Zhi Soon's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Banks Electorate: Energy | Statements | House debates
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...
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.
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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...
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 that requires a little bit more than a standard GP consultation can provide—urgent but not life-threatening—they can turn to the government's network of fully bulk-billed Medicare urgent care clinics, including the clinics at Bankstown and Carlton that service the people of my electorate. At every turn those opposite have tried to talk down these clinics, unfortunately, but the results speak for themselves. In October last year we saw the two millionth visit to an urgent care clinic. Given that a majority of visits have either been on weekends or after 5 pm on a weekday, when GP clinics are typically closed, this is literally hundreds of thousands of patients who would otherwise have ended up in a hospital emergency department or, worse, not getting any care at all. They're getting the support and care they need in a more appropriate setting and taking the pressure off our hospitals. While urgent care clinics are taking the pressure off our hospitals, we still need to make sure we are providing the comprehensive investment in our hospitals and healthcare system that Australians need. At the election we promised to put back every dollar those opposite ripped out of our healthcare system when they were in government, and last year the government delivered $1.8 billion in funding for hospitals, including $407 million for hospitals in my home state of New South Wales. Last Friday we saw the next step in this investment, with a historic deal to contribute record funding to public hospitals through another $25 billion across every state and territory in our great country. This investment in our public hospitals will improve care, cut waiting times and tackle ambulance ramping. It is a demonstration of what is possible when the government of the day is serious about health care. To make sure that those hospitals and the rest of our healthcare system have the staff they need to provide the high-quality care that every single Australian deserves, we are investing in our healthcare workforce as well, with an extra 17,000 doctors entering the system in the last two years. This is the biggest growth out of any time in the past decade. Finally, this government recognises that for too long many people in our community have not had their health needs taken seriously, principally among them Australian women. This Labor government is changing that with half a billion dollars of investment. We've opened 22 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics and are in the process of opening 11 more across the country. We're making longer GP consultations possible for women experiencing menopause, and we're making both short-term and long-term contraceptives more affordable and accessible, making sure we're supporting women's health care at every single stage. In closing, this government took an ambitious agenda to the Australian people in May last year, and we are delivering on those promises that we made, be it investing in bulk-billing or cutting the cost of PBS medications—not for the first time, but the second—or making changes in the legislation before this House to improve access to medication and to utilise the skills of our healthcare workforce. It is only this side of the House, this Albanese Labor government, who will continue to be busy fighting for the Australian people, including in my great electorate of Banks.
Education, Banks Electorate: Australia Day | Constituency Statements | House debates
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...
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 amazing job leading that club. I finished off the day with a visit to Canterbury-Bankstown Council's Australia Day party in the park at Padstow. This gave a platform for local artists and included a variety of family activities, culminating in an amazing fireworks display. I take this opportunity to say congratulations to Mayor Bilal El-Hayek and the whole team at Canterbury-Bankstown Council for putting together a fantastic celebration. It was one where many families enjoyed some fascinating food, some singing and dancing, and the appearance of Dorothy the Dinosaur. It was great to be able to celebrate Australia Day with so many people in our community. Congratulations to Canterbury-Bankstown Council.
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...
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, as well as the wonderful member for Bullwinkel, who sits in the chamber with me this evening. While nurse prescribing as a practice in Australia is a novel concept, it is important to remember that these changes have come as a result of extensive research and consultation, led by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Australian chief nursing and midwifery officers, to ensure that appropriate standards are in place and, as a result, that Australian patients continue to enjoy the highest standards of care possible. In December 2024, health ministers from Commonwealth, state and territory governments came together to approve a new registration standard, under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act, which came into effect in September of last year. Under this new standard, registered nurses must meet specified qualifications and requirements to obtain and maintain their endorsement. Importantly, designated registered nurse prescribers must prescribe in partnership with an authorised health practitioner under a prescribing agreement, which would typically be a general practitioner or other doctor. When it comes to the technical aspects of the bill, it amends the National Health Act to establish a process by which registered nurses who meet the requirements can be approved as authorised nurse prescribers as well as the mechanisms by which the department can suspend or revoke their approvals should the situation arise. The bill also lists authorised nurse prescribers as a category of PBS prescriber and enables the minister to specify the pharmaceutical benefits that they can prescribe to patients. Importantly, the bill will amend the Health Insurance Act to enable the Professional Services Review to examine the PBS prescribing of authorised nurse prescribers to ensure they are subject to the same level of oversight as every other healthcare professional. The reforms before the House are not flashy. You probably won't see them on any of the front pages of the newspapers across the country, but they will have a real and tangible impact for Australian communities. The Unleashing the potential of our health workforce: scope of practice review, led by Professor Mark Cormack, explored what was enabling or preventing health professionals from exercising their full scope of practice in primary care settings. The final report to the government in 2024 provided recommendations to support greater productivity in our healthcare system while delivering improved, safe and affordable care for all patients. That report called on government to implement reforms just like these. The bill aligns with those recommendations as well as the objectives of the National Medicines Policy, which include promoting equitable access to medicines for all Australians regardless of where they choose to live. As we make this advancement for Australia's healthcare system, I want to take the opportunity to make mention of our nursing professionals and thank them for their hard work—as well as their representatives in my state, the NSW Nursing and Midwives' Association, who have been advocating for nurses to be allowed to use all of their relevant skills and experience to the benefit of their patients for a very long time. Over two terms of parliament, this government continues to deliver on its promises to the Australian people to look after their health and the healthcare system after a decade of cuts and neglect from those opposite. We continue to expand bulk-billing, continue to make PBS medicines more accessible, continue to open more fully bulk-billed urgent care clinics and continue to make it easier for Australians to get mental health care when they need it. Enabling registered nurses to prescribe some medications is not the only PBS related reform that this government has completed. It is unacceptable to think that, in a country as fortunate as ours, a situation could persist where medications that people need are out of their reach because of cost. But, when Labor came into government in 2022— Debate interrupted.
Budget | Questions without Notice | House debates
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?
Leong, Lachlan | Statements by Members | House debates
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...
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.
Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
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...
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. I want to send the thanks of my community to all of those ordinary Australians who took on extraordinary personal risks to protect others—heroes like Ahmed al-Ahmed, who has been recognised across the world for saving lives when he ran towards the gunman, not away, and Chaya Dadon, who shielded other children with her own body during the attack. They represent the very best of Australia. And I want to send thanks to the everyday heroes, such as the volunteer surf lifesavers from Bondi and North Bondi surf lifesaving clubs and Waverley Council's professional lifeguards, who sprang into action to shelter people and render medical assistance, and to all the doctors, nurses and emergency service personnel from hospitals across Sydney who tended to the injured from the event. Events like those that occurred on 14 December leave their mark on our national psyche, but as our country moves forward we must do so carefully. We must guard against our worst instincts. When we look on our neighbours with scepticism or suspicion we only weaken ourselves. Each time we are confronted with a choice between national unity and division we must always choose unity. We are our greatest as a country when we work together, and this is what we should be doing in response to 14 December.
Wright, Mr William 'Billy' | Statements by Members | House debates
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...
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)
SDN Children's Services, Bailey, Mrs Barbara | Statements by Members | House debates
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...
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.
Medicare | Questions without Notice | House debates
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...
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?
Energy | Questions without Notice | House debates
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...
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?
Khoury, Dr David | Statements by Members | House debates
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...
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.
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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...
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 my constituents, from my electorate, about Services Australia and Centrelink is being asked to provide documentation they have handed over previously and that each time they're required to repeat their story or situation, again and again. A tell-us-once approach does what the tin says: it aims to support sharing and use of information provided to government agencies to reduce instances of Australians being asked to repeat and provide the same information. Currently, the existing legislation includes an unnecessarily narrow information-sharing provision which fails to facilitate government agencies sharing information they already have. It is clearly out of date. This bill goes some way to fixing this bottleneck by giving the administrators of various programs within Services Australia more leeway. Australians should never have to feel like they are battling their own government, especially not when trying to access the important services they need and are entitled to, such as pensions, childcare subsidies and Medicare benefits. With the passage of this legislation, Australians will not have to contact Services Australia multiple times for something as simple as updating their address with each program they rely on. Additionally, there are currently more than $270 million of Medicare benefits that are rightfully owed to Australians but that are not yet able to be disbursed. This legislation will allow Medicare to access payment destination details from Centrelink where an individual is a customer of both programs, ensuring Australians get everything from the government that they are owed, delivering a real and immediate benefit for Australians. Another area the bill looks to improve is maintaining access to government services. Many Australians rely on government services to support their access to health care. Medicare is the envy of the world, and we should be incredibly proud of it, as Australians are. However, there are opportunities for government to improve the way it functions. As I said in my first speech, having high expectations of your government is a good thing. This legislation before the House improves on the current regulatory settings around key healthcare services and a form of the additional childcare subsidy, making them more efficient and reducing the burden on Australian patients. For example, when a patient needs multiple diagnostic imaging services, their doctor can use one form to make several requests. However, currently, all the services requested must be accessed within seven days. The current regulation fails to give leeway for the reality that sometimes services can be delayed for reasons beyond the patient's control. This legislation changes that, doubling the access period from seven days to 14. This will immediately make access to health and diagnostics easier for Australians. While this week and just past the government's once-in-a-generation reforms to make GP visits more accessible through more bulk-billing came into effect, no-one wants to return to their GP to get the same referral a second time. Additionally, the bill includes changes that enable better information-sharing between the Commonwealth agencies involved in administering Medicare and addressing gaps in regulations that currently can allow unapproved pharmacies to continue operating in some specific circumstances. The third key theme is reducing the regulatory burden on Australians and Australian businesses. In my first speech, I also spoke about the need for Australia to find ways to boost its productivity. As a rule, well-balanced regulation provides vital protections to the Australian community while allowing business to succeed and thrive. However, when outdated or needlessly prescriptive regulations exist, they drive up the cost for Australians and the Australian businesses that have to navigate them. This omnibus bill updates some provisions that have been left unchanged for too long, as well as enabling better information-sharing between regulators to reduce the burden on business. As an example, under the current law, a marriage celebrant must verify the identity of the parties to a marriage. Fair enough—that seems like an important thing to check! However, the regulations have not been updated for some time, meaning celebrants must cite physical copies of identity documents. To ease the burden on celebrants while not compromising on the level of due diligence that must be undertaken for such an important process, celebrants will now be allowed to use digital identity solutions as well to overcome some of the limitations of physical copies. Another notable change in the third schedule of the bill is the one allowing petroleum and environmental regulators to share information, to avoid needing to collect information from industry more than once, in the same style as the 'tell me once' system for public services. These changes will support better coordination across regulators, especially by ensuring that the roadblock often presented to regulators in the private sector can be bypassed. Finally, the bill makes amendments to increase the efficiency of government and in turn improve productivity across our economy. In the same way that updated regulations can increase the costs to Australian businesses and consumers, outdated regulations in the public sector create the need for Commonwealth departments and agencies to devote time to bureaucratic work with little return on investment. This bill makes a number of regulatory changes that cut down on the number of junk tasks required of public servants and improve transparency and public oversight for certain government works. For example, the bill amends legislation related to the National Broadband Network, which currently references Geoscience Australia's NationalMap. That NationalMap was actually decommissioned at the end of June this year. The current legislation both demands that it be a basis for certain public data and limits alternatives. Sensibly, this bill replaces that provision with a more generic one to ensure that the public continues to enjoy an NBN that is transparent and visible as it continues to be rolled out and upgraded for the best outcomes for all Australians. Additionally, the legislation makes amendments to the regulation of critical fields to enable more targeted responses to shortages. It also provides more consistency across legislation to deliver a more streamlined approach, ensuring that the importance of our renewable energy transition is recognised, and repeals some redundant legislation that is no longer relevant or fit for purpose. Overall, this suite of measures will improve how information is shared within government, improve how the government responds to certain shortages, improve the standard of interactions the Australian people have with government and improve the efficiency of public sector operations. While these reforms will not attract the same attention as some other bills that go before this House, they are an important part of building a stronger economy for all Australians. I was fortunate enough to speak in the House just last week, during private members' business, about the economic reforms delivered by successive Labor governments, from Hawke and Keating modernising our economy and opening it up to the world to Rudd and Swan steering Australia through the global financial crisis while avoiding the deep recessions that plagued the world. This government's agenda continues in the Labor Party's enviable tradition of delivering an economy that works for all Australians, and the results speak for themselves. When Labor came to government, the warning signs were everywhere. Inflation was rising out of control, more than double the top of the RBA's target band, showing no real signs of slowing and taking interest rates with it. As a result, real wages were falling and Australians felt the pinch on their living standards. But this government, the Albanese Labor government, has turned around these failures. Inflation is now half the level it was at in May 2022, and this has enabled the RBA to make some rate cuts, making it cheaper for Australians all around the country to pay their mortgages. We've seen seven straight quarters of real wage growth and the lowest average unemployment of any government in 50 years, and 1.1 million jobs have been created. This is nothing short of remarkable, and it demonstrates clearly what happens when the government has the interests of working people at the core of its mission. The coalition love to claim that they are the parties of competence when it comes to the budget, but history, including recent history, tells a very different story. In the first three years after Labor came to government, we delivered the biggest nominal improvement in the budget in a parliamentary term. The budget is more than $200 billion stronger than what was inherited from those opposite. We found more than $100 billion in savings for the budget, where the coalition could not find one single cent in their last budget. While the closest the Liberals got to being back in the black was getting mugs printed, Labor actually delivered it—not once but twice. The significant improvement in the budget position means that we've been able to pay back some of the debt that was inherited when we came to government. Gross debt is $188 billion lower, saving us more than $60 billion in interest costs over the next decade. But, most importantly, our sensible approach to the economy and the budget is enabling us to do what matters most to the Australian people—more tax cuts for all 14 million taxpayers, a 20 per cent cut to HECS balances for every Australian with student debt, the biggest ever boost to Medicare to deliver 18 million more bulk-billed GP visits across the country. In conclusion, this government, the Albanese government, is getting on with the job of creating an economy that works for the Australian people. And, like any good government, we are regularly reviewing regulatory settings to identify areas where we can improve and open doors for economic activity and ways to boost productivity. This bill may be the first of its kind in this term of parliament, but it will not be the last as we seek to improve the productivity of both the government and the Australian economy as a whole. I am so pleased to be able to speak to this bill. I commend the government's economic team for their work on this legislation and I commend the bill to this House.
Autism Community Network, St George Basketball Association | Statements by Members | House debates
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...
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.
Albanese Government | Private Members' Business | House debates
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...
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 for so many Australians, and rightly so. For the government, this begins with responsible management of the economy and the budget. The results already speak for themselves: getting inflation down to half of what was inherited from the previous government; seven straight quarters of real-wages growth; the lowest average unemployment of any government in the last 50 years; and more than 1.1 million jobs created in just three years. Alongside two budget surpluses and a single deficit that was significantly smaller than originally projected, the improvement of the overall budget position by $209 billion, and the lowering of the national debt by $188 billion, this is a record that the former coalition government could only dream of. As a result of our sensible and considered approach, we have also been able to roll out cost-of-living relief for all Australians. At the centre of this are the multiple rounds of tax cuts for every taxpayer already delivered, with two more rounds to come in 2026 and 2027, and supporting raising the pay of minimum wage workers and award workers earlier this year, while protecting penalty rates as well as quarterly energy bill relief, taking money straight off of people's expense bills. Importantly, the first piece of legislation in this new parliament was a 20 per cent cut to student debt for every Australian with a HECS balance. We delivered as promised, making life easier for young Australians. Australians know that, with a Labor government, they will have the leadership that is focused on ensuring that they earn more and keep more of what they earn. Further, the Future Made in Australia will maximise the economic and industrial benefits as we move towards net zero by supporting clean energy and advanced manufacturing. While there are some people in this place who prefer to talk down our manufacturing industry, this government is doing the opposite and working to make sure Australian people and Australian workers reap the economic rewards of Australia becoming a renewable energy superpower. Unfortunately, not everyone is as focused as we are on this side of the House. While the Australian people sent those opposite a clear message at the election, the Liberals and the Nationals simply aren't listening. In recent weeks, we've seen the Liberals and the Nationals battling with and amongst each other over which leftovers of the Dutton era they want to serve up to the Australian people once again. Whether it's abandoning net zero, reviving the doomed nuclear scheme or just wanting to fight pointless culture wars, there is a clear pattern. From the—
Banks Electorate: Community Organisations | Constituency Statements | House debates
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...
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 it is particularly fitting that the club person of the year award is now named in Brendan's memory. This year it was awarded to Sabrina Saez in recognition of her work in developing the club's social media presence, leading the way amongst AFL Sydney clubs. It would just about rival any professional club's across the country. I want to say, from the bottom of my heart, 'Congratulations, Sabrina and all the worthy winners across the club, for another successful year in AFL Sydney.' Congratulations to St George Australian Football Club for a fantastic season.
Banks Electorate: Revesby Post Office | Statements by Members | House debates
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...
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.
Budget | Private Members' Business | House debates
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...
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. We make the hard decisions, we get the big calls right and we do it while keeping fairness and opportunity at the core of our mission. The motion brought before the House today suggests the government should show fiscal discipline to find savings to fund new commitments. Perhaps this advice should have been provided to the former members for Kooyong and Cook instead, because we have kept average real spending growth to 1.7 per cent—less than half the former government's, which sat at 4.1 per cent. More importantly, we have also found more than $100 billion of savings since we came to government, when the former government did not deliver one dollar of savings in their final budget. The Liberals have no interest in finding savings for government or the people of Australia. They took bigger deficits, bigger debt and higher taxes to the last election—a real trifecta—in order to pay for a $600 billion nuclear scheme which they still continue to talk about. This government is addressing the big structural processes and the pressures that people are facing, turning deficits into surpluses and driving down our debt. The motion before the House also talks about fiscal rules. This government has a fiscal strategy and is delivering on it. Our rules include reducing gross debt as a share of the economy, and we've got debt down by $188 billion. When we came to government, as the wonderful member for Menzies outlined, inflation was high and rising—and taking interest rates with it—while real wages and living standards were falling. The government is making incredible progress. Inflation is at four-year lows, real wages have been growing for seven straight quarters, more than 1.1 million jobs have been created, and we have the lowest average unemployment rate of any government in 50 years. The budget position improved by $209 billion, and debt, as I mentioned, is $188 billion lower, saving $60 billion in interest rate costs. In fact, last year the IMF's data saw Australia rise to second in the world for budget management, just behind the Canadians. (Time expired)
Banks Electorate: Community Events | Constituency Statements | House debates
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...
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 contribution of the many service men and women during the Vietnam conflict. As always, John's service was well attended and supported by people like Jon Guyer, the senior minister at Panania Anglican Church. I had the privilege of laying a wreath alongside my colleague, the state minister for East Hills, Kylie Wilkinson. I would like to thank John for his work in honouring the men and women who wear Australia's uniform, and I look forward to attending future services at his home. Once again, thank you, John Shields, for celebrating and recognising the contribution of our armed services here in Australia and in our community.
Freedom of Information | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
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...
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 federal public sector. While the former government were all talk on the National Anti-Corruption Commission, this government has been all action. During the election campaign in 2022 we said we would get it done by the end of that year and, guess what, we did, delivering an NACC to deter, detect and prevent corruption conduct across the public sector. We implemented the recommendations of the Bell inquiry to improve transparency and restore the public trust in Australian democracy that was lost as a result of the secret ministries affair. We created, as my colleague mentioned before, the Administrative Review Tribunal, a new administrative review body that is user focused, efficient and accessible but, most importantly, is also independent and free from undue political influence. We established the royal commission into robodebt and re-established the Administrative Review Council, one of the commission's key recommendations. The council will be an expert body to monitor and advise on the operation and integrity of the administrative review system. We passed the Respect at Work legislation, which now requires businesses across the country to take proactive steps to create workplaces that are free from sexual harassment. There is so much more I could speak about, be it the APS Integrity Taskforce, strengthening the Public Service Act, strengthening whistleblower protections or the development of a third national action plan for transparency and accountability. The member for Berowra spoke in his remarks about the proposed reforms to the Freedom of Information Act. Freedom of information is a vital feature of our democracy. It promotes accountability and transparency in government, but right now FOI is not fit for purpose and the laws need updating to bring it into the 21st century. The contrast between this government and those opposite could not be clearer. It is why Australians voted for this government, and we've delivered integrity in spades.