Sarah Witty'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: Melbourne: Chinese New Year | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
items: Labor Government | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Revive Live | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Ethnic Religious Minorities | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: cohealth | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Tertiary Education | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Australian Music Month, Bakehouse Studios | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Melbourne Electorate: FC Birrarung | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Raise Our Voice in Parliament | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Foster Care | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Housing | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Pregnancy and Infant Loss | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Youth Voice in Parliament | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Melbourne Electorate: Volunteering | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Racism | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Fiscal Policy | Matters of Public Importance | House debates

Melbourne: Chinese New Year | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: [language not transcribed] Happy New Year to Melbourne's Chinese and Vietnamese communities. On Sunday I had the pleasure of joining the local Vietnamese community at the Lunar New Year festival...
encoded: [language not transcribed] Happy New Year to Melbourne's Chinese and Vietnamese communities. On Sunday I had the pleasure of joining the local Vietnamese community at the Lunar New Year festival along Victoria Street in Richmond. The festival was an enjoyable reminder of what this season represents: renewal and good fortune, community, family and traditions shared across generations. Victoria Street was alive. Families and friends gathered to join in the celebrations and enjoy the atmosphere, while local businesses opened their doors to share food, music and culture. The event was organised by Victoria Street Business Association. Thank you to the team for making it happen. The business association's commitment to supporting local traders and bringing the community together is vital to the success of the festival and to the ongoing revitalisation and strength of Victoria Street throughout the year. The Vietnamese community has shaped Richmond in lasting and meaningful ways, from small family businesses to community organisations and from food and culture to civic life. Their contribution is woven into the fabric of our city. As a local to Victoria Street, I regularly dine at the restaurants, and I'm grateful for the warmth and welcome I receive. In a few weeks I will also be attending the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Melbourne's historic Chinatown. Melbourne's Chinatown is the oldest continuous Chinese settlement in the Western world, and Lunar New Year celebrations are more than a cultural event; they are a must-see highlight on the city's calendar. This year we welcome the year of the horse, a symbol of strength, energy and forward momentum. The horse invites us to move forward with confidence and optimism. It is a fitting symbol for Melbourne, a city that thrives when it embraces change and turns diversity into strength. It reflects the leadership, contribution and cultural confidence that the Vietnamese and Chinese communities bring to Melbourne every …
date: 2026-02-05T10:11:00+00:00

Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
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description: Today we come together in grief, reflection and resolve. The attack in Bondi shocked our nation. In a place known for openness, community and everyday life, innocent people were targeted while...
encoded: Today we come together in grief, reflection and resolve. The attack in Bondi shocked our nation. In a place known for openness, community and everyday life, innocent people were targeted while celebrating their faith. What should have been a day of celebration was transformed into one of horror, loss and heartbreak. On behalf of the people of Melbourne, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who were murdered on that day. No words spoken here can ease the pain of loss. The sudden, violent taking of loved ones leaves an absence that can never be filled. I cannot bear to imagine the terror and heartbreak of that day, when two alleged terrorists made the decision to take the lives of innocent people simply because they were celebrating their faith. Although I can't imagine how terrifying it was, I can picture how the day began—with joy and with families and friends gathered together, sharing laughter and tradition. To imagine that kind of happiness suddenly turning into fear, violence and loss is unbearable. Australians were killed. Australians were injured. Recovery will not be quick or simple. It will take time, support and compassion. The parliament and the nation stand with the families who lost loved ones, with Jewish Australians and with the people of Bondi. In moments of terror we also saw moments of extraordinary courage. We saw first responders, lifeguards, police and paramedics who acted swiftly and selflessly under immense pressure. Their bravery saved lives. Everyday Australians ran towards danger to help strangers and refused to look away. These acts of courage remind us of who we are at our best. This was an act of terrorism, intended to not only harm individuals but instil fear and division in our society. It will not succeed. This attack targeted Jewish people, striking at a community that is a part of the fabric of everyday Australian life and which has, in recent times, faced an alarming rise in hatred and intimidation. I…
date: 2026-01-19T18:13:00+00:00

Labor Government | Questions without Notice | House debates
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description: My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for Australians, and what are the alternatives to our government's action?
encoded: My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for Australians, and what are the alternatives to our government's action?
date: 2025-11-27T15:25:00+00:00

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to speak today in support of the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 because Melbourne understands hospitality. In...
encoded: I rise to speak today in support of the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 because Melbourne understands hospitality. In Melbourne, hospitality is not a backdrop; it is the soundtrack—from the clutter of plates on Brunswick Street to the roar of a pub before the siren at the G. We know that Melbourne is the heart of Australia's hospitality scene, and these bills keep it that way. The indexation pause that began on 1 October 2025 is another example of how this government is supporting small businesses and the workers they employ. Under these bills, the scheduled increases from August 2025 through to February 2027 will not occur. Instead, indexation will resume in August 2027 at the frozen rate, which permanently lowers the long-term excise path. This is responsible, targeted relief that helps around 10,000 venues nationwide and supports 160,000 workers across the brewery and hospitality sectors. It also supports Melbourne's creative life, from the musicians who rely on gig rooms to the comedians, artists and event organisers who build their careers inside these venues. In Melbourne, hospitality is not just an industry; it is one of the defining features of our city. Walk through Carlton or Fitzroy at any hour and you feel it. Catch a tram down Bridge Road in Richmond, through the city or on Chapel Street in South Yarra and you'll see it. Hospitality gives people income, stability, community and wellbeing. It is one of our biggest employers and one of the most important cultural forces. The bills strengthen the venues that make Melbourne Melbourne. I want to speak about something that started as a little gem and grew into a movement: Mountain Goat in Richmond. Two mates started it in the late 1990s in an old warehouse, brewing with second-hand equipment and offering local pizzas on a Wednesday night while the taps ran. Those early nights helped build Melbourne's craft beer culture. They were pione…
date: 2025-11-27T11:37:00+00:00

Revive Live | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise today to speak about something that beats at the heart of our creative nation: our live music venues. These spaces are more than bricks and mortar; they are community hubs, incubators of...
encoded: I rise today to speak about something that beats at the heart of our creative nation: our live music venues. These spaces are more than bricks and mortar; they are community hubs, incubators of talent and the first stages where artists find their sound and find their audience. Without venues, there is no live music industry. Without live music, we lose part of who we are as Australians. That's why the Albanese government has stepped up with Revive Live—targeted, practical, real-world support that keeps doors open, staff employed and stages lit. It recognises that, when venues thrive, artists thrive, and, when artists thrive, communities flourish. I'm proud to say that in my community this support is already making an impact. Bodriggy Brewpub, Inflation, Lulie Tavern, the iconic Punters Club, the Evelyn Hotel, the historic Grace Darling Hotel and the ever-energetic Yah Yah's are all benefiting from Revive Live funding. These venues aren't just places to go on Friday nights; they take risks on emerging artists, nurture local talent and give us the soundtrack to our lives. Revive Live ensures these venues can continue. It keeps the pipeline of Australian music strong, from the first gig in the back room to the biggest festival stages in the country. So let's celebrate our venues and keep Australian music live.
date: 2025-11-25T13:35:00+00:00

Ethnic Religious Minorities | Private Members' Business | House debates
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description: I rise to support the motion moved by the member for Corangamite and I thank her for bringing it to the house. It is important that this parliament speaks with clarity and with conscience about...
encoded: I rise to support the motion moved by the member for Corangamite and I thank her for bringing it to the house. It is important that this parliament speaks with clarity and with conscience about what is happening in Afghanistan and about the prosecution faced by the Hazara people and other minorities under the Taliban. The reality is stark. Since the Taliban's takeover, Hazara communities have faced targeted attacks, discrimination and constant threats of violence. Women and girls have been removed from public life. Religious minorities have been pushed further into danger. No part of Afghan society has been free from the effects of repression. For many Australians, this is not a distant story. In a country as diverse as ours, people feel these events through their families, their friendships and their sense of identity. Multicultural organisations and community leaders I have met speak often about their worry for loved ones overseas and their desire to see Australia continue to stand firmly for human rights. This motion reflects these values and those expectations. This motion also calls for the protection of all minorities as well as women and girls. That call is not symbolic. It aligns with Australia's longstanding commitment to international law and to the safeguarding of human rights. The Albanese Labor government has consistently condemned the Taliban's abuse at the United Nations Human Rights Council and at the General Assembly. Australia co-sponsored the UN resolution on the situation in Afghanistan, urging the protection of human rights, adherence to international law and decisive action against terrorism. Australia, together with Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, has also initiated proceedings under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to hold Afghanistan to account for the systematic discrimination against women and girls. This is a strong and principled step, and it is consistent with who we are as a country. A…
date: 2025-11-24T18:57:00+00:00

cohealth | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise today to speak about an issue that has deeply affected many people across Collingwood and Fitzroy: the future of cohealth's general practice service. The decision to close the Collingwood...
encoded: I rise today to speak about an issue that has deeply affected many people across Collingwood and Fitzroy: the future of cohealth's general practice service. The decision to close the Collingwood and Fitzroy clinics has caused real anxiety for the people who rely on those essential health services. These clinics are more than buildings. They are trusted places of care for thousands of patients, particularly some of the most vulnerable community members. That is why the Albanese government moved quickly and decisively. We asked the cohealth board to pause its closure plans, recognising the significant disruption this would have caused for patients and staff. I am pleased to confirm that our government will provide up to $1.5 million in funding to ensure cohealth's GP services remain open until 31 July 2026. This support gives certainty to clients and allows cohealth to continue delivering essential care while a long-term plan is developed. This funding ensures continuity of care while we work towards a sustainable long-term solution. To support that process the Australian and Victorian governments will commission an independent review of cohealth's general practice model, governance and finance, providing clarity and a strong foundation for the future. Our government is committed to ensuring every Australian can access high-quality, affordable primary care. The funding announcement honours that commitment and means that families— (Time expired)
date: 2025-11-24T16:07:00+00:00

Tertiary Education | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to speak on this motion and to welcome the Albanese government's delivery on the commitments made to young Australians by cutting student debt by 20 per cent and making repayments fairer...
encoded: I rise to speak on this motion and to welcome the Albanese government's delivery on the commitments made to young Australians by cutting student debt by 20 per cent and making repayments fairer and simpler. This matters deeply to Melbourne. My electorate has more than 36,000 people carrying HELP or VET student debt—the highest in Victoria. You see them every morning walking into RMIT and Melbourne Uni, weaving through Carlton, Fitzroy, Parkville and the CBD. You see them behind the espresso machines in Collingwood, doing night shifts at the hospitals, running tutor sessions in Abbotsford or bouncing between share houses in Prahran. For them, student debt has not been an abstract line on a tax statement. It's been a weight they carry every day. The people of Melbourne have been telling me the same story even before I was elected to parliament. Their debt grows faster than their pay. Indexation felt brutal and unfair. With Melbourne's rent rising faster than anywhere else in the country, they felt like they were running on a treadmill that never slowed down. This government heard that and we acted. This 20 per cent cut is the largest reduction in student debt in Australia's history. For an average debt of $27,000, that's a reduction of more than $5,500. Around three million Australians will benefit, including tens of thousands in my community of Melbourne. People won't need to fill in a form or fight through government processes. The ATO will do it automatically. People will simply receive a text or email telling them their debt has been cut. That is a relief you can feel in your chest. It is the difference between whether or not you still have something left over after paying rent. It is the difference between being able to save for a deposit or staying stuck. It's the difference between exhaustion and hope. And this government did not stop there. We raised the minimum repayment threshold to $67,000 and replaced the outdated whole income repayment system with a fair,…
date: 2025-11-24T12:46:00+00:00

Australian Music Month, Bakehouse Studios | Constituency Statements | House debates
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description: I'm excited to let you know that November is Australian Music Month, a fantastic time to celebrate the incredible talent, creativity and culture power of our local Aus music scene. In my...
encoded: I'm excited to let you know that November is Australian Music Month, a fantastic time to celebrate the incredible talent, creativity and culture power of our local Aus music scene. In my electorate of Melbourne, music isn't just entertainment; it's a part of who we are. It fills our iconic pubs, like the Corner Hotel and the Tote, laneways and stadiums as big as the MCG. It drives our festivals—too many to mention—and brings people together across all generations and backgrounds. Recently I had the privilege of visiting the amazing Bakehouse Studios in Richmond with the Special Envoy for the Arts, Susan Templeman. It is a legendary creative space that has hosted just about every major Australian artist you can name. I give a very special thanks to Quincy McLean and Helen Marcou for their passion and for helping to keep Australian music alive. Bakehouse has hosted everyone, from the Go-Betweens to Courtney Barnett, Paul Kelly and the Avalanches—the list goes on and on. Bakehouse is also a favourite destination for international music artists. It showcases visual arts and it opens its doors for photography and filming. It is truly a wonderful creative space. On the day I visited, at least five bands and artists were rehearsing, including the Temper Trap, the Pierce Brothers and an artist named r.em.edy, who is writing and recording her music there with the help of Revive Live grants received by Bakehouse to help artists with disabilities. That energy, creative people working side by side, is what makes Bakehouse so special and why I truly enjoyed my visit there. What struck me most was not just the history of those walls but the sense of community. Bakehouse has long been a place where musicians, producers and performers come together to collaborate, experiment and keep our live music culture thriving. As we celebrate Australia's music month, we recognise the artists, venues and workers who make this industry possible and we commit to supporting them through fair pay,…
date: 2025-11-05T09:57:00+00:00

Melbourne Electorate: FC Birrarung | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I recently joined players, families and volunteers at Princes Park in North Carlton for the FC Birrarung end-of-season presentation. FC Birrarung is a true community club. More than 550 players,...
encoded: I recently joined players, families and volunteers at Princes Park in North Carlton for the FC Birrarung end-of-season presentation. FC Birrarung is a true community club. More than 550 players, most of them children, pull on their boots each week with pride and excitement. I saw that joy as they cheered for their teammates, accepted their medals and ran back to their friends, clutching trophies almost as big as they were. I spoke with the president, Marie-Liesse Labat, whose pride in the club was unmistakable. She spoke about the sense of belonging the club has built. It's a place where every young person feels supported, included and part of something bigger than themselves. It was also special to celebrate coach and mentor Julie Ryan, who has given 10 years of her time, patience and heart to the club. Her dedication shows what grassroots sports is all about: shaping not only better players but better community. Earlier this year, FC Birrarung received $4,560 from the Albanese Labor government Volunteer Grants program, helping them with new gear, training and small essentials that keep a club strong. Sport teaches more than skills; it teaches community. FC Birrarung is proof of what happens when people come together and build something worth cheering for.
date: 2025-11-05T13:37:00+00:00

Raise Our Voice in Parliament | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise to read a speech by a student in my electorate of Melbourne as part of Raise Our Voice Australia. I'm excited to be part of amplifying the voices of young people. Today I am reading a...
encoded: I rise to read a speech by a student in my electorate of Melbourne as part of Raise Our Voice Australia. I'm excited to be part of amplifying the voices of young people. Today I am reading a speech written by 19-year-old Arwa. They wrote: Australia has been my home for many years, a country that has offered me incredible opportunities and success. But despite these immense benefits, it's simply not enough. Australia is stalling. We lack critical progression in so many vital areas: from innovative ideas and committee wellness to health care, climate action, housing affordability, the cost-of-living crisis, and education. Beyond these critical issues, Australia is suffering from a fundamental breakdown in social cohesion. We're losing the societal framework where all people, regardless of race, colour, or religion work together. This division is evident everywhere, from the halls of parliament to the very streets of our cities. We have lost our vital sense of community. We must move forward as one country. It's imperative that we support those in our community who are less fortunate, ensuring everyone has the chance to experience the incredible potential Australia holds. But above all, we must remember that we are one massive community that must help each other in building the Australia we all envision. Well done Arwa, and thank you for your speech.
date: 2025-11-04T13:31:00+00:00

Foster Care | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: Being a foster carer is an incredibly fulfilling job, or should I say volunteer position, and one of the most difficult challenges someone can undertake. To bring into your home a child in need...
encoded: Being a foster carer is an incredibly fulfilling job, or should I say volunteer position, and one of the most difficult challenges someone can undertake. To bring into your home a child in need is one of the greatest acts of care there is. To care for kids in out-of-home care is the honour of a lifetime. I recently had the privilege of launching the Parliamentary Friends of Foster Carers and Children in Foster Care group. Along with my co-chairs, we gathered voices from across the broad foster care community, from advocacy groups, like Families Australia and the National Foster Care Sustainability Group, through to foster children themselves. Those voices are the most important of all. One child that I met said that all she wanted to do was to be able to get a photo taken with the group. She wasn't allowed because of her being in foster care. She just wanted to be like everybody else. Every story was a reminder that behind the policies and programs, there are lives shaped by care, patience and empathy. Getting to hear those stories, like so many I've heard as a foster carer, reminds me of the importance of the work I've come to do in this parliament: to advocate for children in foster care, to support the carers who give them so much of their time and energy, and to remind the parliament that our policies affect real people. That is why I will keep working to make sure that every child in every care has a voice in this place.
date: 2025-11-03T16:34:00+00:00

Housing | Private Members' Business | House debates
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description: I rise to speak about Australia's housing crisis and the action this government is taking to combat it. We are building more homes, supporting renters and investing in social and affordable...
encoded: I rise to speak about Australia's housing crisis and the action this government is taking to combat it. We are building more homes, supporting renters and investing in social and affordable housing at a scale not seen in decades. This progress is making a real difference in everyday lives, because every house built by this government is proof that progress is not just possible, it is happening. That progress matters, because housing is now a life-defining challenge for so many Australians. People are working hard and doing everything right. Still, they have not been able to find a place to call home. Young people line up around the block for rental inspections. Families who once would have owned a home now find themselves in long-term rentals. Parents tell me that they cannot give their children the stable home that they grew up in. The Albanese Labor government understands how hard this is. We have a $43 billion housing agenda that is tackling the crisis from every angle. The Commonwealth is no longer a bystander in this challenge, and we are the most ambitious government on housing since the post-war period. At the centre of this work is building more homes. More homes mean more affordability for everyone. Through the National Housing Accord, we are working with the states and territories, councils and industry. The goal is 1.2 million new homes by 2029. We are cutting red tape, training more tradies and delivering the infrastructure to unlock supply. The Albanese government is directly supporting the delivery of 55,000 social and affordable homes. The Housing Australia Future Fund, the HAFF, is driving that work. It is funding homes for people who have been locked out of the market through no fault of their own. It supports the nurses, teachers and key workers who hold our community together, helping them live near the people they care for and close to the places where their work changes lives. In Victoria, federal investment supports the Big Housing Build, and, …
date: 2025-11-03T11:16:00+00:00

Pregnancy and Infant Loss | Private Members' Business | House debates
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description: 'It's better this happens now than later. We can always try again.' These are things that were said to me when I experienced the devastating loss of yet another baby before they had the chance to...
encoded: 'It's better this happens now than later. We can always try again.' These are things that were said to me when I experienced the devastating loss of yet another baby before they had the chance to take their first breath. Words meant to comfort instead cut deeply into my grief. At the time, I felt angry and a pain at how misunderstood I was, but over the years that anger slowly transformed into something else: gratitude. Strange, I know. As much as their words hurt, I came to realise they were spoken from a place of not knowing. They didn't understand the depth of this kind of loss, and in a strange way I was glad they didn't—gratitude. If they had truly known the pain of pregnancy loss, they would never have said those things to someone hurting like I was. If the people that were closest to me were unable to understand the extent of my loss, how could I expect others to know what I was going through? I couldn't. Losing a child at any stage is profoundly painful, yet babies lost before they are even able to breathe are often met with silence, discomfort or avoidance. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month—a time to recognise thousands of families across Australia who have experienced the heartbreak of losing a pregnancy, a baby or a young infant. For too long, these experiences have been endured in silence. I know I did. This month provides a moment for our nation to pause, acknowledge the grief of families and recommit to supporting them with compassion, understanding and care. The loss of a baby is a profound and life-altering event. The hopes and dreams of a future are suddenly replaced with deep sorrow. Did you know that every year 2,200 babies are stillborn and more than 700 newborns die before their first birthday? The Public Health Association estimates that around 100,000 pregnancies end in miscarriage. At the time of my miscarriage, my first miscarriage, it was one in four pregnancies. At that time, it was me, my sister and two friends all preg…
date: 2025-10-27T19:17:00+00:00

Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: I rise today to contribute to the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025. With this bill, the Albanese Labor government is delivering a fairer, more...
encoded: I rise today to contribute to the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025. With this bill, the Albanese Labor government is delivering a fairer, more efficient and more compassionate social security system. This bill builds on what Labor have already delivered to strengthen our social safety net. Since we came to government we have raised JobSeeker by almost $4,000 a year, giving people looking for work a better chance to get by. We have lifted the pension by almost $5,000 a year for a single person, giving older Australians more security in retirement. We have boosted rent assistance by almost 15 per cent to help ease the pressure of rising rents, and we are delivering paid parental leave with super so families are almost $12,000 better off for every child. This bill is another important step in that record. It shows Labor is building a system that helps people when they need it most. One of these changes, which support Australians, is the end of the use of external debt collection agencies. Many of us here are privileged in that we have never had to experience what it feels like to be chased by a debt collector. We have not had to know that gut-wrenching feeling when the phone rings from a private number—not knowing if it's a debt collector, a job offer or a call from your doctor. You live your life gambling on whether someone will leave a voicemail. That constant fear strips people of their dignity as they try to pick themselves up after the safety net has caught them. On top of that is the stress of having to ask for help in the first place and the crushing worry of not knowing how you'll ever pay that back. The last thing people deserve is to be hounded and shamed by a system that is meant to support them. This legislation reforms how we manage social security debts, resolves the longstanding issue of income apportionment and makes the system work for people instead of against them. For many of us, at some point in ou…
date: 2025-10-27T16:24:00+00:00

Youth Voice in Parliament | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: I rise to read a speech by a student from my electorate of Melbourne. It was submitted as part of Raise Our Voice. Raise Our Voice mobilises young people through education, campaigns and...
encoded: I rise to read a speech by a student from my electorate of Melbourne. It was submitted as part of Raise Our Voice. Raise Our Voice mobilises young people through education, campaigns and communities to transform politics and policy. This week, members of parliament are amplifying the voices of young people by reading a speech written by a person under the age of 25 who lives in our electorates. I was excited to be a part of Raise Our Voice, and it was difficult to select from the speeches to read because there were so many and all of them were so good. The speech I am about to read is by Bastian, aged eight. Bastian wrote: Use less money. Only spend it on things we need such as fixing our roads, sick people and making school better! I care about the environment! I think we should only use natural materials to make energy. For example don't use a petrol car, use an electric car! I think taxes should go down. Some people work so hard to be able to pay for the things their family needs. While supporting the homeless and struggling, people also help them to get a job they can do. Thank you and well done, Bastian.
date: 2025-10-27T13:43:00+00:00

Melbourne Electorate: Volunteering | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: Ahoy, Deputy Speaker! At North Wharf in Docklands, I saw volunteers bring a 122-year-old ship back to life: the Alma Doepel, a three-mast tall ship built in 1903. This ship has served our nation....
encoded: Ahoy, Deputy Speaker! At North Wharf in Docklands, I saw volunteers bring a 122-year-old ship back to life: the Alma Doepel, a three-mast tall ship built in 1903. This ship has served our nation. She carried goods on our coast and worked as an army supply ship to Papua New Guinea. Today, a skilled team and many local volunteers are bringing her back to life. More than 100,000 volunteer hours have gone into this work so far. This is a huge gift of time and craft. When Alma sails again, she will become a youth training ship. It's a program which will build grit, teamwork and confidence. Also in Docklands is the topsail schooner Enterprize, a 27-metre all-timber working replica of the 1830 ship that carried the first European settlers to Melbourne. Enterprize is sailed by volunteers and runs sail training and public sails across the bay. I thank her crew and supporters for keeping these skills alive. I thank Bill Reid for the kind invite and for his work, and I thank every volunteer—older hands passing on skills and new faces learning them. This is Melbourne at its best—community, history and hope in one project. I encourage people to check them out online and support their inspiring work. Alma Doepel shows what we can do when we back our volunteers—
date: 2025-10-08T13:45:00+00:00

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
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description: I rise today in strong support of these appropriation bills because at their heart are fairness, opportunity and building a future that works for every Australian. Appropriations may sound...
encoded: I rise today in strong support of these appropriation bills because at their heart are fairness, opportunity and building a future that works for every Australian. Appropriations may sound technical—it did to me when I first heard it—but what we are really talking about today is the way this government chooses to invest in people, in communities and in the shared future of our nation. These decisions shape whether students can afford to study, whether families can buy their first home, whether communities can celebrate their culture and whether our children can look to a future with hope. I think nowhere is this more evident than in the electorate of Melbourne, a community rich in history, diversity, creativity and aspiration. Any investment in Melbourne is an investment into one of the beating hearts of Australia. While the appropriation legislation itself is about allocating the funding that keeps government services running, I also want to highlight one of the biggest changes, which is easing the pressure on students and graduates through HECS. This reform will have one of the biggest impacts on people in my electorate, giving them more breathing space and helping them plan for their future. Melbourne is home to some of the largest concentrations of students in the country. We have the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Victoria University, ACU and countless TAFEs, other university campuses and training institutions. Every year tens of thousands of students come here to learn, to innovate, to prepare for the future. For too long those students have been saddled with debt that weighed them down before they even had a chance to stand on their own feet. This government has listened and has acted. The Albanese Labor government has cut HECS debt by 20 per cent across the board. That is an average saving of over $5,000 per student. In Melbourne, where so many young people carry this debt, it is life changing. We are also lifting the repayment threshold so that graduates wi…
date: 2025-09-04T12:46:00+00:00

Racism | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: What we witnessed recently in Melbourne and across Australia was disgraceful. These marches led by neo-Nazis and anti-immigration extremists were a shameful moment for our city and our nation....
encoded: What we witnessed recently in Melbourne and across Australia was disgraceful. These marches led by neo-Nazis and anti-immigration extremists were a shameful moment for our city and our nation. Like many in my electorate, I was sickened when black-clad agitators descended on Camp Sovereignty, a peaceful First Nations cultural and political gathering place created to honour Aboriginal resistance and survival. The irony is blunt. Australia's first people were expressing culture while thugs pretended to march for Australia, causing on the violence. This was not a protest; this was an attack. They were trying to split our community apart, shut down voices that deserve respect and bring back hurt for people who have already been through too much. This is not the city I know. I know a Melbourne that is a city of welcome; a place where people from all backgrounds live side by side, learn from each other and share their stories; a place where neighbours help one another no matter where they come from or what language they speak. Even though what we have seen this last weekend has shocked us, we cannot let it define us. We can't let hate and division win. The answer to hate isn't more hate; it's unity. It's people standing side by side and saying racism, fascism and violence are not welcome here. We all must stand up to hate, raise our voices, stand together with our neighbours and show pride in who we are as a community. Showing strength in the face of bullying shows us a path forward where we stand together, speak with one voice and make it clear that hate will never win in Australia. We know what happened on the weekend was shameful, but how we respond matters even more. The truth is that Australians stand up again and again to say: 'We will not accept racism. We will not let extremists take over our streets.' Saying no to hate matters, but what is more powerful is when we back up that 'no' with what we do in our daily lives. We must see it in our schools, we must see it i…
date: 2025-09-03T09:45:00+00:00

Fiscal Policy | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
type: item
description: The opposition would have us believe that this government is on a reckless spending spree. But let us be clear: what they call a 'spree', families in my electorate call a 'lifeline'. Before...
encoded: The opposition would have us believe that this government is on a reckless spending spree. But let us be clear: what they call a 'spree', families in my electorate call a 'lifeline'. Before entering this place, I was the CEO of the Nappy Collective. That work started with the simple idea to collect nappies when children had grown out of them or toilet-trained too quickly and pass them on to families in crisis, families looking for help because of the crushing weight of the cost-of-living pressures following years of Liberal-Nationals cuts and attacks on workers, parents who were unable to afford essentials. We all do our best for our children, but what if, at even your best, you can't provide them with a clean nappy not because of a crisis but because of rising costs that have pushed you to the edge and the failure of minimum wage to keep pace? That is the reality outside this chamber. That is why this government has chosen action over slogans and responsibility over scare campaigns. From 1 July, every household in Australia will see another $150 taken off their power bills. That relief matters when you are sitting at the kitchen table, wondering how to pay the next bill. We have delivered a 3.5 per cent pay rise for millions of Australians on minimum and award wages. These are workers who spend every cent on food, housing and school costs—not luxuries but basics, like nappies. This government is making sure their wages keep pace with the cost of living. We have extended paid parental leave to 24 weeks and, for the very first time, super will be paid on parental leave. That will not just help families in the here and now; it will mean long-term financial security, especially for women, who often retire with less. We are making sure student nurses, teachers, social workers and midwives are paid during their practical placements. Young people training for those critical professions will no longer have to choose between gaining experience and paying their bills. We are…
date: 2025-08-28T16:06:00+00:00