Anthony Albanese
Grayndler · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The ground there at Brookvale Oval, as I call it, was of course sponsored by a gambling company, so every time there's a game on there you see that constant advertising around the ground. What our legislation will do is make sure that future contracts can't be issued with things such as advertising on jerseys or advertising on grounds.”
“She's someone who's passionate about it and tells me about her constituent who is 108 years old and travelled, as a very young boy, from South Australia with family for the opening of the first parliament—and he's still there. We hope he's able to attend again.”
“That is why, just this week, there was the increase in the minimum wage, the decrease in taxes, the support for paid parental leave, super being paid every payday. All of these changes make a positive difference to people's lives.”
“This year, Australia is celebrating 125 years of Federation, and I was with you and other members in Melbourne to commemorate that event of the first sitting of parliament, and it was a very good celebration of our history, which is worthy of celebration.”
“We Australians sometimes think of ourselves as a young nation on an ancient continent, yet by global standards, of course, we are one of the oldest and strongest democracies in the world. Next year will mark an important anniversary: the 100th anniversary of Australian democracy making its home here in Canberra, our national capital.”
“I note the member for McPherson, who's a former attendant in Parliament House, has agreed to be one of the members of that committee as well, and that's a good thing.”
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“The three right-wing parties just offer grievance and division, nothing more. Labor backs every single Australian and backs their aspiration because Labor is the party of aspiration. It's aspiration for all, not just for some. We're a party absolutely committed, each and every day we're in office, to delivering real change. On that note, Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper .”
“That is why, just this week, there was the increase in the minimum wage, the decrease in taxes, the support for paid parental leave, super being paid every payday. All of these changes make a positive difference to people's lives. Whilst Australians can rely upon the Labor Party to deliver real change, they know that the three right-wing parties, the axis of grievance over there, will oppose all of the positive measures. We want higher wages; they actually argue for lower wages as a key part of their economic architecture. We want lower taxes; they go to elections arguing for higher taxes for every working Australian. We want more first home buyers. We saw, through the coalition's last question, who they want to represent and who they want to defend. That's their priority. We back Australian aspiration; they undermine it.”
“As we wind up the budget session here, I thank the member for Gorton for her question. This is a budget that delivers real change for Australians. We don't defend a status quo that doesn't work for people, nor do we pretend that the answer is to tear it all down and walk away. We do the hard work of building Australia up. We choose progress over protest. We choose action over anger. We choose outcomes over outrage. We choose real change to make a real difference for Australians, not just identifying issues but taking real action—not simply occupying the space or just passing the time but making a positive difference and delivering change that people can see and that they can feel.”
“The first thing I'd say is congratulations to the press gallery board, to Jane Norman and her team, in raising money for charity last night. The second thing is that, if I were someone on that side led by this leader of the opposition, I wouldn't be mentioning last night. I would pretend it was all a bad dream. Mr Speaker, I'm sure you and many from here were there. We're not supposed to talk about it in spite of the fact—”
“The ground there at Brookvale Oval, as I call it, was of course sponsored by a gambling company, so every time there's a game on there you see that constant advertising around the ground. What our legislation will do is make sure that future contracts can't be issued with things such as advertising on jerseys or advertising on grounds. We have sat down and worked constructively with the antigambling sector, we've worked constructively as well with the commercial broadcasters and we've worked constructively with sporting organisations to make sure that we can minimise harms and to make sure that reforms are practical. That's what governments have to do—receive appropriate advice. This is good reform. This is a major step forward, and the parliament should vote for it. If they don't, then they do have the option of the status quo.”
“I thank the member for Mackellar for her question. The legislation that was introduced into the parliament today follows on from the previous work that my government has done—more work than has been done by any government since Federation to crack down on gambling. This legislation will make an enormous difference. It restricts advertising of gambling. It makes sure that people can opt out of receiving gambling—it addresses issues of online gambling advertising as well. It addresses the issue of overseas and international companies and makes sure that they can be excluded. It addresses also issues that have never been addressed, such as—I forget whether it was the member for Mackellar or the member for Warringah—giving Manly Warringah a home turf.”
“Now, when the shadow minister for housing says that—he's been appointed to be the housing spokesperson for the Liberal Party and the National Party—then one would assume that that is all of their position. I assume that has been through the shadow cabinet and that that is their position.”
“I thank the member for his question. I'm asked about house prices, and I'm asked about first homebuyers. I really thank you for the question. When it comes to house prices, the shadow minister for housing has made some comments about this. He said this on just 1 July: I think these are blips and bumps. He went on the day before, in case you think there was an accident, speaking about Sydney and Melbourne: In other markets, I note that there is still price growth. And he says: There may be some short-term hiccups as a result of interest rate rises and the like … In case you're wondering whether that was an accident, he said this way back in May, 'I can tell you as shadow housing minister, I think house prices are too high'.”
“Wayne Holdsworth—to respond to an interjection from those opposite during the minister's comments—is absolutely a hero. He was here on Monday to support the change in this legislation, along with the Let Them Be Kids campaign and the 36 Months campaign. They have responded, as the government has, to the call from the eSafety Commissioner to be able have the powers to get documentation from these big global giants that are exploiting young people and are motivated primarily by their profits rather than by—”
“I thank the member for Petrie for her question and for her passionate support of young people in her electorate, based around the Redcliffe region, but also the backing of parents, who have welcomed this legislation. As a result of the reforms that we have put in place, conversations are taking place in schools, in parents groups and between families as well, but, most importantly, between mums and dads and their children. Being able to talk about these issues makes a substantial difference. Together, we took action. We answered the call from the parents of young Australians who had taken their own lives. This was something that didn't arise from parliamentarians. It arose from people who had the courage to take what was personal tragedy and channel that into making a difference for others.”
“I'll make two points before I ask the minister to respond. The first is that the premise of the question is wrong. There is human oversight over all of these processes. The second is that for the party of robodebt to have the hide to come in here and talk about these issues shows extraordinary gumption, when we were left with an aged-care system that was titled—summed up by one word on the interim report of the royal commission established under the former government, and that word was 'neglect'. We have not engaged in neglect. What we have done is have legislation that passed the parliament. I ask that that be withdrawn.”
“I really look forward to Sharon and Michael's leadership on this—he's already organising things—together with your fine leadership, Mr Speaker. This will be a really important moment for the nation, to bring us together. We need more of that, not less. These can be troubled and turbulent times globally. At a time when democracy around the world is actually, if you look at the global surveys, in retreat in terms of the way that people perceive democracy as a system, it is absolutely critical that we celebrate this. I commend the motion to the House.”
“One of those national institutions is the Museum of Australian Democracy. It's where a whole lot of students go. There is range of activities that people come up with. One of the appointees to this committee with this motion is Senator Walker, elected on her 21st birthday last year. I thought it would be a pretty good idea to get a young person's perspective as well. Charlotte will make a contribution, as will all the members of the committee. Senator Kovacic will also be a member. She actually grew up in Canberra. I thank Michael McCormack in particular with Sharon Claydon for the engagement we've had over recent weeks to try and work through these proposals constructively. Everyone will go into this with a sense of goodwill.”
“She's someone who's passionate about it and tells me about her constituent who is 108 years old and travelled, as a very young boy, from South Australia with family for the opening of the first parliament—and he's still there. We hope he's able to attend again. We might fly him across, I'd suggest, at this time, but that would be remarkable. We need to tell our stories. We need to have pride in who we are. This is a great democracy, and this is an opportunity for us to celebrate it. The national capital here in Canberra, sometimes denigrated, is a fantastic achievement. This planned city—and it is planned, perhaps because of disagreement between Sydney and Melbourne, and all those debates—has turned out to be, because it is planned, very functional and livable. That is what we have here with all of our national institutions.”
“Parliament has not been expanded since 1984, so people squished in there for all those years, and they'll be very close to each other in that time. This is an important opportunity. The terms of debate take it up to 30 November of 2027, so it may well be that the members of the committee come up with different ideas to celebrate and engage. I note that Senator Jana Stewart will be a member of the committee as well. That's pretty important because one of the things that didn't happen a hundred years ago was the recognition of First Nations people and their role in this country. That will be important. I also want to shout out the member for Mayo, who will ensure that crossbench members can be engaged.”
“I note the member for McPherson, who's a former attendant in Parliament House, has agreed to be one of the members of that committee as well, and that's a good thing. The member for Canberra, Alicia Payne, will be a member of that committee as a local member, and we have a broad cross-section of people who would work together to get through the detail, working with the Speaker and the President of the Senate. The Museum of Australian Democracy, under Barrie Cassidy, the chair, has written to me already making suggestions, including the sitting of the parliament. We'll work through and make sure that there are constructive debates on the day. This isn't a day for partisanship; it will be a day for celebrating what unites us as a nation. Included in that will be a question time in both chambers.”
“Next year, I propose that our parliament holds a special sitting in the old building down the hill so that we can pay tribute to its service to Australia and reflect how what was debated and decided there and then continues to shape the life of our nation here and now. I'm pleased that the Leader of the Opposition has agreed, and members who I have spoken have agreed to join this Joint Select Committee on the Centenary of Parliament in Canberra. It will be chaired by the Deputy Speaker the member for Newcastle, and the former deputy prime minister the member for Riverina will be the deputy chair of that committee. We've tried to bring together a group of people who would represent what parliament looks like today and would contribute.”
“We Australians sometimes think of ourselves as a young nation on an ancient continent, yet by global standards, of course, we are one of the oldest and strongest democracies in the world. Next year will mark an important anniversary: the 100th anniversary of Australian democracy making its home here in Canberra, our national capital. It has been 100 years since members and senators from across the country took their places in what was then called the Provisional Parliament House. It is important that we mark this milestone as a parliament and as a country and do so in a way that deepens Australia's understanding of our democracy and the pride that all of us can take in its ongoing resilience. I know there's a great affection for Old Parliament House, as we call it now, and the history that it holds.”
“This year, Australia is celebrating 125 years of Federation, and I was with you and other members in Melbourne to commemorate that event of the first sitting of parliament, and it was a very good celebration of our history, which is worthy of celebration. In 2001, we had re-enactments and a great celebration there in Melbourne, as well, for the centenary of Federation. Next year is, of course, another really important commemoration—one which we should celebrate as a profound national achievement and the beginning of a string of world firsts. We were the first country on earth created by the free and peaceful vote of its people. We were the first democracy where women could vote in elections and stand for parliament, and we were the first parliament anywhere in the world where a Labor Party formed national government.”
“I move: That: (1) a Joint Select Committee on the Centenary of Parliament in Canberra be appointed to oversee planning and delivery of the commemoration of the centenary of Parliament in Canberra, in consultation with the Presiding Officers; (2) the committee consist of nine members: Ms Claydon as Chair, Mr McCormack as Deputy Chair, Mr Dreyfus, Ms Payne, Ms Sharkie, Mr Rebello, Senator Stewart, Senator Walker and Senator Kovacic; (3) the members of the Committee hold office as a joint select committee until 30 November 2027; (4) the deputy chair shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee; (5) at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting; (6) the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, shall have a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equally divided vote, a casting vote; (7) three members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee, provided that in a deliberative meeting the quorum shall include one Government member of either House and one non-Government member of either House; (8) the Committee: (a) have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of three or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine; and (b) appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equally divided vote, a casting vote; (9) at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not, present at a meeting of the subcommittee, the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting; (10) two members of a subcommittee constitute a quorum of that subcommittee, provided that in a deliberative meeting the quorum shall include one Government member of either House and one non-Government member of either House; (11) members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum; (12) the committee or any subcommittee have power to: (a) call for witnesses to attend and for documents to be produced; (b) conduct proceedings at any place it sees fit; (c) sit in public or in private; (d) report from time to time; and (e) adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the House of Representatives and the Senate; (13) the provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders; and (14) a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.”
“We, on this side of the House, today, on 1 July, are proudly talking about the tax cuts that came in. We're talking about the real wage increases. We're talking about the Medicare urgent care clinics and the extra pharmaceuticals on the PBS. We're talking about the additional free TAFE places and the fact we've made Medicare urgent care clinics permanent. We're talking about the additional two weeks of paid parental leave, which takes it up to six months. We're talking about payday super. We're talking about all that, and they're talking about a cup of coffee. What we're talking about—”
“Our housing policies are aimed at giving young people a fair crack. We've changed the system so that, this Saturday, if a young couple turn up at an auction, they're not competing versus an investor who has taxpayer support. So, if they bid an extra $20,000 or $50,000, they know that they actually get a bonus and every taxpayer helping them out by increasing the deductions under negative gearing. What we are doing is making sure that people who were negatively gearing properties when the changes came in can still continue to do so. What's more, young people or anyone else can continue to invest in a negatively geared property as well.”
“I don't feel they're competing with as many investors.' Jason Barnett in Geelong, the Managing Director of Barnett Real Estate, said: 'First home buyers are the active market.' In Camperdown, in the electorate of Sydney, Juan D'Arcy said that the purchasers of a two-bedroom warehouse conversion apartment were familiar with the area and they wanted to live in a property that was close to the action. They're real people.”
“I'm asked about house prices and our tax policy, and I'm more than happy to announce that our tax policy is indeed about helping first home owners get into their own home. The primary purpose of housing is a secure roof over people's heads, and that is what is being delivered. It's being delivered for people like Kristian Williams, 31. He'd given up on ever owning a home of his own in the electorate of Macnamara: I was trying to save pretty aggressively ... and you just read there's another 7 per cent increase this month, there's a 2 per cent increase this month … it just feels like a runaway dream at that point. … … … I'm feeling a little bit more confident now … In Albury, Andrea Lever, Managing Director at Ray White Albury North, said this: 'First home buyer confidence is on the rise.”
“To be fair to the member for Lyne, she wasn't here then. But everyone who was here, in the right-wing parties—even if they were in different parties at that time, because it's hard to keep up, to be fair, with the titles over there—voted for $75 billion in higher personal income taxes. They voted for $14 billion of higher taxes on the resources and manufacturing sectors by abolishing production tax credits. They voted for higher taxes on motorists by abolishing the EV concession, and higher taxes on housing construction by abolishing Build to Rent. They voted for, or wanted, higher student debt by abolishing the 20 per cent cut, and they wanted to, of course, abolish the Cheaper Home Batteries Program—like everything else in the renewable space. And, of course, they also—I was asked about your policies!”
“I'm asked about the tax cut that comes in today—the tax cut that is a part of our trajectory, which when we came into office had the first income tax bracket being at 19c and has taken it down to 15c today and 14c next year on 1 July. That is making a substantial difference to working families. But it's not just tax cuts, of course. It's also paying them more, which is why the minimum wage increases that have come in today, our fifth lot, will make a difference, because we want people to earn more and keep more of what they earn. I'm asked about the tax cuts today and about coalition policy, believe it or not. I have been that lucky! Coalition policy for the tax cut that came in today was to have come into this parliament if they were successful on 3 May last year and to have reversed it. So their policy was zero.”
“That's a government that not only identifies issues but also recognises that people are under pressure and says it is going to do something about it, just as we did when it came to the crisis that came about due to the Middle East conflict. We didn't sit back and say, 'There are issues, and we're not going to do anything about it.' Those opposite have stopped asking questions about that. We made sure that Australians continued to have access to petrol, to diesel, to jet fuel and to fertiliser. We made sure that we delivered in a way in which—those opposite, prior to Easter, were calling for rationing and not identifying any solutions whatsoever, because they are the axis of grievance over there. The three right-wing parties aren't interested in helping people; they're just interested in promoting grievance.”
“Families who are putting in cheaper home batteries are benefiting. Some 450,000 of them have made sure that their energy bills are either zero or pretty close to it by installing a cheap home battery, which is making an enormous difference. Indeed, by them taking that action, it's also helping other people because it's taking pressure off the grid, making an enormous difference as well. Young families are benefiting from changing the equation when it comes to housing—by recognising that there's a broken system here in Australia and giving them a fair crack at getting a roof over their own head. That is what delivering real change looks like.”
“I'm asked about families and whether they're better off and what we're doing about it. Families will benefit from the award minimum wage going up today by 4.75 per cent. Families will benefit by the increase as well—for those on the absolute minimum wage—of six per cent. Families will benefit by every single Australian taxpayer getting a tax cut today. And I'll tell you what not just families but future families will benefit from; it's paid parental leave going to six months. We've increased it year after year after year to get it up to six months. We're paying superannuation on that paid parental leave as well—something never comprehended by those opposite. Families are benefiting from the work that we're doing on bulk-billing, from opening urgent care clinics and from cheaper medicines, to deal with health costs as well.”
“And unlike the three right-wing parties, the axis of grievance, we are not just identifying issues but making a difference.”
“Today we are delivering real change to assist Australians. Today wages go up; taxes go down. Today, Paid Parental Leave is expanded to six months. Today superannuation will be paid on Paid Parental Leave. Workers super, as a result of changes we have made, get paid from today on payday, making a difference. All urgent care clinics are made permanent today, meaning that, when it comes to the costs of health care, people can get the care they need when they need it with just their Medicare card, not their credit card—all 137 clinics open. There are more cheaper medicines from today—an additional 10 medicines added to the PBS. That is what delivering real change looks like. That is what makes a difference to people who are under financial pressure.”
“At the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, the recently established Richard Scolyer Chair will always bear his name. There are lives that will be longer thanks to all that he was willing to try. And one day, when a cure for glioblastoma is at last found, Richard's name will be spoken. Later this month, we will gather in the Sydney Opera House to say our final farewell to Richard with all our respect, our admiration and our gratitude. On that day, as on every day, the hearts of all Australians will be with his wife, Dr Katie Nicoll, and their children, Emily, Matthew and Lucy. They are here with us today. I thank you for gracing us with your presence and I welcome you to the House of Representatives. I say to them that we know these are anything but easy days for you—each one shaped by Richard's absence.”
“I will always regard it as one of the privileges of my time as Prime Minister that I got to spend time with such a remarkable yet self-effacing Australian. I got to count him as a friend, and, for years when I lived in Chelmsford Street, he was a neighbour. For that, I feel blessed. In his final letter to Australia, he reminded us we all have a responsibility to try to change the future for others and leave the world a better place. How to handle that responsibility is something that has showed us every day through the power of his own example. It has been moving to hear his family describing his zest for life and the enthusiasm that he felt within himself and strove to ignite in others. That is at the heart of the legacy that he leaves all of us.”
“But, as Richard took his rightful place in the national spotlight, it was with his own life in the balance as he dealt with the reality of his brain cancer. No-one would have begrudged him a retreat into privacy. But that is not what Richard chose. Instead, he took us all into his confidence. He shared his triumphs and his setbacks. He shared the joy he took in every extra day he was granted and his profound gratitude to everyone around him. And what shone through it all was love for his family. Richard was on what he so gently called his 'uncertain path', but he travelled it with determination and a grace that never ceased to be simply extraordinary. The way he shared it with us was an act of generosity and a courage that was every bit as profound.”
“I move: That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 7 June 2026, of Professor Richard Scolyer AO, place on record its appreciation of his service and his contributions to the community, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement. When Richard Scolyer passed away last month, we lost one of our biggest hearts and brightest lights, but how powerfully he blazed before he left us. And somehow, in the fight of his life, he found the strength to lift us all. Professor Scolyer was named joint Australian of the Year in 2024 alongside his Melanoma Institute of Australia co-director, Professor Georgina Long. Together, they helped save countless lives through their melanoma research.”
“In 2024 the Commonwealth put specific provisions in funding agreements with states and territories that place obligations on jurisdictions to report any allegations of unacceptable behaviour. That was something that wasn't there under the former government. Further than that, Victoria continues to keep the Commonwealth informed of the work that they've done to strengthen the integrity processes. Those measures include requirements within tenders to develop a management plan for fraud— It can't be more relevant!”
“I will take up that question from where I was speaking before, before I was rudely interrupted. I'll make three points. One, I confirm the actions that this government has taken. Two, that stands in stark contrast to the former government, that had a royal commission into unions, but it was about having a crack at the then leader of the opposition using Commonwealth funds to have a crack at the then member for Maribyrnong and have a go at the former prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard. Millions of dollars were spent during the same period of which John Setka increased his influence in the CFMEU and expanded it from Victoria into South Australia and Tasmania. I'll make two further points.”
“This goes to the first question that I was asked after the 2022 election, and at that time I pointed out the action that I took as Leader of the Australian Labor Party within three weeks of my election. Within three weeks of my election as Leader of the Opposition, I took on some people such as John Setka. I expelled him from the Labor Party. He took action and took us to court. He appealed that court action, and we defended that, and John Setka remains outside the Labor Party. We also have excluded the CFMEU from being affiliates of the Labor Party. We also put the CFMEU into administration. That stands in stark contrast—”
“I, like the Victorian Premier, am opposed to corruption in any form. It's up to authorities, wherever there is evidence—as I said last night—for action to be taken by those authorities should there be any evidence of corrupt conduct.”
“In addition to that, workers' superannuation will be paid on payday. Again, it's increasing the dollars that are in the pockets of Australian workers. Tomorrow, we strengthen Medicare even further, making urgent care clinics a permanent part of Medicare. Those opposite called them 'wasteful spending'. Tomorrow, we expand cheaper medicines further with another 10 cheaper medicines listed on the PBS. We want Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn. Wages are up, taxes are down, paid parental leave is expanded, and Medicare is made stronger, helping Australians under pressure right now and preparing for the future. That's our government's agenda: delivering real change which was the platform we were elected on last year.”
“But not only do we want people to earn more; we want them to keep more of what they earn, so tomorrow will deliver another tax cut for every single taxpayer. The deputy Liberal leader this week has backed in and said that these tax cuts that passed this week and that will flow through in future are egregious. But these tax cuts, of course, were the ones that were legislated last year that the Leader of the Opposition, when shadow treasurer, first said they'd oppose, then voted against, then said they'd roll back, committing to legislating for higher taxes for 14 million Australians. In addition to that, tomorrow we have paid parental leave increased to six months and will be paying super on top. Those opposite declared that parents getting paid parental leave were double dippers. Double dippers is what they called them.”
“I thank the member for Dunkley for her fantastic question and for her advocacy for the people of Frankston and her region, keeping them strong. And indeed tomorrow is a very good day because tomorrow we will see the delivery of the real change that we are committed to. Tomorrow, every Australian on award wages will receive a 4.75 per cent increase and those on the minimum wage an even higher increase than that—the fifth consecutive increase in the minimum wage under this government, something that we have advocated for, unlike those opposite, who opposed every single every single wage rise and, indeed, said that lower wages were a deliberate design feature of their economic architecture.”
“That is how most Australians earn their income. They work their guts out every day to provide for their families and put food on the table, and for too long the economy has not been working for them. We want an economy that works for people, not people working for an economy. Our government isn't going to sit back and let that continue. We're not going to kick the can down the road. We're not going to try and explain away a broken system. We are doing something about it. We're backing aspiration, rewarding hard work and giving young people a fair crack. We are delivering real change. Young people have waited long enough for a rebalancing of that system. That is why this legislation that will give young Australians a fair crack should be supported by this parliament, so that young Australians can get access to their own home.”
“I move: That the amendments be agreed to. Our Labor government is delivering real change to make a real difference—real change built on Australian values: fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all. A $250 tax cut for working Australians, a $1,000 instant tax deduction and a fair crack for first home buyers—these reforms are for young Australians who have been locked out of the housing market for too long, but they're also for their parents and grandparents who want to see the next generation have the opportunity and security of a roof over their head. These reforms are also about rebalancing our tax system and better aligning income from work compared to income derived from assets. Overwhelmingly, most Australians have nothing to sell but their time and nothing to give but their hard work.”
“We can't allow the power that these companies, which are unaccountable, which get massive amounts of funding, of profit, and have extraordinary power—we need to make sure that Australians are in charge of this. But indeed the global community is dealing with this as well, which is why we should be proud as a nation that at least 16 countries have followed our social media ban. But there's more to do.”
“It's something that we've worked with. We've increased the funding for the eSafety Commissioner by four times. We've introduced fines of $49.5 million to be available for breaches of the social media ban aimed at young people. But clearly we are going to need to do more, and that's what the digital duty of care is about. So I encourage people to participate in this. The government's considering as well comments from the eSafety Commissioner and work that will require a further strengthening of the social media ban. I look forward to receiving the same support from across this parliament that we received for the legislation. We're working on that as a priority because this is something that other generations didn't have to deal with, which is why it's complex.”
“We are seeing as well, with some of these algorithms coming through, increased presentations in our hospitals of young women who have been choked, strangled. We see anal tearing growing at an extraordinary, horrific rate, because what too many young men are seeing online is normalising behaviour that is anything but normal. We need to be really conscious as a society about this. We need to be conscious as a parliament about this. We need to be courageous about this. I think one of this parliament's finest moments was the social media ban, and that came primarily not from this parliament. That came from parents who'd lost their children and who took those personal tragedies and determined that they would make a difference for others so others didn't have to go through that traumatic experience. This is something that is not simple.”
“The digital duty of care will take the principles that we have enshrined with the bipartisan support for our social media ban and look at ways in which we'll consult about how we extend that duty that we have even further. We know that, as the member has said, algorithms drive people towards more and more extreme positions. They start off in a mainstream position—talking about ethnicity, perhaps, or faith—and they end up, over a period of time, receiving in their inbox—not just children. Adults as well, of course, can be impacted by this, with Nazi level propaganda and with calls for violence. We know that, just to name one, an area that is of concern is chatbots. A second is nudify apps.”
“I thank the member for Wentworth for her very important question. The speech of the director-general of ASIO was a very important contribution to the nation's safety and security. We think about safety and security as being about our defence forces. We think about it being the acts of terrorism that we saw with the antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach, but it can also be our safety and security. It can occur, tragically, as we know, in the bedroom of one of the children around Australia, where the parents are not conscious about what they are having access to. That can also lead to a loss of life and tragically has led to the loss of too many young lives.”
“So, in spite of the fact that some said I shouldn't go to Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia and that we shouldn't engage with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea to make sure that our supplies of diesel and petrol and aviation fuel were here, we have in part been able to achieve the outstanding outcomes that we have through Export Finance Australia and through the work with our trading partners, because we are a reliable trading partner, and we do honour contracts and will continue to do that.”