Justine Elliot
Richmond · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“I'm very pleased to rise on this matter of public importance. I, like others on our side, do find it very bizarre that the opposition have put this forward because we all remember when the Liberals and Nationals were in government. We all remember the extent of all their cuts—”
“I rise today to speak in support of the establishment of the Parliamentary Friends of Crime Stoppers. Earlier this week, I joined my fellow co-chairs, the member for Cowper and the member for Fowler, at the launch of this new parliamentary friends group.”
“At a time when criminal activity continues to evolve from organised crime to cyber related offences and scams, fostering stronger cooperation between communities and law enforcement has never been more important. The true value that Crime Stoppers delivers is absolutely significant.”
“Community safety is something that has been very important to me throughout my entire career. Before entering parliament, I served as a frontline police officer, and, during that time, I saw firsthand how vital information from the public can be in helping police investigate crime, prevent harm and protect our communities.”
“That represents thousands of pieces of information that may otherwise not have reached authorities. The report also identified more than $131 million in avoided harm associated with illicit drugs, more than $50 million in avoided costs linked to reoffending and more than $32 million in law enforcement efficiency gains.”
“Behind every statistic is a person who saw something, heard something or knew something and decided to do something about it. That decision can help prevent harm, protect a victim, disrupt criminal activity or support an investigation.”
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“The reforms that are contained within this bill will also make a huge difference, and it's important because registered nurses are the most geographically dispersed health profession in Australia and comprise around half of the entire Australian health workforce. By enabling authorised nurse prescribers to prescribe certain medicines under the PBS, people will get better access to medicines closer to home. They won't have those associated costs with travelling further to see a doctor, and the delays in waiting for an available appointment will all be reduced. Again, this will also be another game changer when it comes to delivering health care.”
“People know it's there. They know they can go in. They know they'll be bulk-billed. Those signs are now in the front windows of more than 20 bulk-billing practices, so it has expanded very quickly. That's going from Tweed Heads to Byron to Ballina, right throughout my electorate. We're seeing more and more practices that are fully bulk-billing. Of course, on 1 January this year we also launched 1800MEDICARE, a free, nationwide, 24/7 health advice line and after-hours GP telehealth service. And now, of course, we're seeking to make health care more accessible through all the measures that we have in this bill.”
“The fact that the previous Liberal-National government had classified it in that way, as a city, really inhibited a lot of people's capacity to access healthcare, so we changed that. I give special thanks to the health minister for that. Having that change is so important. That, combined with our bulk-billing incentives, means that places like Wollumbin Medical Centre fully bulk-bill everyone. I also invited the Minister for Health and Ageing back to the North Coast in October to visit the Tweed Banora Medical Centre in Tweed Heads South and speak to GPs who also started bulk-billing all their patients on 1 November. Thanks to all these changes that our government's made, we now see right throughout the North Coast these wonderful signs in front of GP practices. They say, 'Medicare bulk-billing practice'. How great is it to see that sign?”
“Since 25 November, a new bulk-billing practice incentive program is supporting practices that bulk bill all their patients. This is on top of the bulk-billing incentive, so fully bulk-billed practices receive an additional 12.5 per cent loading on their Medicare rebates. Towards the end of last year, I visited the Wollumbin Medical Centre in Murwillumbah, where GPs informed me they were universally bulk billing, and that was due to two reasons. First of all, there were our increases to the bulk-billing incentives, but another major change that our government made was reclassifying the town of Murwillumbah from metropolitan to regional for healthcare services. I want to again acknowledge all of the community that worked so hard to make this happen.”
“We're also delivering on our election commitment to expand bulk-billing, and this has been an absolute game changer in my electorate and across the country. It's part of the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation 40 years ago. For the first time, Labor has expanded bulk-billing incentives to all Australians and created an additional new incentive payment for practices that bulk bill every patient. We've tripled the bulk-billing incentive for people who need to see their GP most often—pensioners, concession card holders and families with children. From 1 November 2025, we expanded those incentives to all Australians. It has been a huge success in my area and, I know, right across the country. We also introduced a new incentive payment for practices that bulk bill every patient.”
“That is the feedback that I'm getting from health professionals and locals. It is making a massive difference for so many people—locals, seniors and families. We're also delivering access to free walk-in mental health care for locals, with planning underway for a Medicare mental health centre in Tweed. The centre will be open for extended hours with no appointment or referral needed to access those services. A number of years ago, we opened the new headspace in Ballina. That's providing important support for younger people. We have an existing one in Tweed Heads, which does a remarkable job as well, but it's important that we have all these services here. As I said, that planning is underway for the Medicare mental health centre. It will make a huge difference in the community to have that operating.”
“The urgent care clinic provides locals with the free, urgent care they need fully bulk billed, and it's open seven days a week from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm. We officially opened the urgent care clinic last December. Since then, so many locals have told me that it's really filled a very crucial gap in the provision of healthcare services in our community. I've been told that since it's opened, there's been a daily average of 38 presentations. They have been incredibly busy providing that service, and it is making a massive difference. Nearly 60 per cent of patients who visit the Tweed Heads urgent care clinic would have otherwise gone to the emergency department of the Tweed Valley Hospital to access the care they need. So this shows this clinic in Tweed is easing the pressure on our local hospital.”
“In my electorate of Richmond on the north coast of New South Wales, I'm very proud to have delivered on my 2025 election commitment, which was that a re-elected Albanese Labor government would deliver a Medicare urgent care clinic in the Tweed region. When I was campaigning, people were very keen to have this in place, knowing how well the urgent care clinics provide support and the difference that makes. When we talk about the urgent care clinics, we say that all you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card. That's the reality—just walk in there with your Medicare card. The one we have, the Tweed Heads Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, is based at the Tweed Health for Everyone superclinic. Our superclinic was delivered by a previous Labor government and provides wonderful services for the community.”
“And we froze the cost of PBS medicines for pension and concession card holders so that prices will stay at a maximum of $7.70 until the end of the decade. For areas like mine—we are very fortunate to have a high proportion of seniors in northern New South Wales—it makes a huge difference to have the certainty that it is $7.70 they will be paying. So many locals have told me the difference that makes to them and to their health care. Starting from 1 January this year, we delivered even cheaper medicines for all Australians by reducing the PBS general patient co-payments from $31.60 to $25. It's so low.”
“This included a 25 per cent reduction in the number of scripts a concessional patient must fill before the PBS safety net actually kicks in. We further slashed the cost of medicines in 2023, making the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the entire history of the PBS. This was the first time in 75 years that the general patient co-payment was reduced, and it saw the maximum cost of a general script falling about 30 per cent from $42.50 to $30. We also introduced 60-day prescriptions to enable Australians with chronic or ongoing health conditions to get twice the medication on a single prescription. This means a reduction in the amount that people pay for medicines, fewer trips to the doctor and fewer trips to the pharmacist as well.”
“We know the demands on our health system continue to increase. We have an ageing population and a growing number of people living with complex and chronic conditions. It has been at the heart of so much that our government has done in reforming health care and providing more services. The changes that I refer to today in this bill build on the work that we've done to deliver cheaper medicines, a stronger Medicare and just greater access to health care across the board. In fact, just recently we increased hospital funding. Record funding is another initiative of our government that's making a huge difference. Of course, in 2022, we reduced the eligibility threshold for the PBS safety net to ensure that even more Australians had access to cheaper medicines and lower out-of-pocket costs.”
“Under state and territory legislation, some nurses are already prescribing medicines, particularly in primary care, community health and regional settings. But, without PBS prescriber status, their patients are forced to pay full price for their medicines. Two patients with the same condition, seeing two different qualified health professionals, should not face different out-of-pocket costs simply because one prescriber is recognised under the PBS and the other one is not. This bill closes that gap by creating a new category of prescriber under the PBS. The bill also contains very important safeguards to ensure that only nurses with appropriate training and professional qualifications are in fact authorised to prescribe. Improving access to health care has been a key priority of the Albanese Labor government.”
“For a health professional, 'scope of practice' means the activities which they are competent and authorised to perform. As identified in the Strengthening Medicare taskforce report and the subsequent U nleashing the potential of our h ealth w orkforce review, removing barriers and increasing incentives for all professionals to work to their full scope of practice is necessary in delivering better health outcomes. These reforms recognise that, while our registered nurses are highly educated and skilled, their skills have been underutilised in the primary health care system. The reforms also recognise that empowering nurses to work to their full scope of practice will strengthen our healthcare system by removing barriers, easing pressures on the workforce and building long-term capacity and sustainability.”
“Our reforms have made a huge difference, and I'll go through some of the details later on about that. This bill proposes amendments to the National Health Act 1953 and the Health Insurance Act 1973 to enable authorised nurse prescribers to prescribe certain medicines under the PBS. Under existing law, prescribing rights are confined largely to medical practitioners, dentists, optometrists, endorsed nurse practitioners and midwives. The reforms in this bill will mean that nurses are empowered to provide this care directly to the community, reducing the need to visit a GP or attend a hospital emergency department. It'll make a huge difference. The reforms in this bill support the broader health workforce reform agenda of ensuring that health professionals are enabled to work to their full scope of practice.”
“I too rise to speak in support of the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. This bill is about making sure Australians can get the medicines they need when they need them without unnecessary barriers standing in their way. It really builds on our government's investment in health care and Medicare over the past few years. Of course, as we've heard from many of the speakers, we did have a decade of neglect under the Liberal and National parties when they were in government. It's taken a long time to build back and invest in Medicare and in health services. This bill today is part of our reforms to make sure that people can access health care when they do require it, particularly those in rural and regional areas.”
“Australians voted for an Albanese Labor government committed to protecting our natural environment, and we are absolutely committed to delivering on this commitment in this parliament.”
“That's exactly what we're doing with all of these changes. Now the challenge turns to for the Liberals, Nationals and Greens political party to support these bills. Australians are sick of the Liberals and Nationals climate change denialism; we've seen it over and over for so many years. And they're sick of the Greens enabling this by consistently teaming up with them to block vital reforms. I call on them to support these important measures. In closing, I'd really like to thank the many environmental activists throughout the nation who have championed these reforms. Locally, I'd like to acknowledge the North Coast Labor Environment Action Group, LEAN, for their commitment and strong advocacy. We are delivering.”
“The creation of the federal EPA will bring together the regulatory and implementation functions of our national environmental laws under a single independent agency. The federal EPA will also be empowered to issue environmental protection orders, stop work orders and utilise expanded audit powers. These reforms will also include the creation of a new ministerial power to make national environmental standards, which will improve environmental outcomes and give proponents greater certainty and clarity by establishing clear, enforceable standards for regulated activities. It will make clear that projects with unacceptable impacts cannot be approved if they do not meet specific national interest tests. Greater clarity for proponents and decision-makers will be achieved through these reforms.”
“We know we can have both. We can do both. And that's exactly what we're proposing. The reforms in these bills will deliver stronger environmental protection and restoration, more efficient and robust project assessments, and greater accountability and transparency in decision-making. We want to see decisions made faster with less duplication between state and federal processes. Too many projects, from housing developments to renewable energy projects, are just caught up in a tangled web of red tape. We want to modernise our environmental laws and establish Australia's first ever independent federal Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. A federal EPA will be a tough cop on the beat, with real teeth.”
“I rise to call on the Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens political party to support the Albanese Labor government's environmental protection bills. At the election, Australians endorsed our government's plan to keep building Australia's future—including our ambitious plans to protect our environment and act on climate change. We want to reform our national environmental laws to ensure we're protecting nature for generations to come. We know that the current laws are not delivering for the environment or for business or for the community. These measures address the critical issues identified by Professor Graeme Samuel in his 2020 independent review, which found that our national environmental laws are fundamentally broken. This isn't about making a choice between protecting the environment and protecting the economy, jobs and business.”
“,which has actually been filmed in a place called Dungay just outside of Murwillumbah for more than 20 years. Having that in place—the economic benefits that flow on from that are absolutely massive. We consistently have—and I couldn't name all of the movies and the television shows that are made in our region. We certainly want to encourage that and encourage more local job creation because of it, in both those industries and the industries that support them in doing that. In conclusion, this bill ensures that Australian content remains front and centre, and that's what our government is committed to doing. It's about protecting our culture, supporting our economy and guaranteeing that Australian stories continue to be told on the platforms that Australians enjoy and watch all the time—on our streaming services.”
“Film By the Northern Rivers, another annual film festival in my electorate, showcases the work and filmmaking talent of New South Wales public school students, from kindergarten to year 11. The festival is aimed at promoting storytelling through film, and it's a really great celebration of the creativity of our young future filmmakers. We also consistently see the secondary impacts of productions in my local area and the huge economic benefits for our local community through the demand for accommodation, catering, transport, hiring and tourism. We could never underestimate that ongoing benefit that it brings, from Hollywood blockbusters that we've had filmed—like Aquaman , which was filmed in our region, and many more—to lots of TV shows, including the very long-running British version of I ' m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!”
“We have a growing network of film and television production professionals, supported by organisations like Screenworks, which plays a pivotal role in building local talent capacity, connecting regional crew with inbound productions and offering really important training for screenwriters, producers and directors. Also in my electorate, FIN Ballina is a visual effects studio. Their VFX artists, designers and producers work with some of the biggest names in film, television and other visual mediums. We also have so many international film festivals. The Byron Bay International Film Festival, running since 2006, showcases Australian and international film talent for thousands of film lovers throughout our region.”
“Economically, these reforms will, importantly, drive job creation, particularly in regional areas, where film industries are emerging as major contributors to local economies. That's certainly the case in my area in northern New South Wales. More Australian productions means more work for writers, actors, directors, set designers, lighting specialists, camera operators, caterers, accommodation providers and transport services. In my electorate of Richmond, we have a growing film and production industry. We also have so many elements that really contribute to making it a great location for film and television. We know that we've got so many versatile locations, with pristine beaches, subtropical rainforest, stunning hinterland, historic towns, agricultural properties and coastal villages all within a short driving distance.”
“We arrived at a policy that will achieve meaningful outcomes in ensuring the representation of Australian voices and perspectives on screen—one that's also consistent with Australia's international trade obligations. Of course, these reforms are not just about entertainment; they're about jobs, investment and employment opportunities. As the member for Cunningham said too, for regional areas like hers and like mine, it is a game changer when we have productions occurring in our regions and a lot of employment as a result of Australian made television and film. These opportunities will strengthen our screen industry, create work for thousands of Australians in production and postproduction and help our stories reach audiences both here and overseas.”
“As traditional broadcast consumption declines, we know streaming platforms dominate how Australians, especially young Australians, consume media, and, without these laws, there's a real risk that Australian voices could become increasingly marginalised on platforms that prioritise high-volume international content. This legislation ensures that future generations grow up seeing people that represent them, in towns and cities like theirs, telling stories that reflect Australian humour, character and resilience, of course; and ensures that Australian stories will not be lost in an ocean of overseas content. The development of the content requirements in this bill reflects the extensive and genuine consultation that the Albanese Labor government has undertaken with industry stakeholders.”
“Importantly, the bill adopts existing definitions from the Australian content and children's television standards, providing consistency across the industry. It also includes practical measures, such as three-year carry-over period for expenditure and a statutory review after four years, to ensure the framework is effective and responsive to change. Oversight will be provided by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, ACMA, which will administer the Australian screen content requirement and receive reports from streaming services on their compliance with the requirements. These reforms will futureproof our screen sector.”
“Wrong quote. In the words of Bluey , 'If you can imagine it, you can play it.' This bill guarantees that streaming services will invest in telling those stories by setting a minimum level of expenditure on new Australian content. Under these reforms, on-demand streaming platforms will be required to dedicate at least 10 per cent of their total program expenditure to commissioning or acquiring first release Australian drama, children's programs, documentaries, arts and educational content, and these are the genres that shape our culture and inspire us creatively. This bill also allows providers to meet their obligation on a revenue basis, investing at least 7.5 per cent of their gross Australian revenue in eligible Australian content. This approach ensures fairness whilst maintaining strong support for local production.”
“Indeed, we've seen, over the decades, films that have had massive international success, like P icnic at H anging Rock ; Mad Max ; The Castle ; Crocodile Dundee ; The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; Strictly Ballroom ; and Muriel's Wedding , which not only was a reflection of my area in northern New South Wales but was filmed in parts of it as well. We have recently seen some other Australian made content achieve global success. We see it all the time—from Rake to Mr Inbetween , Colin from Accounts and, of course, Bluey . We all love Bluey . Australian film and television have a global reputation for innovation and emotional honesty, and these Aussie made shows have been hugely successful, reaching international audiences, and we want to see more of that. In the words of Bluey , 'Coconuts have water in them'—sorry!”
“They showcase our unique voices to the world and ensure that future generations grow up with access to content that speaks of their own experiences. It also highlights the immense talent and creativity of Australian actors, writers, directors, artists and other creatives. We have so many creative industries and people that we're incredibly proud of. It's not just our Aussies that want to see Australian content on their screens; we all know, worldwide, how well regarded Australian films are.”
“This bill is not intended to criticise the operation of streaming businesses, but to acknowledge the fantastic content they produce and to ensure that Australian audiences invested in watching on these services are also able to continue to access important Australian stories. The bill represents a significant step forward for Australia's creative industries as well as our cultural identity. This bill amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to introduce a clear and enforceable Australian screen content requirement for on-demand streaming platforms that millions of Australians are using every day. It does this by guaranteeing a minimum of expenditure on new Australian content on those services. This is really important because, as we say, our stories matter. They reflect who we are, where we've come from and the values we all share.”
“While streaming services derive very big profits from Australian audiences, often the content they deliver does reflect someone else's experience and someone else's identity. What these laws do is level the playing field. Just as free-to-air networks and pay television have long supported Australian stories through content requirements, streaming giants will now be required to invest in our people, our places and our perspectives. Australian audiences are engaging with streaming services because these services produce some fantastic, wonderful and engaging shows, including the production of great Australian content—only a minority of services are yet to produce any Australian content—and we want to ensure that that quality Australian content continues on those services.”
“Australia's television landscape has evolved to include not just public broadcasters, commercial broadcasters and cable but, increasingly, a huge variety of streaming platforms and services. Australian content quotas for commercial television were first introduced in the 1960s, showing we have long known how important it is that the content of our screens reflects our culture and identity as Australians. These content requirements were updated in the 1990s to capture free-to-air and other television broadcasters, and this ensured a minimum level of Australian content was produced every year. Of course, both the ABC and SBS acknowledge in their respective charters that their functions include informing, educating and entertaining audiences with content that represents our diverse identities, values and experiences.”
“I too rise to speak in support of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025. This bill delivers on the Albanese Labor government's commitment to introduce an Australian content obligation on streaming services, ensuring that, no matter what screen you're watching from, you have guaranteed access to Australian stories. Our National Cultural Policy—Revive, which is wonderful—recognises that our greatest cultural asset is Australia's people and their stories—our stories. It also acknowledges there have been major changes in the way audiences access and consume film and television content; we've all seen that over the past few years.”
“People in my community are really annoyed about that because we know it's the regions that have so much to gain from acting on climate change. It's about the economic opportunities that are there as well as protecting our environment. It's only the Albanese Labor government that's taking that firm, decisive action when it comes to climate change. You can particularly see it in our Cheaper Home Batteries Program. In my electorate we have one of the highest take-ups for New South Wales. I think, as of a few days ago, it was 1,233 and growing every single day. People right across my region and across the nation know that we need to act on climate change. Yet, disappointingly, we see the Nationals abandoning that and we see more infighting after a decade of inaction from them.”
“Acting on climate change is so vitally important. That's exactly what our government, the Albanese Labor government, is doing. It's a really important issue for my community, as it is right across the nation. It's so important for our environment and for the economic opportunities that it brings, particularly to those in regional Australia. In the regions, we are at the front line of climate change when it comes to natural disasters. In my area we had the severe 2022 floods. People in my region know we have to see action on climate change, and that's what the Albanese Labor government is doing. It's so important Yet what we see from those across from us, the Liberals and the Nationals, is the National Party now abandoning net zero. That is just appalling and disappointing.”
“My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How will the Albanese Labor government's record investment in bulk-billing make it easier to see a GP for free, and how will the investments that kick off this Saturday make a difference for Australians after a decade of cuts and neglect?”
“My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. How is the Albanese Labor government reforming our aged-care system to ensure our loved ones receive better quality care, and why was the system in desperate need of reform?”
“Our government will keep working with older Australians, aged-care providers, aged-care workers—the whole industry—to work together to continuously improve the standard of aged care right across our country.”
“From speaking to aged-care workers in my electorate, I know firsthand what a huge difference this is making and I really want to thank all of them for the incredible work that they continue to do. We're also delivering better care for older Australians by putting nurses back into nursing homes 24/7, and it means that older Australians in residential aged care can get the clinical care that they need when it's required. And, of course, we've already started releasing an additional 20,000 home-care packages starting 1 November, and we're delivering another 63,000 extra Support at Home places by June 2026 so more people can get the care they need when they need it in their own home.”
“I also recently announced the Albanese Labor government's delivering $14 million in federal funding for Healthy North Coast to provide the care finder program for the region. This program provides free, individual support for older people needing help to access My Aged Care—and other aged-care services if they have impediments to accessing My Aged Care. It's making a huge difference to so many individuals, and of course all of this builds on the work we're doing to improve aged care right across the country. Our government is delivering record pay rises for aged-care workers to ensure the aged-care sector continues to deliver a high standard of care for older Australians.”
“That's why I recently announced in Ballina that our government is delivering more than $8 million in federal funding from the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program for two North Coast aged-care providers. I made the announcement at St Andrew's Village Ballina. We're delivering $3.8 million for the reconfiguration of existing residential accommodation into four memory-support households, and that will provide 31 beds for people living with dementia. It's a really important improvement at St Andrew's. Also, Feros village in Bangalow will receive more than $4.2 million for 14 new rooms with private ensuites and upgraded common areas. This funding of course builds on the nearly $3.6 million our government delivered last year for upgrades to St Andrew's village at Byron Bay, also known as George's Cottages.”
“The fact is our older Australians built this nation. They worked hard, paid their taxes and raised their families, and they continue to play such an important role in our families and our communities. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. That's why our government, the Albanese Labor government, is committed to improving aged-care services and access to health care for older Australians, and we've been doing this since day one of being elected to government. We've delivered record levels of funding to rebuild the aged-care system so that every older Australian can get the care they deserve, including in my electorate of Richmond on the far-north coast of New South Wales.”
“My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to prepare communities, particularly in regional Australia, for more intense natural disasters as a result of climate change? What other approaches has the government been asked to consider?”
“My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. In the lead-up to National Police Remembrance Day on 29 September, how is the Albanese government honouring police bravery, and why is strong leadership so important in supporting our police?”
“My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering new social and affordable homes for Australians in need? Is the minister aware of any obstacles?”
“I ask everyone to take that time to reflect, because Monday 29 September is a day for all of us to recognise their service, appreciate their dedication and, most importantly, remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep all of us safe. We must always remember that it's with honour they served, and we will never forget their service. I commend the motion to the House. As I said, I thank the member for Wide Bay for putting forward this motion. To all of my colleagues who have spoken: it's important that we all remember the outstanding work of our local police and reflect and remember all of those who've lost their lives in the line of duty.”
“The services and programs led by Police Legacy are designed to meet the needs of those they support and provide specialist care to ensure that legatees do not face grief, bereavement and life challenges alone. I also wish to acknowledge the tireless efforts of all police associations, unions and the Police Federation of Australia, who work to represent and support Australian police officers. In my electorate of Richmond, I acknowledge all our local police, who serve and protect our community. I know firsthand the outstanding work they do. On Police Remembrance Day, I encourage everyone locally and across the country to take a moment to reflect on the vital role police officers play in all of our communities across all of our states and territories and, indeed, right across the nation.”
“Indeed, these challenges are especially pronounced in regional areas and close-knit communities, like mine on the New South Wales far north coast. Police Remembrance Day is a time for all of us to reflect on the very real risks our officers face every day. It is a moment to honour the lives and memories of those who lost their lives, tragically cut short whilst protecting others. It is a very solemn and deeply important day for police officers, their loved ones and the wider police family. I also pay tribute to the enduring work of Police Legacy, an incredible organisation that provides support to police legatees across the nation. Police Legacy was set up to provide support, services and financial assistance to the families of police officers who pass away, whether it's on or off duty, whatever the circumstances may be.”
“Of course, this tragedy underscores the significance of Police Week 2025, which begins across Australia on Saturday 13 September with the 16th annual Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance. On Monday 29 September, we will observe National Police Remembrance Day, and on that day we honour the men and women of the service who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Together we must ensure that their legacies are preserved. As a former police officer, I have seen firsthand, as I know have many of my colleagues who are former police officers, the challenges, complexities and confronting situations that officers face daily whilst serving their communities. Police are often called to dangerous and traumatic incidents, including fatalities and horrific tragedies.”