Ed Husic
Chifley · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The tragedy of that poem has befallen generations from then to now—the fact that we enjoy being in the sun so much. In many respects we have paid for that enjoyment, and in many cases we've paid for it with our lives, with the cancers that have emerged, particularly melanoma.”
“It's been that sacrifice that he made combined with the observation that, in so much of what he did, there was an absence of gravitas and ego. Richard was us. He walked amongst us all, containing that special talent and gift that he had, with desire to save others. That, I think, marks him out.”
“A lot has been said about what Richard Scolyer has done in terms of his professional, scientific and research background. But I want to come back, if I may, to the remarks I just reflected on. When we think of the Australian character we think of our ability to overcome with physical attributes.”
“These things include not just our toughness and not just the fact that so often the Australian character is defined by a very heavy physical element, of being able to survive the elements themselves. One of the big things that's helped this nation survive is our know-how and smarts.”
“When I paid my condolences to Richard's wife, Katie—and Katie, Emily, Matt and Lucy were on the floor of the chamber with us yesterday—I expressed the view to Katie that her husband was a national hero. National heroes don't always attain that description of heroism because they've been successful.”
“I don't think any of us would not have been touched by that final letter that he penned, knowing how hard it would have been to write those words—every single letter in those words, every apostrophe and particularly the full stop.”
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“At every event in every corner of our region, Uncle Greg would be there, and then he'd be there for others in their time of need, especially young people who'd given up hope that anyone would be there to help them. Never bitter and never angry, he was full of faith in his fellow person. He strove for reconciliation; a regular face at the Mount Druitt and District Reconciliation Walk, he often reminded us, 'Piano sounds best when the black and white keys play together'. You didn't just know Uncle Greg; you loved him. You loved what he stood for, and you loved how much he gave of himself. His farewell service at St Andrew's Catholic church in Malabar witnessed an incredible turnout—literally standing room only. People were spilling out of the doors, leaning in to hear what they could.”
“I'd like the House to know that Sally Wynd has been instrumental in changing lives and delivering hope to young people in Doonside. This is going to be hard to talk about because this person meant a great deal to me personally and to our community—the late Uncle Greg Simms, community leader, activist, storyteller and cultural educator. Born in 1949, he fashioned deep, tight and enduring ties to Western Sydney through ancestral links to the Gundungurra of the Blue Mountains and the Gadigal of the Dharug nation. Quiet, humble, modest, often with a cheeky glint in his eyes but never to be mistaken, he was a force of nature. He always directed that force to help others—always busy, always working.”
“I'd like to recognise the phenomenal work of Sally Wynd, who set up Doonside's Eagles RAPS. Nearly 30 years ago, spurred by tragedy, Sally and husband Marten determined to make a difference for young people in Doonside and beyond. They always believe in the ability of our young people, even if others won't. With no formal background in youth work, Sally started Eagles RAPS as a place young people could turn to for help, and a vision grew. Eagles RAPS began training young people to grow their skills and ambitions, developing great links with major firms such as Amazon Web Services. Eagles RAPS has supported so many young people—I love attending their graduation ceremonies and seeing the pride in the faces of the graduates' parents. It's said that Sally is retired, yet 'retiring' is never a word I'd associate with Sally.”
“And then the coalition leader had the gall to say, 'We would have saved Australia from those tariffs.' The same mob who couldn't build a commuter car park can now navigate international trade. We stood up for the country; they would sell it out. We will speak up for the nation—no ifs, no buts.”
“On everything our government put forward to back Aussie manufacturing, the coalition said no. They were just nasty and negative. Why? Because it makes it easier to cut investments in Aussie manufacturing, because they don't have the guts to tell workers now what they will cut. We build; they cut. They also want these cuts to fund a $600 billion nuclear fantasy that will cost too much, deliver too little and deliver it too late. But what simply stunned me was the failure of the coalition to back Aussie steel and aluminium in the face of tariffs just announced. They didn't put our country first. They didn't put Team Australia first. They put their political interests first.”
“We're helping exporters by investing millions to promote our Australian Made brand in new and traditional markets overseas. Our $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund has seen nearly half-a-billion out the door over the last few months, backing firms to make more here, from heavy mining equipment to cutting-edge quantum technology, standing shoulder to shoulder with Aussie blue-collar workers and Aussie manufacturing and sticking together to forge our own future in the face of an uncertain time. I'm asked about risks. Those opposite had three years to come up with any plan that would show that they could back Australian manufacturing, and they have absolutely nothing to show. The coalition have no plans, because they don't care. They are good at pointing out problems but never there with a solution.”
“Thanks to the member for Boothby for the question. She knows the importance of manufacturing to our economic and national security. Making more things here will ensure that we can stand on our own two feet and weather shocks in the global economy. Ensuring Australia is a country that makes things has been a central priority of the Albanese government, which is why we stepped up to back the Whyalla Steelworks, which makes 75 per cent of structural steel in this country, going into defence, construction and infrastructure. What's good for Whyalla is good for Australia. It's important to keep making aluminium in Australia, which is why we have a long-term, $2 billion plan to do just that. We need to invest in new, smarter, more efficient ways to make steel and aluminium, which is why we have another $750 million invested to do just that.”
“The Greens back the resources sector and manufacturing, but the Libs and Nats don't support the resources sector and manufacturing. It shows you they have nothing to offer the Australian public except negativity, no plans and no care. (Time expired)”
“They've spent, the coalition, three years—and no plans and no policies, no costed policies in particular. Frankly, the reason they have no plans is they have no care. They don't care to put forward what they think is important in the national interest. Their plan comes in one word: 'No.' When we asked them if they would support the National Reconstruction Fund: 'No.' When we asked them to support the $2 billion to transition aluminium to a sustainable footing: 'No.' When we asked them for support on production tax credits: 'No.' In fact, their blind opposition has blinded them to how bad they look. The Australian Greens backed our plans on critical minerals and backed our plans for the National Reconstruction Fund, while those opposite voted 'no' against them.”
“That's why, recently, we stood up the $2 billion investment plan to work with aluminium smelters to give a sustainable long-term future to regional blue-collar communities to make aluminium. Importantly, the other big step happened last night when the Senate passed our production tax credits—particularly important for critical minerals processing, as the Minister for Resources has outlined. I give credit to the Minister for Resources and the Treasurer for their support on these important initiatives that are really critical for the long-term good of the country. But we need to make sure that local supply chains are there to make sure we've got the things we need as we make the transition to net zero. I'm asked about alternative plans. Where are they?”
“You should get ready for it! Thanks to the member for Gilmore for not only the question but backing manufacturing, particularly in our regions. We have been focused on rebuilding manufacturing capability for a host of reasons. One, Australians want their country to be a nation that makes things. Two, strong economies have to have strong manufacturing capability. Manufacturing makes secure, well-paying jobs—very important to the nation. The other critical issue is that rebuilding manufacturing capability is important in our national, economic and strategic interest. We need to be able to stand on our own two feet and not be dependent on broken and concentrated supply chains, only relying on a handful of nations for the things that are really important to our country. That's why we stood up the National Reconstruction Fund.”
“The young citizen of the year was Marion Coles, who started Pay It Forward Angels, which has grown into a network of 1,400 volunteers. Over Christmas, they gave out more than 400 gifts to people doing it tough. That's the type of community spirit we love. Thank you to all those people who do tremendous work in our area to build better and stronger neighbourhoods.”
“The biggest thing I want to say to them is: thank you for believing in the young people of Doonside and the western suburbs and for making sure that they have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. During the Australia Day ceremonies that occurred in our area, particularly in Blacktown City Council's area, a number of people were recognised. In particular, in the awards that were celebrated, the Mount Druitt Family Science Fun Day, organised by MECA, took out the prize for community event of the year. I saw it firsthand, and it is a fantastic way to encourage science participation. Paul Wynne from Prospect, who helped create Grace's Place in Doonside, a first-of-its-kind centre that helps kids who've lost family members, won citizen of the year.”
“They receive that support through Eagles RAPS and, in particular, learn new skills that they can put to work to get a job and open up new opportunity to get a better life. In December, I got to see the graduation of a number of students from Eagles RAPS and the work that they've done with Amazon Web Services to learn digital skills that are in high demand. It's a great partnership between Eagles RAPS and Amazon. I mention this because it was terrific to see Sally and Marten be recognised through the awarding of Order of Australia medals reflecting their community service. It is a just and fitting tribute to a pair that have done tremendous work in our area.”
“I think a lot of us know that no-one ever leads a perfect life. Everyone has challenges from time to time. Some people have them more than others. It's not always the case that there'll be people there, necessarily, in your immediate circle of family and friends that can help. The great thing about my community in Chifley is that I get to see a lot of people step up to help those who, in a time of need, just need a bit of guidance. Two of those people in my area are Sally and Marten Wynd. Back in the late nineties, with only 50 bucks, they started a mob called Eagles RAPS in Doonside. This has helped people, particularly young people, who just need a hand and someone to talk to and learn new skills from. Sometimes they've had trouble in school and problems in being able to get along.”
“We know that this is instantly under threat by the Leader of the Opposition and the cuts that he needs to make to fund a $600 billion taxpayer funded nuclear power plant scheme. It's not on. On top of that, it's not good enough that they will not tell Australians where they will make the cuts until after the election. It's not just gutless; it lacks respect, and it cannot be backed.”
“The workers get it—workers like those at Alcoa in Portland in the member for Wannon's electorate, who, remarkably, described our announcement as 'all sizzle, no sausage'. It's always about lunch with these folks! He says our investment won't work. This is the same member for Wannon who four years ago was boasting about the then Morrison government's support for Portland to transition to low-carbon electricity. So it was good then; it's not good now. We backed it. This is the big difference. We back manufacturing because it's in the national interest. They only back it when it's in their political interests. And we have the self-styled tough guy of Australian politics, the Leader of the Opposition, who turns up and instantly bags it out.”
“We worked with industry, unions and others to come up with a pathway to make aluminium well into the future, investing $2 billion in production credits to not only help make aluminium with lower emissions but open up stronger exports in the future, because metals produced in this way could open up exports to the tune of $122 billion a year. So it's a big deal. It's an incredible opportunity. We've got the resources, people and smelters, and we've got the ability to add value across the breadth of the supply chain. The Australian Aluminium Council says our investment is globally significant. Kellie Parker, the CEO of Rio Tinto, put it this way: This is a belief in manufacturing, it's a belief in jobs and it's a belief in aluminium industry. When you talk to industry, they get it.”
“Thanks to the member for Paterson, who is a big backer of regional manufacturing and, in particular, knows that making aluminium in the Hunter happened for decades. It's been a big deal for the region. As the member for Paterson says, the products that are made there end up everywhere. There are so many jobs in smelters across regional Australia, from Gladstone in Queensland, Tomago in New South Wales, Portland in Victoria and Bell Bay in Tasmania. The Albanese government wants those blue-collar jobs to last for decades further, providing a secure future for blue-collar workers.”
“It's good for the country, it's good for the economy, and it's good for everyday Australians who want to get ahead and have an aspiration to do better in their lives. If we can make that happen, then that is a great thing for this nation.”
“We want Australians from all corners of the country and all backgrounds to be able to step up and build a better country, and they should be skilled up and backed to do so. We should not have a situation where people feel that only education can be supported for those people that have the means and the wealth to do so. I reckon there are a lot of Australians who would agree with the sentiment that, if you've got the talent, we need to get you to the front and to make sure we put your skills to work. That's what we are trying to do. We are trying to encourage people to go forward and pursue the skills they need and the talent they require for our economy and our country. That is why we support the Free TAFE Bill 2024.”
“The country also gets that we should be training people up at speed so we get those skills into the economy and into businesses that are always saying they want skills. Instead, we have a coalition that wants to play ideological games and stand in the way of those reforms. If there's anything about the coalition that I may say positively, it's that they're consistent. They never support properly funding education. They never support making sure that people who may not have the means to fund themselves entirely throughout their education get some support to do so. We believe that, if you've got skills, your background and your parents' income should not be the determinant of whether or not you get educated.”
“The contest of ideas here comes down to the coalition, which says that you will not value education if you don't pay for it. You need to send a price signal. You need to send a price signal, apparently, on health care as well. The Leader of the Opposition many times as health minister said the same thing. But then the same coalition that says we shouldn't be backing free TAFE, we shouldn't be backing free medicine and affordable healthcare, in the next breath can say, 'But we should fund lobster mornay, truffle oil and free lunches for employers.' Something does not gel when you make that argument. The country recognises the value of affordable health care and that they don't avoid getting health care because they can't afford it.”
“Why are we doing this now?' I am left thinking, when we often get criticism in this country that governments don't think ahead enough, at a point where a government is thinking ahead, is giving certainty, is providing funding certainty, we should be putting this in place and we should be flagging a long-term mechanism to provide that support and ensure that people know that this will continue for a long time and that they can go into TAFE and do so. We will not go back to the old days. The member for Petrie said, 'Why don't we have TAFE students pay for their education?' That is what he advocated at the dispatch box. That is exactly what we are trying to avoid with this bill. It is to avoid people paying and to attract them in. That's the big difference. I've said there is a contest of ideas.”
“What we're trying to do is, as I said, provide bang for the buck in making sure that we have a public TAFE system as central to our system, that we attract people in, train them up as quickly as we can and put them to work in an economy that needs those skills. This is not playing ideological games. It's about being practical, not ideological, as opposed to what the coalition does and as opposed to some of the way-out-there arguments that the member for Petrie put on the public record in his 'contribution' to this debate, just walking past all those problems that existed. I also note that, while I do have a lot of time for the member for Wentworth, the member for Wentworth's big argument at the end of her contribution was: 'This is something that will happen down the track.”
“That's not the case for all private providers, I emphasise, but even the coalition recognise that it needs to be reformed. This was done, again, when they refused to properly fund TAFE in their last time in office. They refused to back, at the appropriate point in time, skills agreements with the states and territories and starved TAFE of vital dollars. They did it in the Howard government and then they did in the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison governments as well, and they took their sweet time to reform private training, which then created other problems for other students. Now, we recognise that there are some good private providers around. There absolutely are.”
“At a time when we need more skills, what we're trying to do through fee-free TAFE places is attract people to take up a TAFE course. We want to see that backed. That is why we support it. Now what we have is a coalition opposing the idea that you would have fee-free TAFE places that would attract and train up the people we need to fill the skills shortage. What's the alternative to this? It's to use a private system, which even those opposite recognise has challenges. When the coalition was in government, remember, the then minister, Simon Birmingham, had to undertake a massive reform program because that system was full of providers that we recognised were engaged in practices that were luring students in and were not delivering the training that they should, because they were dodgy providers.”
“Those things weren't reflected on by the member for Flinders. We then had the way-out-there contribution by the member for Petrie, who was in the chamber when we heard from the Prime Minister himself his positive reflections on the contribution of the private training sector. What we're focusing on is TAFE, because, as most people think, if you're going to make an investment, where do you get the biggest bang for your buck? From our point of view, a publicly funded TAFE system that a lot of Australians are familiar with, supportive of and can get access to is probably the fastest way to do it. This is not an either/or situation. It is about maximising the value of taxpayer dollars by going in and supporting TAFE at the point at which it needs that support.”
“Because you had a federal coalition government under John Howard that was either at war with universities or wouldn't fund TAFE. He would not fund TAFE. In the contribution by the member for Flinders, who I sat and listened to, she talked about setting up a separate stratum for training in technical colleges, quite distinct from TAFE. They would fund a rival TAFE. They did this quite often. They also set up, in schools, technical trade centres that we then had to support and adopt when we took office in 2007. But, again, it was about creating rival systems to those in the states—a wasteful, ideologically driven approach that didn't address the long-running problems that had been created in the economy and that got worse. The coalition government scrambled to put a package together, and that's what you saw.”
“I just want to reflect on the contribution made by the member for Flinders, who referenced her work in this House, under the Howard government, to be able to provide skills packages. If you listened to that contribution, you would think, 'That's a pretty impressive piece of work. There are probably elements of it that people would welcome.' Bear in mind that, by the point at which the Howard government announced that, there were these things that were referred to as capacity constraints in the economy. The two biggest ones, which had dragged on for years, were infrastructure bottlenecks because the federal coalition government didn't commit to infrastructure investment, and the other massive capacity constraint, which was reflected on by people from the RBA to economists to businesses, was skill shortages. Why?”
“In construction, for example, it's estimated that we're about 90,000 workers short. We need people to build homes and build commercial premises across this great country of ours. Because of our fee-free TAFE program, there are 31,000 VET students just in the electorate of Chifley. There are more opportunities for families to get ahead and more skills for businesses who want to invest in the long-term future of the country. A number of claims have been made in the course of this debate. The good thing about our democracy is that you get different sides putting different views forward. From time to time, I think that's very much a good thing, but you hope that we're doing this on the basis of facts and evidence. One of the things that have been an issue for many years is skill shortages.”
“It will create thousands of more skilled work opportunities, well-paid work for thousands and thousands of families so they can get the best from the west and our unbeatable lifestyle. Workers in Western Sydney are excited about the opportunities. Businesses in our region are absolutely crying out for skilled workers. It's one of the big things I get raised with me by industry. They want talented workers. This is across the board. It's not just in digital and tech, bearing in mind that we have an ambition as a nation; this government is committed to making sure we reach the target of 1.2 million Australians employed in tech related jobs by 2030. It's good for the country. It's good for businesses. It's good for those workers in particular. We see it in construction. We see it in manufacturing. We see that those areas need people.”
“It's being built in Marsden Park in the electorate that I'm very proud to represent. The numbers are truly staggering. It will be the size of 27 soccer fields, with state-of-the-art facilities hosting cloud, classical and high-end AI computing. It'll be the envy of the world, the beating heart of the Sydney Business Park that will create spin-off industries and support other businesses across the country. It's a project that will need about 10,000 skilled workers. A lot of them aren't just in IT. To build the thing, you need construction skills. You need sparkies, heating, cooling and ventilation trades, security workers and admin workers to keep something this big running. That's not counting the incredible opportunities of having this facility in our backyard.”
“He got to work on some pretty big projects in his time. He speaks fondly of his ability to participate in the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme development. A lot of things have changed in Western Sydney since those days, but not the value of learning a trade. Today, having a trade continues to mean well-paid work for mums and dads and sons and daughters across our suburbs, bringing not just economic opportunity but the skills base our country needs to be able to build a really strong future for the rest of the nation. I'll give you an example of how important that is in my community. Last year, I was invited to break ground on what would be the largest data centre campus in the Southern Hemisphere. A great Australian success story, CDC, is behind the project.”
“We recognise the value of TAFE and vocational education in helping not just our economy and not just our country but the people that benefit from that training and the opportunities that it opens up for them. Obviously I'm speaking in favour of the Free TAFE Bill 2024, because fee-free TAFE places will become a permanent feature in our vocational education and training system. It's a program that has made a huge difference to many people in Western Sydney, and we want to see that change locked in for good. As the son of a welder, I certainly know the value of learning a trade. My dad's skills kept a roof over our heads, food on the table and bills paid. His trade gave our family opportunity, and it gave him the chance to contribute to building the future of his adopted country, a country that welcomed him and allowed him to get to work.”
“It's a great pleasure not only to speak in this debate but to follow someone I regard highly, Assistant Minister Kearney, who rightly spoke of in particular skilling up people in roles that the community values, not the least of which being nurses, midwives and a lot of people that at our time of need provide us with critical support, and you want to make sure at that point in time you've got people that are skilled up to do so. We certainly believe as a government in the value of that, and I want to thank her for her service, especially in terms of advocating for more skills in this area and more support for our nurses in this country. I think it is important that we do so. And it's not just me; I think average Australians would around the country. We want to see more of that happen. We want to see more people trained up.”