Emma Comer's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Cybersafety | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Communications. What has been the impact of the Albanese Labor government's social media age restrictions so far, and how is this policy helping to protect...
My question is to the Minister for Communications. What has been the impact of the Albanese Labor government's social media age restrictions so far, and how is this policy helping to protect young Australians from the harm of social media?
Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
On 14 December 2025, 15 innocent people were murdered at Bondi Beach in an act of unspeakable violence. They were children, daughters, sons, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbours and...
On 14 December 2025, 15 innocent people were murdered at Bondi Beach in an act of unspeakable violence. They were children, daughters, sons, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbours and community leaders. I want to tender my heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones, whose grief is beyond words. This was not a random act of violence. It was an act of terrorism deliberately targeting Jewish Australians as they gathered to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, the festival of light, and their faith. An occasion meant for joy, reflection and togetherness was shattered by hatred. We must be absolutely clear: antisemitism has no place in Australia. It is an evil that threatens the safety and dignity of our fellow Australians. This motion unequivocally condemns antisemitism, and I am proud to support it, but condemnation alone is not enough. Words must be matched with action. The Jewish community cannot face antisemitism alone. It is a problem every Australian needs to address, and it demands a strong response. In the midst of this despicable tragedy, there were also moments of extraordinary courage. We honour the police officers who ran towards danger, the lifeguards and first responders who acted with composure under unimaginable pressure and the healthcare workers who worked tirelessly to save lives. Their professionalism, skill and dedication embody the very best of public service. Because of them, lives were saved and families were spared even greater suffering. We also honour the heroes of Bondi, ordinary people who in an extraordinary moment chose courage over fear and compassion over self-preservation. These were not people trained for crisis or prepared for violence. They were everyday Australians who, when confronted with unimaginable danger, acted to protect others. Some ran towards those in need, offering first aid, comfort and shelter. Others placed themselves between the attacker and strangers they had never met. In the chaos and terror of that day, they embodied the very best of our nation's values. We also acknowledge the deep and lasting trauma suffered by those who were injured, both physically and psychologically, by witnessing this atrocity. Trauma does not end when the headlines fade. As a nation, we must ensure that survivors and witnesses are not left to carry this burden alone. At its core, this motion affirms the fundamental principle that every Jewish Australian has the right to live, work, worship and learn in peace and safety; to participate fully and freely in Australian public life; to gather without fear; to be proud of who they are and be proud of the profound contribution their community has made and continues to make to our nation's success. Everyone—and I mean everyone—should have the right to be safe, to have agency, to worship one God or many, or to choose a different path of belief. Regardless of our beliefs, we all deserve safety and respect. Who does hate serve? Who does resentment serve? What does one hope to find at the end of that dark path? When you feed the engine of hatred, everyone you look at, everything you read and everything you feel looks like fuel. As humans, we need social groups. We crave connection. Hate is often used as a tool for bonding, as an easy way to blame others for perceived wrongdoings in one's life. Hate is tantalisingly easy—dangerously easy. You can just blame someone or some group for most, if not all, of life's problems. There is no accountability—no nuance. It's illogical and hard to cut through. Hatred is suffering for the hated and the hater. Hate begets hate. Violence begets violence. Terrorism preys on this human desire for connection. It's abhorrent and has no place in our society. In some ways, I believe life happens either to you or for you, and every single day you get to decide which one it is. If you are fuelled by hate, life is happening to you. You're a passenger in your own story as hate has the wheel. Love, however, is light. It adds value to life and warmth to the soul. It is a key ingredient to harmony. It requires conscious efforts to understand and be empathetic to those different from oneself. Love is honourable and love is strength, and we need to share it with those around us as we heal from this tragic moment that's forever etched in our memory. When one group is made to feel unsafe, our shared sense of security is undermined. This tragedy has taken a toll on the safety that all Australians feel. In response, we need to have a moment of national unity and strong, decisive action. In times like this, the choice before us is clear: we can allow hatred and division to fracture us, or we can stand together in national unity. Today we are sending a clear message: we mourn together, we stand together and we will not be intimidated by hate. We honour the victims, support the survivors and continue to commit ourselves to an Australia where everyone belongs and everyone is safe.
Albanese Government | Adjournment | House debates
The Labor government is delivering real change for Australians—not abstract promises, not slogans but concrete action that is actually directly improving the lives of locals in my...
The Labor government is delivering real change for Australians—not abstract promises, not slogans but concrete action that is actually directly improving the lives of locals in my community. For too long, young Australians have felt that the system has been stacked against them. They study hard, they do everything that's asked of them, yet they finish their degrees and walk straight into a lifetime of debt. That is why the Albanese Labor government introduced a major change that will make a significant difference. We are reducing student debt by 20 per cent. This is one of the most meaningful investments in young Australians in a generation. It is practical cost-of-living relief. It is acknowledgement that education should open doors, not close them. Very soon more than 22,000 locals in Petrie will be getting 20 per cent taken off of their student debt—no applications, no forms. You don't need to do anything. This is a one-off reduction that will be applied automatically by the Australian Taxation Office, and when the deduction is applied you'll get a text from the ATO letting you know. Labor promised to cut student debt, and now the Albanese Labor government is delivering. This is a game changer for more than three million Australians with a student debt. Labor believes in education. We believe it builds opportunity, equality and prosperity. Our 20 per cent reduction means that thousands of Australians will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. It means that teachers, nurses, tradies, social workers and community workers will all be able to move forward in their lives without the growing financial burdens holding them back. At the same time, we are strengthening our commitment to protecting the Australian environment. Our country is home to some of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. But we have watched biodiversity decline, native species disappear, habitat destruction accelerate, and the ferocity of storms increase. This is why we are proud to be introducing new, stronger environmental legislation. It creates clearer national standards. It restores accountability to environmental decision-making. And it gives Australians confidence that development, economic growth and environmental protection can be balanced responsibly. This legislation is not about stopping progress. It is about ensuring that progress is sustainable. It is about future generations inheriting the bush, the rivers, the reefs and the wildlife that define our national identity. It is about protecting the places that make Australia home. I want to thank all the environmental groups and community activists, such as ESRAC, the Queensland Conservation Council, Greenpeace and the Redcliffe Environmental Forum, for their ongoing contributions and support of these reforms, as well as the residents who raise their voices on these matters. I want to acknowledge the work of Minister Watt, Minister Plibersek and Special Envoy Kate Thwaites on these important, long-overdue reforms. Another critical issue facing our country is the impact of social media on young people. Every parent I speak with tells me the same thing: children are being exposed to content that they should never see. They are being targeted by algorithms no parent can monitor. They are facing bullying, exploitation and social pressures that previous generations never had to endure. The evidence is clear; social media is harming kids. So we are taking action. The government's upcoming social media ban for under-16-year-olds is going to let kids be kids. It ensures that children can grow up safely without being pulled into the online world that is not designed for their wellbeing. This reform supports parents, it empowers families and it strengthens the guardrails for our youngest Australians. We cannot reduce harm by wishing it away. We reduce harm by acting responsibly and decisively. While we focus on the next generation, we are also delivering for every single person who relies on our healthcare system. I'll just let you know that's every single Australian. When Labor came into government, bulk-billing was collapsing. Families were waiting weeks to see a GP only to be hit with fees they could not afford. That is why we tripled the bulk-billing incentive. It is why we have delivered the largest strengthening of Medicare since it was created. The results are speaking for themselves. Bulk-billing rates are rising once again. More families are seeing a GP without reaching into their pockets. This is what Medicare is meant to be—universal, accessible, affordable. It is the foundation of Australian life, and we are proud to be the party that built it, protected it and is now rebuilding it stronger than it ever was. To every student struggling with debt, to every parent trying to keep their children safe online, and to every Australian who wants their environment protected and our Medicare system strengthened: we see you, we hear you and we are delivering for you.
Queensland: Storms | Statements by Members | House debates
I welcome the press gallery for joining me to hear about the Queensland storms. South East Queensland has once again been battered by severe storms, with destructive winds, heavy rain, hail the...
I welcome the press gallery for joining me to hear about the Queensland storms. South East Queensland has once again been battered by severe storms, with destructive winds, heavy rain, hail the size of cricket balls and widespread damage across our communities. In my electorate, families in Brisbane and Moreton Bay endured another intense night of wild weather. Thousands of homes and businesses remain without power, with some facing days of delays due to the scale of the damage. Local businesses have suffered enormous losses. Families are throwing out entire fridges and freezers of food, and schools and small businesses are being forced to close their doors. Disabled residents have been stuck in multistorey buildings without power. I know how stressful and exhausting this can be. I know many families are scared, frustrated and unsure when things will return to normal. Please take care around the damaged power lines, bridges, buildings and trees. My electorate office in the Deception Bay community hall is open for anyone who needs to charge their devices and access information. Assessments are being undertaken by the Queensland government to determine what payments locals who have been effected can apply for. We are supporting the Queensland government with the cost of providing relief and recovery assistance to communities through the jointly funded disaster recovery funding. Crews are working around the clock to restore power, reconnect communications services and clear debris. We will continue to back every affected household and business for as long as it takes. Queenslanders have always stood together through tough times and we will do so again. Stay safe everyone and merry Christmas.
Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
Every Australian who puts on a uniform of our nation makes a promise—a promise to serve, to protect and to sacrifice. In return, our nation makes a promise to them that their service will...
Every Australian who puts on a uniform of our nation makes a promise—a promise to serve, to protect and to sacrifice. In return, our nation makes a promise to them that their service will be honoured, their family supported and their wellbeing safeguarded for life. This promise is a responsibility this government takes with unwavering commitment. For too long, too many veterans and their families have been left struggling within a system that was meant to support them, a system that was complicated, confusing and slow and that too often added to their distress instead of easing it. We have heard their stories, we have listened to their frustrations and we have acted. Today, we are continuing that work. We continue this significant reform to how our nation supports veterans, reform that puts veterans and their families back at the centre of the system built for them. The Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 continues the Albanese Labor government's response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. It demonstrates, once again, our government's deep and enduring commitment to implementing a better and simpler veterans' entitlement system, one that ensures veterans and their families can access the support they need and deserve faster. For too long, the complexity of the veterans' entitlement system has been a source of frustration, confusion and delay for veterans and their loved ones. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide interim report found that this complexity has been a contributing factor to distress and suicidality among our veteran community. That finding is heartbreaking, but it's also a call to action. When a person puts on the uniform of our nation, we make them a promise that their country will stand by them. That includes making the system designed to help them simple to navigate. That's why, in February this year, the Albanese Labor government passed the VETS Act. The VETS Act represents the most significant reform in how Australia supports veterans in more than a century. This act was a response to recommendations from the interim report that the royal commission released in August 2022. Under the old, outdated system, veterans' entitlements were determined under one or more of three primary compensation acts. Which acts applied depended on when the veteran served and which period of service caused or contributed to the condition they were claiming for. It was a complicated patchwork of laws that left too many veterans waiting, too many families confused and too many claims stuck in bureaucratic limbo. We heard directly from veterans and their advocates that navigating three overlapping acts was exhausting. We heard from multiple stakeholders that the system was inefficient and unnecessarily complex. We heard from the royal commission that the confusion, frustration and sense of being lost in the system were real contributors to the distress that too many veterans experience. The VETS Act fixes this. It reduces the number of acts the Department of Veterans' Affairs administers from three to one. That means, from 1 July 2026, all veteran claims will be assessed under a single, harmonised piece of legislation. This single act will be simpler to use, easier to understand and faster to process. It will ensure that veterans and families receive consistent, fair decisions, no matter when or where they served. By simplifying and harmonising the system, we remove unnecessary administrative barriers and free up resources to focus on what matters most: supporting the wellbeing and recovery of veterans and their families. But this reform is not just about efficiency; it is about dignity. It's about ensuring that, when a veteran reaches out for help, they are met with a system that says 'yes', not a maze of forms and confusions that say 'wait'. Since passing the VETS Act earlier this year, our government has been working to prepare for this transformation. We've been making veterans aware of the changes coming in 2026, upskilling departmental delegates so that they're ready to implement the new system effectively, providing additional training for advocates and ex-service organisations, and updating computer systems and modernising processes to ensure a smooth transition. We know that change on this scale requires careful management and clear communication. That's why the commencement date of 1 July 2026 gives veterans, their families, advocates and the department the time needed to prepare. We are determined to get this right because veterans deserve nothing less. This bill is about making sure that the transition is a simpler, fairer system and as smooth as possible. The bill makes four technical amendments to ensure the successful implementation of the VETS Act and the continuity of support for veterans. While these amendments are administrative in nature, they are critical to ensuring that the reforms we passed earlier this year can be delivered efficiently and without disruption. The first is about supporting continuity and transition. The first amendment provides the new Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission with the powers it needs to make and preserve instruments before the commencement of the new act. This will ensure a seamless transition from the old framework to the new one. It allows the existing commission to put in place the rules, regulations and administrative instruments needed to make the new system work smoothly from day one. These instruments will include things like presumptive liability rules, which enable the government and the department to respond quickly to emerging medical evidence about conditions linked to military service. This is about being responsive to veterans needs, not rigid bureaucracy. It ensures that, if new conditions are recognised as service related, we can act fast to provide support without waiting for lengthy legislative processes. The second amendment allows certain treatment related instruments made under the VEA by the Reparation Commission to carry over and continue to have effect under the new MRCA. This is another measure to ensure continuity and fairness. It means critical treatment arrangements covering things like medical referrals, rehabilitation programs and health cards will continue uninterrupted as we move to the simplified framework. This approach avoids unnecessary administrative duplication and, most importantly, ensures that no veteran experiences a gap in care during this transition. The third amendment confirms that all claims for funeral compensation shall be determined according to the act under which they are lodged. This ensures consistency with the date-of-claim approach established under the VETS Act and avoids any confusion and delay for grieving families. When a veteran passes away, the family should not have to worry about legal technicalities or administrative errors delaying funeral assistance. This amendment ensures that their entitlements are determined quickly, clearly and in accordance with the law. The fourth amendment addresses the review pathway for DRCA determinations made before 21 April 2025. As of that date, a new review pathway for the Veterans' Review Board commenced but the rights of appeal for determinations made before that date were ambiguous and potentially open to jurisdictional dispute. This amendment makes clear that veterans who had their claims determined before the date will retain their former review rights and that the new simplified single review pathway applies going forward. It ensures fairness and clarity for all claimants, protecting veterans rights while reinforcing the principle of a single straightforward review process. Taken together, these four technical amendments may appear minor, but they are foundational to delivering the government's broader reform agenda for veteran entitlements. They are about removing ambiguity, strengthening procedural fairness and ensuring that the new system, when it commences in 2026, works as intended—efficiently, reliably and compassionately. These amendments will ensure a smooth transition from the old complicated tri-act model to a single ongoing act so veterans and their families can continue to access the support they need without disruption or confusion. This bill is not an isolated measure; it forms part of a coordinated long-term response to the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The royal commission made clear many veterans have faced unacceptable delays and barriers when seeking support. It found that administrative complexity, unclear eligibility rules and long processing times have contributed to mental distress and, tragically, suicide. Our government took those findings seriously. That's why we've acted quickly to simplify the laws through the VETS Act to streamline claims and make the system easier to navigate. We also invested in improving mental health services, expanding open access to treatment for veterans with mental health conditions and strengthening early intervention supports. We increased staffing within the Department of Veterans' Affairs to cut through the backlogs and ensure veterans receive timely decisions. We funded digital modernisation so that DVA's system was fit for purpose for the 21st century, and we are working hand in hand with ex-service organisations and advocates to ensure veterans voices continue to shape the reforms as they roll out. This bill continues that work and is another step in turning the royal commission's recommendations into real lasting change. The Albanese Labor government has a proud record of standing up for veterans and their families. We are investing in the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and action plan, ensuring support for those transitioning out of service. We've expanded the Veteran Employment Program, helping more former Defence personnel find meaningful civilian work. We're improving housing support, addressing homelessness and increasing funding for veterans' counselling and family programs. We are strengthening oversight and accountability in how support services are delivered. And, through our reforms of DVA, we are rebuilding trust and confidence in a system veterans can rely on, not one they have to fight, because our veterans have already done the hard work. They have already served our nation with courage and commitment, and it's our job to make sure the system serves them in return. When the new single act takes effect in 2026, veterans will no longer need to navigate three different legislative regimes and wait months for answers about which act applies. They will have one clear pathway for compensation and rehabilitation. They will have faster access to treatment, simpler review processes and greater consistency in decision-making. They will have the confidence that the system is built around them, not the other way around. This is about more than administrative reform; it's about fairness, compassion and respect for those who have worn the nation's uniform. Every veteran deserves to know that, when they ask for help, they won't be told to wait. Every family deserves to know that their loved ones' service will be honoured, not just in words but in the care they receive. Every Australian should be proud that their government is delivering on that promise. This bill makes the small but vital adjustments needed to support the largest overhaul of veterans' entitlements in a century. It ensures that the reforms we have already delivered through the VETS Act will be implemented smoothly, clearly and efficiently. It builds on the government's ongoing response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, and it reflects that unwavering commitment to ensure veterans and their families receive the support they need when they need it, because, when Australians serve, they do so with honour. When they come home, they deserve a system that serves them with that same honour. This bill is another step towards that goal.
Albanese Government | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitments to improve the lives of Australians?
Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games | Private Members' Business | House debates
The countdown to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is well and truly underway. What we do between now and then will shape not only the success of the games themselves but the legacy...
The countdown to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is well and truly underway. What we do between now and then will shape not only the success of the games themselves but the legacy we leave for generations of Queenslanders. I'm proud to say that the Albanese government is meeting this moment with ambition, partnership and responsibility. We are delivering the largest contribution towards sporting infrastructure in Australian history. This once-in-a-generation investment is designed to ensure the Brisbane 2032 Games are world class, community focused and built to stand the test of time. Just like the Matildas, we're not going to stop 'til it's done. Our capped $3.4 billion commitment to the Games Venue Infrastructure Program has now been formally agreed with the Queensland government. Under our agreement, the Commonwealth and Queensland governments will work together to deliver 17 new or upgraded venues plus the construction for a new stadium. These projects stretch from Cairns in the Far North, through regional Queensland, right down to the Gold Coast. This will be a truly statewide Games with statewide benefits. Our joint funding will deliver the National Aquatic Centre, an expanded Queensland Tennis Centre, a new Toowoomba Equestrian Centre and a dedicated para sport centre in Chandler. We are supporting indoor sports centres in Logan and Moreton Bay, upgrades to the Sunshine Coast Stadium and major improvements to Barlow Park in Cairns. Thanks to our investment, procurement of these projects can now get under way, giving local industry certainty and creating jobs. Of course, this builds on the work we've already done, including our investments in the Redland Whitewater Centre, the Brisbane International Shooting Centre and the world-class Anna Meares Velodrome. These aren't just Olympic venues. These are community assets—places where kids can learn to swim, where clubs can train, where families can gather and where future champions will take their first steps. But let me be clear: while we're proud to make this investment, we are not handing over a blank cheque. Every dollar of Commonwealth funding must stack up. This is why we require robust project validation before final funding is confirmed. We're doing our due diligence to ensure that every project is delivered on time, on budget, in a way that represents genuine value to taxpayers. For the Brisbane Stadium in particular we have set strong conditions. The Queensland government and Brisbane City Council must develop a new precinct plan for the Victoria Park area that prioritises access to green space, supports local amenity and includes a comprehensive stakeholder engagement plan. They must also produce a transport connectivity plan to ensure the precinct is accessible, sustainable and efficient during the Games and beyond. We know there are a range of views among Brisbane residents about the idea of a stadium in Victoria Park, and that's understandable. Victoria Park is a cherished open space with a long history. That is precisely why our funding conditions emphasise a genuine consultation with local residents, with First Nations communities and with all stakeholders who will be affected. The community must be heard and respected as these decisions are made. In the past couple of months we have also signed a new intergovernmental agreement with the Crisafulli government, setting out how our two governments can work together to deliver the games. This agreement outlines the conditions under which Commonwealth funds can be used—including requirements to maintain stakeholder and community support—to deliver comprehensive engagement for the Victoria Park precinct and to ensure the Commonwealth representation on the Brisbane 2032 Olympics organising committee board. This is what responsible government looks like: partnering with the state, ensuring transparency and making sure that Australians get the greatest possible benefit from this historic opportunity. And, of course, our commitment to the games builds on the $12.4 billion the Albanese government is already investing in Queensland transport projects that will keep people moving during the games and for decades after. That includes $7.2 billion to upgrade the Bruce Highway, faster rail from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, and stage 1 of the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line project. The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games will be a defining national moment, but, more importantly, the games will shape the Queensland that we pass on to the future generations. Together with the Queensland government, we are working to deliver the venues, the transport links and the community facilities that will serve our state long after these games have gone. When all levels of government work together, we can cross the finish line and deliver. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and we are determined to get it right.
Repeal Net Zero Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
It has now been endorsed by the members for Goldstein, Moncrieff and Berowra. It has been backed by Senators Hume, Kovacic and Bragg, which is confusing, seeing as Senator Bragg threatened to...
It has now been endorsed by the members for Goldstein, Moncrieff and Berowra. It has been backed by Senators Hume, Kovacic and Bragg, which is confusing, seeing as Senator Bragg threatened to quit the front bench if the Liberals dumped net zero. Does this mean there's a vacancy in the shadow cabinet? Is the member for Canning eyeing it off? The party that introduced net zero targets when last in government have now dumped them—but then stated they support the Paris Agreement—and the former cancels out the latter; it simply doesn't make sense. From the number of backflips on policy we witnessed during the election campaign and continue to see now, you'd think they're eyeing off the green and gold jerseys of the Australian Olympic gymnastics team! The party that once claimed the legacy of Menzies has now proudly transformed itself into the party of Barnaby Joyce. The coalition are opposed to net zero emissions, but they are committed to winning net zero seats. While they're busy trying to reinvent themselves—or, rather, regress themselves—here are the facts. The Albanese government is delivering a responsible, sensible and effective energy plan. We have delivered three rounds of targeted power bill relief, we capped gas prices when it mattered and we have invested heavily in cheap, clean renewable energy, and those opposite voted against every one of those measures. Every time we backed Australians, those opposite backed higher bills. And what happened when we took action? Wholesale electricity prices fell by a third in the last quarter, not by accident and not by chance but by this government acting when the opposition refused to. We want wholesale price drops to flow through to retail bills as fast as possible, and the experts warn that delays would do the opposite. The Australian Energy Market Commission reported that delaying renewable generation and transmission would put upward pressure on electricity bills. If you delay, you pay, and delay is exactly what the coalition is offering. Our plan is working. Last month, renewables supplied half of the national electricity market. Last year alone, more than five gigawatts of new solar, wind, battery and gas capacity entered the system. We have approved 111 renewable and related projects, which will be enough to power 13 million homes. More than one in three Australian households now have rooftop solar, with over four million solar installations, and the great state of Queensland is leading the way. Since July, more than 120,000 household batteries have been installed, which has boosted the national battery capacity by 50 per cent. We have introduced overdue energy market reforms to ensure consumers get the best deals possible. Compare that to the decade of disaster delivered by those opposite. During those opposite's time in government, 24 out of Australia's 28 coal-fired power stations announced their closure. And what did they do? Absolutely nothing. There was no replacement plan, no transition plan, no grid modernisation—net zero action. They announced 23 different energy policies and did not land a single one—not one! Their chaos created the energy mess that Australians are still paying for today. We know what doing nothing looks like. Research shows household power bills could rise by $449 a year by 2030 if Australia slows renewable investment and leans on coal and gas. Prices could climb by more than $600 a year if a major coal plant fails unexpectedly. Treasury warns that abandoning net zero would mean lower growth, fewer jobs, higher prices and less investment. A disorderly transition would cost the economy $1.2 trillion by 2050. Recent research shows that electricity prices today would be 50 per cent higher if Australia had relied entirely on coal and gas instead of investing in renewables. While the coalition argues about whether climate change is real, this government is lowering emissions, driving investment and modernising the grid, fighting for a safer and cleaner and more prosperous future. (Time expired)
I begin by offering my congratulations to the member for New England because something remarkable has happened. Every single part of the bill he has dumped before this parliament, the Repeal Net...
I begin by offering my congratulations to the member for New England because something remarkable has happened. Every single part of the bill he has dumped before this parliament, the Repeal Net Zero Bill, is now official coalition policy. Every line, every sentence and every bold claim have all now been adopted by those opposite, which is truly remarkable, seeing as everyone opposite, except the member for New England, voted against debating on this private member's bill. Even the member for New England's seconder didn't want to have this debate.
Medicare | Constituency Statements | House debates
Regardless of your income, your postcode or your circumstances, you should be able to see a doctor when you need it. Labor is making this a reality with the largest-ever investment into Medicare....
Regardless of your income, your postcode or your circumstances, you should be able to see a doctor when you need it. Labor is making this a reality with the largest-ever investment into Medicare. When we came to government, Australians were facing the toughest health system pressures in decades. Too many families were being forced to choose between paying for groceries and paying to see a doctor. Our latest and largest Medicare investment is supporting doctors in the community to treat their patients for free. The Deception Bay doctors are the latest to become fully bulk-billed. They join many other 100 per cent bulk-billed practices in my community—Our Medical Home North Lakes, Woody Point Medical Centre, Clontarf Bridge Medical Centre, Best Health Medical Centre, Medical Zone Family Practice, Griffin Medical Centre and Deception Bay Family Medical Centre. These wonderful clinics are dedicated to providing affordable health care for their patients. But I know we need more. Our government is committed to making nine out of 10 GP visits bulk-billed by 2030. Our Medicare urgent care clinics are taking the pressure off hospitals and emergency departments. The clinic at Murrumba Downs has just reached 26,000 visits. Each one of those visits was 100 per cent free. We are also delivering on mental health, with 50 Medicare mental health facilities now open across the country. The Redcliffe Medicare Mental Health Centre is officially open and delivering locals free, confidential, walk-in mental health support. The Staying Deadly headspace will be opening its doors December this year. This will be the first headspace service in Australia designed by First Nations people for First Nations people, their families and their friends. Operated by the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, the centre will offer culturally appropriate, community led support. I thank the assistant minister, Emma McBride, for her work on getting this essential facility into my community. Medicare is one of the proudest achievements in our nation's history. It's a Labor legacy that we are working hard to strengthen. Labor built Medicare, and Labor are strengthening Medicare. We are doing the work, but we can't do it alone. To meet the needs of our growing community, we need the Queensland state government to get on with the Redcliffe Hospital expansion. This project was well underway under the previous Queensland government. The groundwork was done, the plans were in motion and the community was ready. But now the site sits idle. The work has stalled, and my community is crying out for progress. It has been paused for so long that the pilings are weathering in the sun and the rain. If we wait much longer, we risk having to redo the groundwork altogether, wasting time and taxpayer money. Every day this project is delayed our doctors, nurses and patients are forced to make do in a hospital that's already stretched beyond its limits. Redcliffe deserves better. The delays must stop. So I'm calling on the Queensland government to restart the work. Pick up the tools. Let's finish the job.
Deputy Speaker, I acknowledge your great work on the Speaker's panel so far.
VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I'm proud to speak in strong support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025. This bill goes to the heart of something that Labor believes in: building the skilled workforce...
I'm proud to speak in strong support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025. This bill goes to the heart of something that Labor believes in: building the skilled workforce Australia needs now and into the future. The VET Student Loans program makes vocational education and training more accessible to Australians by providing opportunities for students to undertake a VET course and defer their tuition fees through an income-contingent loan. It's a system that gives Australians from all walks of life a chance to gain qualifications in high-demand fields, from engineering and project management to occupational trades like plumbing, carpentry and electrical work. This bill ensures the system remains fair, transparent and secure. Under the current law, students applying for a VET student loan must provide their tax file number. This is essential because, like university HECS style loans, repayments are made through the Australian tax system. The tax file number ensures that the student's loan details align with Australian Taxation Office records. However, due to a recent review of how VET student loans are administrated, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations identified a legislative grey area: the VET Student Loans Act 2016 did not explicitly authorise providers to handle tax file numbers, even though this has been a practical necessity since the beginning of this program. The department also identified that improvements could be made to better align legislation, IT systems and privacy safeguards. We have acted to fix that. Since early 2025, updates have been made to the department's IT systems. These updates now mask students' tax file numbers and automate the secure transfer of data between student interface and government systems. This means VSL providers no longer need to directly handle tax file numbers at all. The bill before the House today therefore does two things. It retrospectively authorises VSL providers' past handling of student tax file numbers for the purpose of administrating VET student loans and it authorises the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations's past disclosure of those tax file numbers to providers for the same purpose. This measure applies to all current and former VSL providers and their officers who handled tax file numbers between 1 January 2017 and 30 September 2025 as well as the secretary of the department, the Commissioner of Taxation and the relevant Commonwealth officers. By clarifying this legal authority, we protect both students and providers from uncertainty about past administrative processes and we reinforce confidence in the ongoing integrity of the system. Importantly, there have been no student complaints about the handling of tax file numbers under the program since its commencement in 2017. This bill simply ensures that the administrative reality of the past eight years is now aligned with the law and that the program continues to operate smoothly and securely. While this bill is technical in nature, it speaks to something much broader: Labor's unwavering commitment to rebuilding Australia's vocational education and training system. The truth is that the VET sector is crucial for the future of Australian industries. It trains the builders who construct our homes, the electricians who power our cities, the nurses who care for us and the clean-energy workers driving our transition to a net zero future. That's why the Albanese Labor government is building Australia's future and boosting the workforce we need to deliver it. We are investing in priority occupations and creating a modern, adaptable apprenticeship system, one that's critical to our nation's future productivity and prosperity. Labor knows apprentices are essential to Australia's growth. They're the young people and the career-changers picking up the tools, learning the trades and gaining the skills our country needs. That's why we've implemented targeted measures to ease the cost-of-living pressures for apprentices and support employers with training costs. From 1 July 2025, the government expanded the Key Apprenticeship Program to include a housing construction apprenticeship stream, offering up to $10,000 in financial incentives to new apprentices in construction, and it's already working. In just the first three months of the program we've seen 4,700 new apprentices commenced training as plumbers, electricians and carpenters. We've also extended the Australian apprentice training support payment and the priority hiring incentive by six months to the end of 2025. These provide up to $5,000 to apprentices and employers in priority occupations. For those who relocate for work, the living away from home allowance has been increased for the first time in more than 20 years, from $77 to $120 a week for first-year apprentices and similar rises for second- and third-year apprentices. For the apprentices with disability, we've increased the disability Australian apprentice wage support payment from $104 to $216 per week, the first increase since 1998, back when I was four years old. It's time for a change. And we have scrapped unnecessary red tape that force annual rechecks. These measures are about more than cost-of-living relief. They're about fairness, opportunity and inclusion. And we can see the results. There are currently 300,000 apprentices in training across Australia, up by 15 per cent compared to pre-COVID levels. Over the last financial year, more than 62,000 employers and 119,000 apprentices received incentive payments. Trade completions are up 8.7 per cent compared to last year and a remarkable 34 per cent compared to before the pandemic. In Queensland, apprenticeship commencements and completions have risen steadily under Labor, particularly in construction, electrical and engineering trades. In my own electorate of Petrie, as of December 2024 there were 1,480 apprentices and trainees in training, young locals and career changes, gaining practical skills that lead to secure, well-paid work. These are people who will build our homes, wire our renewable energy systems and drive the next generation of Queensland industry. Only Labor is the party of free TAFE. We are delivering real cost-of-living relief and valuable skills to Australians through the most significant investment in vocational education in decades. More than 685,000 Australians have already enrolled in free TAFE courses under the Albanese government. There are thousands of opportunities to get skilled and start a career in the sectors our country needs most. And almost 200,000 Australians have already completed their qualifications. That's hundreds of thousands of Australians who can now access better jobs with higher wages without being crushed by student debt. These are the skills Australia needs, and they're being taught in our TAFEs now free of charge. For students in my electorate of Petrie, this means life-changing savings. These are real dollars staying in the pockets of local students and families, opening doors that might otherwise have stayed closed. That's what Labor's free TAFE program is about. Under Labor, free TAFE isn't a short-term pilot; it's a permanent pillar of our education system. We've locked in 100,000 free TAFE places every year from 2027, guaranteeing a pipeline of skilled workers for the future. Labor is also delivering fairer loan arrangements for all students, whether they study at TAFE or at university. We're cutting 20 per cent off all student debt and raising the minimum repayment threshold so repayment only starts when graduates are earning more. This one-off reduction applies to over 280,000 VET student loan and Australian apprenticeship support loan accounts, cutting more than $500 million off student balances. That's real relief for apprentices, tradies and students, who keep our economy running. Labor is a party of education, whether it's TAFE or university. We believe in giving Australians every chance to succeed. The VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 might be a small technical bill, but it sits within a much larger Labor mission to rebuild vocational education, restore fairness and ensure that every Australian has access to skills, opportunity and secure employment. We're making sure that the VET system supports our nation's big goals, from building 1.2 million new homes to transforming our energy grid to expanding our care economy. We're supporting more women in trades through the $60 million Building Women's Careers Program, partnering with business, industry and education institutions to create inclusive higher-paying jobs. We're reforming apprenticeships, strengthening pathways and investing in institutions that deliver quality training: our TAFEs. We know that, when Australians have the chance to learn, they have the power to build their future and our nation's future. This bill is about good governance, ensuring that the VET student loan system remains compliant, fair and effective. But it's also about Labor's bigger story—one of investment, fairness and nation-building through education. In my electorate of Petrie, I've met apprentices training to become electricians and nurses, people retraining in the care sector and parents returning to study through free TAFE. Each one of them is building a better life because of the choices the Labor government has made. This bill ensures that their opportunities are backed by integrity and security. It is part of a broader vision: a skills system that gives every Australian the chance to learn, contribute and prosper. When we invest in skills, we invest in people. When we invest in people, we build communities. And when we build communities, we build Australia's future.
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
Australia's biodiversity is one of the richest and most extraordinary on Earth. From our ancient rainforests and our vast deserts to our coastal wetlands and coral reefs, we are home to species...
Australia's biodiversity is one of the richest and most extraordinary on Earth. From our ancient rainforests and our vast deserts to our coastal wetlands and coral reefs, we are home to species and ecosystems found nowhere else. This diversity is not just a source of national pride but also the foundation of our national strength. Healthy ecosystems support our economy, our communities and our way of life. They filter our air and water and protect our coastlines from erosion. They provide the natural resources and services that sustain agriculture, tourism and industry, and, for many of us, keep a steady flow of water from our taps, whenever we need it—something that's often taken for granted. Without birds, and bees and insects transferring pollen from one plant to another, our crops would fail. Without wetlands filtering and storing water, our rivers would run dry. Without our riparian zones, urban and agricultural run-off would pollute our waterways, leading to algal blooms and species loss. Without forests absorbing carbon, our climate would be harsher and more volatile. Without forests, our climate is further dysregulated and our soils are poorer. These ecosystem services are the quiet workhorses of our economy. They save us billions of dollars every year by doing what no technology can fully replicate. Protecting them is not just good environmental policy; it is sound economic policy. We also know the benefit of natural spaces to our mental and physical health. Parks, trails and gardens give people places to connect with nature, to exercise and to find calm. They bring shade and lower the temperatures of our suburbs. They make our cities more liveable and resilient to heat. Our beaches are a quintessential part of our identity as Australians. Ensuring that we can continue to enjoy these spaces is vital. That is why restoring and protecting nature must go hand in hand with building homes and infrastructure for the future. That is the principle at the heart of these reforms. For far too many homes in Australia, it takes longer to get an approval than it takes to build. That captures one of the biggest challenges our nation faces. A system meant to balance growth and environmental protection has, instead, become a barrier to both. It is holding back housing supply, making it harder for Australians to own a home and slowing the renewable energy infrastructure needed for our future. That is why the Albanese Labor government is reforming Australia's national environmental laws to make them stronger, fairer and more effective—because protecting our environment and building the homes Australians need are not competing priorities; they are connected goals. Healthy environments create healthy communities, and thriving communities need affordable, sustainable housing. Both depend on good planning, clear rules and a system that delivers outcomes rather than obstacles. In August this year the government announced that it would fast-track 26,000 homes currently under environmental assessment. That builds on our ambitious $43 billion housing agenda—the most comprehensive housing plan in a generation. But, on its own, fast-tracking only treats the symptom. The measures in this bill tackle the underlying cause of delay while delivering greater protections for nature. The reforms before the House are the most significant overhaul of our environmental laws in nearly 25 years, which were first introduced when I was five years old. It is time for reform. When the EPBC Act was first introduced in 1999 its aim was to protect matters of national environmental significance while supporting sustainable development. Over time the system became bogged down with complexity, duplication and delay. Assessments drag on for years, proponents face uncertainty and communities lose trust that environmental protections are enforced. In that vacuum, homes and habitats both suffer. That is why this government has gone back to first principles to build a system that protects nature while supporting reasonable growth. These reforms rests on three pillars: firstly, stronger environmental protections and restoration not just to look after our special places but to regenerate them for future generations; secondly, more efficient and robust project assessments and approvals, enabling faster, better decisions on national priorities like renewable energy, manufacturing and housing; and, thirdly, greater accountability and transparency, delivering on our election commitment for a national environmental protection agency. Delivering on these pillars is critical to building the housing we need. We have heard loud and clear from industry, communities and experts that the current system is not working. Assessments under the EPBC Act are unpredictable, take too long and create uncertainty across the economy. That is not good for builders, buyers, workers or investors and is not good for the environment. The slow and inconsistent system does not protect nature; it leaves projects proceeding without the strategic planning and restoration frameworks that these reforms will deliver. These changes address the challenge head-on. By working cooperatively with states and territories while maintaining strong Commonwealth standards, by adopting landscape-scale approaches to environmental restoration and approvals, and by streamlining assessment pathways so that good projects move forward quicker and bad projects are stopped early, these changes together will create a system that is faster, fairer and more predictable without compromising environmental standards. We reject the idea that we must choose between a strong environment and a strong economy. Our natural environment underpins our long-term prosperity. A well-designed regulatory system can and must deliver both. These bills are not a tug-of-war between protecting nature and addressing our housing shortage; they are about designing a system that does both, protecting our most precious natural assets while unlocking the homes and infrastructure Australians need. The coalition have made it clear that they are not interested in how these reforms will help solve the housing shortage. In fact, they're not interested in housing at all. They checked out of housing for nine years in government. For most of that time they did not even have a housing minister. In opposition they have voted against new homes at every opportunity. Just this week the member for Wright said they didn't have a housing problem back when the coalition was in government, further proving how out of touch they are. The opposition have shown that they are only interested in saying 'no' to progress, to solutions, to responsibility and to each other. They have a choice this term: continue to play political games or work with us to tackle this generational challenge. Australians have seen through opposition for opposition's sake. The coalition should heed the message and work constructively with the government to reform Australia's environmental laws and help fix the housing crisis. The same goes for the Greens. When it comes to housing, the Greens too often choose politics over progress. Australians are tired of slogans; they want solutions. The Greens should heed the same message as the coalition and work with the government to deliver these long overdue environmental reforms. For our part, the Albanese Labor government has been clear and consistent. We are getting on the job of fixing a system that has failed for too long. We are rebuilding the foundations of a fair and sustainable housing market and restoring integrity and accountability to environmental decision-making. Communities should trust that projects meet the highest standards. Industry should know that if they do the right thing they will be treated fairly and efficiently. That is why establishing the National Environmental Protection Agency is so important. For too long, decisions have been clouded by uncertainty and mistrust. The new agency will provide independent oversight, ensure that standards are applied consistently and enforce the law when breaches occur. Australians deserve confidence that our environment is being protected and that our laws are being upheld. We are living in the era of unprecedented change. Climate change, biodiversity loss and population growth demand a more integrated approach that will help unlock the homes and communities that Australians need to thrive. I want to acknowledge the people who have fought tirelessly to see these changes come to life. Back in 2018, more than 500 Labor branches voted for stronger national environmental laws. In my electorate, branch members are tireless in their environmental advocacy. I want to thank the rank-and-file branch members who have pushed for this legislation, the people who know that real reform starts in communities, not in Canberra. This is community led, ground-up policy. They recognise that our environment is not a political issue but a shared responsibility. I want to thank the environment minister, Senator the Hon. Murray Watt, for his tireless work on this reform. I also want to acknowledge the contribution to these reforms by the previous minister for environment, Minister Tanya Plibersek. Our natural environment is one of the greatest gifts we can pass on. The next generation deserves to inherit clean rivers, thriving forests and protected coastlines. They also deserve to inherit cities and towns where they can afford to live, to raise a family and to build a life. We can do both, we must do both, and we will do both. As with nature, everything is connected, and this government believes that good policy is not choosing one priority over another but finding a way to advance both. That is what these reforms will do. We need to get this done. It's time to act, to deliver on what Australians put us here to do. Every day we delay is a day the environment is degrading further. Every day we delay is one that we could be building the renewable energy and the housing that we need for the future.
Housing | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting first home buyers into their own homes sooner, and...
My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting first home buyers into their own homes sooner, and what other approaches to housing is the government being asked to consider?
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union | Private Members' Business | House debates
Let's be absolutely clear. The Albanese Labor government does not tolerate corruption, criminality or violence in any part of the construction industry. Meaningful reform requires collective,...
Let's be absolutely clear. The Albanese Labor government does not tolerate corruption, criminality or violence in any part of the construction industry. Meaningful reform requires collective, ongoing efforts by all stakeholders. These problems are deeply embedded in the industry and have been decades in the making. They will not be solved overnight. The coalition and its failed and discredited ABCC utterly failed to deal with these problems. In fact, the appalling culture in the construction industry flourished under their watch. Multiple individuals involved in corruption, criminality and violence were allowed to retain their positions and continue their unlawful activities. Now, we are cleaning up the mess. Following multiple referrals from the Albanese Labor government, regulators and law enforcement agencies are now working in a coordinated manner through the joint agency working group to stamp out corruption and violence within the construction industry. These include the AFP, state and territory police forces, the Fair Work Commission's general manager, the Fair Work Ombudsman, ASIC, the ATO and AUSTRAC. We have also taken tangible action to address misconduct within the CFMEU's construction division by placing it under a scheme of administration for up to five years. This administration has achieved more progress in 15 months than the failed ABCC managed in a decade. So far, the administrator has: removed or accepted the resignation of more than 60 staff; developed a national code of conduct and statement of expectations for all staff; made absolutely clear where the union stands on gifts, organised crime and menacing behaviour and the consequences of breaching those standards; and established several inquiries into state branches of the CFMEU. The administrator, respected barrister Mark Irving KC, is undertaking complex and often dangerous work. He regularly acts on credible information received through a confidential whistleblower complaints process which has already received more than 500 complaints. He has initiated numerous investigations into the New South Wales, Queensland and Victorian branches of the CFMEU as well as into the union's finances and the Building Industry 2000 fund. Mr Irving has taken proactive action in response to these reports including: disciplinary measures; dismissals and expulsions of individuals from the union; issuing new contracts that set out clear standards of behaviour; establishing cultural change programs; and issuing notices to produce. This is what real reform looks like. We have full faith in Mr Irving's integrity and independence. Matters regarding the appointment of officers and staff of the union are for him to determine, not for politicians to interfere with. The government's actions are already delivering results, but we also know that the problems are not confined to the CFMEU alone. Other parts of the industry, including employers and contractors, will have a significant role to play in cleaning up the construction sector. There are no quick fixes, but the government is committed to the task. That is why we have established the National Construction Industry Forum. The NCIF meets at least twice a year and has endorsed a blueprint of reform that includes immediate work on the Joint Construction Industry Charter, setting shared goals and expectations for all construction industry participants. This is long-term work that is needed to make sure the industry is not only free from corruption but also productive and sustainable. It stands in stark contrast to the years of neglect under the coalition, who turned a blind eye while those problems took root. Every major allegation of criminality in the sector occurred while the ABCC was in operation. The ABCC was ineffective, politicised and a waste of public funds. The appropriate response to criminal activity is not political theatre; it is a police response. That is exactly what the government has delivered—coordinated enforcement through the AFP, state and territory police, and regulatory agencies, all working alongside the CFMEU administrator to restore integrity. Our government will not politicise ongoing investigations, nor will we allow anyone to be above the law. It was on the opposition 's watch that organised crime elements infiltrated the construction industry. They had nine years to act, and they failed. By contrast, this government has acted decisively, transparently and effectively. We are empowering whistleblowers, supporting law enforcement and working with the industry to change its culture from the ground up. This is a government committed to ensuring Australia's construction industry is one we can all be proud of. The Albanese Labor government will continue to take strong, coordinated action to stamp out corruption and criminality wherever it occurs, and we will continue to stand up for the thousands of honest workers who deserve a clean industry, decent pay and safe workplaces.
Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
The price of a cold beer has been rising, and our pubs and clubs are struggling. Labor always hops at the opportunity to support venues, workers and consumers. Local businesses poured their...
The price of a cold beer has been rising, and our pubs and clubs are struggling. Labor always hops at the opportunity to support venues, workers and consumers. Local businesses poured their hearts out, and, to help them get ahead, we've introduced a freeze in the draught beer excise. Just like the bubbles in a freshly poured beer, Labor is rising to the occasion. The Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 is not mid strength and frothy; it's full strength, perfect pour. This has been brewing for a while. Many venues are 'barley' surviving—forgive me! Much like the WA emu, we run at great speeds to support our hospitality industry. We give a XXXX about supporting small business. From the great northern Australia to Carlton to the Cascades in the bottom of Tassie, the draught beer excise will support everyone. The bill is 'lager' than life. Constant price hikes leave a 'bitters' taste in the mouth. We're helping with the cost of living whether you buy one beer or Tooheys. If you don't support this bill, you don't have a keg to stand on. But, at the end of the day, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. Don't feel 'Coopered' up; get out there and support your local business. Quench your thirst with a hard-earned cold beer. In Queensland, the weather is heating up. As the temperatures rise, there is one thing on everyone's mind: a cold beer at the local pub. A beer culture has long been essential to the Australian social life, for catching up with mates, celebrations or a stop on the way home from work. The local pub or club is not just a place for drinking; it's part of our culture. Unfortunately, the price of a cold pint has been rapidly rising in the past years. The Albanese Labor government has introduced legislation to freeze indexation of excise and customs duty on draught beer for two years, a practical step that will deliver real relief for beer drinkers, brewers and local pubs right across Australia. This is a win for small business and supporting venues that are the hearts of so many towns. It's a win for our pubs, clubs and hospitality workers. It's a measure that will help keep prices steady and give business owners some breathing room as they continue to manage rising costs. For decades, excise and customs duties on draught beer have been indexed to the consumer price index twice a year. This legislation will lock in a freeze. This is a commonsense measure, part of our government's broader plan to ease cost-of-living pressures on Australians and to help small businesses stay full strength. Alongside this freeze, the government is delivering further tax relief for Australian distillers, brewers and wine producers. The annual excise remission cap for eligible alcohol manufacturers will increase from $350,000 to $400,000, and the wine equalisation tax producer rebate will rise to $400,000 from 1 July 2026. We know that every bit of relief matters. Whether it's a tax cut for every taxpayer, help with energy bills or support for local businesses, our government is doing everything we can to make life a bit easier. By freezing the indexation on draught beer excise and customs duty, we're taking pressures off pubs and brewers and helping sustain 160,000 jobs in the hospitality sector. This is about backing small businesses, protecting local jobs and strengthening the communities that bring Australians together. Let's talk about who this bill really is for: the people in places behind every pour. Pubs and clubs have been under pressure, and any extra cost hurts. Across Australia, there are around 10,000 hospitality venues that serve draught beer. Around three-quarters of them are small businesses. Behind every tap and counter stands a small army, around 160,000 workers across the hospitality sector, pouring beers, cleaning glasses, greeting guests and making sure that their customers feel at home. Many of them are students, part-timers, parents or long-term locals whose livelihoods depend on the continued viability of these venues. When we talk about freezing the excise on draught beer, we're not just talking about economics or taxation; we're talking about protecting local jobs and giving small businesses a bit of breathing room. We're talking about keeping the doors open on venues that are often the heart and soul of their community: the home of trivia nights, charity raffles and community fundraisers. Each of those 10,000 venues is more than a business. When we help them stay viable, we're helping keep 160,000 Australians employed. That's what this bill is about: giving our hospitality industry the fair go it deserves. By easing the tax burden on draught beer, this bill helps those 10,000 venues and 160,000 workers weather the rising costs and uncertainty. It means pubs and clubs can reinvest in their staff, upgrade equipment or simply keep the prices steady for their patrons. This bill means that more money stays in local communities instead of being lost to compounding costs. It's about preserving spaces that bring people together, because, when small businesses stay open, workers stay employed and locals stay connected. It's not just good policy; it's good community. I want to give a shout-out to some of the great local venues in Petrie that keep our community buzzing. There's the Scarborough Bowls Club, where the post-game schooners always hit the spot. Over at the Redcliffe Leagues Club, home to the mighty Dolphins, you can grab a cheap meal with your membership card; I always keep mine on hand. The Bramble Bay Bowls Club is always full of locals enjoying barefoot bowls, and Scarborough Brewery is a place to enjoy a weekend pint. It's always a treat to have a drink at the Aspley Memorial Bowls Club—who also just opened a brand new green—and, of course, the Mango Hill Tavern remains a local favourite. These are the venues where stories are shared, friendships are made and the community comes alive. Freezing the draught beer excise isn't just about saving a few dollars; it's about backing the places that bring people together every single week. The next time you head to your local for a cold beer, you are less likely to feel the sting of another price hike. The Albanese government's decision to hold off on increasing the tax on beer poured from the tap will help keep prices steadier, protect local jobs and make it a little easier for everyone enjoying a night out. You can buy a round without copping too much damage to the hip pocket. This is about slowing the constant creep in prices that Australians have been facing on every bill, every grocery store visit and every drink purchased. For years, the excise on draught beer has gone up every February and August, quietly adding cents to every pint. Those few cents might not sound like much, but over time they add up. For venues under pressure, that often meant passing on the cost to consumers. By pausing those increases for two years, the government is giving both venues and customers a fair go. For beer drinkers, that means more certainty when you order at the bar. Your favourite schooner, pint or jug is less likely to go up in price. It's a small but meaningful way to ease the cost-of-living pressures that hit home in everyday moments. But it's not just about the money; it's about preserving the ritual that brings Australians together. When prices climb too high, that experience becomes less accessible. By freezing the indexation, we're helping make sure that catching up with friends over a draught beer remains part of Australian life and not a luxury. In short, this is policy that people can feel in their wallets, in their communities and in everyday moments that make life in Australia a little bit better. The freeze on the draught beer excise and customs duty is just one part of the Albanese Labor government's broader plan to make life easier for Australians. It sits alongside a range of measures designed to ease cost-of-living pressures, boost disposable income and keep our economy strong. Across the country, people are feeling the pinch. Families are managing higher grocery bills and rents, and small businesses are balancing tighter margins. In times like this, we need practical, responsible steps that make a real difference in everyday life. That's exactly what this government is doing. By freezing the indexation on draught beer excise for two years, Labor is preventing another automatic increase in cost for pubs, clubs and breweries. These are costs that often flow straight through to consumers. For the everyday Australian, it means one less price rise at the bar. It means the local pub can keep prices steady instead of passing on another increase. It's a small, sensible way of taking pressure off while helping local businesses stay afloat. But this measure is part of something bigger. Labor's plan for cost-of-living relief is comprehensive and targeted, focused on areas that matter to most families, workers and small businesses. We've delivered tax cuts for every taxpayer so Australians are keeping more of what they earn. We've provided energy bill relief to help households manage rising power costs. We've made child care more affordable, we've cut the cost of medicines and we're building more affordable housing to give more Australians security and stability. When we put all this together, it adds up to real tangible support. It's about balance and doing what's right for households today while keeping our economy in good shape for tomorrow. Freezing the draught beer excise is one of those smaller targeted actions that shows how we can make smart decisions to support both people and businesses. We want people to enjoy a meal out without worrying about prices creeping up again and to know their local pub can keep its doors open without cutting staff. That's what this freeze helps protect—the simple pleasures and social connections that mean so much to so many Australians. This is what good Labor policy looks like—responsible economic management combined with fairness and compassion. We're backing working Australians, supporting small business and ensuring everyone gets a fair go. Whether it's keeping the lights on, keeping the fridge full or keeping a pint affordable, the message is the same: Labor is focused on easing the pressure, supporting communities and helping Australians get ahead. Let's take a moment to raise our metaphorical glasses to the pubs, the bowls clubs and the local bartenders. Cheers to an affordable cold beer on a hot day. Without further ado, I'll conclude my contribution to this debate and tap out!
Medicare | Statements by Members | House debates
Labor built Medicare, and we'll always fight to strengthen it. When you're sick, seeing a doctor shouldn't be a struggle. That's why our government is delivering the single largest investment in...
Labor built Medicare, and we'll always fight to strengthen it. When you're sick, seeing a doctor shouldn't be a struggle. That's why our government is delivering the single largest investment in Medicare ever, expanding bulk-billing so more Australians can see a GP for free. For the first time, we're boosting payments to practices that bulk-bill every payment, helping deliver 18 million bulk-billed visits each year. From Saturday, locals in Deception Bay will be able to access fully bulk-billed care thanks to the Deception Bay doctors taking up these incentives. I'd like to thank this clinic for its commitment to providing the community with accessible health care. By 2030, nine in 10 GP visits will be bulk-billed. This means affordable and accessible for every Australian, right where they live. We're also delivering on mental health. Fifty new Medicare mental health centres are now open across the country. I spoke to the team at the new Redcliffe centre today, and they are thrilled by how many locals will now be able to access the health care that they need. Finally, I'm delighted to announce the Deception Bay Staying Deadly headspace centre will open in December this year. This will be the first headspace service in Australia designed for First Nations people, their families and their friends. Operated by the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, this centre will offer culturally appropriate community led support. We're investing in your health, your community and your future so that every Australian can get the care they need when they need it.
Raise Our Voice Australia | Statements by Members | House debates
Today I have the pleasure of reading visions of the future from 21-year-old Mia, as part of our Raise Our Voice campaign: As a child, I saw the government making true progress. It was progressive...
Today I have the pleasure of reading visions of the future from 21-year-old Mia, as part of our Raise Our Voice campaign: As a child, I saw the government making true progress. It was progressive policy, people-focused policy that allowed a kid born into an abusive and uncertain living situation to dream of bigger and better things. I was proud of my country because I knew as a whole, we were progressing towards a greater and brighter future for everyone. However, as I got older, I suppose my rose-tinted glasses were cracked slightly. When I was in high school, particularly in the pandemic period, the progressive policy appeared to falter. Decisions to increase the fees of certain degrees had me questioning my future. Perhaps attending a tertiary institution isn't a key step in breaking generational burdens for everyone- but for me, and many more it is. That is only one example of backwards policy changing my perspective, as a young person, of what my future will look like. Parties making shameful statements about my rights as a women, division over the rights of First Nations people, over the correct way to handle children who have turned to crime. It isn't the progressive Australia that lifted me up as a child. So, to the Government, I put this to you: please do not shy away from progressive policy. Do not go backwards in the ways we have seen our foreign neighbours regress. Australia was built on progress, innovation, and lifting up those who need it most. You never know, there just might be a little kid watching Question Time the way same I used to, dreaming up her future. And trust me. Her perception of her government's progression is everything. It is our future.
Petrie Electorate: Volunteering | Statements by Members | House debates
I want to take a moment to recognise the incredible work of the Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary, which is a group of dedicated volunteers who have been the quiet heroes of our hospital community for...
I want to take a moment to recognise the incredible work of the Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary, which is a group of dedicated volunteers who have been the quiet heroes of our hospital community for decades. Last financial year the volunteers clocked up 1,596 volunteer hours at the gift shop, where they sell handmade goods, and almost 2,000 hours in the workroom undertaking various tasks to support the wards. These tireless volunteers have raised over $1 million under the dedicated leadership of President Liz Hancock. These funds go directly towards improving the care of hospital patients. Whether it's fundraising for vital equipment, supporting patients and families or bringing a friendly face to the wards, the auxiliary reminds me that the community spirit is alive and well in my community. Their generosity and hard work make a real, tangible difference in the lives of patients and staff every single day. At the recent Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary AGM we heard from Kerry and the incredible team at Bright Bags. Bright Bags supports vulnerable children and young people in the Moreton Bay region and surrounds. They link with schools and child safety and foster care services to provide a range of bags filled with essential items and goodies to children in need. The way that Kerry speaks about spoiling these children simply because they deserve to be spoiled and loved is heartwarming. In one year alone Bright Bags delivered almost 4,000 bags to children in need. With Christmas around the corner Bright Bags is on track to deliver the much needed, much loved Christmas bags to even more children. I'm proud to support these incredible organisations.
Timber industry | Private Members' Business | House debates
Australia's forests are part of who we are. They tell a story of our continent—ancient, resilient, and rich in life. They sustain our wildlife, our soils and our water. They sustain...
Australia's forests are part of who we are. They tell a story of our continent—ancient, resilient, and rich in life. They sustain our wildlife, our soils and our water. They sustain communities right across regional Australia. A healthy forest means a healthy nation. That's why the Albanese Labor government stands unequivocally for a sustainable and innovative Australian forestry industry—one that protects our environment, strengthens our economy and provides secure, skilled jobs for regional Australians. We don't see forestry as a choice between jobs and the environment; we see it as a partnership between people, science and the land itself. Australia's forestry sector is a pillar of the regional economy, supporting over 51,000 direct jobs and contributing billions to the economy every single year. Our government is steadfast in its support for a sustainable and innovative Australian forestry industry, which includes both native forestry and plantations. Our approach is about balance: protecting the forests while managing the industry responsibly so they continue to provide the essential renewable materials Australians rely on every day. Because, when forestry is managed with care, when it is guided by evidence and long-term vision, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in regional prosperity and in environmental protection. This government has a clear, forward-looking plan for the future of forestry. We are backing the industry with record investment, supporting innovation, new skills and modern manufacturing that adds value right here at home. We're investing in the next generation of foresters, engineers and researchers through the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation, ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of sustainable timber science. This includes a landmark investment of $300 million to improve capacity, drive innovation and secure the jobs of the future in the forestry industry. We are building a workforce for the future through the Forestry Workforce Training Program, because the people working in our forests are the backbone of regional economies and the custodians of these landscapes. We're partnering with industry through programs that modernise processing, improve efficiency and create low-carbon materials that will help Australia build the homes and infrastructure for the future. We also recognise that forestry is more than just timber; it's about country. Over half of Australia's forested land lies on the Indigenous estate, a living testament to tens of thousands of years of stewardship. We are committed to working in partnership with First Nations peoples, learning from cultural knowledge that has sustained these ecosystems and prevented catastrophic fires for thousands of years. We continue to work closely with states, territories and industry through the Forestry Ministers' Meeting to ensure a stable and sustainable national framework that gives certainty to workers, businesses and communities alike. Australia's forestry sector supports thousands of jobs and contributes billions to our national economy, but, beyond these figures, it supports communities, towns and families that depend on the land and who understand the importance of caring for it. Our latest State of the forests report shows that the total area of Australia's forests continues to grow, proof that sustainable management and environmental protection go hand in hand. Forestry also plays a vital role in keeping our community safe. The industry's equipment, skills and experience are essential to fire management, from hazard reduction burns and firefighting to recovery after disasters. Our approach to forestry is rooted in balance—balancing conservation with jobs, sustainability with growth and tradition with innovation. We're investing in forest restoration, supporting new plantation projects and backing advanced manufacturing that adds value right here in Australia. A strong forestry sector doesn't just mean strong exports; it means strong regional communities, good local jobs and a healthy environment for generations to come. Working together with industry, workers and First Nations custodians, we can ensure that Australia's forests remain a source of pride well into the future. The Albanese Labor government is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the forestry sector because this is an industry that doesn't look backwards. It grows forward, it grows jobs, it grows innovation and it grows hope—hope for a future where sustainability and prosperity walk hand in hand. On this side of the House, we believe that the best way to protect our forests is to value them, not just as resources but as living systems that sustain our planet and our people. Through record investment, genuine collaboration and a deep respect for nature, we are ensuring that the forests we pass on to our children will be stronger, healthier and more resilient than the ones we inherited. That is Labor's vision: a sustainable, thriving forestry industry built on science, shaped by partnership and guided by the care of the land that sustains us all.