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.”
The complete record
Every one of 257 lines we hold for Justine Elliot, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 6.
“The Albanese Labor government is absolutely committed to strengthening Medicare and has been doing that since day one of being in government. This week in the parliament, we introduced legislation for cheaper medicines. This means a prescription under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will cost Australians no more than $25 from 1 January 2026. This builds on action we've already taken to deliver cost-of-living relief through cheaper medicines. We had the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS, with the 60-day prescription saving time and money and freezing the cost of PBS medicines. For pensioners and concession cardholders, their scripts stay at $7.70 until 2030—a vitally important issue in my region, where I have many pensioners and concession cardholders.”
“Stop blocking everything—not just environmental reforms but across housing and so many other areas as well—and drive our economy forward.”
“The Greens need a bit of time for reflection as well. We saw them blocking so much in the previous parliament, whether it was environmental reforms or housing reforms. Well, the Australian people have spoken to them as well. They're not interested in the constant blocking of reforms, particularly those environmental reforms. So I say to them as well: work constructively, get an outcome and put away the playbook of opposing everything. It's not on. People actually want constructive reform and everyone working together. So, Liberals, Nationals and Greens, you all have an opportunity now in this parliament to stand up for your communities, deliver environmental reform and drive our economic growth. People want you to do that, so stop playing politics.”
“Time and time again, they've come in here saying the same things over and over again. Looking forward, we all have an opportunity to get all these important reforms done, so they should actually look at it and think about the impacts of their decisions on our economy. The decisions they make are destructive. The Australian people have said to those opposite that they do not support their climate denialism, and they have said it many, many times. Those opposite should reflect and listen to the people of Australia and what they have said to them and work constructively with the government to reform our environmental laws to sustain our economic growth into the future. It's vitally important. We can just look at all of those things they did when they were in government over those nine years—so destructive.”
“We are the party that's delivered every single major environmental reform in Australia's history, from Landcare to saving the Franklin, protecting the Daintree and Kakadu, building the largest network of marine parks in the world and addressing climate change. It is the Labor Party that continues to do that. It's the Labor Party that continues this record investment in renewable energy. Since we came to government in 2022, we've passed strong laws to force big polluters to cut emissions so Australia gets to net zero carbon pollution by 2050. This and other actions have reduced our emissions. It is vitally important that that's happened, and it has happened only through the absolute commitment of this government. As I've said, we saw almost a decade of inaction from the Liberals and Nationals.”
“We have made huge advances also when it comes to the energy transition, with record renewable energy generation and our policies across the economy helping drive down emissions and deliver on our targets, very importantly. Renewable energy generation has seen Australia reach new records. It is up in volume by around 30 per cent since we were elected, and that comes from government investment, policies and legislation. That's what the Australian people support, and I just cannot understand how the other side fail to recognise that again and again and again. We see it across the board.”
“We can do both—we absolutely can—and we're committed to making sensible reforms to better protect our environment and deliver certainty to industry. As we heard today, the independent Samuel review found that our current laws aren't working to protect the environment for industry and business, so our priority is to fix those laws. The current ones are outdated, and we need the support of the House. They should get on board with this. It's vitally important for our future. If we want to be a renewable energy superpower, if we want a future made in Australia and if we want to protect our iconic natural environment, we all need to be on board with this.”
“Just as we saw with the nine years of inaction when they were in government, they still don't accept the science of climate change and they just want to take the country backwards. As I said, we had almost a decade of inaction with them. I think there were 20-odd plans they had. They were always changing their minds when they were in government, and of course they went to the last election with their $600 billion nuclear plan. Well, how did that go? The Australian people clearly rejected that. They are sick of this ongoing climate denial from the Liberals and Nationals. In contrast to all of that, we are absolutely committed to making Australia a renewable energy superpower, and the Australian people support that as well. They endorsed our policies at the election because they involved protecting jobs and protecting the environment.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker Claydon, and can I start by congratulating you on your re-election as the Deputy Speaker. I'm really excited today that my first contribution to the 48th Parliament is to talk about our environmental reform and how it drives our economy as well. It is no surprise, of course, that what we've heard from the other side is the usual rhetoric we've been hearing forever from them—all climate deniers. You can look at that when you look at the legislation that we've brought into the House. Of course, our first bill yesterday was to cut HECS debt by 20 per cent. What was the first major piece of legislation from the coalition? A bill to scrap action on climate change.”
“That is the focus of everyone in our government, and that will absolutely be the focus of the Treasurer tonight in outlining his fourth budget and those measures that will help Australians, because we understand people are doing it tough and we are a government that continue to be committed to providing the support that Australians need, right across our nation.”
“We also announced some of the really important payments people could access—the hardship payments of $180 and the disaster allowance—as payments for people's wages lost during natural disasters when they can't get to work or their place of work is closed. There is also the disaster payment of $1,000 for major damage, and we, for the first time, activated those payments prior to it happening, again, because we care about Australians and we address the issues that they have. We have been doing that ever since we were elected—since day one—and our main focus, every single day, is addressing the cost-of-living pressures that Australians have.”
“All of them were on the ground, every single day, coordinating and working with those agencies, and our Prime Minister was coordinating that from the National Situation Room at the NEMA, National Emergency Management Authority, headquarters here in Canberra, which is an agency we set up to respond to natural disasters because we know we have to be there for Australians whether that is every single day with cost-of-living relief or planning and providing support when we do have natural disasters. We have invested a huge amount in disaster funds and also in NEMA, but the fact is we were there on the ground with all of those agencies and it means so much to people.”
“I particularly want to acknowledge and thank the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister for being there on the ground with people in our region and for talking to them, as well as the New South Wales Premier, all of the New South Wales state ministers, our Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Jenny McAllister, and also Senator Tony Sheldon, who was our flood envoy.”
“I want to touch on that briefly as well because it goes to the heart of what our government are committed to and what we do—that is, addressing cost-of-living measures whilst also being proactive in communities, like mine, that were impacted recently by Tropical Cyclone Alfred. That's because our government, the Albanese Labor government, is there for people and communities. That is a fact. From those hardship payments to repairing roads, we have absolutely been there. I would like to briefly acknowledge, firstly, all of those agencies that were so well prepared and worked together in my region. We had the SES, the RFS, the ADF—they were there on the ground, which was wonderful—Essential Energy, councils and Services Australia.”
“As I said before, the Liberals and Nationals oppose all of those cost-of-living measures. They've always opposed them—all along the way and all along the line. The fact is Australians would be much worse off under the Liberals and Nationals. We know that to be an absolute fact. I'll just add that, whilst we are absolutely committed to building on our focus for Australia and our absolute priority is that we make sure of that every step of the way—every day that we've been in government we've done that—we are also very mindful that we have natural disasters in this country.”
“We also have our Medicare urgent care clinics and our Medicare mental health clinics, where people can walk in for free. At those, you only need your Medicare card. We're doing that on top of increasing the bulk-billing rebate for everyone so more people can access a doctor when they need it. We are absolutely committed to strengthening Medicare; we always have been. We also, as part of so many of the measures we've introduced, invested in social and affordable housing, including recently expanding the Help to Buy scheme as well, so that more younger people and renters can get into the housing market. We have also strengthened our social security safety nets, which are so vital in this country. Particularly, we have increased rent assistance by 40 per cent and increased pensions by almost 17 per cent since we came to government.”
“We've said that scripts will cost Australians no more than $25 under the PBS, and the cost for pensioners and concession card holders will remain capped at $7.70. That's going to make a huge difference in the lives of so many Australians, particularly our senior Australians. One of our other cost-of-living measures is cheaper child care, which is so important for families—particularly for getting women back into employment—and so important for our economy as well. We've also provided our HECS relief, and we have announced—if re-elected—a 20 per cent cut from HECS debts, which will really help younger people with HECS debts in particular. And, of course, there is free TAFE. What a game changer this has been in terms of training Australians. Again, in an area like mine, 5,000 people were able to access TAFE because of Labor's free TAFE.”
“I'd like now to turn to some of those cost-of-living measures that we have in place. We understand that people have been, and are still, doing it tough. That's why our entire focus is on cost-of-living measures. First of all, we have had, of course, those tax cuts for every taxpayer. Can I tell you, in an electorate like mine on the North Coast of New South Wales, that's more than 70,000 people that have had a tax cut. We have provided energy bill relief for every household, and we just announced an extra $150 in energy bill relief, extending our energy rebates until the end of 2025. That builds on the $300 energy rebate we already delivered to households. And, of course, there are the cheaper medicines that are so vitally important for Australians.”
“It has been absolutely clear cut that that's our focus and, of course, that will be the focus tonight in the Treasurer's fourth budget speech. Again, we will see that focus on the cost of living, which is so important. Of course, when we came to government, inflation was high and rising, real wages were falling and living standards were declining. Under our government, inflation is almost a third of what it was at the election and is falling. Real wages are growing again. We have recorded the lowest average unemployment rate of any government in 50 years and we've overseen the creation of more than a million jobs, because our economic plan is all about helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn. We do that because responsible economic management is so importantly at the core of this government and all that we deliver.”
“All of our cost-of-living measures have been opposed by the Liberals and Nationals. Australians need those cost-of-living measures, and they have opposed every single one. The fact is that now Australians are earning more and keeping more of what they earn under Labor. But the fact is that they'll be working much longer for less under the Liberals and Nationals. That's what will happen. We are so focused on the cost of living and the tax cuts for every taxpayer, and do you know what they are focused on? The only things they're focused on are tax breaks for bosses, long lunches and golf days. That's about it. That's what they focus on. We focus on everyday Australians and the cost-of-living pressures that they have.”
“Let's go back even a little bit further. As we've heard a few times today as we reflect on 2013, we had the then Leader of the Opposition running around saying to people prior to the election that there would be no cuts—no cuts to health, no cuts to education, no cuts to pensions, no cuts to the ABC and no cuts to the SBS. What did they do as soon as they got in? Cut all of them—every single one of those. Let's come back to the present day, to the Liberals and Nationals that we have here. Let's look at what they've done. They've opposed Labor's tax cuts for every taxpayer. They've opposed Labor's Medicare urgent care clinics. They've opposed Labor's cheaper medicines plan, opposed Labor's cheaper childcare plan and opposed Labor's energy bill relief in the past as well.”
“Those opposite don't have any plans at all except their one plan—the $600 billion nuclear madness scheme; that is all they have. What will they cut to pay for that? The end result of all that will be much higher power prices for Australians. Let's have a look at exactly the record, particularly that of the Leader of the Opposition and Liberals and Nationals. As a health minister, the Leader of the Opposition cut $50 billion from our public hospitals, cut funding for Medicare and tried to end bulk-billing with that GP tax. We all remember that one, particularly how unpopular it was right across the community. He also tried to make medicines a lot more expensive and charge for emergency room visits. And, of course, we all remember that the Leader of the Opposition was voted the 'worst' health minister.”
“ELLIOT (—) (): The choice at this year's coming election is so incredibly clear: we have Labor's plan to keep building Australia's future or, indeed, the Liberals' and Nationals' plans to cut everything everywhere. That is their only plan. We know they have at least $300 billion on cuts proposed, but they will not tell us exactly where. Is it in health or social services, perhaps in the NDIS, infrastructure, in areas or agencies like the National Emergency Management Agency? We don't know where these cuts will be, but they will be catastrophic for the Australian people. It is a very, very clear choice at this election, with us building and them cutting. That is all it is: build or cut. The Leader of the Opposition will make families worse off by cutting the very things they need. He has done it before and he will definitely do it again.”
“Again, this is about Labor listening to the community, acting on the concerns that the community have and delivering real reforms. This one is certainly needed, and I know there's been a really positive response right across the country in terms of our investment in women's health. We're really proud to keep delivering all of our cost-of-living relief. It has made a huge difference. Certainly, it is only Labor that will take Australia forwards. Voting for the Liberals and Nationals just takes us backwards, and we know that that's exactly what they would do, because they opposed every single one of our cost-of-living measures that are so vitally important at this time.”
“Look what it includes: the first PBS listing for new oral contraceptive pills in more than 30 years; more choice, lower costs and better access to long-term contraceptives; larger Medicare payments and more bulk-billing for IUDs and birth-control implants, saving around 300,000 women a year up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs; more Medicare support for women experiencing menopause; and the first PBS listing for new menopausal hormone therapies in over 20 years. This has been incredibly important for women right across the nation. As part of that package, too, there'll be more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics treating more conditions, and also contraceptives and treatment for uncomplicated UTIs directly from pharmacies—another great initiative.”
“I also want to acknowledge Alison Vickery, who led the community group, and all those people who filled out my crime survey. I was very pleased to be announcing this commitment from a re-elected Albanese Labor government. It's about listening to the community and the concerns they have. We've done that, as we do every day in terms of listening to people in our region about addressing those cost-of-living measures. Of course, on Sunday, we did see an incredibly good announcement in terms of our investment in women's health. That is such an important investment. It's really good work that's being done. There's the absolute strengthening of Medicare, with more than $570 million to deliver more choice, lower cost and better health care for women, and there's been a really positive response in my area.”
“Right across the area, people raise those concerns. I do note, of course, that the New South Wales government has been very proactive. We've had 17 new police recruits to our region. That government has recently brought in stronger youth offender bail laws, and also Jack's law, in terms of tackling knife crime. We always need to have a whole suite of measures. In this announcement that we made, there's a million dollars for each council—the Tweed, Ballina and Byron councils—to be able to install crime prevention infrastructure measures, whether it's CCTV, lighting or landscaping; the councils can make that decision. I really want to thank all the community that advocated for this—particularly the Ballina mayor, Sharon Cadwallader.”
“We're also very proud, as a government and as MPs, of listening to our community about the concerns they have. I would like to add this on one of my local issues that has been a very, very big concern and that we addressed last week. The Prime Minister was up in my electorate on the Friday, and we made a really important announcement—that the re-election of an Albanese Labor government would deliver $3 million for our North Coast crime prevention infrastructure action plan. It's really good to have that plan in place. Again, this is about listening to the community and about Labor governments addressing these concerns. We've seen increasing youth crime in our area, and of course the community are very, very concerned about that, as am I. As a former police officer, community safety is my top priority.”
“Ten years of cuts and neglect of our health system have been really devastating. But people remember that. People remember when the opposition leader was health minister. So there is going to be a very clear choice at the next election—a choice between building Australia's future with the Labor government and taking us backwards with the Liberals and Nationals. It's only going to be a vote for Labor that will stop the opposition leader from becoming prime minister and stop the Liberals and Nationals from getting into power. They will take us backwards and people will be worse off. We certainly know that that's the case. When I'm out and about, talking and listening to the community, all these cost-of-living measures make such a big difference.”
“We know that when the opposition leader was the health minister he froze Medicare rebates for years. It was incredibly damaging. Of course, he wanted to put that GP tax in place. I was here when he was talking about how important it was. My community certainly fought back in relation to that. Of course, he cut $50 billion from public hospitals. That was just horrendous right across the board. On top of all of that he said that there were too many free Medicare services. That's what he thinks. That's what the Liberals and Nationals think. They've got form when it comes to cutting Medicare and cutting health services. Our government has worked extremely hard in rebuilding Medicare in terms of tripling the bulk-billing rate and putting a lot more funding into our public hospitals. It takes a long time.”
“Will they be right across the board? I mean, tax cuts are so vitally important. As I said, more than 70,000 people in my electorate have benefited from them. I know that across the country at least 600,000 people have been able to access fee-free TAFE—and, importantly, access to all of that education and access to jobs. It's so important to be training our workforce for the future. In my region 5,000 people will benefit. In a regional area, that is huge. Every day people tell me the difference that fee-free TAFE has made in their lives as well. Again, this was all opposed by the Liberals and Nationals. The other issue that people raise with me are their concerns about when the opposition leader was the health minister. This is something that comes up all the time, because it's a pretty shambolic record when we have a look at it.”
“That's their absolute priority. What we don't hear about are the secret cuts. We know there is that $350 billion they say they want to make in cuts. Well, what I'd like to know, and what people in my electorate and throughout the nation would like to know, is: Where are they coming from? Where are those cuts going to be? Will they be in age pensions? Will they be in Medicare? Will they be in veterans pensions? We'd all like to know. People are very concerned. Will there be further cuts to education? Will they be to fee-free TAFE? We know they've got form across the board for a lot of these cuts, and there's a real concern in the community when it comes to that—that that's exactly what they would see again with the Liberals and Nationals in government. As I said, in my electorate, it comes up all the time: Where will those cuts be?”
“What we do know about the Liberals and Nationals is that they have a lot of secret cuts and secret costs as well. We certainly hoped that we might hear about some of those today, but I don't know that we will. They don't seem to want to reveal too much of it. We know that the biggest threat to household budgets is indeed the cuts the Liberals and Nationals would make—about $7,200 for each household. It would be devastating. What we do know is a little bit about the expenditure they want to have—the $600 billion on their nuclear power madness, which is just going to result in massive increases to power prices. I can tell you: people in my electorate are not interested in the Liberals and Nationals plan. We hear many times, and we heard today, about the $10 billion they want to spend on the long lunches for bosses.”
“Cheaper medicines are, again, so important for everyone, particularly older Australians. And what a game changer fee-free TAFE has been across the nation, as is reducing HECS debts. All of those measures are so vitally important. There are the wage increases for aged-care workers and childcare workers as well. I'm hearing every day from people in my area about what a difference they make. Now, of course, all of these measures were opposed by the Liberals and Nationals, which is just appalling. I don't know how they, or their candidates, face people in their electorates when they're talking about the cost of living. Are they honest, and do they tell them that they actually opposed every one of our cost-of-living measures that are helping Australians every single day?”
“So our economic plan is all about helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn and addressing many of those cost-of-living pressures. Now, there are a whole range of them, and I'd like to run through them. Certainly when I'm out in my electorate, door-knocking at listening posts, people raise how a lot of these measures have assisted them. Our tax cuts for every taxpayer—in my electorate that's over 70,000 people—have made a huge difference. As I said, we know people are doing it tough. That's why these measures are important. The energy bill relief for every household of $300 helps so many, particularly a lot of older Australians in my area on the New South Wales North Coast. Of course, our cheaper child care is so vitally important for families.”
“I'm very pleased to be speaking today about our cost-of-living measures and how important they are for all Australians. I want to start by talking about the situation when we came into government. We knew then, when we came into government, that inflation was high and rising, real wages were falling, living standards were declining and people were going backwards. That was the reality. But, under our responsible economic management over these past few years, we now see inflation is almost a third of what it was at the election and is falling, real wages are growing again, living standards are rising again and we've recorded the lowest average unemployment rate for any government in 50 years. We've also overseen the creation of more than 1.1 million jobs—the most jobs created on record in any parliamentary term.”
“After a decade of cuts and neglect, we've worked really hard to repair Medicare. We know that all these cuts will be there, but we won't hear about any of them until after the election. They won't tell us, but we know there's $350 billion in cuts. There's a really clear choice at the next election, and that's a choice between building Australia's future with the Albanese Labor government or taking Australia backwards with the Liberals and Nationals. The fact is, it's only a vote for Labor that can stop the opposition leader from becoming Prime Minister and stop the Liberals and Nationals from getting into power. They will take us backwards, and people will be worse off.”
“The Liberals and Nationals opposed them. What about fee-free TAFE, which has been a game changer for 5,000 people in my region? They opposed it. They also opposed really important pay rises for aged-care workers and childcare workers. We know they've opposed all of those, and that's why we know people will be worse off under the Liberals and Nationals. That is, in fact, a fact. Let's have a look at the opposition leader's record when he was the health minister. It's a pretty shambolic record. He went ahead and froze Medicare rebates. Of course, he really wanted to have that GP tax in place as well. He cut $50 billion from public hospitals. And, in fact, the opposition leader said that there were too many free Medicare services. That's what the Liberals and Nationals think of Medicare.”
“They're fine with that but not with helping out Australians who are struggling. We do know there will be massive amounts of cuts. In fact, there will be $350 billion in cuts. Where will they be? They just won't tell us. Will there be cuts to Medicare? Will there be cuts to age pensions? Will there be cuts to bulk-billing? Will there be cuts across the board? People don't know, and they're quite terrified about the risk that they pose. Let's have a look in more detail at some of those cost-of-living measures that the Liberals and Nationals oppose. There are the tax cuts for every taxpayer. In my area, 71,000 people have benefitted from them. The average tax cut is around $1,500. They opposed it. There's the $300 energy bill relief. They opposed it, and people needed to have that. There are cheaper medicines and cheaper child care.”
“I rise today to point out the risk that the opposition leader and the Liberals and Nationals pose to my electorate on the New South Wales North Coast and, indeed, right throughout the nation. The fact is, if they are elected, people will be worse off. Australians know that; people in my region know that and tell me that every day. Households will be approximately $7,200 worse off. That's the impact of their policies. We know this. How do we know it, people might ask? We know it because they've opposed every single cost-of-living measure we have put forward—every single one of them. People are doing it tough, and that's why we have those cost-of-living measures in place, but they're completely opposed to them. But we do know what they want to do. They want to spend $10 billion worth of taxpayers' money for bosses to have long lunches.”
“It's only Labor governments that continue to invest in building the training and skills for workers now and into the future whilst also ensuring that our economy has an incredible skilled workforce to meet the demands now and into the future. It is only Labor that consistently delivers increases in training and education right across the board. I very proudly commend this bill to the House.”
“There would not be anyone who isn't aware or touched by this, whether it be the student, their families or their friends. People often talk about how being able to access fee-free TAFE has transformed someone's life, and making sure that people can access that is one of our core election commitments. Also, the 20 per cent cut to HECS debts is really important as well. We're very proud to yet again be investing in education, training and skills. As much as that is life changing for individuals, their families and communities, in terms of our nation's economic prosperity we desperately need to have all these workers. It is a win-win all round.”
“We've seen the increase in wages, and we committed to and delivered that increase in wages particularly for our aged-care and childcare workers, who are so valued. Again, that was all opposed by those opposite. All of those cost-of-living measures were opposed, and we often say to people that that's the risk the Liberals and Nationals pose. It's a fact that people would be a lot worse off if the coalition were to ever be in government, and that's just from looking at their record of opposing vital cost-of-living relief, whereas we on the Labor side are absolutely committed to making sure that's in place. In this bill, it all revolves around fee-free TAFE and the difference that it makes. The take-up rate of that has been absolutely phenomenal, and the number is 5,000 people in my electorate, which is absolutely huge.”
“It is hard, and that's why we've had all of these measures in place. I will point out that every single one of those measures was opposed by the Liberals and Nationals, and they have to go and explain to people in their communities why they opposed a tax cut for every taxpayer. In my region there were 71,000 people who benefited from that. It's vitally important. We also had the $300 energy bill relief. It's so important for people to have that energy bill relief, and of course it was opposed by those opposite. We also have cheaper childcare and cheaper medicines that are helping people every day. And there's fee-free TAFE, which is absolutely vital. All of those measures mean that we're helping Australians right now. We understand they're doing it tough.”
“We are committed to doing that if we are re-elected. Again, I present the alternative. The Liberals and Nationals didn't support any of that. They don't support any of our cost-of-living measures. On top of all that, they'll be cutting many important training initiatives as well. So we have announced a whole range of measures, including also the $10,000 for apprentices. Right across the board we're investing in training, and we're assisting students with their HECS debts as well, because we really value education. It's why we have this in place and why we made those commitments leading up to the election. Of course, they are all part of a broader suite of measures that we have worked on and delivered when it comes to cost-of-living relief. We understand that people are doing it tough.”
“I know so many people locally who've had cuts to the HECS debt, and it has made a huge difference. Of course, that's part of our broader cost-of-living relief measures. We know people are doing it tough and we know many people with these HECS debts are doing it tough. Many people have received the good news that the legislation we passed last year fixed the way indexation of student debt was calculated, and many people have had that cut to their debt as well. We announced last year as well that a re-elected Albanese government would wipe 20 per cent off student loans, and at the same time we announced we'd make fee-free TAFE permanent. Having 20 per cent off their HECS debts will be a huge benefit to so many students right across the nation, particularly those in regional and rural areas.”
“I thank the minister for making the announcement there. In fact, he made it at TAFE in Kingscliff, which an outstanding institution. There is a $33 million government investment to upgrade that particular facility. They also have one of the TAFE call centres there, so it is a huge institution providing a whole range of really good services. That $33 million investment includes a new learning space for health services students, which is important as well. There are a whole range of initiatives that our government has when it comes to training and supporting younger Australians, particularly when we look at higher education contributions. Last year in this House we passed legislation to wipe $3 billion of student debt for three million Australians.”
“Unfortunately, I couldn't be there this time. Minister Whan has been up to the North Coast many times. I've visited a number of TAFEs with him, and I know that he and the Minns state Labor government are equally committed to ensuring provisions are made for our TAFE. In fact, Minister Whan was there today announcing the introduction of the new TAFE NSW Charter, which is a great idea. It lets the people of New South Wales know what they should expect from TAFE as the provider at the heart of vocational training. The charter reflects TAFE NSW as an important public asset, a community space, an industry partner and a leader of educational quality and innovation within the broader VET sector. I congratulate the New South Wales government on making that announcement today and on making it in my electorate, which I was very pleased about.”
“Of course, the opposition leader told us the other day, in an interview, that they're not going to announce any of these cuts till after the election, but Australians know that they will be so much worse off and just cannot risk a Liberal-National government. When those opposite have been in government, we have, at every turn, fought their harsh cuts to TAFE. And when we have been in government we have invested record amounts to make sure that people can access all of these important services. I know from meeting young people who are training at TAFE or older people going back to reskill that it is life-changing for them. Today was the start of semester 1, 2025, and in my electorate of Richmond on the New South Wales North Coast we were very pleased to have the New South Wales Minister for Skills TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan.”
“We made the landmark $30 billion, five-year National Skills Agreement and we're taking other actions, such as going after dodgy providers so that quality providers can in fact do their work properly. As we've pointed out many times in this House, the risk of the opposition leader and the Liberals and Nationals getting into government is that people will be worse off, and one of the ways in which they'll be worse off is through the inevitable cuts we will see, yet again, to TAFE. Whenever those opposite are in government one of the first things they do is slash all of the funding for TAFE and VET training. We know that will happen again. We know they're claiming they'll be making $350 billion in cuts across the board. Whether they be to Medicare, to the age pension or to TAFE training, they will be catastrophic for our nation.”