Julie Collins
Franklin · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The government has undertaken broad industry consultation, including engagement with industry bodies to seek feedback on the proposed changes to the wine act.”
“The changes will allow ABARES to confidentially disclose personal information to third-party providers to assist ABARES in performing its function of conducting critical annual agricultural surveys—that is, ABARES could provide the contact details of survey participants to mailing companies to enable those companies to send survey approac…”
“The bill will amend two acts: The amendments to the Wine Act will enable Wine Australia to conduct or coordinate surveys of the grape industry or wine industry to support the operation of the Wine Act, or the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 in relation to the grape industry or wine industry.”
“Together, these amendments strengthen operational effectiveness at the border, improve regulatory decision-making and support better engagement with industry, while maintaining Australia's uncompromising biosecurity standards. The bill also makes a minor and technical amendment to the Biosecurity Act, to remove the use of a defined term.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Australia's biosecurity system plays a critical role in protecting our environment, world-class agricultural and animal production sectors, economy, and way of life.”
“The measures in the bill relating to the collection and disclosure of certain information will modernise and strengthen the Wine Act, while ensuring that protected information is afforded appropriate safeguards.”
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“I thank the member for Kennedy, genuinely, for his interest in this issue. He has raised it with me personally, and I am well aware of it. He also understands how critical the beef industry is to Australia. It is a very significant industry. Just a few weeks ago we had a conversation about the buffel grass. On the matter of buffel grass raised by the member, what I would say is that we recognise that buffel grass is a valuable pasture for cattle in northern Australia, particularly in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The process that is under way is identifying national weed priorities and it's assessing the buffel grass in targeted areas where there is potential adverse environmental impact, such as in national parks.”
“This is very concerning indeed, and that's why we are investing $100 million to boost our preparedness across the country and adopting the One Health approach, as I've said, to protect our people, animals and ecosystems. We've also provided funding to the states and territories for critical equipment to make sure that we're ready for rapid mobilisation if there are outbreaks, including mobile laboratories, drones and emergency animal disease response trailers, because we all know that protecting this country is really important. We've also seen the impacts of the bird flu globally. It's costing billions of dollars in other countries, particularly when it does damage to poultry and impacts dairy herds, along with the impacts to human health, so it's important we get this right.”
“This is 4,000 kilometres south-west of Perth and about 1,700 kilometres north of the Antarctic, and it's about 450 kilometres away from some of the subantarctic French islands where bird flu has been confirmed. I want to be clear that this is a suspected case of bird flu. It is not a confirmed case of H5 HPAI bird flu, but of course it does reinforce the need for us to remain focused on preparing for an outbreak on mainland Australia. I want to advise the House that samples have been safely collected and securely packaged and will be tested when the RSV Nuyina returns to Australia later this month. It was detected, I'm very sad to say, in an unusual level of deaths of baby elephant seals on this Antarctic island.”
“We know that that funding is critical to protecting our $100 billion agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector—our forest industries, our environment, our economy and importantly, as the member for Bullwinkel will know, our regional jobs that rely on agriculture, fisheries and forestry right across the country. While Australia remains one of the few countries free from the world's most invasive pests and diseases, our work on the prevention, detection, eradication and management of the threats that we face never stops. I regret to say that, just over a week ago, Australian scientists observed signs consistent with bird flu in wildlife during a management voyage to the subantarctic island Heard Island.”
“I do want to thank our terrific member for Bullwinkel, a new seat created in this place. She's a terrific representative, and I know that she's out there engaging with her farmers all the time, so I want to thank her for that. Of course, she, like the Albanese Labor government, does take our biosecurity system very seriously. That's why we have been investing and we've committed over $2 billion since we've come into office to strengthen our biosecurity system, which, of course, is the first line of protection for Australia's people, our animals and our ecosystems. Today is One Health Day, and One Health is the way that we are managing our biosecurity risks. Right across government, we are working together. That is why, as I've said, we've been making that critical investment that I've been talking about.”
“It was terrific to see that on the national stage on Tuesday night, here in Canberra. I want to say a big thankyou to all of those people who are raising mental health and its importance in our local community, and thank them for providing the supports that are available to so many across the community. Question agreed to. Federation Chamber adjourned at 13:29”
“Your access to mental health support shouldn't depend on your postcode, but the reality is unfortunately that in Tasmania that has been the case. So I'm really pleased that our government is stepping up and supporting mental health services in our local community. During World Mental Health Month, I want to thank all those people involved, whether it's your local Men's Shed, your community centres or the experts and the clinical people providing that care, which is so critical in my home state of Tasmania. I want to take my last few minutes to acknowledge a special Australian woman Carol Mudford, who won the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award here in Parliament House on Tuesday night. She is doing some extraordinary work in the world of shearing, in shearing sheds, supporting people with their mental health and wellbeing.”
“Our government has also opened three Medicare mental health hubs across Tasmania, which are there to provide a service to children under the age of 12, and we've created 20 new youth mental health and wellbeing services across Australia. Again, there's going to be one in Tasmania, which I'm pleased to mention and will be really pleased to see. This is about young people with complex health needs, such as early psychosis or personality disorders, to make sure that they can get specialised care. More Medicare mental health clinics, more headspace support in Tasmania and the early psychosis support are quite an addition to what is available in Tasmania. As I said, Tasmanians have been finding it particularly difficult to get the support they need.”
“I have spoken previously in this place how pleased and proud I was to be able to deliver on a commitment to have a new headspace on Hobart's eastern shore. That will be located in 120 Cambridge Road in Bellerive. I know many young people in our local community are looking forward to that facility opening up in the coming weeks and months. We know headspace provides support in key areas such as mental health, physical health, sexual health and alcohol and drug support. It's more broad than just mental health support for our young people; it's really a place where they can reach out and seek early intervention and support before their issues become more severe. This will play a really critical role in our local community.”
“We're strengthening Medicare by putting some mental health services into communities. Already 50 Medicare mental health centres have opened across this Australia, and by 2029 there will be 91 of them. I'm pleased to say there will be one in my Franklin electorate, which will be in addition to the ones that are already open in Launceston and Devonport and a new one that will be opening in Bernie as well. That will take it from two to four in my home state of Tasmania. We are also making the biggest investment in youth mental health in Australia's history, investing $920 million alone this year in headspace, the national youth mental health network. That includes more funding for headspace in Hobart, which supports young people from across southern Tasmania, as well as centres in other parts of the state.”
“It is becoming more and more difficult and has certainly been difficult for well over a decade now. We just do not have the health professionals required to support the number of Tasmanians living with mental ill health. Around 11 per cent of Tasmanians are living with long-term mental health conditions, which is much higher than the national average. According to some of those statistics, around 43 per cent of Australians have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their life. Among young people from 16 to 24 that has jumped to around 39 per cent just in the past year alone, so this is a significant issue in our local communities right across the country. That's why, of course, our Albanese Labor government is taking some real action to make sure that mental health care is available when people need and that it's closer to home.”
“Can I say what a leisure it is to be able to get up in this place and talk about mental health in our community, given that October is mental health month across the globe. It's really a time to raise awareness and promote the importance of mental health and wellbeing across the community. This month encourages open conversation and self-care and is a reminder to all of us to seek help when we need it. This is something we know touches so many families, workplaces and communities right across the country, including the ones I represent in the electorate of Franklin. I hear from parents in our local community all the time about their children; their anxieties about their elderly parents, who might feel isolated or alone; and of just how hard it has been for people to be able to access services for mental illness support in Tasmania.”
“I know that there's very little time left for this debate, but I do want to acknowledge all of the speakers and contributions and the support for our farmers. As I've said repeatedly in this building and in many other places across the globe, our farmers are people we should be incredibly proud of. Our farmers, our fishers and our foresters are producing some of the best product across the globe. It's globally renowned for a reason, and that's our biosecurity and our food safety. What we want to do is work with farmers to ensure that they can continue to feed Australians and export their product right across the globe. I want to thank everyone in the room for their contribution, but I really want to thank Australian producers for the great Australian product that they produce that so much of the globe wants.”
“We have invested $3.87 million as part of the National Feral Pig Action Plan that will run through to 2031. So we are investing with states and territories to make sure we can manage some of these feral species around the country. We're doing it with feral pigs and a whole range of other species, but it is primarily the responsibility of the states and territories. Our job, of course, is biosecurity, which we're investing more in. We've put more biosecurity detector dogs on the beat as well.”
“Can I say that we also work closely with states and territories, and, as the member for Kennedy would be aware, it is the responsibility of those respective states and territories to do the invasive species management on the ground in those states where the invasive species are. In the past, the former federal government offered some funding in relation to the prickly acacia, which I understand he's concerned about. In terms of the feral pigs, we have actually provided funding to Australian Pork to host the National Feral Pig Coordinator, which is a program we just announced we will extend so that it can better coordinate with the states and territories about how they can manage on the ground the feral pig population across the country.”
“I thank the Prime Minister for passing through that question from the member for Kennedy. We've had many discussions in person about his love of the land in Queensland, his genuine commitment to improving land management in Queensland and his concern for invasive species, because there's no doubt they are having a serious impact in Queensland and elsewhere around the country. That is why, since coming to government, we have strengthened our biosecurity system—because we do know that we want to stop more pests and disease from getting into the country. We've now invested around $2 billion in doing that.”
“We've recently seen some data in Tasmania, particularly around the Launceston urgent care clinic, that says that around 50 per cent of those people would have gone to the emergency department if they couldn't access the Medicare urgent care clinics, so we know that they're working. Already more than 100,000 visits to Medicare urgent care clinics have happened for over 100,000 Tasmanians. Everybody in my home state of Tasmania at the moment knows somebody who's had to use the urgent care clinics, and every single one of them has said what a great concept they are and how much they benefited from it. By the end of this year, we'll also have a new mental health headspace open in Bellerive in my electorate, funded by the Albanese Labor government.”
“We know that in Tasmania it has saved Tasmanians over $40 million to date and more than $7.6 million in my electorate of Franklin. Also, on 1 January next year 1800MEDICARE, free, nationwide, 24/7 health advice, will come into effect. That will be connected to after-hours GP telehealth for people across the country because we know that these accidents don't always happen between nine and five. It's also why, from 1 July next year, we'll have a Medicare urgent care clinic in Kingborough in my electorate. This means that people living in Kingborough and the Huon Valley will soon have access to bulk-billed urgent care seven days a week without having to drive to Hobart to go to the Royal Hobart Hospital.”
“We want more people to be able to walk into their GP clinic and get bulk-billed, thanks to the government tripling the incentive payments. We also know that, from 1 January, Tasmanians will be paying less for their medicines, thanks to our cheaper medicines policy. We are cutting the cost of PBS general prescriptions again, down to just $25 from their current cost of $32, and we have capped the maximum cost of scripts for concession card holders at $7.70 because what we want is no-one having to make difficult decisions about which prescription to fill. Unfortunately, I know from talking to the pharmacists in my electorate that that has been the case over the last decade or so. Our cheaper medicines policy is already working.”
“During the election, health care—and indeed Medicare—was a really big issue in my electorate of Franklin, and it continues to be. That's why I'm so pleased that on 1 November this year the Albanese Labor government will be delivering the single biggest investment in Medicare since Labor created Medicare, a history of more than 40 years—$8.5 billion to strengthen bulk-billing. I've already heard how difficult it is to access bulk-billing in Tasmania and in my own electorate of Franklin, and it has been getting tougher and tougher. It's always been difficult. What this means—and I'm hearing from some practices already that they will implement this—is that more Tasmanians will get to see a bulk-billing GP. We want more Australians to access bulk-billing.”
“Importantly, this is our first free trade agreement with the Middle East. This is work that took a Labor government to deliver, in the careful, considered way we go about our business, because we know that that's what you achieve when you work hard on your trading relationships, and we know the benefits of this for our farmers and our regional communities. We know, of course, that those opposite neglected some important trading partners and relationships, and we have worked hard, night and day, to improve and get the re-entry of $20 billion worth of trade with our largest trading partner. I want to be clear: we have delivered 231 market access achievements and 29 new markets. (Time expired)”
“This deal delivers real and tangible benefits for Australian farmers and producers and gives them unprecedented access and preferential treatment when they do business with the UAE. It will slash around $50 million a year in tariffs based on current volumes for Australian agriculture and food exports, keeping more money in our regional economies and supporting more regional jobs. Importantly, it allows for growth into the UAE for our farmers. With our agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports to the UAE currently valued at $1.7 billion in the last financial year—including from our oilseeds, our red meat, our grains and our dairy exports—the UAE is now our 12th-largest agricultural export market, and this is a deal that will support more growth opportunities, as I've said, for our farmers and our producers.”
“In a carefully considered way, we've gone about this, and in just the last week, during the Prime Minister's visit to the United Arab Emirates, we brought Australia's new free trade agreement with the UAE into force. The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership eliminates tariffs on more than 99 of Australia's agricultural exports. Most tariffs on agricultural products sent to the UAE were eliminated immediately, including on red meat, on grains, on oilseeds and on dairy, something that we know farmers and regional communities will benefit from. Tariffs on a limited number of goods, such as poultry, bread and pastry, will be phased out over the next three to five years.”
“I want to thank the member for Paterson for her ongoing interest in agriculture and producers in her local electorate. She has also, of course, been chair of the primary industries committee of the House and has done some excellent work in regard to a food security strategy. Since coming to government, we have worked very hard to diversify our trade and unlock opportunities for our farmers and our producers, because we know that better market access is good for our farmers but it's also great for our regional communities and it's good for regional jobs, something our farmers and producers, particularly in the member for Paterson's electorate, will know well. We've restored Australia's place in the world.”
“I thank the Leader of the Nationals for that question. As the member opposite knows, this was a risk-based assessment done by the department on scientific evidence, and the department officials have gone through the process. The report was popped up on the website last week, and, as the member would know, Australia benefits from a two-way trade system. Australian beef going to the US is very significant indeed, and what I would say to the member opposite is that he should not be undermining Australia's biosecurity system—”
“We want good Australian jobs from these, and we want to support our agriculture sector. That's because, of course, our government has a proud record of delivering better trade outcomes for our farmers, because we know that they make the very best produce across the globe, and our farmers are supporting them to back better outcomes for our national economy. (Time expired)”
“This builds on the over 230 agricultural market access achievements by our government since we came to office, including 29 new markets that we have opened. These agreements are supporting our agricultural industry to grow towards a $100 billion sector by 2030, and it's part of our work to support our farmers and our primary producers to seize these opportunities and new markets. Indeed with one in four Australian jobs supported by our trade, the Albanese Labor government is ensuring growth in trade unlocks more regional jobs and delivers more economic benefits, particularly in our regional communities, where a lot of this is produced. We're continuing to repair the damage of the last decade without compromising on getting good outcomes for Aussie farmers.”
“This is what can be achieved when you don't walk away from the table, when you put the need for positive outcomes of our agriculture sector at the forefront of trade negotiations. Indeed we've worked very hard, particularly to restore trade with China, resuming over $20 billion worth of trade for our lobster, our wine, our barley, our coal, our cotton, our timber logs, our oaten hay, our copper ores, our concentrates and our red-meat exports. In just the last week, of course, during the Prime Minister's visit to China, Australia finalised new agricultural market access between the two countries, the first since 2017, and we're now providing apple growers from across mainland Australia with access to the Chinese market, building on the apple exports already taking place from my home state of Tasmania.”
“I want to thank the first-ever member for Bullwinkel for that terrific question. I also note in her first speech, which was terrific, this morning, she also referred to her support for farmers in her community and how important the farming community is to her. I think what it shows is that our government has worked incredibly hard with our trading relationships and our international partners. We've been restoring our place in the world without compromising on getting good outcomes for our Aussie farmers. Indeed we've worked very hard to diversify trade and to unlock new opportunities for Aussie farmers. This has supported $73.5 billion in high-quality agriculture product exports to more than 190 countries in 2024 alone.”
“As the member opposite would know, the protocols in relation to the areas that he is suggesting have actually already been provided to his office today on his email, so the member opposite needs to be very careful here about trying to undermine Australia's biosecurity system. Our biosecurity system is the strongest in the world for a good reason. We've had to invest around $2 billion dollars to strengthen our biosecurity system because of the mess that you left it in, so you should not be undermining our scientific approach to—”
“I would say to the Leader of the Nationals that this decision has been made by my department, and it is through the usual processes that these decisions are made. As he would be well aware, of course, this has been an ongoing process now for over a decade in terms of US beef coming into Australia. Indeed, US beef has been able to come into Australia since 2019, and in 2020 they asked for expanded access to allow some of the other beef from the supply chain that is slaughtered in the US to come from Canada and Mexico. I would say to the member opposite that this has been done in the usual way. The department has published the review on the website today in the usual way. The import details that are required for importers will be published on the website and provided on Monday in the usual way.”
“And, of course, those opposite are now saying that they want to go to the election with higher taxes for small-business owners and workers. Australia's 1.5 million sole traders will be pleased to know that those opposite want them to pay higher income taxes.”
“I do thank the member opposite for that question. I was pleased to finally see their support for the instant asset write-off to get through the parliament last night. After eight months they finally got there. But this is not the only time, of course, they have delayed us trying to introduce the instant asset write-off. This is actually the third time in a row they've tried to delay this legislation getting through the parliament, and it's because they know that we have been supporting small businesses with targeted support for our term. Indeed, there has been over $2 billion worth of targeted support for small businesses since we have come to office, some of which you have voted against. You've delayed the instant asset write-off. You've voted against the direct energy bill relief.”
“So, for this financial year, if they want to make a commitment that we can get it through speedily, we'll see what we can do. More importantly, we are looking at ways that we can ensure we give small businesses the certainty that they need when it comes to the instant asset write-off and, of course, the targeted support that we are providing to small businesses.”
“I do thank the member for that question, and I understand her concern and her support for small businesses. We also want certainty for small businesses across Australia, which is why, of course, we introduced the legislation back in June—because we saw what those opposite did with the instant asset write-off last financial year, and we wanted to provide that certainty and support for small businesses. What I can say to the member opposite is that, if those opposite want to commit to getting it through this financial year, we will see what we can do. But I would also say to the member opposite that they obviously can't be trusted in terms of the instant asset write-off. They played around with it last financial year, as I said. It only passed the parliament in the dying days of the last financial year.”
“I thank the member opposite for her question. What I would say to the member opposite is that, as the Treasurer has suggested, the instant asset write-off for this financial year is $20,000, and, of course, those opposite have been playing around with this, as they did last year with the instant asset write-off. Last financial year, it only passed parliament in the last week of the financial year. Of course, the legislation has been in the parliament now for eight months, and those opposite continue to say that they're not going to support it in its current form. But it is, of course, just one part of the assistance that we are provide are for small business. We know that they didn't support the energy bill relief—”