaviour that makes people second guess whether they will be safe and welcome in their own suburb. Last week I had the opportunity to visit 4EB in Woolloongabba with the Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, my friend, the member for Bruce. We sat down with the team and heard directly from trusted community voices that connect people across languages, cultures and generations. The member for Bruce said something that stuck with me about how social cohesion is a dynamic process, not an end state or a mere tick box, reminding us that it's a process that requires constant work. He said, 'Hate and violence don't result from diversity. Hate and violence result because of misinformation, polarisation and miscommunication of those differences.' We know what is putting strain on that work: echo chambers driven by algorithms, foreign malign influence and the weaponisation of overseas conflicts here at home. Australia is proudly one of the world's most successful multicultural societies but that success didn't just happen. It takes investment, strong institutions, and it takes leadership in our communities and in this place, because leadership matters when there are people trying to make division feel normal. The politics of division is very easy. The quick hit of outrage, grievance and blame. The member for Bruce and I agree it is a political business model that scratches at the fringes and stokes anger and outrage to harvest votes at both ends of the political spectrum. We are seeing a concerning rise in deliberately divisive language from the likes of One Nation. I grew up in 1990s Queensland when now Senator Hanson made her maiden speech. I vividly remember what it did to people's sense of safety and to the tone of community life. Then I was outraged and took action as a teenager, and I'm not going to pretend it is acceptable now. I share the concerns of many in my electorate. I worry about the normalisation of Senator Hanson's disgraceful rhetoric and her exclusionary form of patriotism. I worry because words set the temperature in our community. They signpost to people whether they belong. That is not the Australia we want; it is not the Griffith we want to see. I was asked recently on social media post about this very issue and how would I know what my community wants. I know, because I meet with people across Griffith every single day, whether it's at a pop-up office, at the electorate office or on the doorsteps while doorknocking. I know, because my electorate team and I receive and respond to hundreds of emails and phone calls every single week. I know, because I sit with families, community leaders, faith leaders and local organisations and I listen. I know, when a Jewish constituent tells me they no longer feel comfortable turning up to the gym or when a Muslim parent tells me their daughter-in-law is weighing up whether it's safe to wear a hijab, that's not politics; that's lived experience. In my first speech to this parliament I spoke about the responsibility of listening to community and the honour of being trusted to represent Griffith. I did not come into this job to inflame things. I came into this job to bring people together and do the practical, patient work of strengthening the bonds that make a place like ours work. We assemble in this place, on Ngunnawal and Ngambri country, to make and amend laws, and laws matter. They set boundaries. But what must underpin them is our commitment to build understanding and strengthen cohesion. That commitment is the most important ingredient. It cannot be legislated. It is demonstrated in the choices each of us make every day, day in and day out, to practise mutual respect. The promise of Australia is simple: you can be safe, you can belong and you can build a life with others, not against them.
Education | Statements by Members | House debates
School is back. Right across Australia and throughout my community in Griffith, the contact has been patiently placed on the books, the lunch boxes have been lovingly packed and oversized...
School is back. Right across Australia and throughout my community in Griffith, the contact has been patiently placed on the books, the lunch boxes have been lovingly packed and oversized backpacks have been heaved onto small shoulders. While our little ones are on track for the new school year, our public schools are on track for full funding. This is the biggest new investment in public schools by the Australian government ever. It's worth $16.5 billion over the next 10 years. It's not a blank cheque; it is tied to real, practical reforms to reduce the number of students who need additional support for literacy and numeracy, and help students who fall behind to catch up, keep up and to finish school. What this means in practice is more teachers in classrooms, early support for kids who fall behind, better access to wellbeing services, and properly resourced public schools that are not forced to do more with less, no matter what your postcode. When we properly fund education, we give every child a fair start and we strengthen our whole community.
Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
I rise to add my condolences and the condolences from my community of Griffith for those murdered in the Bondi terror attack on 14 December 2025. It's very meaningful to me to be able to add my...
I rise to add my condolences and the condolences from my community of Griffith for those murdered in the Bondi terror attack on 14 December 2025. It's very meaningful to me to be able to add my voice to those who have spoken before me—and, Mr Speaker, I would like to acknowledge how humbling it is to see that you have been sitting in that chair for almost seven hours now, showing your own deep respect for this debate. As a parent of school-aged children, at times I have looked on at the security processes and protections at schools in other nations—security checks and armed guards—and thought, with deep gratitude: 'Thank God we don't have to do that here. Thank God that here, for my children, school is a place of learning, friendship and inherent safety.' But, for so many of our Jewish families here in Australia, I know that is not the case. Jewish schools, childcare centres, places of worship and, yes, even public celebrations are all forced to plan carefully, consider safety and assess risk in moments that should be defined only by joy, community and connection. This is a deep shame to me. I am a person of faith, and not once have I ever felt afraid to be in my family's church of five generations. In a little over the last 12 months, I have gathered with our local Jewish community of Brisbane twice—once for the first anniversary of the October 7 attack, and again just weeks ago for the Bondi terror attack memorial. At both gatherings, I will admit, I was scared. I found myself scanning the crowds outside, looking at faces and at vehicles—a vigilance known all too well by our Jewish communities. And yet inside, past security checks, our Jewish community welcomed me with openness, reassurance and warmth, even as they carried their own grief. The first time I witnessed antisemitism was on another Sunday afternoon in Sydney's Bondi many years ago. It was in the checkout queue, during the couple of years I lived in the eastern suburbs of Sydney for work. A woman slammed the divider down on the conveyor belt, almost catching an older woman's fingers behind her, and hissed 'expletive Jew'. It was sudden and ugly, and I couldn't process what I'd just seen before the woman paid, took her items and left. I've never forgotten how quickly antisemitism can appear in the middle of an everyday moment, and it can make even the most familiar places feel unsafe. Our Jewish community should never have to live with fear simply for gathering, praying, celebrating and belonging in Australia, their home. As my friend and colleague the member for Macnamara said this morning, there will be a lot of work to be done. But today is about recognising those people who paid the ultimate price just for participating in Jewish life in Australia. In the days since the horrific, antisemitic terrorist shooting at Bondi Beach on 14 December, our country has been carrying a weight that is hard to put into words—a summer evening, a gathering to mark the beginning of Hanukkah, families together by the water, and then fear, violence and unbearable, permanent absence. In Jewish tradition, as I understand it, there is a teaching from the Talmud that explains that every life is unique and that if one destroys one life, it is as though they have destroyed an entire world. And for the heroes of the day, our first responders and those brave people who ran towards the danger, if one saves one life, it is as though they have saved an entire world. That same teaching helps us name what this tragedy has done. Fifteen worlds were taken from us that day—worlds of relationships, memories, service, laughter, ordinary routines and future plans that can never be replaced. Beautiful Matilda, Rabbi Eli, Rabbi Yaakov, Boris and Sofia, Reuven, Edith, Marika, Peter, Tibor, Alexander, Dan, Adam, Boris and Tania. To the families, friends and loved ones: I am so sorry for what has been taken from you. The trauma and loss that you face is beyond our comprehension. To all Jewish Australians, including those in Griffith: you should never have to wonder whether a gathering of faith and celebration is safe. You belong here. You are respected. You are valued and admired. We stand with you. An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and we will continue to do everything required to ensure your security, uphold your safety and protect and honour your place here with us as Australians. In the wake of this vile act of violence and hate, we must unite. We must emerge from this tragedy in unity where all Australians embrace our fellow Australians of Jewish faith. We must move forward together to help repair and strengthen the fabric of our nation, united, to ensure we remain a place where light triumphs over darkness. We must ensure that the 15 people we honour today are always remembered. May their memories be a blessing.
Commonwealth Prac Payment | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
I want to thank the honourable member for Indi for her support for paid prac and her enthusiasm for supporting students, especially young people, to gain the qualifications they want and the...
I want to thank the honourable member for Indi for her support for paid prac and her enthusiasm for supporting students, especially young people, to gain the qualifications they want and the qualifications that Australia needs. In particular, I want to acknowledge her longstanding advocacy about placement poverty in regional Australia. Thank you very much. More than 20 years ago, when I first left high school, all I wanted to be was a teacher. I started off at the University of Queensland, undertaking a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. I finished all the coursework that was needed for that degree over a number of years. My intention was to graduate and to start teaching, but, when it came to my final practicum—the very last part of my qualification—there was absolutely no way that I could afford to give up work for that period and continue to pay rent and all other costs. So I had to make the very difficult decision all those years ago to graduate with an arts degree and to leave my education degree on the shelf for a bit longer. It took me a couple of years of working and saving after that point to be able to afford to return to university and finish my teaching qualifications. During that period, when I was a young adult, my gorgeous little baby niece, Bridget, was born, and, quite famously in my family, Bridget said that when she grew up she wanted to live in a 'nunit' and go to 'nooni' like 'Aunty Nay'. She has done most of that. Twenty years after that, I watched her studying her education degree and also, very recently, watched her trying to finish her practicum and not being able to afford that and have it be incredibly challenging. Due to my own experience, and, decades later, seeing my niece go through the same hardship, I was incredibly proud to be able to support this policy within the Australian Labor Party, through our conference processes. I have advocated for and supported this from its earliest stages, so I was absolutely heartened to see this passed. I thank the member for her contributions to passing this also. It's a great policy and it's an important way that we can support nursing, teaching, midwifery and social work students during those crucial weeks where they must undertake their prac. With the federal Labor government's changes we are able to support young people studying these absolutely essential professions. It's something that I am incredibly proud. In my community of Griffith in Brisbane, I meet education, nursing, midwifery and social work students on placement in our local schools, aged-care homes, hospitals and community services. They love their work and they are absolutely determined to graduate, but they tell me how hard it is to juggle unpaid prac with rent, groceries, bills, transport and the costs involved with actually doing these pracs, in many instances. That's why the Albanese Labor government has put practical support behind practical training. From 1 July, paid prac became a reality for these professions. For the first time, the Australian government is providing direct financial support to help students complete compulsory placements—around $331 a week in 2025—supporting around 70,000 students each year. Sadly, it was just a little bit too late for my niece, Bridget, but I am very pleased to report that she managed to struggle through and has completed her education qualifications and is teaching in my electorate of Griffith as a first-year teacher. But we know that it's going to be much easier for other educators and healthcare workers coming through the ranks now with these changes. These payments are targeted at those who need help the most. They give students breathing space so they can focus on learning in the classroom, on the ward and in the community instead of worrying about the next bill. No-one should have to delay or abandon their studies simply because they cannot afford to do the placement that qualifies them for the profession that they love. We have started with teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students, consistent with the Australian Universities Accord, but this legislation does require review after three years to assess how well the payment is working and whether it should be extended to other areas, including allied health. I want to thank the member for Indi for raising this matter and for working so constructively with government on this. Our focus is on implementing these changes well so that students in Griffiths and across Australia can complete their studies and move into the professions that keep our communities healthy, safe and thriving.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government strengthening Medicare by delivering cheaper medicines and providing real cost-of-living relief to...
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government strengthening Medicare by delivering cheaper medicines and providing real cost-of-living relief to Australians? Are there any risks to these important measures?
Economy | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is for the Treasurer. How is the Albanese Labor government helping to ease pressure on Australians and modernise our economy? How does it compare to other approaches?
Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
For many of us, Australian stories live in our memories as moments on screen that marked out whole chapters of our lives. We remember Scott and Charlene's wedding on Neighbours with the classic...
For many of us, Australian stories live in our memories as moments on screen that marked out whole chapters of our lives. We remember Scott and Charlene's wedding on Neighbours with the classic 1980s big hair and big shoulder pads, when it felt like the nation pressed pause to watch two young Aussies say 'I do' and then talked about it at school and work the next day. Who can forget sitting around the television for Molly's death on A Country Practicea heartbreaking scene in the garden—tissues in hand, as families right across the country cried together. That slow fade to black still feels like a punch in the gut to me today. We remember the collective shock and outrage when Dr Patrick died on Offspring. That gut punch of an episode had people texting other as the credits rolled, wondering how a fictional character could make us feel we had lost a friend. Even the New South Wales Police joined in the drama, posting, 'We appreciate your calls but we cannot arrest anyone at Channel 10 for killing Patrick.' Who could forget the visual of Maggie, clutching her proud bargain purchase of roadside oranges on Mother and Son or the chaotic moment as a dozen oranges wreaked havoc at the graveside—my mother threatened to buy some oranges on the way to a recent funeral—or Ernie Dingo in the house auction skit of Fast Forward. With my remaining minutes, we could barely scratch the surface of the countless incredible scenes and iconic lines from Kath and Kim. I'm sure we could hotly debate our favourites. We all know of course, it's when Kath fake-tanned her wrong arm. These moments stayed with us because they were ours—Australian characters, Australian heartbreak, Australian humour—beamed into living rooms and woven into our shared story. In Griffith, I see every day how much stories matter. On week nights in West End, Woolloongabba, Coorparoo and Carina, families pile on the couch after dinner, kids in school uniforms or pyjamas, flicking through channels trying to find something to watch together. Sometimes it's an Australian drama like Home and Away or Neighbours that looks like the beaches and cul-de-sacs in the community. Sometimes it's an original docuseries like Annabel Crabb'sCivic Duty, which highlights to us the remarkable story of the uniquely Australian democratic system that we all rightly treasure. Sometimes they land on Bluey, that little blue heeler from Brisbane who has become global superstar. Whilst I hear the member for Ryan's comments, I have heard some argue that Bluey, in fact, does live in Griffith. What this amendment is about is very simple: making sure that, no matter which platform the people of Griffith and across Australia choose, they can still find Australian stories on their screens. Revive, our national cultural policy, is a five-year plan to renew and rebuild Australia's arts, entertainment and cultural sector. It sets out a simple but powerful vision: 'a place for every story, a story for every place'. At the heart of Revive is a recognition that our people and our stories are our greatest cultural asset. Stories shape how our kids see themselves. They tell migrants and refugees that their experience belongs here and enriches our country. They help us understand First Nations cultures, which have cared for this continent for tens of thousands of years. Revive also identified the need for Australian screen content requirements on streaming platforms, recognising that, as audiences shift from free-to-air and pay television to subscription video-on-demand, we must make sure local stories are not crowded out or allowed to disappear from our screens and platforms. For many years, Australian content rules have applied to free-to-air television and subscription broadcasters. The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the Broadcasting Services (Australian Content and Children's Television) Standards 2020 require commercial broadcasters to meet Australian content quotas, including a minimum of 55 per cent Australian programming between 6 am and midnight on primary channels and specific first-release quotas for Australian drama and children's content. These rules exist for a reason. They make sure that our screens reflect our own identity and diversity and that local creators have a fair go in their own market. The way we access and watch our content has changed. Families in Griffith, including my own, are watching more streamed content than ever before. Platforms like Netflix, Disney Plus, Stan, Amazon Prime and others have brought extraordinary choice and some remarkable shows, but, unlike traditional broadcasters, they currently have no baseline obligation to invest in Australian stories. Industry has been clear about the risk: without local content requirements on streaming platforms, Australian drama, kids programs and documentaries will be squeezed out by cheaper imports and global productions; producers will struggle to finance local projects; crews will face insecure work; and Australian will kids grow up seeing fewer and fewer shows that sound like them and look like the streets they walk down. Revive promised a renewed commitment, and now we are putting this plan into action. This bill amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to introduce Australian content expenditure requirements for subscription video-on-demand streaming services. It also makes consequential amendments to the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 so the regulator can oversee and enforce the new framework. For the first time, major streaming services operating in Australia—those with more than one million Australian subscribers—will be required to make a minimum investment in new Australian content. The first thing the bill provides is a 10 per cent expenditure obligation. Regulated streaming services will be required to invest at least 10 per cent of their total program expenditure for their Australian service on new Australian commissions or first-release acquisitions of eligible programs. Total program expenditure includes spending on all eligible programs available to Australian subscribers, except news or sport, and includes the Australian share of globally commissioned or licensed content. Eligible formats include drama, children's programs, documentaries, and arts and educational programs. The second thing is a flexible 7.5 per cent revenue option. As an alternative, providers can choose a voluntary pathway where their obligation is calculated as 7.5 per cent of their gross Australian revenue, again limited to those same eligible program types. This hybrid model recognises that different businesses have different expenditure patterns while still guaranteeing a meaningful level of local investment. The third thing is a clear, consistent definition of Australian content. The bill uses the existing definition of Australian content in the Broadcasting Services (Australian Content and Children's Television) Standards 2020, the same framework that currently applies to free-to-air and subscription broadcasters. That means a level playing field across platforms and continuity for producers who already work within those rules. The fourth thing is a three-year carry-over period. Screen production works in multi-year cycles. Some years will be heavier on commissions than others. To reflect that reality, services will have a three-year carry-over period to acquit their program expenditure. Over-delivery in one year can be carried forward to assist in meeting obligations in subsequent years. The fifth thing relates to review and accountability. The bill requires a statutory review four years after the obligations commence to make sure the scheme is effective and fit for purpose, and to consider whether adjustments are needed. Breaches of the new obligations will be subject to civil penalties, with ACMA empowered to monitor compliance—just as it does for existing television content rules. The sixth thing relates to targeted scope and sensible exemptions. These obligations are aimed squarely at major subscription streaming services. They do not apply to services that offer predominantly user-generated content, services that do not have paying subscribers and rely wholly on advertising, services that only make money from one-off transactions, services with limited appeal or special interest audiences or services that only operate for a special event or provide content of very limited appeal. This ensures that we do not burden small or niche platforms, and focus obligations where they will have the greatest cultural impact. In short, this amendment guarantees a minimum level of investment in Australian stories on the platforms Australians increasingly use while giving services flexibility in how they meet that obligation. People in Griffith are not thinking about the Broadcasting Services Act when they sit down to stream a show after work. They just want good content that feels like it belongs to them. What this amendment means for them is that, when they open a streaming app, there will be Australian stories there. There will be stories with our accents, humour, landscapes and diversity. It means more shows like Bluey being made here and shared with the world. Content like Bluey connects Australians with who they are and helps us share that worldwide. For workers in Queensland's screen sector, this amendment means greater certainty. Queensland's screen industry is already a major contributor to our state economy, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in production expenditure and providing jobs for skilled Queenslanders and diverse local businesses. We see that in studios across Brisbane, on sets around our suburbs and at the Screen Queensland facilities that are attracting domestic and international productions to our state. A stronger pipeline of Australian commissions on streaming platforms means more work for writers, directors, actors and crew. It means more opportunities for post-production houses, costume and set builders, caterers and small businesses. And it means more chances for students in our local schools and TAFEs who dream of a career in film, television or digital production. For First Nations storytellers in our community, this also means more platforms to share stories that are so central to who we are as a nation, which is a key focus of Revive. And for parents in Griffith it means our children will be able to grow up with new Australian kids shows that reflect their world and values, not just imported content. The voices on the screen will not just come from somewhere else; they will sound like the kids in their classroom. The 10 per cent expenditure obligation with an optional 7.5 per cent revenue based pathway gives companies choice in how they meet their obligations. The three-year carry-over period reflects real production cycles. The four-year review ensures that we can adjust settings if they are not delivering the intended outcomes. This is not regulation for regulation's sake. It is carefully calibrated framework that aligns streamers with obligations that free-to-air and pay TV already meet. It gives certainty to industry and workers, and guarantees audiences access to Australian content across all major platforms. Labor has always believed that culture is not an optional extra. It is part of the basic fabric of a fair, confident and cohesive country. Revive repositions arts and culture as central to Australia's future alongside health, education and jobs. This bill is one concrete way to give life to that idea. It delivers on the commitment made in Revive to introduce Australian content requirements for streaming services. It delivers on the commitment made by our prime minister and the Minister for the Arts during the election campaign. And it delivers on the commitments from the Minister for Communications and the Minister for the Arts to legislate an Australian content obligation on streaming platforms. It says to every child in Griffith who wants to write, act, animate or direct that there will be space for their story. It says to every worker in our screen and creative industries that their skills and jobs matter, and this Albanese Labor government is prepared to put in place the rules that give them a fair go. It says to audiences that, in a global market with endless choice, Australian stories will not be left to chance; they will be guaranteed. In Griffith, we know that, when our kids see themselves and their communities reflected on screen, they feel that this country truly belongs to them. The Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill is about making sure that, as technology changes, that simple truth does not. It's about putting Australian stories in front of Australian audiences on every screen. It is consistent with our national cultural policy. It is backed by industry analysis. It is fair to platforms and vital for workers. It honours the promise we made to ensure a place for every story and a story for every place for the families of Griffith, for Queensland's screen sector and for everyone who believes that Australian stories matter.
National Immunisation Program: Hepatitis B | Constituency Statements | House debates
In Senate estimates, I was alarmed to hear comments made by Liberal senator for South Australia, Senator Antic, about the National Immunisation Program, a program that delivers protection against...
In Senate estimates, I was alarmed to hear comments made by Liberal senator for South Australia, Senator Antic, about the National Immunisation Program, a program that delivers protection against many diseases through immunisation—a simple, safe and effective way to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. One vaccine included in the National Immunisation Program is for hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is one of the most common liver viruses in the world. It causes significant damage to the liver, causing both short-term and long-term effects and can lead to cancer. Around 200,000 Australians live with chronic hepatitis B, and thousands more are newly diagnosed every year. For First Nations Australians and for many culturally and linguistically diverse communities, the rates are even higher. The hepatitis B vaccine given to newborns is one of the safest, most effective public health measures we have. Last week in Senate estimates, Senator Antic asked: … who can tell me the rationale for newborn babies having a vaccine for a disease which is largely in the domain of intravenous drug users and prostitutes? This was from a senator in the Liberal Party of Australia. We know that there are 200,000 people in living with hepatitis B in Australia, including in vulnerable communities like sex workers, intravenous drug users, First Nations communities and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Sex workers and injecting drug users experience discrimination daily, which, sadly, results in a general acceptance of social stigma against them and internalised stigma within these communities. These people are valuable members of our community—people who matter and who deserve respect, quality health care and our protection. Included in the 200,000 people living with hepatitis B are people who have contracted the disease at birth through their mother or through exposure to unsterilised equipment, including those in tattooing and body piercing studios, from medical procedures or from needlestick injuries. That's because, unlike Liberal senators, hepatitis B does not discriminate. What Senator Antic forgets is that immunisation is a preventative measure and has seen diagnosis rates fall across Australia and internationally. With Australia's program of neonatal immunisation for hepatitis B, there has been a clear and profound decrease in the rates of hep B in our community. To dismiss this as unnecessary or attempt to paint it with a brush of stigma is not just wrong and dehumanising; it is dangerous. It risks undermining public confidence in vaccines and public health. It risks turning back the clock to a time when preventable diseases claimed countless lives. Australians deserve representatives who to listen to the experts, not those who use their position to peddle misinformation and conspiracy theories. When medical researchers, public health experts, immunologists and physicians stand united behind our nation's vaccines program, that should count for something. Our national immunisation program saves lives. It protects our most vulnerable, and it upholds our shared responsibility to one another.
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
Every generation gets only a few chances to do something significant that truly lasts. For ours, this is one of them—to renew the laws that protect the only home we have. These reforms are...
Every generation gets only a few chances to do something significant that truly lasts. For ours, this is one of them—to renew the laws that protect the only home we have. These reforms are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect and restore our natural world and to pass on an Australia that is cleaner, greener and fairer than the one we inherited. In Griffith, we don't have to look far to see what's at stake. From the mangrove edges of Norman Creek to the summit views at Whites Hill Reserve, our community is stitched together by green corridors that give life and character to our suburbs. At dawn, rowers cut through the Brisbane River as mist hangs over the water. By dusk, lorikeets return to the canopies in our many bush corridors. These rhythms are part of who we are. Every weekend, I meet locals who tell me how much they treasure these places—people who walk our bush trails in the Seven Hills Bushland Reserve, kayak the reaches of the Brisbane River or volunteer with our many local conservation groups. Their work is quiet, local and deeply powerful. They plant, they restore, and they remind us that protecting the environment starts right here in our own backyards. The Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 honours their work and gives Australia a framework that finally matches their local efforts. The current EPBC laws date back to the Howard era in 1999, more than a quarter of a century ago. We all know these laws are simply not fit for purpose. They're outdated and broken. Across Australia, too many species are in decline, too many habitats are shrinking, and too many communities are weighed down by processes that are slow and inconsistent and lack the transparency that our communities rightly demand. Independent experts have urged us to act. In 2020, Professor Graeme Samuel's review told us the truth. The system is failing the environment and the people who depend on it. He has been plain about the urgency, saying this has been urgent for decades. From an economic perspective, as Dr Ken Henry warned at the National Press Club in July, policy paralysis must be unacceptable. These reforms answer that call. They bring our environmental laws into the 21st century, making them balanced, robust and forward-looking laws that protect what's precious while giving our communities and industry the clarity and rulebooks to support our local and national needs. As you can see, there is a lot in these bills, all necessary to deliver a comprehensive overhaul of our existing regulatory landscape. The first is setting clear national rules. We will put in place national environmental standards—simple, enforceable rules so decisions are consistent across the country and everyone knows the bar they have to meet. The second is creating a strong, independent umpire, a national environmental protection agency, who will do the day-to-day regulating, assessing, licensing and enforcing, with the powers to make the rules stick. The third is ending the profit-from-pollution model. Penalties go up, and ill-gotten gains can be stripped so doing the wrong thing never pays. The fourth is making restoration real. If a project causes harm to nature, it must deliver a genuine net gain, leaving the environment better than before, not just promising to offset the damage on paper. The fifth is drawing hard lines. Some impacts are simply unacceptable. This bill makes those red lines clear so irreplaceable places and species are not put at risk. The sixth is speeding up good projects, not bad ones. If you bring strong information and meet the standards, your assessment pathway is streamlined—faster, clearer and less duplication. The last is shining a brighter light. Better data, open reporting and transparent decisions mean communities can see what's proposed, what's approved and why and hold us all to account. Put together, this is a fair system that rewards those who do the right thing, stops the shortcuts and rebuilds public trust while protecting the places we love. Protection also means looking after the living neighbours we share our suburbs with. Our koalas still move along the green corridors of Norman Creek and Bulimba Creek, across Whites Hill Reserve and through the remnant bushland that stitches Camp Hill, Coorparoo and Holland Park together. In summer, flying foxes crisscross the night sky, powerful owls haunt tall eucalypts and water dragons sunbathe behind local sporting ovals. Along the riverbank, mangroves filter and protect, quietly doing the heavy lifting that keeps our city livable. In the melaleuca wetlands in Cannon Hill, the paperbarks offer shade and birdsong reminds us to take a moment to slow down. But these places are more than scenery; they are working habitat corridors. When we strengthen them, koalas have safer passages to feed and breed, urban heat is lowered by canopy and stormwater has somewhere to slow and settle. When we lose them, we don't just lose species; we lose the resilience, amenity and natural character that makes Griffith feel like home. Yes, some of the most distinctive locals are the bush stone-curlews, the long-legged night watchers whose calls have startled more than a few new residents of Coorparoo and Camp Hill. It's a majestic bird that was undeniably robbed of the honour of being the Australian bird of the year; 2026 will be the curlew's year. Australian bird of the year or not, our job is to make sure the curlew still has safe places to nest and raise its young, just as these reforms strengthen protections for koala feed trees, creek-line vegetation and the mangroves that shelter juvenile fish. That is at the heart of this reform—practical steps that protect and restore the flora and fauna that define our ecosystems. Clear national standards, genuine restoration requirements and a strong independent regulator mean local bush care is backed by national law. Approvals will respect science and community, and the net-gain approach will leave nature better than we found it. If we do this well, the next generation will inherit healthier creeks, thicker canopy and continued birdsong at dusk, living proof that our nature is not just surviving but thriving. Conservation decisions outlive us. The Franklin, the Daintree and Kakadu endure because previous generations acted with courage. Koongarra, Ningaloo, the Murray-Darling and our oceans stand protected because leaders chose to protect what we love. I'm proud to be a member of the Australian Labor Party, the party that has delivered every single major environmental reform in our nation's history. When Australians think of the moments we chose protection over short-term convenience, they remember Labor governments taking responsibility and acting with courage. In the seventies, it was under Gough Whitlam that we established the first federal department of the environment, blocked drilling plans in the Great Barrier Reef, ratified the World Heritage Convention, and passed the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act. In the eighties, it was under Bob Hawke that we used World Heritage powers to protect wild rivers, returned Uluru to traditional owners, launched Landcare, led the international push to ban mining in Antarctica and adopted greenhouse gas reduction targets. In the nineties, it was under Paul Keating that we protected K'gari from logging and mining and introduced the Endangered Species Protection Act and the Indigenous protected areas process. In the 2000s, it was under Kevin Rudd that we ratified the Kyoto Protocol within days of taking office, launched Caring for our Country, a major landscape-scale biodiversity investment, and provided long-term funding to the Working on Country Indigenous rangers program. In the 2010s, it was under a Gillard government that we established the Climate Change Authority for independent advice, forged the Tasmanian forestry agreement to protect high-value native forests and expanded the Commonwealth marine parks to 3.1 million square kilometres, making it the largest network in the world. And now, under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, we have signed the Leaders Pledge for Nature, adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and moved on the Nature Repair Act to create a framework for private biodiversity investment. We've protected an extra 95 million hectares of Australian oceans and land, extending marine parks around Macquarie Island and Heard Island and McDonald Islands. We've established Environment Information Australia to give the public and businesses easier access to the latest environmental data. We've doubled funding to better look after our national parks, including Kakadu, doubled the Indigenous Rangers Program, invested over $600 million to protect threatened flora and fauna and tackle feral animals and weeds, and invested $200 million to clean up our rivers. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it demonstrates our courage to rise to the challenge and do the work to put in place effective laws that protect our natural environment. While those opposite are tearing themselves apart and wanting to take Australia backwards, this bill continues this proud Labor story—looking forward, not backward. These reforms are the product of years of listening. I want to acknowledge the scientists, conservationists, renewable energy advocates, farmers, planners, local councils and industry groups who have shared their expertise and passion. I want to thank the Labor Environment Action Network, LEAN, whose persistence and vision have helped keep environmental reform on the national agenda. I've been a proud member of LEAN for many years, part of a grassroots movement of Labor members and supporters working to ensure the environment remains at the centre of our politics. As an ALP national conference delegate, last year I supported a motion from LEAN about the proposed development at Moreton Bay's Toondah Harbour. The development would have had an absolutely unacceptable impact on the Ramsar-listed wetland and on threatened species, such as the critically endangered eastern curlew. With my support, this motion was passed at National Conference in August 2024. Shortly following this, Minister Tanya Plibersek proposed rejecting the development due to its unacceptable environmental impact, and the proposal was soon withdrawn. It meant a lot to me when I was identified as a LEAN climate and environment champion nationally, and, now, as a member of this place, I am proud to continue this agenda. Since coming into office I have met with climate action and environment groups, in my electorate of Griffith and nationally, to listen to their concerns and to share important messages from the government. In these first few months, I have met with more than 20 groups and local constituents to discuss climate change and the environment, and I want to acknowledge their advocacy. The groups have included the Griffith Australian Conservation Foundation and Wilderness Society groups, and their federal counterparts; the Australian Youth Climate Coalition; Parents for Climate; WWF Australia and many more. We have also hosted a roundtable with local environmental and climate change groups, with the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson, and doorknocked local residents in my community alongside the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Murray Watt. Environmental reform sits at the centre of nearly every challenge our nation faces. Whether it's building homes or transport, securing clean and reliable energy, supporting farmers and fishers, protecting water systems and preparing for a changing climate, all of it depends on the health of our environment and the rules that approvals are pinned to. These reforms give clarity to those who build, who invest, who grow and who care for the land. They ensure progress does not come at the expense of nature but in partnership with it. This is not about saying no to development; it's about saying yes to doing it better. When we get that balance right, we build not just environmental protection; we build national resilience, confidence and pride. I want to acknowledge Professor Samuel for his excellent work in delivering recommendations that were supported by environment, First Nations and industry stakeholders alike. This is our moment to show courage and leadership together. Australians want us to act. The scientists and ecologists, planners, catchment managers and community volunteers and Professor Graeme Samuel have told us clearly what is needed. He has urged cooperation across politics and reminded us: 'don't let perfect be the enemy of good'. He has said: What we are talking about here is the future of nature for our children, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He has also been clear that this package reflects the totality of his review's recommendations. There is no variation, in any significant or, indeed, any small way, from the recommendations of the review. As Dr Ken Henry concluded in his National Press Club address, 'We have had all the reviews we need.' As he said: 'It is now up to parliament. Let's just get it done.' So to every member of this parliament—government, opposition and crossbench: let's meet this moment. Let us work across differences and pass the reforms our experts have asked for and our communities deserve. Many commentators and politicians want to frame this legislation as a tug of war between the environment and the economy; they assert a false choice that you can have one but not the other. This is plain wrong. You don't have to choose between the environment and jobs and business. You can protect and improve our environment while removing duplication and speeding up decisions. That was at the heart of Professor Samuel's report. In the same way that we moved beyond the notion that you could act on climate change or have jobs, we must move beyond this false choice when it comes to nature. When we think of Australia's great environmental victories—the Franklin, the Daintree and Kakadu—they were never easy, but they still endure. And, in this moment, our communities and experts are asking us to choose progress over protest and outcomes over outrage—to work side by side, to deliver for the environment, to support business to deliver the homes and clean energy that we need, and to hand on a healthier environment to the next generation. Let us not miss this chance. The House transcript was published up t o 20:55 . The remainder of the transcript will be published progressively as it is completed. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Lawrence ) took the chair at 12:38, a division having been called in the House of Representatives.
Dismissal of the Whitlam Government: 50th Anniversary | Private Members' Business | House debates
I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union | Private Members' Business | House debates
Unions have long been one of the most important forces for fairness and safety in Australian workplaces. They've fought for rights many take for granted now—the weekend, paid leave, safer...
Unions have long been one of the most important forces for fairness and safety in Australian workplaces. They've fought for rights many take for granted now—the weekend, paid leave, safer work sites and fair pay. When unions work as they should, they give workers a voice, uphold dignity and protect lives, because every worker deserves to go home safe at the end of the day. So much of the work done in our construction industry is inherently dangerous. Every day workers, often young and often vulnerable, put their health and safety on the line to build the infrastructure our communities rely on—roads, hospitals and housing. It's hard, risky work, and these workers deserve to be paid fairly and treated with respect. Employers have a duty of care to keep their workers safe, not just because the law says so but because it's the right thing to do. Families should never have to worry about whether their loved ones will make it home from work. Close to my community of Griffith, we've seen the heartbreaking consequences when those protections fail. In 2023, 29-year-old worker Daniel Sa'u lost his life when temperatures reached a sweltering 36.1 degrees Celsius while working on the Cross River Rail site in Moorooka. His wife described Daniel as a wonderful father to their three children, a loving son and someone deeply missed by all who knew him. And earlier that same year ,17-year-old Tyler Whitton was placed in an induced coma and died the next day after a fall at a construction site in West End. He had been working for just three months before he died, and he was so proud to be able to help support his family. Tyler's grandfather wrote of his beloved beautiful grandson that 'words cannot describe the pain and complete numbness we are all experiencing, knowing that we needed to let him go'. These tragedies show the real and ever-present risks faced by construction workers. They deserve safe workplaces, proper protections and the confidence that their employers are looking out for them. Every worker in Australia deserves that. Last year, Australian investigative journalists exposed horrific practices in parts of the construction industry, alleged links to organised crime, misuse of union roles, as well as reports of violence, intimidation and misogyny. Criminality has no place in the union movement. Workers deserve a union they can trust and be proud of. When I knocked on almost 15,000 doors during the last campaign, I can tell you the CFMEU was raised with me every single day. Deputy Speaker Haines, I will leave it to you to surmise why that was. My community made it very clear to me they do not support corruption and criminality. They do not support standover tactics, bullying and sexual harassment. They do not support intimidation or abuse of power. Those behaviours have no place in any workplace, not in construction, not anywhere. In thousands of conversations across Griffith, I consistently heard people want representatives who stand up against thuggery and corruption, not stand on the same stage as it. The Albanese government has been clear from the outset that there is no place for criminality, bullying, thuggery and intimidation in any workplace, including in the construction industry. The construction division of the CFMEU clearly failed to act in the best interests of its members and urgent action was needed, which the Albanese Labor government has delivered. We could not stand by and allow a once-proud union to be infiltrated by bikies and organised crime, or have bullying and thuggery part of its day-to-day business. These problems did not appear overnight. They were deeply embedded and decades in the making, and we are determined to clean them up, which was why the construction division of CFMEU was placed under administration. Already, the administration has achieved more progress in 15 months than the former coalition government's failed and discredited ABCC managed in an decade. More than 60 staff have been removed or resigned, a new national code of conduct is in place, a clear statement of expectations now sets out where the union stands on gifts, organised crime and menacing behaviour, and what the consequences are for crossing that line. Investigations are ongoing into state branches, financial misconduct and cultural failings. The work is challenging, detailed and essential to restoring integrity in the sector, because all workers deserve unions that represent them honestly and protect them fearlessly, not ones that exploit or intimidate them. Employers, contractors, unions all have a role to make this industry safe, fair and productive. That is why we have established the national construction industry forum to bring together unions, business and government around one table. We will keep doing the work with law enforcement regulators and people across the country to return construction to what should be—a sector where workers like those in our community can feel safe, respected and supported. That's the standard my community expects, it is the standard I expect and it is the standard this government is committed to delivering.
Energy | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How are the Albanese Labor government's policies to deliver more renewable energy, backed by batteries, helping Australians? What...
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How are the Albanese Labor government's policies to deliver more renewable energy, backed by batteries, helping Australians? What policies would threaten this progress?
Climate Change | Private Members' Business | House debates
(): That this House: (1) notes the: (a) Government has accepted the Climate Change Authority's independent advice and has set Australia's climate change target at a range of between 62 to 70 per...
(): That this House: (1) notes the: (a) Government has accepted the Climate Change Authority's independent advice and has set Australia's climate change target at a range of between 62 to 70 per cent on 2005 emissions; (b) release of the National Climate Risk Assessment, which found that no Australian community will be immune from climate risks that will be cascading, compounding and concurrent; and (c) release of the Department of the Treasury's modelling on 18 September, which found Australia's ambitious and achievable plan to reduce emissions will support continued economic growth, higher living standards and employment, including 2.3 million more people being employed by 2035, and Australia's economy being up to $2 trillion worse off cumulatively by 2050 compared to a disorderly transition scenario; (2) recognises the Government is delivering on its promises which Australians voted for to act on climate change, upgrade our energy system and seize the economic opportunity before our nation; and (3) calls on the Opposition to leave the climate wars in the past, solve its internal divisions and join the rest of the Parliament in taking meaningful action on climate change. My electorate of Griffith is a diverse one—young families alongside older Australians, university students, thriving culturally and linguistically diverse communities, small business owners, healthcare workers, people getting by on a little and people with much more—and while this diversity leads to a range of views on many issues it became clear through my door knocking on the lead-up to the last election of almost 15,000 homes in my electorate that there is one issue most people and Griffith agree on—that is, that climate change is a real and clear and absolutely present danger for us globally, across Australia and locally in my community of Griffith. The people in my community didn't need to wait to read the recently released national climate risk assessments to see the risks that climate change poses to our community. They've shovelled sand into countless sandbags at depots while exhausted and shovelled mud out of their homes after floods in 2011 and again in 2022 with broken hearts. Both flood events were meant to be one-in-100-year events. They occurred just 11 short years apart. Large parts of my community, in suburbs like South Brisbane, West End and Woolloongabba, were inundated in these devastating floods, with people losing so much. The National Climate Risk Assessment was a grim confirmation of what we already know. No Australian community will be immune from climate risks, which will be cascading, compounding and concurrent. Lee, a constituent from my community of Camp Hill, recently shared with me: It was really not until nine years ago, as our grandchildren started to arrive—we have seven of them now—that I started to read seriously about climate science and began to appreciate the existential crisis that we are … facing. Sophie, another constituent, from Greenslopes, who is worried about our shared future, noted: 'Climate change is already reshaping our lives with more extreme heatwaves, bushfires, floods and storms, and it's only getting worse.' While we can no longer avoid climate impacts, every action we take today towards our climate goal of net zero by 2050 can help avoid the worst impacts on Australians. I'm proud to be part of a government that knows climate change is real. This government doesn't ignore the experts. We listen to the science and we act in Australia's best national interests. That's why we've acted on the advice of the Climate Change Authority. Recently we announced that we have accepted the Climate Change Authority's advice that Australia's 2035 emissions target be 62 to 70 per cent, a target that is responsible, responsive to the science, backed by a practical plan to get there and built on proven technology. Since May 2022, we've added over 18 gigawatts of renewables, wind and solar, to the grid. Wind and solar capacity is up 45 per cent since we came in to government. That's more than four times the capacity of the Snowy hydro scheme. As for our cheaper home battery policy, over 100,000 batteries have now been installed across the country, with more on the way. Australia has everything we need to succeed to get to net zero: the resources, the technology, the people and the will. But we need leadership, not political games. While this government gets on with the job of fighting for Australia's future, the opposition continues to fight with itself. I knew, coming in to this parliament, that there would be many debates and differences of opinion, but I never imagined we would still see arguments about the validity of climate change. We have a Leader of the Opposition vowing to oppose any attempt to legislate Australia's climate targets. Before that, she said the coalition doesn't believe in setting targets at all, in government or in opposition. That's not leadership; that's abandoning responsibility. We have the member for Hume describing emissions targets as 'a wrecking ball through the economy', even as independent modelling shows the exact opposite. That's not leadership; that's fearmongering in defiance of the facts. The member for New England dismisses the science outright, calling climate action 'a ludicrous proposition with net zero effect'. That's not leadership; that is wilful ignorance. Australians deserve better. They deserve a parliament that treats their future with seriousness, not slogans. They deserve a plan that creates good, secure jobs, lowers energy bills and ensures our kids and our grandkids inherit a liveable planet. The Albanese Labor government is delivering exactly that. We're listening to the science, investing in people and acting in the national interest. We are determined to leave the climate wars in the past and to build a clean, reliable and affordable energy future for all Australians. So I call on those opposite: leave behind the denial, the delay and the division and join with us in taking meaningful action on climate change, because the cost of inaction is too great and the opportunity before us is too important to waste another decade, because the science is clear, the economics are clear and the Australian people are clear—they want progress, not politics. The choice before us is simple. We can lead the world in the clean energy future, or be left behind by it. The Albanese Labor government chooses leadership for our communities, for our economy and for the generations ahead.
Labor Government, Coalition | Statements by Members | House debates
Half a year on from the election, our government's focus has never wavered. We're getting on with the job of building a stronger, fairer Australia and improving the lives of the people that we...
Half a year on from the election, our government's focus has never wavered. We're getting on with the job of building a stronger, fairer Australia and improving the lives of the people that we represent. For my community in Griffith we're strengthening the foundations of our health system, investing in bulk-billing, making essential medicines cheaper and investing in the services that families rely on. We're backing education, from new facilities and better resources in our schools to fairer funding deals and meaningful relief for people carrying student debt, with around $16 billion wiped from their HECS balances, wiping the debt of almost 32,000 predominantly young people in my electorate and delivering tax cuts for all Australians, not just those at the top. While we're working to deliver real outcomes for our communities, those opposite are busy turning on one another. Their party room is consumed by internal flights, by leaks and by name-calling. They are more divided and more divisive than ever before. They have no plan, no unity and no vision. We're focused on governing for Australians, not fighting amongst ourselves. While they remain stuck in yesterday's arguments, we will keep moving forward, delivering stronger services, better opportunities and a future our communities can believe in.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) Bill 2025. Before coming to this place, I had the honour of working and volunteering in the...
I rise to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) Bill 2025. Before coming to this place, I had the honour of working and volunteering in the Australian charity and non-profit sector for more than two decades as a volunteer, a fundraiser, a leader of teams, a CEO and a board director of other charities and nonprofits working within the sector. In that time, I had the opportunity to work to advance reconciliation between the broader community and First Nations people in South Australia, to empower young people across Australia to thrive beyond the impacts of family mental illness and to support more than 1,000 First Nations young people to gain transformative scholarships from communities throughout Australia. With each of the charities and non-profits I worked, I have been proud to work at the intersection of government, corporate and philanthropic bodies to help deliver remarkable outcomes for our community through genuine partnerships, where the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Every single day in my career and my volunteering in Australia, and especially in my electorate of Griffith, I saw volunteers, donors, partners, fundraisers and community organisations roll up their sleeves to help where governments and markets cannot. In Camp Hill, a Care Kits for Kids volunteer packs a backpack for a child who has recently entered foster care. In Musgrave Park, a Rosies volunteer hands a warm cup of coffee to someone sleeping rough. In a Morningside warehouse, a Foodbank worker manoeuvres a forklift to place another pallet of rescued food in place, ready for collection. In South Brisbane, a new, life-saving, state-of-the-art incubator is wheeled into a ward with funding from the Mater Foundation and Mater Little Miracles. Charities and non-profits enrich our communities. They support families and vulnerable Australians in tough times, and they deliver services that we, as governments, could not deliver alone. I am so proud of our Australian charity and not-for-profit sector. The sector has grown significantly in the last 20 years, becoming a vital economic contributor and employment powerhouse. In 2012 the Labor government established the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, ACNC, the national regulator of charities. The ACNC was established to achieve the following objects: (1) maintain, protect and enhance public trust and confidence in the Australian not-for-profit sector; (2) support and sustain a robust, vibrant, independent and innovative not-for-profit sector; and (3) promote the reduction of unnecessary regulation obligations on the sector. The ACNC's five values—fairness, accountability and transparency, independence, integrity and respect—underpin their regulatory approach. In the most recent charities report, ACNC commissioner Sue Woodward AM revealed: Our data confirms the charity sector should not, and cannot, be ignored or underestimated. It is a powerhouse of good, bringing benefits to many people, and is an active economic contributor and driver. Ms Woodward said: Charities provide such a broad range of services that they touch almost every part of the economy. She also said: Charities continue to be a key driver of the economy. The ACNC has helped the charity sector by boosting public trust through its public register and accountability measures, reduced red tape for charities via the report-once-use-often framework and Charity Passport, and supported charities with guidance, education and resources to meet their obligations and improve operations. Charities that maintain their reporting to the ACNC demonstrate accountability not just to the ACNC but to donors, beneficiaries and the broader community. The ACNC's data is available to the general public online. The use of data acts as a model of good practice for the sector and provides information that can be used for advocacy, planning and program development. In 2023-24 there were 3.8 million views on the ACNC website. This oversight has helped build on the trust and confidence the Australian public feels towards our vibrant, innovative and essential charitable sector. The contribution of Australian charities to the Australian workforce and the economy is significant. As of the most recent ACNC reporting period, Australian charities employ 1.4 million people, which is 10.7 per cent of the entire Australian workforce. In my time in the charity and non-profit sector, I have worked alongside some of Australia's most influential, inspiring and impactful leaders, including the late Lowitja O'Donoghue AC, CBE, DSG and Professor Peter Buckskin PSM, FACE from Reconciliation SA; Michelle Penfold and Andrew Penfold AM from the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation; and, more recently, Patricia Reid, Sean O'Halloran and Mark Paterson AO from the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation—and so many others. The opportunity to have worked with these leaders in this sector is an opportunity that I remain incredibly thankful for, and that's not to mention the dozens of remarkable colleagues I was also able to work alongside over the last two decades. Susan Pasco AM, the inaugural ACNC commissioner, observed: 'What is it that prompts people to work in the charity sector? After all, they are paid less than their counterparts in government or business and they work under considerable public visibility, scrutiny and red tape. Overwhelmingly, charity workers are motivated to do good for others. Whether they are providing assistance to vulnerable members of the Australian and international communities, advocating on human rights or environmental issues, fundraising for the arts or medical research, or providing spiritual support, these tireless workers generally see a gap, deficit or area for enrichment and commit their energies, intellects and personal resources to making their communities better places.' This sector is filled with over 1½ million workers, working hard and with integrity to advance health, social and public welfare, education and animal welfare and to protect the natural environment. For the sector, we know, as the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh, recently shared in this place, 'transparency provides the oxygen that accountability requires'. This is what the ACNC offers the sector. And in this, my new role, here in this place, I see that an important part of our work in this place is to ensure that the sector is supported with appropriate legislative changes where needed. Each month, the ACNC receives reports of concerns about a number of charities. In 2023-24, for example, just over 2,000 concerns were received. I understand from the ACNC that many of the concerns can be handled with guidance and regulatory advice or through referral to a relevant agency. However, a small portion are referred to the ACNC compliance area for examination. When complaints are raised with charities, I understand, overwhelmingly, they will move to rectify the situation or to improve their practice. The more serious or persistent cases move to investigation, often with the involvement of other regulatory intelligence or security agencies. The ACNC make judicious use of their enforcement powers and are able to revoke a charity's charitable status. In the 2023-24 financial year, the ACNC revoked the registration of nine charities due to compliance action and separately revoked a total of 190 charity registrations for reasons that include failure to submit their annual information statements. This legislation, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) Bill 2025, will allow the ACNC to assure charities and donors that it is acting on issues of public concern and strengthening compliance, which will in turn boost public confidence that the sector is doing the right thing. Schedule 2 of the legislation allows the commissioner of the ACNC to make disclosures about new or ongoing investigations where the disclosure would prevent or minimise the risk of significant harm. Secrecy provisions previously prevented the ACNC from disclosing whether it is investigating alleged misconduct by a charity. This adversely impacted public trust and confidence in the sector and in the ACNC as an effective regulator. By increasing public trust and confidence in charities and the ACNC, this reform will help to ensure donors and philanthropists continue their support for the sector. This will contribute to the government's commitment to double philanthropy by 2030. In my previous work in the charity and non-profit sector I saw firsthand how important donor trust is. Every dollar we received was a dollar entrusted to us by the community. Without transparency and without accountability, we simply could not do the work and we couldn't achieve the outcomes. Sue Woodward AM recently shared: Trust is the foundation upon which the charity sector is built. It underpins donor confidence, volunteer engagement and the overall effectiveness of charity activities. While charities are traditionally viewed as one of our most trusted institutions, this can't be taken for granted. When we speak about fostering and upholding trust in the sector, I am compelled to also recognise the outstanding work of Fundraising Institute Australia, which is an organisation I had the honour of working alongside as a board director. As a national peak body for professional fundraising, FIA sets the standards that ensure integrity, transparency and accountability across the sector. Their training, accreditation and advocacy support thousands of fundraisers to do their work ethically and effectively, building confidence among donors and strengthening the impact of every dollar raised. I acknowledge their important work in the sector. This bill doesn't just stand alone. It complements a suite of reforms, including new pathways to deductible gift recipient status, harmonisation of fundraising rules across states and territories and greater sector representation at the ACNC board. Together these measures strengthen governance, reduce red tape and give donors confidence that their generosity is respected. I am a passionate supporter of our charities and non-profit sector and I am heartened by these reforms. We, as the Australian government, should do all we can to support this vital sector and its work. My wholehearted vision for the Australian charity and non-profit sector is where government and community have high expectations for transparency, compliance and, most importantly, outcomes, and where government builds capacity, provides clarity and delivers certainty for individual not-for-profits and to the broader sector. In every corner of our country Australians give their time, their skill and their hearts to make life better for others, and our charities and not-for-profits are the engines of that generosity. This bill strengthens the framework that supports their work, ensuring that trust, transparency and integrity remain at the centre of our national charitable life. When donors, volunteers and communities have confidence in the system, they give more, and together we can achieve more. By reinforcing the ACNC's ability to uphold accountability, we are safeguarding the sector's future and honouring the millions who contribute to it. This bill is another important step to building a stronger, fairer and more compassionate Australia.
Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
As we approach World Suicide Prevention Day next week, it's important to reflect on what we have learned from the recent Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and the progress we, as...
As we approach World Suicide Prevention Day next week, it's important to reflect on what we have learned from the recent Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and the progress we, as a government, have made. On 8 July 2021, the Australian government established the royal commission. The inquiry, which concluded on 28 August last year, examined systemic issues and common themes in past deaths by suicide of Australian Defence Force members and veterans. Importantly, this included suspected suicides and the lived experience of suicide risk. The royal commission delivered its interim report on 11 August 2022, and the final report was delivered in September last year. I sincerely thank those serving and ex-serving personnel and their families who bravely shared their stories with the royal commission. Anyone who has read the report has encountered heartbreaking and devastating stories of anguish and loss. I say to those who spoke up that your courage and your commitment have provided us all with an opportunity to learn and strengthen how we, as the federal government, approach the mental health and welfare of current serving members, veterans and, as importantly, their families. Last year, the Albanese government released the Defence and Veteran Family Wellbeing Strategy. This delivers on Labor's commitment to identify ways to better support the families of Defence personnel and veterans, and it will further assist in responding to the royal commission. Delivering the strategy will help families to access appropriate housing solutions, offer greater certainty around locations for Defence Force personnel and their families, and provide better support during and after transition for ADF families. I listened with great interest—and, to be frank, quite a bit of pride—this morning as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Hon. Matt Keogh, updated the House on the progress that has been made since the royal commission and its final report. I'm fortunate to have some unique insight into the impact of Defence life on children and families. Before running as a candidate for my electorate of Griffith and stepping into this place as a member of parliament, I was the CEO of the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation. Kookaburra Kids was founded by Dianne Madden more than 20 years ago to support young people impacted by family mental illness, with the aim of empowering them to build resilience and lifelong knowledge and abilities so that they can reach their potential. Kookaburra Kids also supports the children of currently and formerly serving Australian Defence Force personnel through the Defence Kids program. The Department of Veterans' Affairs funds this foundation to deliver Defence Kids across Australia. The organisation provides camps, activity days and age-appropriate mental health education, focusing on coping skills and resilience, while allowing children to bond with peers who are facing similar challenges. For Defence families, challenges can be vast. Relocation challenges and, for children, the challenges of making new friends, changing schools, parental absence—missing mum or dad—and, sometimes, dealing with the impacts of mental ill health within families, which might look like depression, anxiety or PTSD. Through camps, activity days and online programs, these young people find connection and community. They meet peers who understand the challenges of relocations, deployments, or having a parent affected by service. This unique program is supporting the unique needs of children from serving and ex-serving ADF families, and it has been made possible by the Australian government. The most impactful story that I encountered in my work with the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation involved two little boys, not much older than eight years old. I was at a camp where these boys were participating in a chat group, which is where mental health literacy is taught to young people. One of our supervisors was sharing information about different mental health conditions to raise these children's awareness of them, and they started to speak about PTSD and what that can look like for somebody experiencing it. One of the symptoms that was shared with the young people was an aversion to and a sensitivity to loud noises. One of the little boys was very distracted. He was playing with little fidget toys and was very much focused on something else, I thought. Another little boy spoke up and said, 'When my dad's home, we have to be really, really quiet. We can't make any noises,' and this other little boy who I thought wasn't paying attention looked up, as sharp as anything, and said, 'Me too.' It's those connections that children form with Kookaburra Kids and the knowledge that they gain about mental health that really empower them to go on and understand their family dynamics and how we can break cycles of mental ill health. Our service men and women willingly stand ready to protect our nation, sometimes far from home, with their families adapting to frequent moves and managing everything that comes with the deployment. They contribute so much, and families carry hidden sacrifices every day. It's only right that we stand beside these families, not just with gratitude but with tangible, meaningful support. In my own electorate of Griffith, I see firsthand the extraordinary work being done to support our veterans and their families. Gallipoli Medical Research is based in my electorate of Griffith and is leading world-class research into the mental health and wellbeing of our veterans. I want to acknowledge the work of Miriam Kent, their fabulous CEO, and her team. Their work on PTSD, transition and long-term health impacts is giving us insights that shape policy and improve lives. I've had the privilege of visiting the foundation multiple times over the last year, once with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and again with my colleague and good friend Luke Gosling OAM, the member for Solomon, who just addressed this place. He's a fourth-generation veteran and also special envoy for defence and veterans. Each visit to the Gallipoli centre has been a reminder of the commitment and compassion that drive their work, and this year it was my great honour to commemorate Anzac Day at a very wet dawn service at Gallipoli Medical Research. The service reinforced just how deeply their research is connected to the stories, the service and the sacrifice of our defence community. I want also to pay tribute to Legacy Brisbane, headquartered in South Brisbane, in my electorate. Legacy Brisbane supports almost 4,000 family members of fallen and injured veterans across South-East, Central and western Queensland. They work to make a tangible difference to children, partners and ageing parents, ensuring that no-one is left behind. I especially want to thank Legacy Brisbane CEO Brendan Cox and his whole team for their tireless service and relentless advocacy. The compassion, respect and practical support that they provide is extraordinary. We know there is so much more work to do. Too many families still struggle to access timely, appropriate support, but we are making progress. Veterans claims are being processed faster, more people are choosing to stay in the ADF for longer and our veterans and families hubs are expanding so that support is closer to home. The royal commission tasked us with nothing less than a once-in-a-generation reform, and that is exactly what we are delivering. As the minister outlined this morning, we are not limiting ourselves to just the work of the royal commission. We are already seeing more people choose to stay longer as a result and we have expanded our veterans and families hubs so people can access their support close to home. We're working hard to ensure we achieve the most comprehensive reforms to the systems, processes and culture to support Defence personnel, veterans and families ever undertaken in Australia. Implementing these reforms from the royal commission is vital to ensuring that Defence personnel, veterans and also families receive vital care, services and support. I stand here not just as a parliamentarian but as someone who has walked alongside families in this space in my career prior to coming to this place. I have found it an enormous honour in my career to have been able to work with those families and with those children and their parents. I see everything that they give up to support our country, and it is right that we support them in return. I know the difference that that support can make, and I have also seen firsthand the cost when it is absent. Our task is clear: to serve those who serve, to honour those who sacrifice and to ensure that no family ever feels alone. Together, with the voices of lived experience guiding us, we will continue this vitally important work for our Defence personnel, for veterans and for their families. As our minister said this morning, it is not just what they need; it is what they deserve.