Zhi Soon's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
type: channel
language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2026-02-05T22:06:05+00:00
items: Banks Electorate: Energy | Statements | House debates
items: Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Education, Banks Electorate: Australia Day | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Budget | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Leong, Lachlan | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
items: Wright, Mr William 'Billy' | Statements by Members | House debates
items: SDN Children's Services, Bailey, Mrs Barbara | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Medicare | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Energy | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Khoury, Dr David | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Autism Community Network, St George Basketball Association | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Albanese Government | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Banks Electorate: Community Organisations | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Banks Electorate: Revesby Post Office | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Budget | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Banks Electorate: Community Events | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Freedom of Information | Matters of Public Importance | House debates

Banks Electorate: Energy | Statements | House debates
type: item
description: Recently the suburbs of Lugarno and Peakhurst Heights in my electorate of Banks experienced two power outages in 24 hours. Unfortunately, they were not isolated incidents and were part of the...
encoded: Recently the suburbs of Lugarno and Peakhurst Heights in my electorate of Banks experienced two power outages in 24 hours. Unfortunately, they were not isolated incidents and were part of the latest string of outages caused by failures of our local grid infrastructure. Local residents have expressed just how challenging this has been for them, including the distress of not being able to operate vital medical equipment and the frustration of interruptions to the operations of their businesses. This is why I am so pleased to have worked with Ausgrid to secure action for our local residents and businesses, ensuring repairs to the local grid infrastructure, including pole and wire maintenance, vegetation management and more frequent inspections of the lines. This is the first step in building a more resilient local network. There is plenty more work to do in this space to address this longstanding issue, and I'll be watching it very, very closely, including having conversations right here with my colleagues in Canberra to make sure they know what we're fighting for and that the people of Lugarno and Peakhurst Heights have reliable power for their families and for their businesses to ensure they have the services that they need.
date: 2026-02-05T13:34:00+00:00

Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: Back in 2022, before this government was elected, people in my community and many others were struggling to afford to pay for their medications. Back then, a PBS prescription cost $42.50. For a...
encoded: Back in 2022, before this government was elected, people in my community and many others were struggling to afford to pay for their medications. Back then, a PBS prescription cost $42.50. For a script that was filled monthly, that was many hundreds of dollars a year annually. But since then, this government, this Albanese Labor government, has acted to address it with two cuts to the cost of PBS prescriptions. Australians are paying only $25 per script. That same monthly refill is now $200 cheaper over the course of the year. Importantly, the freeze for pensioners and concession card holders at just $7.70 has been extended to the year 2030. Additionally, the government has listed hundreds of medicines on the PBS over the last 3½ years, including treatments for prostate, breast and lung cancers, bringing medical breakthroughs within the financial reach of Australian patients. This is an agenda for the PBS that is working, and Australians are seeing the benefits to the tune of $1.7 billion saved nationwide, including $7.8 million in my own electorate of Banks. While Labor created the PBS, our agenda for Australia's health goes beyond access to medications. We are also investing in the nation's other great healthcare program: Medicare. During the last term of parliament, the government tripled the bulk-billing incentive for those in our communities who need access to a GP the most and saw the results of this. Now the government has delivered on its commitment to make the largest investment in Medicare since it was created and extended the bulk-billing incentive to every Australian for the first time to make sure that 90 per cent of GP visits are bulk-billed by the year 2030. In my electorate alone, 18 GP clinics indicated that they were shifting over to becoming fully bulk-billing clinics, bulk-billing every single patient. With the launch of 1800MEDICARE, Australians have access to a 24/7 telehealth service when they need help after hours. When Australians need help t…
date: 2026-02-05T09:43:00+00:00

Education, Banks Electorate: Australia Day | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: As members of this place, we all have the pleasure of attending end-of-year presentations at local schools. It has been one of my favourite things to do since being elected to this parliament. In...
encoded: As members of this place, we all have the pleasure of attending end-of-year presentations at local schools. It has been one of my favourite things to do since being elected to this parliament. In December, I was able to make it to end-of-year presentations and graduation events at 27 schools across my electorate of Banks, from Panania in the west to Blakehurst in the east. It was fantastic to celebrate the achievements of so many students who excelled in 2025. I was so pleased to sponsor awards at each school, as well as a number of schools whose ceremonies I was unable to attend, to recognise things like student leadership and high achievement. Congratulations to all the students who were recognised for their successes. Congratulations for all the work that you put in. Our local schools are the incubators of the transformational power of education. Thanks to the Albanese Labor government's Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, every public school in Australia will finally be fully funded. In my electorate, the federal government will be increasing the share of funding it provides to every single public school, making sure local students have everything they need to succeed. On Australia Day I had the privilege of attending a number of local celebrations. The citizenship ceremonies held by the Georges River and Canterbury Bankstown councils were great celebrations of national pride. Seeing the joy on the faces of hundreds of new Australians from all over the world who have decided to make our nation their home was fantastic. I was also able to spend some time at the Picnic Point Bowling Club's family day. The club is a great local institution that has branched out with clubs playing darts, golf and also organised fishing. The club put a great celebration on for Australia Day, including things like thong-throwing and many other activities for families across the area. Congratulations to the whole team, particularly the club president Bill Brown, who has done an amazin…
date: 2026-02-04T10:28:00+00:00

Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: It is such a pleasure to follow on from the wonderful new member for Gorton. Since the federal election last year, I've had the honour of speaking in support of legislation in this House relating...
encoded: It is such a pleasure to follow on from the wonderful new member for Gorton. Since the federal election last year, I've had the honour of speaking in support of legislation in this House relating to a number of measures and bills in the health portfolio. Today, I rise to support the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 because it is yet another pillar of the health policy that this government promised at the 2020 election—and another one that is being delivered. The Labor government promised to prioritise reforms to the scope of practice for health professionals that are aimed at delivering real benefits to Australian patients by substantially improving their access to health care. As Australia's population continues to age, there is a greater strain being placed on our health and aged-care systems, alongside a greater prevalence of chronic diseases. The challenge that we face as a government is how to improve timely and affordable access to medications whilst also minimising the pressure we put on the healthcare workforce. The reforms contained in this legislation before the House are part of this Labor government's answer. The bill both allows and creates the regulatory framework for nurse prescribing. As a result of these changes, those hardworking professionals, who make up approximately half of the nation's healthcare workforce, will be able to prescribe a selection of PBS medications. Through nurse prescribing, this Labor government is moving dramatically to enhance access to medications. Importantly, this is not only a win for urban areas. Not only do registered nurses make up a majority of our healthcare professionals in this country but they are also the most geographically spread. This ensures that the benefits of this legislation will also be felt in regional, rural and remote communities where the nursing profession also enjoys a high level of trust. This includes my mum, who is now a retired registered nurse, a…
date: 2026-02-04T19:22:00+00:00

Budget | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Treasurer. How has the Albanese Labor government approached the task of budget repair? How does this compare with other approaches?
encoded: My question is to the Treasurer. How has the Albanese Labor government approached the task of budget repair? How does this compare with other approaches?
date: 2026-02-04T14:21:00+00:00

Leong, Lachlan | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise to pay tribute to Lachlan Leong, who sadly passed away at the age of 17 earlier this year. Lachlan was a remarkable young man: caring, wise beyond his years and a much-loved member of the...
encoded: I rise to pay tribute to Lachlan Leong, who sadly passed away at the age of 17 earlier this year. Lachlan was a remarkable young man: caring, wise beyond his years and a much-loved member of the community in Padstow and at Menai High School. Lachlan was also an extraordinary table tennis player, ranked fifth in the country for his age group and 32nd in the country overall. The last two years had brought Lachlan much success in the sport, including wins in a number of national tournaments and wins over players that were several years his senior. He had a special talent that I was able to see, briefly, at the St George & Sutherland Shire Table Tennis Association last year. It earnt him wide recognition, and he will be sorely missed by many in the table tennis community who saw his boundless potential. I was able to attend Lachlan's funeral on 14 January, and my thoughts are with his family, particularly his parents, Simon and Connie, and his brothers, Mathew and Jayden, who I had the privilege of meeting. At the funeral, many spoke about Lachlan's thoughtfulness and selflessness, whether at school, with his family or at table tennis. The room was full to the brim with family and friends, including countless members of Menai High School and of table tennis fraternities. Lachlan will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.
date: 2026-02-04T13:37:00+00:00

Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
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description: I rise on behalf of the people of Banks to add my condolences to those made by many members of this House who are contributing to this motion. The attack at Archer Park on 14 December was an act...
encoded: I rise on behalf of the people of Banks to add my condolences to those made by many members of this House who are contributing to this motion. The attack at Archer Park on 14 December was an act of despicable evil, one of the worst instances of terror this country has ever seen and the worst shooting in nearly 30 years. It shattered the peace of the festive season that so many Australians from all different faiths cherish. When I had the opportunity to lay flowers on behalf of my community at the memorial outside the Bondi Pavilion, the pain and grief were palpable. The community in Bondi is forever scarred by what took place. While the community I represent in south-west Sydney is in many ways very different to the eastern suburbs, we are all Australians. In times like this, their pain, their grief is ours as well, not least because the shockwaves that ripped through Sydney last December left their mark all over our great city. One of the victims, Dan Elkayam, played football for Rockdale Ilinden FC, a club representing the St George district that forms half of my electorate but also a local Macedonian Australian community. I send particular condolences to the Jewish community not just in Sydney or the eastern suburbs but across the country, including in my electorate of Banks. In the Jewish tradition, as many have mentioned previously, Hanukkah celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and freedom from oppression. To have that light dimmed by terror is a tragedy all of its own. The sad reality of the situation is that those terrorists went to Bondi to target Jews. This is abhorrent, and we must do all that we can to ensure this is never repeated. To the Jewish community in Sydney and across Australia, who doubtless are still hurting profoundly, and the loved ones of all 15 victims we lost: my community is with you in your grief and your pain. May all of the innocent lives lost rest in peace, and may the memories of those lost be a blessing to those who remain.…
date: 2026-01-19T17:05:00+00:00

Wright, Mr William 'Billy' | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise today to recognise William 'Billy' Wright of Oatley in my electorate and his extraordinary service. Billy was conscripted into the Australian Defence Force in February 1966. After...
encoded: I rise today to recognise William 'Billy' Wright of Oatley in my electorate and his extraordinary service. Billy was conscripted into the Australian Defence Force in February 1966. After undertaking training with the RAAF and RAEME, he was deployed to Vietnam in 1969 as an engine fitter. His time in Vietnam exemplified dedication to service and bravery, volunteering for air control missions and infantry patrols. Billy returned to Australia after a year and concluded his military service in 1972. In post-military life, he would continue his work as an engine fitter with Qantas, working there for over 30 years. Most remarkable has been his support for veterans and their legacy. Billy joined the Oatley RSL sub-Branch in 2008 and became its president in 2015. During his term, he authored and funded a book on local war heroes which has been distributed widely, honouring our community's history of service. In recognition of his incredible contributions, the Oatley RSL sub-Branch hall will be renamed the William 'Billy' Wright sub-branch hall. I know you're watching out there, Billy. Thank you for all your remarkable work for our community, your dedication to veterans and your service to— (Time expired)
date: 2025-11-27T13:30:00+00:00

SDN Children's Services, Bailey, Mrs Barbara | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise to recognise the fantastic teams at SDN Riverwood and Milperra. SDN have been providing child care and early childhood education services in Riverwood since the 1940s. Both centres...
encoded: I rise to recognise the fantastic teams at SDN Riverwood and Milperra. SDN have been providing child care and early childhood education services in Riverwood since the 1940s. Both centres consistently rate as exceeding the national quality standards and are fantastic examples for best practice in the sector. I had the pleasure of visiting Milperra just a few weeks ago with Minister Jess Walsh and Riverwood just last week, where I was greeted by the smiles of quite a number of babies and toddlers. Thank you to the staff at SDN for the fantastic work that you do and for setting the standard for others in our communities to follow. Secondly, I want to pay tribute to Barbara Bailey, who passed away recently at the age of 82. A Revesby resident since she was 10 years old, a devoted wife to Vietnam veteran Robert and a proud mother and grandmother, Barbara was a community connector. She remembered every single birthday and anniversary and had a gift for making others feel seen and valued. She was a quiet powerhouse of warmth, always lending her listening ear and supporting others. Her legacy is one of love, one of humility and deep devotion to her family and the community she was such a valued part of. Thank you so much, Barbara, for everything that you have done for our community.
date: 2025-11-24T16:35:00+00:00

Medicare | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government strengthening Medicare and making it easier to see a bulk-billing doctor? Why is it so important to lift...
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government strengthening Medicare and making it easier to see a bulk-billing doctor? Why is it so important to lift Medicare and bulk-billing after a decade of cuts and neglect?
date: 2025-11-24T15:04:00+00:00

Energy | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Treasurer. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to make the most of the global move to cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy? How does this compare to other...
encoded: My question is to the Treasurer. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to make the most of the global move to cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy? How does this compare to other approaches?
date: 2025-11-06T14:40:00+00:00

Khoury, Dr David | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise to celebrate the achievements of Dr David Khoury, a Peakhurst Heights local from my electorate of Banks, who's right up there in the gallery today. This week, Dr Khoury was awarded the...
encoded: I rise to celebrate the achievements of Dr David Khoury, a Peakhurst Heights local from my electorate of Banks, who's right up there in the gallery today. This week, Dr Khoury was awarded the Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year as part of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science—a remarkable accomplishment. Dr Khoury is a Scientia fellow and the leader of the Infection Analytics Program at the University of New South Wales's Kirby Institute. He has been recognised for his work bringing his advanced mathematics background to public health research, with his use of quantitative methods to translate scientific research into actionable evidence to guide public health decisions, especially those related to drug and vaccine development, assessment and deployment. Dr Khoury can be proud that his work has informed the decisions to protect some of the most vulnerable populations and contributed to saving thousands of lives around the world. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Khoury this morning and hearing about his story and his research. Dr Khoury is a great local in Banks and an extraordinary Australian. I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish in the future. Congratulations, Dr Khoury, to you, your team and your family for a remarkable achievement. And to the young people of Banks: Dr Khoury is a great example of how a career in science can change the world.
date: 2025-11-04T13:55:00+00:00

Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: I rise to speak in support of the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2025. This legislation is the latest example of a tangible set of reforms to come out of the Economic Reform Roundtable hosted by...
encoded: I rise to speak in support of the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2025. This legislation is the latest example of a tangible set of reforms to come out of the Economic Reform Roundtable hosted by the Treasurer earlier this year. This bill follows the previous announcement that we'll be moving forward with implementation of hundreds of ideas from the roundtable, including those put forward by various regulators, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's announcement that it would partner with the New South Wales state government to crack down on illegal bid-rigging practices in government procurement processes. Those who paid attention to the Economic Reform Roundtable would remember that it identified fit-for-purpose regulatory settings as a key enabler for unlocking Australia's economic potential, as has the Productivity Commission. This bill is a key step in the continuous improvement of Australia's regulatory environment to achieve these outcomes, getting the balance right between important protections and opening the door for continued economic growth. Altogether, this legislation contains 60 measures, which amend 28 existing acts, repeal two acts, and will affect the operation of 13 different government Commonwealth agencies. I want to spend my time today looking at the legislation, some of its stand-out provisions, and ones that I think will make real difference in our communities. This bill delivers its reforms in line with four key themes. The first is supporting the implementation of a tell-us-once approach within Services Australia, which aims to reduce the number of times Australians are asked to provide the same information across its various programs. This is something that I personally was very pleased to see. In my first speech to the House a few months ago, I spoke about how I wanted to help create an environment where government was more accessible to the people it serves. Perhaps the most common source of frustration that I hear from …
date: 2025-11-03T15:16:00+00:00

Autism Community Network, St George Basketball Association | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I would like to recognise two community groups in Banks that I've seen in the last few weeks. The Autism Community Network is a fantastic organisation supporting members of our community with...
encoded: I would like to recognise two community groups in Banks that I've seen in the last few weeks. The Autism Community Network is a fantastic organisation supporting members of our community with autism, their carers and their families. They operate five social clubs in Sydney, including two in my electorate in Riverwood and in Oatley. Just last month, I had the privilege of attending the ACN Carers Week High Tea, celebrating more than 120 carers who were in attendance and acknowledging the incredible work that they're doing to support people in our community with autism. Thank you to ACN and to its CEO, Vanessa Gauci, for all their incredible work and the great work they do in celebrating carers in our community. The second group I want to acknowledge is St George Basketball, who have been playing in Sydney's southern suburbs for more than 50 years. It was great to attend their presentation dinner in September, celebrating another successful season for the team. As a lifelong basketball tragic and fan, it is great to see the sport thriving in our community. Like so many grassroot clubs, St George Basketball is run entirely by volunteers. I would like to acknowledge all of their contributions but especially those of their president, Ray Barbi, who has been a fierce advocate for basketball in the area for a long time. I look forward to supporting St George Basketball again in the future, hopefully for many years to come.
date: 2025-11-03T13:34:00+00:00

Albanese Government | Private Members' Business | House debates
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description: I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 3 November 2025 marks six months since the federal election; and (b) the Government is delivering on the commitments it made to the Australian people...
encoded: I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 3 November 2025 marks six months since the federal election; and (b) the Government is delivering on the commitments it made to the Australian people by: (i) strengthening Medicare; (ii) ensuring Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn; (iii) easing cost of living pressures; and (iv) building a Future Made in Australia; and (2) acknowledges that while the Government is focused on building Australia's future, the Opposition is focused on themselves. I am pleased to move the motion before the House today, recognising six months since the federal election and how the Albanese Labor government is delivering on its second term of government. The election in May was a historic moment in Australia's political history. The Australian people returned a significant Labor majority, recognising the importance of protecting Medicare, easy cost-of-living pressures and investing in a future made in Australia, and that is exactly what we are delivering. On Strengthening Medicare, last Saturday our latest reforms targeting improving bulk-billing rates came into effect. For the first time the bulk-billing incentive has been expanded to all Australians, and a boost introduced to payments for practices that bulk-bill every single patient. This investment will deliver 18 million more bulk-billed GP visits each year nationwide. In my electorate of Banks alone, 14 GP practices have already indicated their intent to become Medicare bulk-billing practices, making it easier for people in my community to see a doctor without fearing the cost. This is combined with 50 more fully bulk-billed urgent care clinics across the country, medicines made even cheaper from 1 January next year, a $500 million program for women's health, and more free and accessible mental health support. Together, these initiatives are part of Labor's plans to deliver for the health of every Australian. Easing cost-of-living pressures is at the top of the agenda f…
date: 2025-11-03T11:21:00+00:00

Banks Electorate: Community Organisations | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: I rise to acknowledge some of the community groups in my electorate who I've had the pleasure of meeting with over the last few weeks. The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important date in the calendar...
encoded: I rise to acknowledge some of the community groups in my electorate who I've had the pleasure of meeting with over the last few weeks. The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important date in the calendar for Chinese Australians. The festival celebrates the end of the autumn harvest and dates back over 3,000 years in Chinese culture. This was a very special mid-autumn festival for my family this year, as it was the first one for my baby daughter, Dorothy. I was able to join the Georges River Association for their celebrations in Hurstville alongside the member for Barton, as well as local Georges River councillors Leon Pun, Elaina Anzellotti, Gerard Hayes, Thomas Gao and Ben Wang. It was a fantastic celebration of Chinese Australian culture, including the unveiling of a mega mooncake—spectacular stuff! Congratulations to the Georges River Association for putting on a fantastic event. The St George Australian Football Club have been playing Aussie rules football for nearly 100 years, now fielding eight teams across both men's and women's competitions each week at Olds Park in Penshurst in my electorate. It was my pleasure to attend their presentation night a couple of weeks ago in Oatley with the member for Barton and both state and local government colleagues. I would like to congratulate club president Angie Zissis—who does an amazing job—alongside Vice President Dale Widders and the fantastic organising committee for putting on an amazing evening. In particular, I want to acknowledge the late Brendan Donahue. Brendan was involved with the club for many years, joining the committee when the club was on the verge of being removed from the competition as a result of its financial position. Today, the club is financially healthy and widely respected across AFL Sydney for the fantastic grassroots club that it is. This wouldn't have been possible without Brendan Donahue, and it is widely acknowledged that his efforts were instrumental in saving the club altogether. That is why i…
date: 2025-10-30T10:03:00+00:00

Banks Electorate: Revesby Post Office | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: When Australia Post announced that the post office in Revesby town centre would be closing, I knew that the wrong decision had been made—and it came as extremely disappointing news for the...
encoded: When Australia Post announced that the post office in Revesby town centre would be closing, I knew that the wrong decision had been made—and it came as extremely disappointing news for the community in Revesby and the surrounding areas it services. When I spoke about the situation during the last parliamentary sitting week, I said I looked forward to further discussions with Australia Post, particularly around alternatives to closure. While I'm pleased that these conversations were had, I am terribly disappointed that, unfortunately, Australia Post did not recognise the importance of the post office and are pushing forward with its closure. The petition I launched in September received the support of more than 2,600 local residents from our community. I'd like to thank the community for supporting our efforts to save the post office, with special recognition to Amanda Sweeney, who took it upon herself to collect signatures. While the post office will close on 29 of this month, there is still work to do. Revesby is a growing community. It needs more services, not fewer. I will continue to work with local residents, businesses and Australia Post to find alternative solutions to preserve access to services in our community.
date: 2025-10-28T13:53:00+00:00

Budget | Private Members' Business | House debates
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description: The Chief Opposition Whip has us debating government spending and fiscal rules today, and I am so glad that he does. It means I get to talk about some of the most important economic reforms in...
encoded: The Chief Opposition Whip has us debating government spending and fiscal rules today, and I am so glad that he does. It means I get to talk about some of the most important economic reforms in this great country's history and the repair that has been required because of the actions and inactions of those opposite. While this government has an enviable record, I want to start by spending some time talking about the history of economic and budget management in this country. Prime Minister Bob Hawke inherited an economy that was closed, overregulated and falling behind. He had the courage to modernise it, floating the dollar, opening the banking system and cutting tariffs. He worked with the unions through the accords to control inflation while strengthening Medicare, education and the social wage. Hawke's reforms laid the foundation for a stronger, fairer economy. He was followed by Prime Minister Keating, who built on that foundation. He introduced compulsory superannuation so that every worker could retire with dignity. He reformed the tax system to make it fairer and modernised key industries through competition. Keating turned Hawke's groundwork into a productive, resilient economy that could meet global challenges head-on. When the global financial crisis hit, it was again a Labor government, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan, that kept Australia safe. While other advanced economies sank into deep recession, Australia was resilient. We kept people in jobs and we kept businesses afloat. The stimulus approach, rather than austerity, has been praised internationally and studied as a model for effective economic management. You will see a clear trend here: these were all led by Labor governments. Those opposite claim they are the party of economic management, but history tells a very different story. It was Labor that reformed the economy, it was Labor that built decades of growth and it was Labor that protected Australians in times of crisis. W…
date: 2025-10-27T11:42:00+00:00

Banks Electorate: Community Events | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to acknowledge some of the community groups, organisations and events in my electorate that I've had the pleasure of meeting with over the last few weeks. On Saturday, before heading back...
encoded: I rise to acknowledge some of the community groups, organisations and events in my electorate that I've had the pleasure of meeting with over the last few weeks. On Saturday, before heading back down here to Canberra for this parliamentary sitting, I dropped into the Oatley West Community Festival, held at Oatley West Public School. The festival has been the highlight on the community's calendar for more than 40 years and fundraises for the school's P&C. The event on Saturday was a fantastic success. There was a great atmosphere, and it was heartening to see so many families and members of our community enjoying themselves with rides, market stalls, an art show, a silent auction, food and entertainment. I must admit I enjoyed the rides myself as well as some of the food that was on offer. Congratulations to Oatley West Public School's P&C for another successful festival, and thank you in particular to Chris Chuck from the P&C for showing me around on the day. I look forward to returning next year. On 19 August I had the privilege of attending the HSC showcase at Sir Joseph Banks High School in Revesby. It was a great evening highlighting the extraordinary talent of so many students who have completed their year 12 major works. There were textile works, visual representations of computer programs, visual arts and an amazing drama and musical performance that I got to see in person. Congratulations to all the students, teachers and families involved. Further, the state government has begun building a new facility at the high school. I look forward to seeing what the school can do with even more facilities at hand. Finally, I would like to recognise local Picnic Point resident John Shields. John is a Vietnam veteran and a proud Australian. Several times throughout the year, John will hold memorial services in the front yard of his home to honour Australia's fallen. On 18 August, I had the honour of joining one of John's services to honour Vietnam veterans and the contr…
date: 2025-09-02T16:07:00+00:00

Freedom of Information | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
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description: The shadow Attorney-General has brought us here today to talk about secrecy. While I have a lot of respect for the member for Berowra, it has to be said at the outset that the idea that that...
encoded: The shadow Attorney-General has brought us here today to talk about secrecy. While I have a lot of respect for the member for Berowra, it has to be said at the outset that the idea that that party—the party of five secret ministries—could attempt to lecture anyone in this place about secrecy is amusing, though I suppose the Liberals and the Nationals know a thing or two about a culture of secrecy, seeing as the former prime minister swore himself and one of his allies into a whole bevy of portfolios without telling his colleagues. In fact the inquiry conducted found that Liberal members enabled a culture of secrecy that has a corrosive impact on public trust and undermined the basic principles of our system of government. Let us not forget that when those across the chamber were last in government they also oversaw robodebt, which caused untold suffering to nearly half a million Australians over debts they didn't even owe. They gave us an administrative appeals tribunal full of Liberal and National candidates that was beset by delays, mismanagement and cronyism. They promised an anticorruption commission and then didn't deliver as much as a thought bubble around it for three years. They made no response to Respect at Work, had inaction on privacy and whistleblower reform and left Australians vulnerable to money laundering. They also oversaw programs such as sports rorts, car park rorts, the Building Better Regions Fund and the purchase of the Leppington triangle at 1,000 per cent of the face value to boot. When it comes to lectures on matters of credibility, those opposite should be receiving them, not giving them. The Labor government's record on integrity could not be more different from the former government. In fact it's a stark contrast. We are a government that is committed to integrity, honesty and accountability in government. We have already delivered a significant reform agenda to restore public trust in government and create higher standards in the federa…
date: 2025-09-02T16:34:00+00:00