Alice Jordan-Baird's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
International Women's Day | Statements | House debates
Purple is the colour of International Women's Day. It was used in the women's suffrage movement. It's a symbol of dignity and justice, and it's a motif in the artistic expression of women, from...
Purple is the colour of International Women's Day. It was used in the women's suffrage movement. It's a symbol of dignity and justice, and it's a motif in the artistic expression of women, from Gwen Harwood's 'The Violets' to Taylor Swift's 'Lavender Haze'. It's a symbol of women's empowerment, and that's why we wear purple with pride on this side of the House. We're a government which lifts women up, which recognises the very real ways that women are still held back in our society and makes real change to remove these obstacles. It's why we've brought in paid prac so that women in female-dominated fields are paid during their placements. It's why we've expanded the Leaving Violence Program. It's why we've brought in cheaper child care and the three-day childcare guarantee. It's why we've secured a 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators, and it's why we're paying super on paid parental leave. You won't see much colour on that side of the House. Those opposite save their true colours for backroom deals—deals amongst men to undermine female leaders—and for reminding Australia, as the member for Longman did so eloquently, that women prefer hairdressing and men prefer maths. That's who they are. But it's not who we are. I'm so proud to be part of a Labor caucus that is 57 per cent women and to be part of a government that reflects modern Australia and which is making concrete change for the women of our country. That's why we wear purple today.
Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise today to speak in support of the Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025. This bill is about supporting our multicultural community. It's about making sure that members of our...
I rise today to speak in support of the Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025. This bill is about supporting our multicultural community. It's about making sure that members of our multicultural community are looked after. It's about strengthening an important and successful service, and ensuring that, when we look to the future, we see one where every single member of our multicultural community is taken care of. Australia's multicultural diversity is so important to who we are; it's so important to my community, where cultural festivals and local establishments bring people together; and it's so important to our country. We're living in a time when social cohesion is more important than ever—social cohesion or having respect and care for each other or celebrating both the things that make us different and the things that make us the same. This bill is about continuing our care for multicultural communities. It's about meeting them where they're at, ensuring that they can always access key services and supporting them to participate fully in the economic and social life of our country. This bill will establish a statutory framework for the translating and interpreting services provided by TIS National within the Department of Home Affairs. If enacted, the proposed legislation will ensure clear and enduring statutory support for TIS National. It won't change the way in which the services of TIS National are provided or funded. Rather, it will simply provide a clear legislative framework for the services, providing certainty and ensuring their continued availability to support our community into the future. With this bill, we're protecting the important services that TIS National provide to people with limited English language proficiency and ensuring that, no matter their level of English proficiency, every member of our community can access key services and support. TIS National is a translation and interpreting service operated within the Department of Home Affairs for the purpose of promoting equitable access to key services for people in our community with limited or no English language proficiency. It's a key mechanism by which we ensure that these members of our community aren't left behind. Many Australians may not have heard of TIS National, but it's a service we use regularly in our electorate office and in the wider community. It dates back to the late 1940s, when we welcomed a new wave of postwar migrants to settle in Australia. For many of us in this place, as well as many of my constituents, these migrants were our parents or our grandparents. It was actually the first time the Australian government opened its doors to migrants from beyond the British Isles, who spoke a mother tongue other than English. In that way, TIS National is one of the foundational services of modern multicultural Australia. Since the forties, these services have grown and evolved to meet the needs of the Australian community. In 1973, they included the world's first telephone interpreting services—still a core component of the TIS National services today. Today, TIS National's free interpreting services allow the government and other service providers to engage an interpreter or translator to assist in communicating with clients. Through TIS National, service providers can book a telephone, online or in-person appointment with a translator and can be connected directly to a phone interpreter within a few minutes of calling. Service providers that use TIS National include medical practitioners, allied health professionals, pharmacies, NGOs providing casework and emergency services, legal services, trade unions and real estate agencies. Indeed, TIS National performs a key function in ensuring good health outcomes for our multicultural communities. TIS National also accepts calls from people with limited proficiency themselves, giving them the option of arranging a translator themselves before engaging with the government or another service provider. It's actually the only interpretive service in Australia to offer this option. In 2026, TIS National has access to more than 2,700 language practitioners in over 150 languages. It operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and provides over 1.3 million interpreting services each year. It is the strong foundation on which all of our work to ensure that members of our multicultural communities have equitable access is built. Of course, when it comes to participating fully in Australian society, nothing can substitute for the ability to understand and speak English. TIS National is not a substitute for becoming proficient in English. Rather, it's an acknowledgement that learning a new language is no easy feat. For some people in our community, like women who are raising children and older first-generation migrants, learning English often means years of intentional effort and study, requiring them to seek out opportunities to learn and practise and find time to work on their English every single day. To support migrants to improve their English, the Adult Migrant English Program, provided by the Department of Home Affairs, offers free English tuition provided by a volunteer tutor to all migrants and humanitarian entrants. The AMEP has been teaching migrants English for over 75 years, and it assists around 50,000 to 60,000 eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants each year. Over these 75 years, the program has supported countless members of our community to improve their English and to gain the confidence to participate more fully in Australian society. It also facilitates all important bonds between new migrants and established members of the community, providing new migrants with a point of contact—someone to ask when they have questions about how the public transport system works or what the rules of AFL are. It's a service that provides real, personal support to new migrants and makes their integration into the economic and social life of our country that little bit easier. In recent times, the AMEP has actually been expanded so that more migrants can access free English tuition for longer until they reach a higher level of proficiency. That said, we must continue to provide a bridge—a service that supports and gives grace to new migrants new migrants while they're building their language skills and gaining confidence. Acknowledging that learning a language is a process ensures that, no matter what stage they're at with their English learning journey, they are never left behind. My electorate of Gorton in Melbourne's western suburbs is incredibly diverse. There are tens of thousands of families across the electorate, and amongst those families we have one of the highest proportions of first- and second-generation migrants in Australia. More than 33 per cent of my electorate was born overseas, and more than 30,000 of my constituents speak a language other than English at home. In my electorate office, we're regularly visited by constituents who speak English as a second language or, for many of my constituents, even a third or a fourth language. We have the number for TIS National blu-tacked next to the reception in our electorate office so we can make a quick call for an interpreter whenever we need. The importance of protecting and strengthening a service like this in a multicultural country really can't be understated. Most of my constituents with migrant backgrounds are proficient in English or speak enough to get around day to day without too much trouble. But anyone who has lived or travelled in a country that speaks a different language knows that, when it comes to administration, complex issues and situations of high stress or emotion, the holes in your language skills become apparent very quickly. At that point, having the option to speak a language you're comfortable in is so important. If the person supporting you isn't proficient in your language, you need help from someone else. Recently, my electorate office was visited by two constituents, a young girl and her mother, seeking an update on a humanitarian visa application for a close relative. This young girl and her mother were both refugees from Afghanistan themselves. When they visited my office, our young constituent spoke on behalf of her mother. Her mother was distressed, and this young girl was caught in the middle, translating back and forth as we tried to ensure both sides were on the same page. The children of migrant families are loved and cherished, and their parents have often been through incredible hardship to give them the opportunities for a better life. However, we know they often face a heavy burden. They're usually more proficient in the language of their new home than their parents, so they have to step up and help out. They become the translator—the one that helps with the paperwork, reads the bills, makes the phone calls and goes to every appointment. They're adultified long before they become actual adults. For their parents, who are faced with adapting to a new country, a new language and a new life, these experiences can be incredibly disempowering. They find themselves unable to advocate for themselves or for their families in the same way they have their entire lives—often the same way that got them and their families to Australia in the first place. When we received the update on the visa application, we provided it to our young constituent. But we made it clear that, if her mother needed an opportunity to hear this information directly, we'd be happy to see her back in the office for an in-person meeting with a translator. Two months later, there was a message in the inbox asking to set up a meeting. The opportunity to have this meeting with a translator from TIS National on the phone took the pressure off our young constituent to speak on behalf of her mother. It gave her mother an opportunity to be heard, to hear the information she needed from the source and to ask questions she still had directly and hear the answers herself. That's the power of free translation services in our electorate offices. But it's not just about complex visa matters or issues that might bring you to an electorate office. It's much more basic than that. Language barriers prevent migrants from accessing and receiving a whole lot of important information and services. They can prevent migrants from calling triple zero; understanding information from emergency services, like the SES, when natural disasters occur; reporting crimes; or going to the doctor. Many studies have highlighted the negative impact of language barriers on migrants' access to health care, and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare even reported that low English proficiency, and more than 10 years in Australia, is actually linked to a higher prevalence of chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and lung conditions, even though people born overseas generally have fewer long-term health conditions than those born in Australia. That's a finding which speaks to the seriousness of this issue and the crucially important part of making sure that a language barrier does not prevent migrants from looking after their own health. It's so important that we produce materials in language and proactively reach out to migrants, to provide in-language and culturally-appropriate education and support. A service like TIS National is the foundation of all of this because, for migrants and service providers alike, when communicating directly is not possible, it's so important that the option to call an interpreter is there to fall back on. The Albanese Labor government is bringing in this bill because we know the importance of multicultural and social cohesion in our country. We're one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world. We've been an example for other countries. But we're living in a moment when our social cohesion, the thread that joins us all together, is under threat. And make no mistake: it's under threat from hate and extremism that seek to divide and want to make us believe that we cannot live harmoniously alongside one another. Our government doesn't buy this story, and we will not let it divide us. That's why the government established an office for multicultural affairs and elevated to cabinet, for the very first time, the standalone position of Minister for Multicultural Affairs. That's why we brought in the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026 and it's why we're strengthening our existing legislation to ensure that every member of our multicultural community has equitable access to services. The decision to pack up your life and move to a different country is one of the biggest you can make. Our government recognises that and is committed to supporting migrants every step of the way. I commend this bill to the House.
Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to speak in support of the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025, brought forward by the Minister for Financial Services, and I commend him for doing so. We live in a...
I rise to speak in support of the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025, brought forward by the Minister for Financial Services, and I commend him for doing so. We live in a digitised world. We've seen these developments, and we've lived them. I remember getting my sister's hand-me-down LG flip phone. My first experiences on the internet and social media were ranking my top friends on Myspace, joining Facebook in early secondary school and my first smartphone. Right now, we're experiencing the AI revolution. We've seen technology develop leaps and bounds over the last few decades. In financial markets, it's no different. Digital assets are reshaping finance right across the globe. We've seen the digitisation of assets—cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies and central bank digital currencies. We're interacting with blockchain technology, the decentralisation of banks as intermediaries and tokens that represent real-world assets such as property and bonds being traded instantaneously. It has picked up globally, and we're seeing it in Australia too. Last year, the Independent Reserve's cryptocurrency index report reported that approximately 6.2 million Australian adults now own or have owned cryptocurrency. That's 31 per cent of the adult Australian population. Digital finance is unlocking new ways to invest, trade and transfer wealth, with faster settlement and lower costs. Right across the world, central banks are exploring digital currencies, and global institutions are experimenting with tokenised securities. This is all great. It's unlocking capital market and bringing new investments. But the problem here—and there is a problem—is that the digitisation of assets and currency has emerged without regulation. Put simply, financial markets and the way people hold and exchange value have changed, but our laws have not. The legislation has not kept up, and we need it to because without clear rules there are risks. We're talking about a high volatility in markets, concerns about privacy and risks of cyberattacks. And this all comes alongside a lack of regulation or oversight. People are accumulating digital assets without financial law safeguards. We need this now more than ever because, as more people interact with unregulated digital assets, more people are exposed to these risks. And this has real world impacts. Take the collapse of the FTX exchange, the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange at the time. FTX collapsed over 10 days in November 2022, which exposed an $8 billion hole in FTX's accounts. This was a colossal fraud. Consumers were devastated and confidence was shattered. There was a massive loss for customers as their funds were misappropriated and mismanaged by the company. Take this as a cautionary tale, because one of the most devastating parts is that regulation could've provided the oversight needed to prevent such fraud and mismanagement. We need our legislation to adapt to the emerging facets of society. As a Labor government, we're not new to this. Where social media created challenges, we legislated a minimum age ban to protect Australian children. Where gambling online became too easily accessible, we introduced the self-exclusion register BetStop to mitigate harms on individuals. Where digital connectivity blurred work-life boundaries, we legislated the right to disconnect, and the digitisation of assets and currency is no different. Right here, right now, we will legislate to introduce regulations to protect people's assets and livelihoods. This bill is about trust. It's about transparency; it's about accountability. We're futureproofing our financial system so it remains strong, fair and competitive in this rapidly changing world. We're also reducing and closing loopholes in the digital assets system. Again, there are benefits to digitised assets. When you're trading online, you're getting more efficient and faster transactions and there are reduced costs for you on those transactions. It also allows for increased financial inclusion. Online assets are readily available and accessible, and provide individuals and businesses with equal measures of opportunities to use financial services. To fully reap these benefits, now and into the future, we need to build trust in the system, and the system needs to be held accountable. To do that, we need to introduce regulations. If you want to regulate something that is not currently properly regulated, the first step is to define what that thing is. That's why we're introducing two new types of financial products into Australia's financial services laws: digital asset platforms, DAPs, and tokenised custody platforms, TCPs. This will ensure that businesses holding and dealing in clinical digital assets are subject to the same consumer protections and licensing requirements that apply across the financial system, including prohibitions on misleading and deceptive conduct and unfair contract terms, design and distribution obligations and supervision and enforcement by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. We use this kind of regulation to prevent businesses from gaining an unfair advantage and exploiting consumers by making misleading claims about their products or services. It means that consumers are more aware of the risks that they are taking when they interact with digital assets as well as their own rights they have under the financial services laws. This bill also accounts for licensing, which is another measure for accountability and transparency that does not currently exist in the industry. Operators will need an Australian financial services licence. This ensures that they manage conflicts of interest and have dispute-resolution systems in place. We're using the existing licensing framework, which avoids the need for a new regime and which reduces complexity and compliance costs for businesses. We're also expanding who these licences should be held by to anyone providing services in relation to digital assets or tokenised custody platforms. That means if they're advising on, dealing in or arranging for others to deal in digital assets they will be treated as providing a financial service. This means that, just as all other financial service providers do, they'll also need to hold an Australian financial services licence and they'll be subject to those same measures of accountability. Operators and service providers should be acting efficiently, honestly and fairly, and this legislation is ensuring that those expectations are met. On top of that, they'll meet tailored obligations for digital assets. This includes minimum standards for custody, segregation, reconciliation and transaction settlement. This is good for consumers. At its core, this legislation is about protecting consumers by mitigating risk. It's worth noting that digital investments—all investments—do inherently involve risk, but involvement of risk does not negate the need for adequate consumer protections, and it does not absolve the service providers from the responsibility to conduct their businesses fairly and with a degree of transparency. That's why in Australia we have minimum standards in place to protect consumers, and it's why this bill is extending those consumer protections to the realm of digital finance. This is the reason it's so important that we're legislating the two new types of financial products into Australia's financial services laws, DAPs and TCPs. DAPs and TCPs are where operators hold client digital assets to facilitate trading, lending or other transactions. The key risks associated with these custody focused arrangements—credit liquidity, counterparty, operational fraud and cyber risks—are the same types of risks already mitigated by Australia's financial services laws. By extending Australia's financial services laws to better cover these, we're giving consumers and industry the certainty that the same consumer protections and licensing obligations apply to comparable custodial activities. This includes prohibitions on misleading or deceptive conduct, unfair contract terms, and requiring providers to hold an Australian Financial Services licence. These measures ensure that operators of digital asset businesses are held to the same high standards of fairness, transparency and integrity as other financial service providers. While we're ensuring digital trading is matching those same high standards which already exist for financial service providers, we're also ensuring it matches the standards which protect Australians deposits in banks and investments in the stock market. These are the standards Australians expect, and we are matching those standards in the digital trading economy. We will not rest on our laurels when we see these new technological innovations come through. This is a change that the sector has been asking for, for a long time. We're giving Australians confidence that when they use a regulated platform their assets are protected by strong standards—the same standards that protect their deposits in banks and their investments in the stock market. We're giving businesses certainty to invest and innovate in Australia, knowing the rules are clear and globally aligned. This is not regulation for regulation's sake. It is smarter regulation building on proven financial services laws that Australians trust—and trust matters. Trust means increased trading. It means attracting investment, creating jobs and growing our digital economy. Without this sector gaining the trust of consumers and businesses, we can't reap these benefits. That trust is born from regulations that are there to protect consumers and businesses. That's what we're introducing. We're not alone in this legislation. This bill is aligning Australia with global standards set by the Financial Security Board and IOSCO. It's here to keep us competitive with jurisdictions like the US, EU, UK and Singapore. The EU has already legislated the markets in the cryptocurrency regulation. This mandates that crypto asset service providers must be authorised to meet transparency and consumer protection standards. It protects consumers by introducing rules around transparency and information, asset safeguarding, marketing and advertising, complaints, and more. These rules seek to ensure that in the crypto space consumers are: properly informed of risks; not misled by marketing and advertising; won't lose their assets if insolvency occurs; and have a pathway to raise issues with providers when they arise. The UK is also looking to regulate this space by 2027. And, do you know what? The UK is getting it right. We should be meeting the regulation standards set by overseas jurisdictions. If we also get this right, which this bill intends to do, we'll be attracting investment, creating jobs and positioning Australia's financial system as a leader in innovation. Global institutions are experimenting with tokenised securities, central banks are exploring digital currencies, and investors are demanding safe, regulated ways to participate. It's unlocking capital markets, and when we do it too it'll be strengthening Australia's competitiveness as a financial sector. Unfortunately, a factor that we're dealing with is that cryptocurrency remains a vector for scams and fraud, and it's a serious risk. Australians have lost millions to schemes that exploit gaps in regulation and consumer understanding. These Australians have invested their hard-earned money, hoping that a new technology would lead to beneficial outcomes, advancements and efficiencies in digital payment systems. However, what we know is that many consumers have experienced immense volatility and risk not found in traditional investment opportunities. Take 72-year-old pensioner Dorothy. In November last year, the ABC reported that Dorothy had lost $12,500 to a crypto ATM scam. Dorothy was instructed by a scammer over the phone to withdraw all of her savings and deposit the cash into a bitcoin ATM machine. For Dorothy, this has had really real impacts. These scams put Australians in an incredibly vulnerable position. Dorothy did not deserve to lose that financial security, and she certainly deserved better from our legal systems. Dorothy should have had stronger regulations in place to prevent the scam in the first place. She's not the only one. Scammers have also impersonated exchanges, informing users that their accounts have been breached and directing them to transfer their cryptocurrency to a 'trust wallet' belonging to a scammer. Scammers have even created fake crypto trading apps, targeting potential investors and then leaving them with significant losses. We've got to do better for Australians. So that's what we're doing now. This bill is good for consumers, it's good for business and it's good for Australia's reputation as a leader in financial regulation. And it's an overdue change—one that the sector has been calling for, for some time now. This bill is mitigating significant consumer losses by addressing regulatory gaps, because digital asset consumers should have the same protections as are available to traditional finance. This bill will provide a clear, consistent framework for businesses operating in Australia's growing digital asset sector, and it's telling foreign powers that, in a world where technology and our finance systems are evolving so fast, Australia supports technologically-driven productivity, competition and long-term economic resilience. We're giving businesses certainty to invest and innovate in Australia, knowing the rules are clear and globally aligned. I commend this bill to the House.
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to speak in support of the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 brought forward by the Minister for Health and Ageing, and I commend him for...
I rise to speak in support of the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 brought forward by the Minister for Health and Ageing, and I commend him for doing so. This bill is about making it easier for Australians to access the prescription medicine they need. It's about lightening the load for hospital emergency departments and GPs. It's about empowering our highly skilled, highly educated workforce of registered nurses to do what they were trained to do. It's about equitable access to health care for all Australians, including those managing chronic diseases and health conditions and those living in regional, rural and remote areas, who feel issues with access to health care even more keenly. This bill is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to the Albanese Labor government delivering on our commitment to make sure that health care is affordable and accessible for every Australian and that, for Australians with a chronic health condition, looking after their health is easier and more manageable. It's a practical bill which mobilises our existing workforce of registered nurses to deliver timely, affordable and accessible prescriptions and delivers for all Australians. With this bill, we amend the National Health Act 1953 to allow a registered nurse endorsed against the registration standard to prescribe certain medicines that can be supplied under the PBS and attract Commonwealth subsidy. We also amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to include registered nurses, enabling review of the provision of their prescribing services by the Professional Services Review Scheme. This bill will allow registered nurses to prescribe medicines under the PBS, and the medicines able to be prescribed under the PBS will be considered by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, or PBAC. With this legislation, registered nurses will be empowered to deliver high-quality care directly to people in the community. For those who receive care from RNs, it will mean less GP visits or long waits in hospital emergency departments. For others, it will mean better access to doctors and emergency care when they need it. In Australia, we have a workforce of more than 450,000 registered nurses and midwives. It's the largest clinical workforce in Australia. Registered nurses go through intensive training, often including more than 800 hours of clinical placements. And I know my friend the member for Bullwinkel is a wonderful nurse. We have many nurses in the House on our side of the chamber. There's no doubt they are highly skilled and highly educated. They work in many contexts, including hospitals, clinics, general practices, residential aged-care services, urgent care clinics and also in the House of Representatives, yet their expertise has not been fully utilised in primary care. Allowing them to prescribe under the PBS will boost efficiency, strengthen care coordination and free up GPs and nurse practitioners to focus on patients with more complex needs, as well as support the discharge and outpatient processes in hospitals so that more people can be seen quicker. And it will strengthen the health system by easing workforce pressures and building long-term capacity and sustainability. This change has been landed on after extensive research and consultation. In 2022, we announced that, if elected, we would establish a strengthening Medicare taskforce to provide advice on boosting affordability, access and support for patients with ongoing and chronic illness in primary care. This bill is the product of our continued commitment to better health outcomes for Australians with ongoing and chronic illness. It seeks to implement reforms identified by the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and the subsequent scope-of-practice review. It's also underpinned by comprehensive research and consultation by the Nursing and Midwifery Board, who investigated the potential for registered nurses working to their full scope of practice to better health outcomes for Australians. A designated RN prescriber registration standard has been developed and came into effect in September 2025. The standard describes the necessary qualifications that a registered nurse must demonstrate when applying to the NMBA to attain and retain the endorsement of scheduled medicines. This registration standard was developed in consultation with numerous stakeholders in the industry, including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian Medical Association, palliative care services, the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives and the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. I'm really proud to be up here supporting this bill. This bill brings in practical, grounded change that will have real-world impacts when it comes to affordable, accessible health care for all Australians and, so importantly, support for Australians managing chronic health conditions. It's us looking at the system, recognising that there's potential for the better use of resources and effectiveness and making a change that will have an immediate impact. For everyday Australians it will mean more available appointments with your GP, with RNs helping out with long-term prescriptions, easing the pressure on GPs. And it will relieve pressure on our emergency departments so you can see a doctor faster. For older Australians, it could mean having your medicine prescribed in the comfort of your own home instead of making the trek out to the doctors. And, for nurses, it'll mean the opportunity to use the full scope of their practice. In my electorate of Gorton, access to health services is an area that's struggling to keep up with demand. According to the last census, more than 28,000 people in Gorton have a long-term health condition. In the city of Brimbank, a staggering 28 per cent of residents 18 and older have been diagnosed with two or more chronic diseases, conditions they'll need to manage for the rest of their lives. Some of these conditions might have been prevented with greater access to health services earlier on. That's why record investments we're making into bulk-billed GP clinics, cheaper PBS scripts and hospitals are so incredibly important. But these Australians need support to manage these conditions right now. For my constituents with chronic conditions, this will make a huge difference. They'll have another option to have their long-term medications prescribed to them, and it'll take pressure off the health system they rely on, meaning better access to doctors and hospitals when they need them. For older people in my electorate, such as the amazing folks at the Burnside Retirement Village, this will be a huge help too. Many retirement villages, like Burnside, have a registered nurse who make the rounds to residents. Under this new legislation, that nurse may be able to redo the resident's prescriptions, meaning no need to hike over to the GP just to get a new prescription. For those residents on pensions, it'll mean more of that money in their pocket. For GPs in the surrounding areas, it'll mean newly available appointments to service other people in the area. This will be a big change for women too. According to the NMBA annual report, women made up 87.9 per cent of nurses in 2025. In nursing as well as in other segments of the care sector, including aged care and disability supports, women are hugely overrepresented. The underpayment of workers in this female dominated sector accounts for a significant part of the persisting gender pay gap in Australia, alongside other factors, including persistent differences in pay for the same work, higher rates of part-time work due to caring responsibilities, lack of flexibility to accommodate caring and other responsibilities in higher paying roles, and more. The compensation and opportunities we afford workers in the care sector speak to how we value them. They speak to how we value women. Empowering registered nurses to prescribe on the PBS will bring financial benefit to women, and it'll also mean the chance to put the full breadth of their expertise to use. It's a commonsense change that recognises the potential of women in the care sector to bring even greater benefit to our society, and it's a recognition of their value. It'll also benefit those women needing prescriptions. Women are 10 per cent more likely than men to be dispensed medication prescriptions. That means more time at the doctor and less money in their pockets. For many women, this change will enhance their safe and timely access to medicines. It's another piece of the puzzle of addressing gender inequality and ensuring that women's time, money, health and expertise are properly valued. We're a government that recognises the value of these things, a government that's invested in landmark commitments in women's health after decades of neglect, including $573.3 million to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women; the first new contraceptive pills added to the PBS in 30 years, Yaz, Yasmin and Slinda; the first new menopause treatments on the PBS in 20 years, Estrogel, Estrogel Pro and Prometrium; better access to IUDs and birth control implants; and 22 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, with another 11 opening soon. We also brought in paid prac for nurses, teachers and social workers because we understand that doing hundreds of hours of placements without being paid and without time to work is another way that women experience disadvantage. I couldn't be happier to return to work in 2026 knowing that I'm serving alongside so many other brilliant women in our government. We know our own value, the value of the work we do and the value of our health. Because we're here representing these things on a national stage, our policy reflects the value of women too. This bill is part of our broader commitment to ensure that, when it comes to affordable and accessible health care, no Australian is left behind. Last week, National Cabinet reached a landmark agreement to deliver record funding to state and territory hospitals—$25 billion in additional funding for public hospitals, three times more additional funding for public hospitals than under the last five-year agreement. For my constituents in Gorton, that's money flowing to Sunshine Hospital, Werribee hospital and the brand new Footscray Hospital, just a hop, skip and a jump away in the inner west, which will open for patients in the next few weeks, making sure that, as we look to the next five years, access to high-quality public hospitals and health care is a certainty. We'll also keep working to take the pressure off these hospitals by opening more urgent care clinics and Medicare mental health clinics across the country. As of this week, we've now opened 120 of the 137 Medicare urgent care clinics. We've opened 50 of the 91 Medicare mental health clinics in our national network, and we're making strides towards our commitment of 90 per cent of GP visits bulk-billed before the end of the decade. Last week, I was lucky enough to visit Our Medical in the heart of Caroline Springs, a bulk-billing clinic. They have 22 bulk-billed GPs, as well as bulk-billed radiology and pathology and a bulk-billed respiratory specialist. There is no need to make an appointment; you can just walk in and see a GP until 10 o'clock at night, every night. They have a pharmacy open extended hours, a full dental clinic, physios and a dietician. Quality local care is so important to the health and wellbeing of a community. For Caroline Springs residents, having a bulk-billing clinic in the heart of the community, right across the road from Lake Caroline where locals walk, cycle and use the outdoor gym equipment, makes it easy to prioritise health. That's why it's so important to continue our investment in bulk-billing. In my electorate of Gorton, the GP bulk-billing rate was 88.8 per cent in June 2025, and an additional 17 GP practices in Gorton indicated their intent to become a Medicare bulk-billing practice. I'll keep visiting these medical centres in my electorate and talking about the benefits of bulk-billing so that as many of my constituents as possible know they can access free primary health care. Nationally, over 3,300 general practices now bulk-bill every single one of their patients—1,300 of which are new as a direct result of our tripling of the bulk-billing incentive. This is huge for Australians. It's accessible primary health care. It's not worrying about money when you get sick. It's more people going to the doctors when they feel unwell. It's about proactively looking after your health—and making that easier to do. It's taking pressure off the system down the track and making the future of our healthcare system more sustainable. It's good policy underpinned by the principle that no matter who you are or where you live you deserve access to quality health care. I'm so passionate about improving access to quality health care for my constituents and all Australians. Those opposite are fighting amongst themselves. Health care is the last thing on their minds. That's actually a good thing for Australians, given those opposite voted against cheaper medicines six times. But we're not worried about that; we're getting on with the job of delivering for Australians with the bill before us. I'm so excited to go back to Gorton and talk to my constituents about this bill. I'm excited to talk to the older Australians, like the residents of the Burnside Retirement Village, who might be able to have their prescriptions written at home instead of waiting at the doctor's office; to the nurses in my electorate, who'll have the opportunity to see more patients and use their full scope of practice; to the almost 30,000 people living with chronic conditions, who'll have more options to receive their long-term prescriptions; and to all of my constituents, who'll benefit from relieved pressure on our healthcare system. I'm really proud to support this bill, and I commend it to the House.
Education | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Education. As students across the country head back to school, what is the Albanese Labor government doing to ensure Australian kids get the best start...
My question is to the Minister for Education. As students across the country head back to school, what is the Albanese Labor government doing to ensure Australian kids get the best start possible? Why is it so important to deliver, rather than divide, on school education?
Economy | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for this fantastic opportunity to talk about the important measures the Albanese Labor government has taken to ease the cost of living for families...
I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for this fantastic opportunity to talk about the important measures the Albanese Labor government has taken to ease the cost of living for families right around the country. We have spent this entire term in government focused on the needs of the Australian community, delivering for all Australians. The Liberals and the Nationals—the 'no-alition'—on the other hand have spent their entire time in opposition focused on themselves and their own political infighting. If those opposite want to talk about failure, they should be focusing on the failure of their own coalition. There have been so many break-ups, reshuffles, get-back-togethers and will-they-won't-theys that I'm not even sure who's on the front bench any more. Seriously, I cannot handle another seating plan. If the new season of Married at First Sighttanks, channel 9 has some new material to draw from right across this chamber. Those opposite want to talk about Labor's cost-of-living relief. Sure—I'd be more than happy to oblige. The Albanese Labor government is delivering real cost-of-living relief for all Australians. As the member for Gorton, I've spoken to many members of my community about the cost of living—young people struggling to get into the housing market, people on pensions struggling to make ends meet when they pay their bills, a generation saddled with student debt. People are doing it tough; there's no doubt about that. That's exactly why we've introduced the five per cent deposit scheme and expanded eligibility to all first home buyers, so more people can break into the housing market. In my own electorate of Gorton, Labor's expanded home guarantee scheme has meant more than 1,800 people have been able to buy their first home. That's real change for real families. And we're building more homes. In Labor's last term in government, we built 500,000 homes, and we're delivering more than 21,000 new social and affordable homes right across the country through round 3 of the Housing Australia Future Fund, its largest round yet. There's no doubt today is a tough day for mortgage holders. It's why we've cut student debt by 20 per cent. It's why we've given every Australian household energy bill relief. It's why we've added more medicines to the PBS and capped costs for PBS listed medicines at $25. It's why we've increased the LISTO and raised the eligibility threshold to give low-income workers a superannuation boost. It's why we've delivered a tax cut for every Australian and will deliver a further tax cut this year and another one next year. Then there's the three-day childcare guarantee, paid prac and the biggest ever investment in Medicare so people can see a GP for free. And then there's free TAFE. It's actually free TAFE's third birthday. That's three years of free vocational education and training for Australians—something that unlocks doors and something that I know well. Thanks to free TAFE, my husband, Chris, can retrain to become a sparky. All this comes alongside our most recent announcement of $25 billion to state and territory governments for public hospitals as part of a landmark agreement. I could go on, but the point is that this is not reckless spending. These are real cost-of-living measures that are making a difference to household budgets around the country, real cost-of-living measures that those opposite consistently voted against. Tell that to the families in Melbourne's western suburbs. Tell that to my community. We are listening to communities like mine, and we are responding. Meanwhile, by the way, we're appropriately managing inflation. When Labor came to government in 2022, the inflation rate had a six in front of it—a six. Now it's got a three in front of it. We've had two budget surpluses, and we've used those to pay down debt. Compared to what we inherited, wages are up and unemployment is low. To be clear, those opposite call this reckless spending, yet they can't string together a reasonable policy agenda. They're inconsistent. They struggle to find a coherent position to scrutinise the government from. Last month brought us a clear example. They insisted we recall parliament early. Fine. Done. Then, when we recalled parliament early, they told us it was rushed. There is no consistent position in the 'no-alition', and it's no wonder because, looking over there at the Libs and way over there at the Nats, right now, I can't see a coalition at all—and I'm wearing my contact lenses today! Their inconsistency on key issues and their failure to form a functioning opposition is not helping Australians. This motion is not government scrutiny; it's a thinly veiled attempt to distract from their own political infighting and, quite frankly, it's just not working. I thank the House.
Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
I rise to speak on the Prime Minister's condolence motion this afternoon and, like my many colleagues before me, express my deepest sympathies for the families and loved ones of the 15 innocent...
I rise to speak on the Prime Minister's condolence motion this afternoon and, like my many colleagues before me, express my deepest sympathies for the families and loved ones of the 15 innocent people murdered at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025—15 innocent lives lost: Boris and Sofia, Rabbi Schlanger, Dan, Peter, Alexander, Reuven, Rabbi Levitan, Tibor, Marika, Edith, Boris, Adam, Tanya and darling Matilda. To these families, the Bondi community and the entire country: we mourn with you, and we commit to doing everything we can to prevent something like this from ever happening again. This is a dark moment for our nation. This horrific act of terrorism on Jewish Australians was an attack on every single Australian. There is no place for this antisemitism, hatred, violence and terrorism in our country. Australia is braver than those who seek to make us afraid. I cannot express enough gratitude for those who risked their lives in aiding the victims, including members of the local lifesaving clubs; frontline responders such as New South Wales police and New South Wales ambulance and healthcare workers; and community groups such as Community Safety Group and Hatzolah. I want to repeat a statement made by the New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, that members of the New South Wales police force, including two who were left in critical care, were shot in the front and not in the back. When our Australia was tested, our selfless public service ran towards the violence—risking their own lives to save others. That is the true meaning of public service. And then there's the heroism of everyday Australians, the men and women who responded at the scene: those who ran towards danger and those who comforted and protected others. Those like Ahmed al-Ahmed, who tackled the gunman and wrestled the gun out of his hand. Despite being shot twice, he kept going and, in doing so, saved the lives of countless people. Or like Jessica or 14-year-old Chaya, who each shielded toddlers they had never met before; they held and comforted them during the attack. Jessica and Chaya were both injured protecting the children. Or like Constable Dyson, a police officer who was profoundly injured while trying to protect his community. These acts of courage are essentially what it means to be Australian. In a moment that tested us, true heroism, bravery and selflessness came through. That is who we are. We are a nation built by migration and strengthened by multiculturalism. We are a nation of resilience, strength and endurance, where we look after each other and where hatred and extremism will not be tolerated. A month on, this is what we will choose to remember from that dark day. But the attack didn't come from thin air. Children aren't born hateful, they learn it. And this kind of hatred is not Australian. Neo-Nazis proudly showing their faces outside a state Parliament House is not Australia. Attacks on places of worship are not Australia. Terror attacks in our cities, on our streets and on our beaches are not Australia, and we refuse to let those be Australia. I'm proud to represent one of the fastest-growing diverse electorates in the country. Like young Matilda's parents, who left Ukraine for a safer life in Australia, many of my constituents came to Australia to build a better life for their families. About one-third of people in my electorate of Gorton were born overseas. What we saw at Bondi was the worst of what hatred can become. People in my diverse community are no strangers to the everyday experience of hate. It is unacceptable that fear should shape the lives of any Australian. In moments like these, how we respond in this chamber matters. The country looks to us, and we set the tone for the nation. After the Port Arthur massacre, the Bali bombings, the Lindt Cafe siege in Martin Place in Sydney and during COVID there was unity in this place. I thank my colleagues for standing united. We stand together in grief and in action. Hanukkah is a story of survival—of hope and light, and of good triumphing over evil. We will let that message of hope and unity guide and inspire us, and we will act on it. I commend this motion to the House.
Energy | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
I'm really excited to speak on today's MPI. What interesting rhetoric we've heard in this chamber today! If the opposition thinks that leading the global transition to clean energy means that the...
I'm really excited to speak on today's MPI. What interesting rhetoric we've heard in this chamber today! If the opposition thinks that leading the global transition to clean energy means that the Minister for Climate Change and Energy is only working part-time in his role, it clearly has no concept of what preparing Australia for the future and securing lower energy prices for the long term actually entails. We know that the coalition is not interested in preparing Australia for the future. They made that abundantly clear when they dumped net zero, against every piece of expert advice and even against consistent findings that included the cost of transmission and storage renewables being the cheapest form of new energy generation. We knew it when they were responsible for a three per cent reduction in Australia's emissions over nine years of government. We knew it when they said they'd solved the clean energy transition and then proposed to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on bringing nuclear energy to Australia. We know that they're not interested in doing what it takes to secure Australia's future. Otherwise, they wouldn't be objecting to Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy doing his job of not only representing Australia's interest in energy and climate at the highest level but grasping a rare opportunity to lead the discussion and help write the rules at COP31. This side of the House understands that reducing energy prices at home and tackling climate change is not something Australia can do on its own. In fact, the only people who think global energy decisions have nothing to do with Australian bills are those opposite. They don't realise that the energy situation we're in is a global issue. I applaud the Minister for Climate Change and Energy for going above and beyond in his advocacy for Australia's interests in energy and climate. We on this side of the House have always supported advocacy for Australia's best interests on the world stage. When we were in opposition, our party didn't just sit there grandstanding. We actually celebrated when the government was able to achieve real outcomes for Australia, which it did in some aspects of trade and diplomacy. So I'm really disappointed that those opposite have reacted in this way and that they haven't been able to put political pointscoring aside to recognise this rare opportunity for Australia to write the rules of energy transition. They're so focused on trying to tear this country down instead of building it up. The constituents of my electorate are profoundly hardworking. They often work long hours while juggling commitments to family and community. Every day, they go to work in hospitals, schools, factories, public transport networks and shops. For those opposite to speak with such contempt about this government's action on climate change is an affront to my community because my electorate knows that, if we don't act on climate change, we all suffer. If those opposite truly think that climate change won't affect working people, they are delusional. It's already increasing the severity and regularity of extreme weather events, which makes work more dangerous and more difficult. It makes it more difficult for the person working in train-track maintenance, sweltering in a heatwave. It makes it more difficult for the nurse that's treating more and more respiratory conditions which are related to poor air quality. It makes it more difficult for the small-business owner seeing ingredient prices rise because crops have been decimated by flooding. They claim to care about costs. During their decade in government, they had more than 20 different energy policies. At the last election, they proposed to waste billions of taxpayer dollars on a nuclear pipedream. The fact is that they have no idea what a long-term plan to reduce energy costs for Australians actually looks like. Sustainability doesn't mean just environmentally friendly; it also means economically viable. When we say we are building a sustainable energy system, we mean that we are building an energy system that is environmentally friendly and economically viable—two things the coalition's policy is not. On this side of the House, we understand the bigger picture when it comes to net zero and the clean energy transition. We understand that reducing the cost of living and making the transition to clean energy are not two different propositions. We have taken and continue to take significant steps to reduce household costs. We're taking strong action to provide energy bill relief to Australian households and businesses. As we head in the Christmas break, what have the coalition achieved? They've spent most of this year fighting amongst themselves and badmouthing each other. We've seen little tangible policy or meaningful scrutiny from them at all. Today they lost a member! If they want to know what it looks like to represent their constituents and Australia's interests part time, they only need to look at themselves. We on this side of the House, our government, will continue to work full time on building Australia's future. (Time expired)
Environment | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering stronger environmental laws that benefit our economy and protect Australia's unique natural environment? What...
My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering stronger environmental laws that benefit our economy and protect Australia's unique natural environment? What have been the obstacles to reform?
Vocational Education and Training | Statements by Members | House debates
Whether it's a buzz or beep, over the next two weeks more than three million Aussies will be getting a notification to say their student debt has been cut by 20 per cent. Wiping 20 per cent off...
Whether it's a buzz or beep, over the next two weeks more than three million Aussies will be getting a notification to say their student debt has been cut by 20 per cent. Wiping 20 per cent off every student's debt was the first piece of legislation this Labor government introduced into parliament this year, and in the next few weeks millions of Australians will see that reduction when they log into their myGov. This is about lifting the burden for Australians with student debt, including HECS debt, VET student loans, Australian apprenticeship support loans, student start-up loans and other student loans. This will help people in my own family and more than 26,000 people in my electorate of Gorton who have student debt. These might be young people starting their apprenticeships, or they could be people who finished their bachelor or masters degrees a long time ago but who still have a debt that lingers. It will cut more than $500 million from VET student loans and Australian apprenticeship support loan balances, giving VET students a leg-up when they enter the workforce. After the 20 per cent reduction is applied, people will receive a text or email letting them know this has happened—no applications, no forms, just real cost-of-living relief. This is about intergenerational fairness, making sure every generation can experience the benefits of an affordable education. At the end of the day, everyone deserves a good-quality education, no matter where they live.
Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
getting real cost-of-living relief to Australians is not a priority for those opposite. It's we on this side of the House who are delivering tangible cost-of-living relief. When it comes to...
getting real cost-of-living relief to Australians is not a priority for those opposite. It's we on this side of the House who are delivering tangible cost-of-living relief. When it comes to bringing down the cost of living for Australians, every bit counts. On this side of the House, we're leaving no stone unturned to accomplish this goal. It's been our mission in this term of government, and we'll continue to act decisively to ensure that nobody is held back or left behind—not Australian people and not Australian businesses. The cost of living cannot be allowed to compromise Australians' ability to keep connected and make treasured memories. After all, pubs, clubs and breweries are special places. It's where I met the person I'm married to today. It's where we find community, stay connected and celebrate life. The bill before us shows that our government isn't just talking; we are acting. We are proving that practical policies can make a tangible difference in everyday life. I couldn't be prouder to stand with my government, which truly cares about its people. With this two-year pause on indexation of draught beer excise and excise-equivalent customs duty, the Albanese Labor government is standing up for Australia's pubs, clubs, brewers and hospitality workers. We understand that local pubs, clubs and breweries are not just businesses but community institutions that bring people together, provide employment and help keep economies strong. We're also standing up for Australians, who deserve to grab a beer with family and friends without worrying about the cost. I commend this bill to the House, I thank the Assistant Treasurer for introducing it, and I thank all of the speakers who are supporting it.
I rise today to speak in support of the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and the associated bill. It's an absolute honour to follow my friend the member for McNamara, who I know...
I rise today to speak in support of the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and the associated bill. It's an absolute honour to follow my friend the member for McNamara, who I know is a huge advocate for publicans and small businesses in his electorate and, like me, enjoys a pint every once in awhile as well. Pubs, clubs and breweries are part of our social fabric and our Australian identity. They bring people together, they keep communities thriving and they support jobs right across the country. Australia has a long history of backing local brewers and the hospitality workers who keep our pubs running. In 2025 the Albanese Labor government is stepping up again, because that's what good governments do: they back local industry, they reduce pressure on household budgets and they keep our communities connected and strong. I'm proud to stand in this House and support a bill that delivers real cost-of-living relief, strengthens a key Australian industry and gives local pubs and the people who support them a fair go. This bill is a practical measure. It freezes the draught beer excise for local pubs and gathering spaces. In doing so, it reduces the cost of beer for consumers and businesses alike. Whether your preferred measure is a schooner or a pint, this side of the House is keeping beer affordable. The amendments in this bill are simple, targeted and fair. They support an industry that matters to communities, families and workers right across the nation and cut cost-of-living pressures, delivering real relief to Australians and their businesses. The Albanese Labor government is determined in its goal to do just this, to make sure that Australians and their businesses get real relief for financial pressures. On this side of the House, we know that cost of living affects all areas of life. Yes, it's about the number at the bottom of your energy bill, how much it costs to see a doctor when you're sick and how much student debt you still have to pay, which is why our government is acting to clamp down on every single one of these costs. But it's also about how much it costs to do the things we enjoy and the things that keep us together. Popping down to the pub for a beer and a meal with colleagues, friends and family is how we stay connected. We understand how important it is to protect these moments. Cost-of-living pressures cannot be allowed to compromise Australians' ability to stay connected. We also can't allow it to jeopardise the future of the hospitality industry in Australia. Our hospitality sector, especially in Victoria, has been through a lot. Pubs, clubs and venues faced huge challenges during the pandemic. Costs went up, supply chains were disrupted, and running a business became much harder. Right now, beer tax increases hit small businesses hard, especially in years of high inflation. For a small pub or club, another jump in excise can make the difference between hiring another worker and cutting back hours. It can also mean the difference between keeping the price of a pint stable and having to raise it again for customers already feeling the pinch. These aren't just numbers on a page. They are the day-to-day realities for thousands of family-run venues across Australia. We heard them, we listened, and we acted. Pubs, clubs and brewers asked for relief, and this bill delivers exactly that. It delivers on the government's commitment in the 2025-26 budget to freeze the indexation on draught beer excise for two years. Indexation is applied to draught beer excise and customs duty twice a year in February and August under arrangements that have been in place for decades. In other words, the tax on beer goes up every six months because of automatic indexation. Unfortunately, our breweries have faced 84 tax increases in the last 40 years, so this bill is a crucial step in the right direction and is a much needed break for industry. The legislation before us today will freeze indexation from August 2025. In other words, we're having an intermission for automatic indexation for two whole years so that the schedule increases in August 2025, February 2026, August 2026 and February 2027 won't happen. The rates will stay the same through the whole period, and, when indexation resumes in August 2027, the beer tax won't jump to where it would have been if the automatic indexation had continued. It starts from the rate we're on right now. That means the beer tax will be below what it would've been for every year in the future, which will make a difference to the price of beer in the long term. There are around 10,000 hospitality venues across Australia that will directly benefit from this bill, including pubs, bars, taverns and clubs. Seventy-five per cent of those venues are small family-run businesses that employ local people and support community events, sporting clubs and local charities. This is an industry that supports more than 160,000 jobs and contributes over $17 billion to the national economy. I am confident these measures will give these establishments the breathing room to keep business strong and support the communities that rely on them. I understand this bill personally because I have seen it firsthand. As a young adult, I worked in hospitality. I know how dedicated small-business owners in hospitality are. They don't just run businesses; they nurture people, invest in local talent, provide local employment and give back to the community with passion. I've met business owners who stay awake at night worrying if they can keep staff on. But I've also watched young people grow and transform through their first hospitality job like mine. When I say this policy matters, I say it from experience. I've lived it, I've supported it and I've seen it change lives. Every cent these businesses save from the freeze on tax indexation is an investment in workers, in jobs, in wages and in valuable experience. This bill builds on the broader tax relief announced earlier this year for Australia's brewers, distillers and winemakers. These industries aren't just part of our culture; they drive jobs, innovation and exports. Right now eligible producers can receive up to $350,000 in tax remission. This government will lift this remission to $400,000 from 1 July 2026. Our goal is simple. We want to reduce pressure on producers, boost local manufacturing and strengthen regional economies. Freezing the indexation on the draught beer excise is real cost-of-living relief that recognises the fundamental importance of pubs and breweries to Australians. It's another piece in the broader set of policies we've introduced to tackle the cost of living and ensure that the financial pressures on Aussies decrease in all areas of their lives, from sitting down to pay the energy bill to heading down to the local pub for a drink. Reducing the cost of living has been our government's mission in this parliament, and I'm proud to say that we've delivered. We've provided three rounds of energy bill relief to homes and small businesses to take the sting out of bills, as well as up to $1.8 billion to extend energy bill relief for another six months until the end of 2025, bringing the total Energy Bill Relief Fund commitment to $6.8 billion. We've delivered targeted cost-of-living relief for students, locking in 100,000 free TAFE places each year from 2027; legislating a 20 per cent cut to student debt—I'm proud to say three million students will see their HECS balances cut over the next two weeks; and raising the minimum repayment thresholds so that repayments are lower and kick in only when you earn more. We're putting more medicines on the PBS and capping the cost of a prescription on the PBS to no more than $25. We've invested $7.9 billion to expand the eligibility for the MBS bulk-billing incentives and to establish the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program so that every electorate in the country will have GP practices that bulk-bill every patient. Australians will only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, to receive the health care they need. When it comes to delivering real cost-of-living relief, the Albanese Labor government is truly leaving no stone unturned. That includes making sure that going down to the pub for a beer—something that makes so many Australians feel a whole lot lighter—doesn't make the wallet feel lighter as well. The best local stories and conversations come over a cold beer at the local pub, not in a meeting room and not at the office. What I hear loud and clear is that the cost of living has been weighing heavily on families, workers and small businesses. Prices keep rising, and people are struggling to get by. This includes paying the cost of a refreshing beer. From the very first day I was elected, I promised this community I would fight for them, that I would stand up for affordability in our community, that I would fight for fairness and that I would use every tool in my tool belt to ease these pressures and make life a little bit easier for the people of the western suburbs of Melbourne. This change will help ease costs for every local venue in the seat of Gorton. It will also help keep a pint more affordable for everyday Australians. This matters especially in Melbourne's west, where the pub culture is so strong. We've got so many loved pubs across Melbourne's west, from the beautiful Sugar Gum Hotel, in Hillside, to the Taylors Lakes Hotel; the Green Gully Soccer Club, another club whose food is well loved by the residents of Gorton; and the Keilor Hotel, which is a very special place close to me because it's where I met my husband, Chris. Just across from my office in Caroline Springs is Desir. Brenton, Michelle and Lorenzo have put their hearts into it. They're creating something really special in Gorton. This is a local business at its best. I know they'd be thrilled to see a government standing up for pubs and brewers, fighting to ease the cost-of-living pressures and working to bring down the cost of a pint in your hand so they don't have to worry about passing on the rising costs to customers. These venues are more than pubs in Gorton. They're community spots. They're where people catch up, unwind and feel connected. This measure helps keep them strong, and, because of that, I couldn't be prouder to support this bill. In a rare show of good sense, the coalition has decided not to stand in the way of this cost-of-living measure. It's reassuring to know that, for all their faults, they enjoy a beer like the rest of us. I wish I could say the same had happened with other cost-of-living measures we've introduced. Last term, they voted against our tax cuts for every taxpayer. They voted against us when we established the energy bill relief scheme. They went to the election promising to scrap our 20 per cent reduction on student debt. They opposed our fee-free TAFE policy and voted against it in this place, telling Australians that, if they didn't pay for their education, they wouldn't value it. The coalition has shown a rare display of sense by getting out of the way of this cost-of-living measure, but make no mistake—
Attard, Ms Emily, Westvale Community Centre Men's Shed | Constituency Statements | House debates
I rise today to honour Emily Attard, a Caroline Springs local and the founder and managing director of Specialist Hoops, a truly transformative basketball program operating across several...
I rise today to honour Emily Attard, a Caroline Springs local and the founder and managing director of Specialist Hoops, a truly transformative basketball program operating across several locations in Melbourne's western suburbs. What began in 2017, when Emily was only 16 years old, has grown eight years later into a vibrant community that bridges the gap in inclusion for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. As a young referee, Emily witnessed firsthand the barriers faced by children with disability—unable to play a full game due to a lack of inclusive opportunities and facing pushback on playing while wearing noise-cancelling headphones. Motivated by what she witnessed and a game she loved, she founded Specialist Hoops to create a safe space not just for children but for adults, too, to play sport, to belong and to grow. But, more importantly, Specialist Hoops has matured into a community, a place where participants can develop skills but also friendships, self-confidence and a strong sense of belonging. Emily's vision doesn't stop at inclusion for its own sake. She's created pathways for higher performance too, with some Specialist Hoops players now training weekly for state level tryouts and others now in mainstream basketball teams. What Emily has built is a powerful example of grassroots leadership, identifying a need, building a solution and growing something that matters deeply. Her work ensures that no-one is left behind not just in sport but in community. I congratulate Emily Attard, her team, her volunteers and the Specialist Hoops community for eight years of dedication, growth and genuine inclusion. Today I would also like to recognise the Westvale Men's Shed in Kings Park for its inspiring commitment to community inclusion not just for men but for women too. While the shed offers traditional social and woodworking sessions for men, every Tuesday they run a women's shed woodworking program free of charge. Last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to one of their sessions. This isn't a typical class. It's a skills exchange where women learn to use tools, develop skills, work on DIY projects and build confidence alongside experienced volunteers. Through this program, the shed creates a welcoming, non-threatening space for women to connect, create and grow. Each of the women were keen to share their current and past projects, ranging from wood-turned bowls, hardwood pens, upcycled items rescued from local hard-rubbish collections, restored furniture and so much more. One of the women told me how much this community has supported her mental health since the passing of her husband. With guidance from the shed, she was able to create a wooden urn for her husband. This meant so much to her family and helped her process her grief in a different way. Westvale's model shows how community sheds can evolve, preserving their core mission of supporting men's wellbeing while also extending genuine opportunity and belonging to women. This inclusive, grassroots leadership strengthens our community in real, practical ways and it's something worth celebrating and supporting. Well done, Westvale Men's Shed.
Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise to speak in support of the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025, put forward by the Minister for Home Affairs, and I commend him for doing so. I'm not sure about...
I rise to speak in support of the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025, put forward by the Minister for Home Affairs, and I commend him for doing so. I'm not sure about the member for New England's frankly confusing and somewhat offensive comments before me. He, like his party, wants to continue creating friction and heat in multicultural communities across our nation. But I am honoured to follow my friend the amazing member for Barton and commend her for her dedication to protecting the rights of migrants through her work as an employment lawyer and every day in her role in this parliament. At its core, this amendment bill is about the value that migrants bring to our nation—a nation shaped by generations of migrants who came to Australia in search of opportunity and a better future. From the Sydney Opera House to the West Gate Bridge, the very bridge that connects my community in Melbourne's western suburbs to the city, it's migrants that built the Australia we all enjoy today. The contributions migrants have made to this country have often come with great sacrifice. For too long, migrating to Australia to work has meant low wages, few protections and an uncertain future. In a country where, apart from our First Nations brothers and sisters, we all have migrant ancestry, where even today almost half of us have a parent born overseas, the fact that migrant workers have not been adequately protected and have been subjected to exploitation, coercion and wage theft is shameful. Our government does not tolerate the exploitation of migrant workers. I'm a proud member of the Transport Workers' Union and I'm thrilled to say that, after years of campaigning, the TWU, supported by legislation passed by our government last term, has struck a deal with Uber Eats and DoorDash. These companies will provide workers with minimum pay rates, injury insurance and protection against unfair dismissal by algorithms. Migrants make a huge contribution to the gig economy. This work supports them while they study and train and allows them to work and make a living while adjusting to a new home. They deserve to be properly protected in this work, and our government is determined to support them in this. The amendment bill before us now is another piece in this broader project to support migrant workers. It delivers on a commitment we made in the Migration strategy:getting migration working for the nation, from 2023, to enhance protections and oversight for these workers. The bill will establish a public register of approved work sponsors, which will be publicly available on the Department of Home Affairs website. The register will include the name and type of approved sponsor, the sponsor's ABN, the postcode associated with the approved sponsor's ABN and the number of sponsored workers and their occupations. The inclusion of the employer's postcode in particular will enable migrant workers considering changing sponsors to identify employers nearby, ensuring that the register is fit for use. With this register, it will be easier for migrant workers to check whether a sponsoring employer is legitimate and to find a new sponsor when exploring alternative employment opportunities, giving them the resources they need to be better informed about potential employers as well as greater mobility should they need to find a new employer. It's a simple reform that will make a big difference to the power imbalance between migrant workers and their employers. Too many temporary migrant workers who provide much-needed skills and labour to Australian businesses find themselves underpaid and subjected to poor conditions. In 2023, the Grattan Institute reported that one in six migrant workers were paid less than the national minimum wage and many endure unsafe working conditions and harassment. In 2016, the ABC reported that 7-Eleven workers were being paid as little as 47c an hour. They were made to work more than twice the number of hours permitted by their visa conditions, and they were physical intimidated when seeking repayment. Since then, the exploitation of migrant workers hasn't stopped. In December last year, the Fair Work Ombudsman found that workers at a sushi franchise had been underpaid more than $650,000. The franchise was ordered to pay more than $15 million—the highest penalty ever secured by the Fair Work Ombudsman in a single legal action. Most of the workers who were underpaid were working holiday-makers and skilled visa holders, and many of them were young people aged under 25. Migrant workers put up with these conditions because they are afraid of jeopardising their visas, because they haven't been told what their rights are, because they don't know what to do when they are underpaid, because they don't know how to check if their employer is legitimate and, sometimes, because they are being threatened by employers. It isn't fair and it isn't right, and that's why our government won't let it stand. When we came to government we took decisive action to start eradicating this exploitation. In 2023, we introduced a package of measures targeting employers seeking to exploit migrant workers and ensuring workers could speak up without fear of reprisal. These measures made it a criminal offence to use a person's visa conditions or status to exploit them in the workplace. Because of these measures, dodgy employers can now get up to two years of jail time for this conduct. We also introduced prohibition notices, increased penalties and new compliance tools to deter and punish this conduct by employers, and we repealed section 235 of the Migration Act which made it harder for temporary workers to report exploitation. To ensure these laws have real power, we committed $50 million to the Australian Border Force for enforcement and to promote compliance with these regulations, and we carried out a month-long blitz, inspecting around 300 businesses to check compliance. That was on top of the 140 businesses we sanctioned for bad conduct in 2022. In 2024, we brought in the Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Act, which introduced three new work related offences addressing coercive practices used by employers to exploit migrant workers. In March this year, we launched a $13.25 million grant program to educate temporary visa holders and their employers about our reforms. This piece builds on the systemic changes we've already made in this space, making sure that migrant workers have the right information to make informed choices about their sponsors and can find a new sponsoring employer more easily, reducing their susceptibility to exploitation. This issue is not so far from my electorate of Gorton. Not long ago, a constituent of my electorate came into my office distressed at the refusal of her application for an Employer Nomination Scheme visa. She had been an employee at her place of work, a small business, for several years already, but her visa application had been refused twice because her employer had failed to pay her at the same rate an Australian worker would be paid for the same work and had abrogated their sponsorship obligations to other workers. This constituent was distressed at being left with no choice but to leave the country despite having done nothing but work hard and support this small business during her time in Australia. These are the challenges faced by temporary workers of our country—temporary workers who have been left at the mercy of their employers, who've had little control over their lives and who've had no choice but to bear the consequences of their employer's indiscretions. At its core, making sure that temporary migrants are protected from exploitation is a matter of fairness and human dignity, because everybody should be paid properly for the work they do, and nobody should have to endure mistreatment, coercion or exploitation. It's also about making sure that wages stay strong for all Australians. Wage theft is fundamentally anticompetitive—a race to the bottom. When migrant workers are underpaid, it drives wages and conditions down for everyone. It erodes institutions that make Australia a good place to live and work, like our world-leading minimum wage, and it harms employers doing the right thing. It means that employers are faced with a difficult choice—whether to pay their workers the lawful amount and sacrifice market share or join the race to the bottom. By making sure that migrant workers are paid properly for their work across the board, employers don't have this incentive to reduce wages, protecting the wages of all Australians. It's about making Australia a place where people from other countries want to work. For our economy and our future, Australians need migrant workers. According to the peak body for the building and construction industry, every building and construction trade is currently deemed to be in shortage. To address the current housing crisis and ensure that we have the housing we need for the future, we need skilled labour from overseas, particularly in rural and regional areas. Shortages of skilled workers like cooks and chefs are also presenting an ongoing challenge. In 2022, Jobs and Skills Australia reported that 66 per cent of employers experienced difficulty filling hospitality roles, and an article by the ABC reported that businesses, particularly in rural and regional areas, are having to decrease operating hours to cope with persistent skills shortages. Of course, shortages like these have more than one cause and require multifaceted approaches, but temporary migrant workers are an essential part of the picture to plug these gaps, reduce the pressure on these industries and keep small businesses afloat, ensuring that our economy keeps moving forward and that we maintain and grow the industries that are critical to our future. As we discuss what migrant workers have to endure in our country, I'm proud again to be sitting on this side of the House and not that side of the House. Time and time again, those opposite have failed in their responsibility to protect temporary migrant workers from exploitation. Not only did they preside over worsening conditions for temporary migrant workers in this country, failing to actually implement the recommendations of the Migrant Workers' Taskforce they created, which responded to the revelation that 7-Eleven's mistreatment of some migrant workers essentially amounted to slavery; but they also actively prioritised temporary visas over permanent visas, changed visa rules to restrict workers rights and removed pathways to residency, actively degrading workers protections and leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. At every opportunity to demonstrate support for migrants, at every opportunity to show that they know the value of migration to our country, they've done the opposite. The comments made by those opposite about migrant communities during their last term of government don't bear repeating. You would think that, after their decisive losses in 2022 and, again, this year, they'd have realised that vilifying migrant communities and dog whistling to the far right doesn't play with Australians. But, no, they've persisted with this divisive rhetoric. With racist and offensive remarks, they've validated and legitimised the blaming of migrants for social issues instead of working with the government collaboratively to address the real causes of these problems—problems we're only dealing with today after 10 years of neglect under their leadership. Blaming migrants is what a party does when they don't have real solutions to the issues we face as a nation. We know the coalition doesn't have real solutions. We knew it during the election campaign when they proposed solving the transition to clean energy with billion-dollar nuclear fantasies. We knew it when they proposed solving the housing crisis by reducing the number of international students in higher education and VET. We knew it all the 10 years they were in government, during which they reduced emissions by a meagre three per cent, ignored our ageing population and deemed it unnecessary to appoint a housing minister. We know it now, as they ditch net zero and let migrants take the blame for the consequences of their neglect. Once again I'm proud to be on this side of the House, where we tackle the issues head on and where we treat migrants with the dignity, care and respect they deserve and actually listen to them and their experiences as members of our Australian community. Last week, Minister Thistlethwaite and I held a migration forum. It was held in my office and was attended by leaders of multicultural communities in my electorate. The forum was productive and insightful. It was an opportunity to ask questions and gain insights on parts of our migration system that were less well known. It was also a chance to share information about how the system works in practice and identify opportunities for greater cultural sensitivity and understanding. I'm so proud to represent one of the most multicultural communities in the country, and every day that I represent my electorate I'm reminded of the value that migrants add to our community, whether it be in skills, in the insights they bring, in the ways in which they lift each other up and model close-knit, supportive and welcoming community or in the culture they share—food, language, celebrations and knowledge. This amendment recognises the value of migrants. It recognises that they deserve to feel safe and secure as a matter of human dignity but also as people who add immense value to our communities, who have an important role to play in our future and who are welcome in our country. I commend this bill to the House.
Low-Income Superannuation Tax Offset | Motions | House debates
I move: That this House: (1) notes that the reforms to the low-income superannuation tax offset (LISTO) the Treasurer announced on 13 October 2025 will: (a) increase the LISTO by $310 to $810;...
I move: That this House: (1) notes that the reforms to the low-income superannuation tax offset (LISTO) the Treasurer announced on 13 October 2025 will: (a) increase the LISTO by $310 to $810; and (b) raise the eligibility threshold from $37,000 to $45,000; (2) acknowledges that these reforms will deliver a more secure retirement for 1.3 million Australians, of which around 60 per cent are women, with the total number of Australians eligible for LISTO increasing to 3.1 million; (3) takes note of the legislation currently before the Parliament that ensures superannuation is paid on time to help more Australians get the secure retirement they need and deserve; and (4) further acknowledges that only the current Government will protect Australians' superannuation because of our commitment for Australians to earn more, keep more of what they earn, and to retire with more as well. This motion goes to the reforms of the low-income superannuation tax offset, or LISTO that the Treasurer announced in October this year. These reforms will deliver a more secure retirement for 1.3 million Australians, of which around 60 per cent are women, with the total number of Australians eligible for the LISTO increasing to 3.1 million. Only the Albanese Labor government will protect Australian superannuation, because of our commitment that Australians earn more, keep more of what they earn and retire with more. I'm really pleased to move the motion before the House today, recognising the significant impact this reform will have for people across Australia and in my electorate of Gorton. Low-income workers are too often undervalued in our society—retail workers, hospitality workers, administrative assistants, cleaners, disability and aged-care workers, and farm workers. They put food on our table, care for our loved ones, and keep our workspaces, schools and community facilities clean. These are people who have worked their whole lives in service of our community, and it's not fair that this sometimes means they don't get to have financial stability in their retirement. Our government's reforms to the low-income tax offset will give low-income earners more security and stability in their retirement. The changes announced by the Treasurer last month increase the offset from $310 to $810, directly boosting low-income earners' retirement savings and allowing them greater financial security in their future. By raising the eligibility threshold from earning $37,000 per year to earning $45,000 per year, more individuals will also be able to access the offset—more than 2,000 people in my electorate of Gorton. I've worked in takeaway food service. I've been underpaid. I've been treated poorly by customers, and my contribution has been undervalued. I know that working in retail and hospitality can be a hard slog. It takes a toll on your physical and mental health. You work long hours on your feet with few breaks. More often than not, your pay doesn't reflect your skills, your experience or the challenges of your work. It's not right that people working in these jobs are held back in their retirement. The low-income tax offset is a tangible step towards rectifying this injustice. The LISTO makes a contribution into a person's super, in addition to their employer's contribution, if they meet the requirements. Depending on their circumstances, the LISTO could see an extra $15,000 added to an individual's retirement savings. This amount will make a huge difference to these individuals' lives, giving them the security and peace of mind that their retirement is taken care of. This reform isn't just about economic justice. It's also about gender equity. Sixty per cent of low-income workers are women, and workers in industries dominated by women are still paid less than in those dominated by men. For these reasons, women end up with much less super than their male counterparts. This reform will mean 1.3 million more Australians—around 55 per cent of whom will be women—will have a more secure retirement, reducing financial inequity between men and women and ensuring that women have financial security and autonomy in their retirement. I want to talk about how these changes will affect those in my electorate of Gorton. At the most recent count, nearly 15 per cent of people in Gorton worked as clerical and administrative workers, over 10 per cent as community and personal service workers, and nine per cent as sales workers. These are people I see in my office on their one afternoon off a month. These are people who spend their weekends at community events, even though they often work long hours in demanding conditions. These occupations are some of the lowest paid in our workforce, but without them everything would grind to a halt. They deserve the dignity of savings for when they retire, just like any other worker. Labor is the party of super. It was Prime Minister Keating who created the compulsory superannuation system, ensuring every Australian has savings when they retire, and it is clear from a decade under the coalition that only Labor will protect super. I'm really proud to be part of a government that is building on Keating's legacy, defending the dignity of low-income workers and working towards a more equitable system.
VICSES Aintree Unit | Statements by Members | House debates
I rise to acknowledge the outstanding service of the Aintree SES unit and its dedicated volunteers. After more than two years of leading the unit through its establishment in Melbourne's outer...
I rise to acknowledge the outstanding service of the Aintree SES unit and its dedicated volunteers. After more than two years of leading the unit through its establishment in Melbourne's outer west, Micah Spedding has officially passed the torch to Alex Setterfield, who will now serve as the new unit controller. When Micah first took on this role, the unit was little more than a patch of land. Through his tireless effort, commitment and countless volunteer hours, it has grown into a thriving and fully operational service, proudly serving the people of Aintree and surrounding communities in times of emergency. In addition to responding during times of crisis, the Aintree SES has become a visible and trusted presence at many local community events, promoting storm preparedness, raising awareness of flood risks and ensuring families know how to stay safe when severe weather strikes. I extend my sincere thanks to Micah for his exemplary leadership and to all SES volunteers who give so generously of their time to help others. I also congratulate Alex on his appointment and wish him every success as he leads the unit into its next chapter. Alex is an outstanding member of our local community. Together with his partner, Tanya, he has been determined to see the unit thrive and recruit more volunteers. I'm proud to commend the dedicated men and women of the Victorian State Emergency Service who keep our community safe.
Workplace Relations | Statements by Members | House debates
I rise to speak in solidarity with female rail, tram and bus workers all over the country. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union's recent report shows us the uncomfortable truth. Women's health is...
I rise to speak in solidarity with female rail, tram and bus workers all over the country. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union's recent report shows us the uncomfortable truth. Women's health is suffering because of a lack of access to workplace toilet and sanitary facilities. The report shows that, horrifyingly, 73 per cent of female transport workers have suffered health issues because they were not able to access toilets or sanitary bins. Women are forced to carry their used period products all day because there's nowhere to dispose of them. Women are being told by their managers that not having access to adequate facilities is just part of working in the industry. This is unacceptable, and it should concern all workers. This isn't just a matter of comfort; it's a matter of safety. When women are forced to use inappropriate facilities, they are put in unsafe situations. This should never be acceptable as an adequate working environment. The RTBU national office is calling for a mandatory national standard for all transport workers, to guarantee them access to safe, clean and private toilets. I'd like to thank the RTBU for bringing such an important topic to light. I'd also like to give a shout-out to the mighty Transport Workers' Union, who also represent transport workers across the country. I was proud to stand in solidarity with the TWU and the SDA at their recent protest at Amazon in Ravenhall. These workers are fighting for better pay and conditions, and it's time for Amazon to pay up. (Time expired)
Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Bill 2025 | Adjournment | House debates
I rise today to speak on a really important bill that was recently passed in this parliament in memory of little Baby Priya. Heartbreakingly, Baby Priya lived to just 42 days old. Instead of...
I rise today to speak on a really important bill that was recently passed in this parliament in memory of little Baby Priya. Heartbreakingly, Baby Priya lived to just 42 days old. Instead of having the freedom to grieve her baby's death during this difficult time, Priya's mum faced distressing negotiations with her employer about a return to work she hadn't planned for. I don't have firsthand experience of childbirth and losing a baby at the same time, but I do know grief. Grief can be overwhelming, paralysing and raw. Some days, it is truly debilitating. For pregnancies that reach 20 weeks, one in every 135 will end in stillbirth. Baby Priya's bill introduces a new principle into the Fair Work Act to protect families during the most difficult time of their lives. This bill means that, unless employers and employees have expressly agreed otherwise, employer funded paid parental leave cannot be cancelled if a child is stillborn or passes away. This is for the six babies who are stillborn in Australia every day and the more than 2,000 families each year who face this loss and heartbreak. It means parents can rely on their paid parental leave entitlements regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy or birth. This bill is about dignity, it's about compassion and, from a legislative perspective, it's about defining a grey area of the law and giving families financial security at a time when they need it most, because, even if a person experiencing the loss of a child does have supportive employers, those employers do not have a defined category of leave to give them. It's not bereavement leave. It's not annual leave. What do you call it? This bill provides clarity for parents, employers and the whole workplace. It sets out shared expectations so that these moments can be handled with dignity and compassion. It leads to mutually beneficial conditions for both employers and employees, and it builds trust and dialogue in workplaces. The clarity this bill provides aligns with the clarity provided in existing unpaid parental leave entitlements, ensuring consistency across the workplace relations framework. Importantly, it doesn't interfere with bargaining in good-faith agreements. This means that the ability to bargain for pay and conditions above the safety net remains central to our approach to workplace relations. When we define and protect this paid parental leave, we're recognising the experience of those families instead of erasing it. Going through pregnancy and childbirth and adjusting to new life with a baby is challenging. It's transformative and, for most families, it's joyous. But to go through that experience with loss instead of new life, with grief instead of joy, and to be forced to an immediate return to work is horrific. Friends of mine have gone through this experience. Colleagues of mine have spoken in this chamber about people in their communities that have gone through this experience. You'd think this bill would have received unequivocal support from every member of this house, because the horrors that Baby Priya's family went through—those horrors that I saw my friends go through—are not something I would wish upon any Australian. A few weeks ago, I was speaking to one of my best friends—a wonderful doctor who works on maternity wards in Melbourne hospitals—about the legislation. As she was speaking, her eyes teared up, and she said: 'I look after patients who lose their babies. There's so much that we try to do to provide care to them and to try to help them in that moment. It shocked me that, after everything they go through, after all the care we provide, a workplace would actually expect them to go back to work within a few days of going through that. It's just awful.' Instead of unequivocal support, this House and the Australian public have been subjected to some truly sickening comments from those opposite. Those opposite just don't get it. They don't get that for a parent to be told by their employer, 'No, you do not have the time and space to grieve,' or for a woman to be trapped without the opportunity to physically recover from a traumatic childbirth is abhorrent. The lack of compassion and empathy that has been shown by these members is astounding. Their comments are unworthy of this place and unworthy of the people they represent. But we won't let their comments take away from this moment. This is a proud moment. It's a moment to recognise that the Labor Party is doing really good things in people's lives right across Australia—for women and families in their most vulnerable moments. This piece of legislation will affect so many Australians' lives for the better.
Hasluck Electorate: Community Events | Adjournment | House debates
VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I rise today to speak in support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 put forward by the Minister for Skills and Training, and I commend him for doing so. To build...
I rise today to speak in support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 put forward by the Minister for Skills and Training, and I commend him for doing so. To build Australia's future, we need vocational education and training. We need VET to solve big national challenges in the labour market. There's no doubt we have a need for greater housing supply, for more workers in early education and aged care and for skilled technical workers to support the transition to net zero. That's right—net zero. That's because we on this side of the House actually believe in climate change and we want to prepare our country for a changing climate. If we as a country are going to rise to these challenges, we need to ensure that the VET programs that support us are as strong as possible, that VET is accessible to people regardless of their means and that the programs supporting VET have the social licence to operate. Our work in this space started by putting TAFE back at the heart of Australia's vocational education and training sector. We did this because TAFE is vital for the next generation of skilled workers. For too long, students studied courses or undertook training that did not lead to secure jobs or the skills that employers need. Jobs and Skills Australia is the body established by this government to provide independent advice on workforce skills and training needs. This group quickly identified that we must address the disconnect between what students are studying now and where jobs and skills of the future will be. Since then, we have undertaken a massive piece of work to strengthen vocational education and training in Australia and to ensure that students are studying and training in the skills that will be vital for our future. This bill is another step in our broader efforts to ensure that Australia is equipped with the skilled workforce we will need for the future. The bill before us is about ensuring that the VET Student Loans Act and the administration of the VET Student Loans program are aligned. Last year, the VET Student Loans program assisted more than 24,000 VET students to pay their student loans. VSL providers currently need to handle student tax file numbers, with TFNs being essential for ensuring students loan application details match with their ATO accounts. During a review of this program's administration, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations identified that there wasn't a clear role in the legislation for VSL providers to handle students TFNs. The bill before us today clarifies the basis for this necessary practice and, in this way, ensures the program remains compliant while being accessible to students. So, in essence, this bill is about two things. It's about safeguarding student loans for VET students, and it's about strengthening confidence in government by paying attention to detail and making sure every process is up to standard. The VET Student Loans program is an important part of the education policy landscape in Australia. It commenced in 2017 and was passed with bipartisan support. It was an overhaul of the previous system, strengthening integrity and oversight and restoring confidence and trust in loans for VET students. Since this program was implemented, more than 324,000 VET students have accessed loans. That's 324,000 VET students trained in trades, technical skills, engineering, nursing, early childhood education and more. That's 324,000 more opportunities to help build Australia's future and critical skills. This bill, which addresses a misalignment between the program's legislation and its administration, is important for a number of reasons. It strengthens the administration of the VET Student Loans program, a program that has been and will continue to be instrumental in building the skilled workforce Australia needs. VET student loans make vocational education and training more accessible to Australians and ensure that Australia has enough skilled workers to meet industry demand and address skills shortages across critical industries. A study conducted by Jobs and Skills Australia last year confirmed that many of Australia's current job shortages in trades, care and education roles rely on the VET system and its workforce to teach and train future workers. Australia has persistent shortages in tradies and technicians, as well as community and personal service workers, including aged-care workers, disability support workers, childcare workers and nurses. As we strive to increase housing supply, care for our ageing population and ensure that our children receive the best start in life, these workers will be even more critical. For the future of our country, it's imperative that we ensure that the supply meets the demand for these workers, and safeguarding our VET Student Loans program, which gets people into VET courses regardless of their means, is a core piece of this puzzle. But the importance of the VET Student Loans program doesn't end there. Trades are a really important part of my electorate of Gorton. More than 13 per cent of my constituents are technicians and tradies. More than 10 per cent of my constituents are machine operators and drivers. Another 10 per cent are labourers. And, at the last count, more than 3½ thousand of my constituents were studying in a vocational education institution. Apprenticeships change lives. They connect students with employers, while building confidence and ambition. I recently visited CMV Truck & Bus in Derrimut with the Minister for Skills and Training and met a number of these amazing apprentices. CMV Truck & Bus have a fantastic program supporting 103 diesel mechanic apprentices across their operation, including 34 in Derrimut in my electorate. They're training the next generation of vehicle technicians. Free TAFE and good employers like CMV Truck & Bus make dreams like this a reality for so many young people in my community. I previously worked in education policy. We reformed the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning to become the VCE Vocational Major, providing students with practical skills, hands-on experience and a pathway to further education. Bringing this pathway into the VCE was much more than a name change or a rebrand. It reformed the curriculum to ensure that there was an option within VCE that focuses on vocational and applied learning. We have some incredible school based VET programs as well, we students are taking up hands-on subjects like automotive, engineering studies, building and construction, hair and beauty, and so much. I recently visited Catholic Regional College in Sydenham, a fantastic local school in my electorate that has a VET hospitality program and a VET food processing program. Their teachers and kitchen facilities at the school are incredible. They're able to provide commercial catering at local events through these student programs. They're learning the hands-on skills while they're still completing school so that they can go on to do TAFE or go straight into work. CRC Sydenham also has a great VET Salon Assistant program and has offered me a haircut one of these days, which I'm very much looking forward to. CRC is just one example, but there are so many schools in the western suburbs of Melbourne that have embedded the need for hands-on learning in everything they do. This sets our students up for success in whatever they choose to do. This bill, which ensures confidence in our VET Student Loans program, is part of Labor's larger commitment to education. Labor is the party of quality and accessible education, and in our commitment to education we're leaving no stone unturned. We've locked in 100,000 free TAFE places each year, from 2027. We've cut 20 per cent off all student debts, and we'll raise the minimum repayment threshold so that repayments are lower and only kick in when you earn more. Our 20 per cent reduction of student debts will benefit VET students in particular, applying to more than 280,000 VET Student Loans and Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan accounts. It'll cut more than $500 million from VET Student Loans and Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan balances, giving VET students a leg-up when they enter the workforce. We're working on all levels of education. We're committing $16½ billion to fully fund all public schools over the next 10 years, tied to real and practical reforms. We've legislated paid prac payments for teaching students to help with the cost of placements. We're giving early education and care workers a pay rise. We're subsidising additional hours of care for about 100,000 families under the three-day childcare guarantee. And we're putting TAFE back at the centre of Australia's vocational education and training sector. We passed the Free TAFE Bill, which has seen more than 685,000 enrolments in free TAFE. The Leader of the Opposition famously said, 'When you don't pay for something, you don't value it.' Tell that to the 685,000 people taking up free TAFE around Australia. Tell that to the 1,420 apprentices in my electorate who are in training, right now, thanks to free TAFE. They include my husband Chris, who was able to make a career change later in life as a result of Labor's free TAFE. He's a mature-age electrical apprentice who studies at Victoria University in Sunshine a day a week while completing his apprenticeship with a third-generation small business called Rizzo Electrical in Airport West. Free TAFE is life-changing for so many families, including mine. Frankly, it shows how out of touch those opposite really are. They voted against training more tradies to build the houses we need for our growing communities. They voted against the cost-of-living relief that free TAFE provides for so many Australians, particularly in the outer suburbs. They are out of touch with the needs and interests of suburban families, while we on this side of the House are doing everything we can to help Australians get better jobs with higher wages and give educational opportunities to Australians that would otherwise miss out. Labor is the party of education and we are building on our commitment to education with this bill. The bill is important because it works towards ensuring the administration of crucial programs like the VET Student Loans program is compliant and administered with integrity. We know that trust in government isn't where it should be. It's been eroded over the last decade when those opposite were in government—those opposite, who presided over robodebt; those opposite, whose former leader swore himself into five additional ministries during his term without even informing his own cabinet, much less the public; and who voted against things that are making a real difference to Australians, like energy bill relief, cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, and cheaper health care. When the Albanese Labor government came to power in 2022, we promised Australians we would make government work for them, not the other way around—no more secrecy, no more scandal—and we have delivered key pieces of legislation to give Australians confidence that government does work for them, that our democracy is by the people, for the people, as it was intended. We have created the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the first of its nature in Australia's history. We strengthened protections for public sector whistleblowers. We have committed to releasing an annual report on trust in the Public Service to increase transparency and trust in public servants. We are delivering on the things Australians care about—cost of living, housing and education, Medicare—and putting real outcomes for Australians first. With this bill, we are ensuring the programs and processes that bring out real outcomes for Australians are compliant and administered with integrity, down to the very last detail. The bill before us today speaks to who we are as a Labor government. We are a government that pays attention to detail, that acts on advice from the Public Service, that knows the importance of integrity and transparency in everything we do, that wants to build confidence and improve trust in government, and wants to earn that trust by doing right by Australians. We are a government that invests in Australians—our people—unlike the opposition, who believe that if you don't pay for something, you don't value it. We know that when we invest in our people, our society, our economy and our future all benefit, many times over. We are a government that cares about what makes a real difference to the lives of Australians—cost of living measures, Medicare, affordable housing—and a government that knows the transformative quality of access to education, not just for individuals but for all of Australia. I commend the bill to the House.