Melissa Price
Durack · Liberal Party · Australia
“That dream is born out of the pride they have in watching their current sporting heroes on the national and international stage created by major sporting events. I turn now to the legislation before us, the Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2014.”
“However, whilst some may claim that it might create efficiencies, it does so by trading off on transparency. Members of parliament will only see the decisions once they are law. This debate is not whether indicia or images should be protected or not, because they already are, and, of course, we all agree they should be protected.”
“These include the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup, the 2022 Men's T20 World Cup and the record-breaking 2023 Women's World Cup. There are also other major events in the future to be recognised by this act, such as the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the 2028 Men's T20 World Cup and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
“When our athletes wear the green and gold, they carry millions of Australians with them literally on their back. The merchandise worn in stadiums, around the world and in schoolyards are symbols of aspiration and of national pride.”
“In Senate estimates, Australian Sports Commission CEO, Kieren Perkins—another superstar—confirmed that circa 2,000 athletes currently receive direct athlete support. However, they have no certainty that their scholarships will continue beyond today.”
“Instead of backing grassroots sport, Labor is more interested in protecting their bottom line and creating more uncertainty for the organisations delivering these programs. The coalition supports the protection of indicia and images for major sporting events.”
The complete record
Every one of 360 lines we hold for Melissa Price, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 8.
“I met many of you during the campaign and commend you and your volunteers for being part of the democratic process. Whilst we may disagree on the means to achieve a better Australia, we all want to see a brighter future, especially for regional Western Australians. As we are all aware, the Liberal Party did suffer a very heavy national defeat on election night. However, these results were not echoed in regional Western Australia. In my own seat of Durack, Labor went backwards by 5.5 per cent, and, in the member for O'Connor's seat, Labor went backwards by 6.6 per cent. It's clear to me one of the reasons for this diversion from the national trend was the local response to the Albanese Labor government's destructive decision to end the WA live sheep trade.”
“I'd also like to thank my volunteers. I'm sure colleagues across all sides of the chamber would agree that having a friendly face at the booth makes a real difference to our constituents. There are a few in particular I would like to give a special shout-out to: Rob Dines; Kat Jackson; Randall Starling; Sally and George Gifford, who I call my Gingin heroes; Greg Kneale—he's my guy in the Pilbara—and Celia and Helen, who are definitely my Broome angels. And, of course, a very special mention goes to my Brad for all his care and support during and after each of the five campaigns. I simply could not do my job without you, and Durack constituents effectively get a two-for-one with Brad by my side. I want to also acknowledge the other Durack candidates who put their hand up at this election.”
“It is a great honour to return to this place for a fifth term as the duly elected member of Durack. The responsibility of representing the largest electorate in the country is not lost on me. Covering over 1.4 million square kilometres, over half of Western Australia, Durack brings with it such a diversity of people, communities and issues that need addressing. Before diving into some of these issues, I would like to give thanks to everybody who helped to get me here. Being elected five times doesn't just happen, and it's in large part because of my electorate office team I have behind me, some of whom have been with me from the very start. So I give enormous thanks to you, De-Arne, Carolyn, Jackie, Leanne, Clare, Gen and Don, for all your support and your commitment to serving our fabulous Durack community.”
“During these precarious times, Australians rightly expect their government to step up. AUKUS is too important to fail. Let me repeat that: AUKUS is too important to fail. I call on the government: get your act together, get serious on defence and secure this agreement immediately.”
“We share intelligence, we share values and we share risk. Our case should be simple in that Australia strengthens the United States by being their capable partner in the Indo-Pacific. But, to make the case, words are simply not enough and we need to pull our weight. We need to lift our defence spending, A defence budget hovering over two per cent of GDP is just not enough; it's not credible for the risks that we face. The coalition believes in a clear, costed path to at least three per cent, because that is what is required for us to operate and maintain these submarines while not skimping out on other defence priorities. This is a critical time for our nation, and so far Labor has failed us every step of the way. They've cancelled projects. They've delayed capability. They've left our Navy shrinking.”
“It's been 293 days now since President Trump was elected, and yet there has still been no meeting. We know that President Trump is not exactly a conventional politician and that for him personal relations are particularly important. Look no further than the positive results that the UK prime minister was able to secure for his nation because of his relationship with President Trump. Maybe even more concerning is that we don't even seem to have support from people around President Trump. We know the ambassador, for example, has struggled to make progress on tariffs and the AUKUS review. A meeting isn't just a symbolic thing. It would provide an opportunity to do exactly what we should be doing, which is making the strongest possible case to the United States. We are a proven ally. We have fought together for more than a century.”
“That means that WA carries a nationally significant responsibility. But I have to say I do not have confidence that the Albanese government is going to meet that initial test—because it is a test, and I'm very disappointed that we may fail that initial test. Despite repeated promises, Henderson's planning runs only to 2027, Commonwealth funding is a fraction of what is required and housing for Allied personnel under SRF-West is still not locked in—2027 is just around the corner. With the United States now reviewing aspects of AUKUS, the questions our allies are asking are simple: Can Australia deliver? Is Australia up to it? And yet, at precisely the moment when reassurance is needed most, we have a prime minister who has not even managed to meet the President of the United States.”
“It is about strengthening ties with our closest of allies, it is about securing peace through strength and it is about anchoring Australia's prosperity in a world where authoritarian powers are testing the resolve of free nations. AUKUS is the most strategic significant bequest our country has ever received. It gives us access to technology that only the closest of friends would share. This agreement matters for all Australians but especially for Western Australians. WA will be the beating heart of Australia's naval capability. HMAS Stirling , the Submarine Rotational Force West and the Henderson precinct—they are central to AUKUS delivery. While we may not get our first submarines until the early 2030s, US and UK submarines are set to begin rotating through HMAS Stirling in 2027.”
“Australia's strategic environment is at its most dangerous level since World War II. They aren't my words. They are the words of the Prime Minister, the Minister for Defence and every national security analyst across Australia. We debate all manner of things in this place, but let's remember that the first duty of the Australian government is to keep Australians safe and our nation secure. This duty only intensifies when the government declares the situation is so dire. The intent behind this matter of public importance is to call on the Prime Minister to match those words with action. As a former minister for defence industry I was proudly part of the team that secured the AUKUS agreement. I'm proud of this agreement because it is about more than just submarines.”
“She has a proposal to establish an orbital launch facility in Albany. Unfortunately, there seems to be some hold-up with the WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, threatening this project's success. I've written to the WA minister, but I think this is something that Minister Ayres should take some notice of and get involved in. (Time expired)”
“In successive budgets, Labor ripped millions out of key initiatives, including the Australian Spaceports program, the Australian Technology into Orbit program and the high-profile Moon to Mars program. But Labor weren't upfront about their plans. In fact, Labor criticised the coalition for not investing enough and said they were concerned by our dependence on foreign nations. Unfortunately, their decisions have solidified that dependence. As Malcolm Davies from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said, if we're going to have sovereign space capabilities, then we need somewhere to launch from, which I think is a pretty commonsense approach. It is past time that spaceport sites get up and running, and it's not just about money. With the time remaining, I want to acknowledge that I recently met with the founder of WA Spaceport.”
“The information we get from Earth observation is central to everyday life, from forecasting weather and responding to natural disasters through to managing the environment and supporting our farmers. So, consider this cut in terms of this government's so-called Future Made in Australia agenda; with decisions like this, those opposite have said no to this future. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 17 : 10 to 17 : 24 The then CEO of the Space Industry Association of Australia lauded NSMEO as the most strategic and significant space public policy in 40 years. He also said Australia must be a country that makes things again and that the decision to cut NSMEO will leave Australia dependent upon foreign providers and discourage global partners from engaging with Australia.”
“Unfortunately, the change of government demonstrated a stark difference between the coalition's vision for space as being central to both national security and economic prosperity and Labor's vision for space as simply being a budget line to cut. Nothing demonstrates this more than the National Space Mission for Earth Observation, which was abandoned by this government in June 2023. This $1.2 billion investment would have seen Australia design, build and operate four new satellites. It would have created 500 jobs, at least, and had an anticipated supply network of more than 100 Australian companies. This investment, as noted by the head of the Australian Space Agency, would take us from a consumer to a contributor of Earth observation data.”
“We also committed $225 million to Geoscience Australia to deliver centimetre-level positioning accuracy across mobile coverage areas; $150 million to support Australian businesses and researchers to participate in NASA's Artemis program, including $50 million for an Australian-made lunar rover; and a further $300 million towards astronomy research infrastructure associated with the Square Kilometre Array—which just happens to be located in the great electorate of Durack—for deep space observation. In total, the coalition committed more than $2 billion towards a civil space sector after we had established the Australian Space Agency. Notably, this does not take into account the significant investment in developing sovereign defence space capability.”
“We established the Australian Space Agency in July 2018 to coordinate civil space matters across government and to support the growth and transformation of Australia's space industry. We created the SmartSat CRC, Australia's largest space industry research collaboration, focusing on telecommunications, intelligent satellite systems and next-generation Earth observation.”
“Since I stepped into the role of shadow minister for science, it's been great to reconnect with many in our civil space sector who I got to know well when I was the Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Science and Technology. When we were in government, we understood that Australia's potential was at the forefront of the space revolution. Our geographic location, vast open spaces, clear skies and homegrown talent and innovation provide us with a massive advantage. But we knew these advantages weren't enough. Australia would not become a global leader in space simply by accident. So we set out to make this happen, with a goal to triple the domestic space sector to $12 billion and to create an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030.”
“I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) that 1 July 2025 marks seven years since the official establishment of the Australian Space Agency; (b) the former Government committed more than $2 billion towards the civil space sector after the Agency's establishment, as part of our goal to triple the domestic sector to $12 billion and to create an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030; and (c) the current Government's significant cuts to Australia's space sector, including: (i) $1.2 billion from the National Space Mission for Earth Observation; (ii) $59.7 million from the Technology into Orbit program and the space flight tickets subprograms; (iii) $18 million from the Moon to Mars global supply chain facilitation; and (iv) $32.3 million slated for co-investment in space ports and launch sites; and (2) calls on the Government to reprioritise Australia's space sector, including investing in our sovereign capability.”
“Just as Her Majesty in her final days fulfilled her duty in appointing Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister of Great Britain, Pope Francis defied his doctors' orders to visit inmates of a Roman prison. These actions are emblematic of two lives defined by faith, duty and quiet strength. Both did their duty right to the end, and both served as leaders we should all look up to. Census data makes clear that more Australians are turning away from organised religion. While this may be so, whether you are a person of faith or not, I believe we can all learn from the example of Pope Francis, and may he rest in peace. I'll conclude my remarks by extending my best wishes to the new pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. May he lead with wisdom, compassion and strength as he leads the church in to a new era. I thank the House.”
“It draws tourists, locals and parishioners alike, serving as a centrepiece of faith, art and architectural heritage. Designed by the famous monsignor John Hawes, it took 22 years to build—and let me tell you, it is magnificent. I'd like to acknowledge and give thanks to Bishop Morrissey, the Bishop of Geraldton, for his leadership and pastoral care for the needs of our local community members. For those families of faith, Pope Francis passing is not only a global moment of mourning; it is personal. It is a moment of loss—the loss of a spiritual leader who spoke directly to the heart of the everyday believer. These are moments in history we must pause and reflect upon, much like the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as these are moments that remind us of what dignified leadership looks like.”
“My mother scrimped and saved to provide my siblings and I with a Catholic education in Kalgoorlie. This experience has helped to shape the values I hold dear to this day—those values of service, dignity, discipline, family and care for the vulnerable. These are values that Pope Francis not only preached but lived, and they are deeply embedded in the Catholic community of my own electorate of Durack. According to the most recent census, Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in Durack, with nearly 34,000 believers. The magnificent St Francis Xavier's Cathedral in Geraldton, built in 1916, stands not only as a beacon of spiritual life but as a testament to the resilience, beauty and unity of our region's Catholic community.”
“This was exemplified through His Holiness's visiting nations in our own region, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore. As Pope, Francis sought to promote unity between Catholics, non-Catholics and non-Christians, as well as act as a voice for peace when conflicts broke out. Pope Francis also sought to address the dark history of sexual abuse within the church through public apologies to survivors and his urging of bishops to reach out to them. As the former leader of the opposition pointed out at the time of his passing, His Holiness, above all else, was driven by Christ's values of mercy and forgiveness. He emphasised those values in his last Christmas address, saying: God's mercy can do all things. It unties every knot; it tears down every wall of division; it dispels hatred and the spirit of revenge.”
“During a period of economic crisis in Argentina beginning in the late 1990s, Francis lived in a simple downtown apartment rather than the archbishop's residence. He also travelled using public transport or by foot rather than in a chauffeured limousine. He finally became Pope in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first South American pope, the first Jesuit pope and the first to take the name Francis. The papacy did not strip Francis of his humility nor his desire to be a champion for the poor. Despite his high office, Pope Francis continued to live simply and frugally and carried out the ethos of Catholic social justice. As the first non-European pope in over a thousand years, he was devoted to the global nature of the church.”
“I rise today to pay my respects following the death of His Holiness Pope Francis and to honour a life of humility, conviction and extraordinary service not only to the Catholic Church but to all of humanity. Pope Francis was the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina and was born in December 1936. He felt called to the church at an early age, entering the Jesuit order in 1958 and being ordained as a priest in 1969. He took his final vows in the Jesuit order in 1973 and subsequently served as superior of the Jesuit province of Argentina until 1979. He later became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was consecrated as a cardinal in 2001. His humility was well known before his election to the papacy.”
“Personal relationships matter to President Trump and are key to securing positive results. Look no further than Labor UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has met with president Trump several times since his election, and he has secured tariff exemptions for the UK.”
“The outbreak of war in Ukraine has meant they are being asked to do more in Europe, and as the war in the Middle East remains, more resources are required in that region as well. The Trump administration has made asking allies to bear more of the burden of our collective defence a 'core focus'. The Trump administration has already called on Australia to lift our contribution. AUKUS is under review—we all know that. Our alliance credibility is being tested in real-time. To make matters worse, the failure to lift Defence spending isn't the only counter-productive action from this government. It has been more than 260 days since President Trump won the US election and yet our prime minister has not secured a face-to-face meeting. With previous US leaders this may have been excusable but, as we all know, President Trump is unique.”
“Lifting our defence spending to at least three per cent is not an arbitrary figure; it is consistent with what our allies expect from us. Just last month NATO nations committed to lifting core spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP with an additional 1.5 per cent directed to broader security investments by 2035. That's total of five per cent for national resilience. Meanwhile, here in Australia, we remain stuck at just two per cent of GDP under the Albanese government, with no clear pathway to increase the funding. We cannot afford to drift while the rest of the world wakes up to the scale of the challenge. Make no mistake, the United States is watching us closely. The US is currently US$37 trillion in debt. It's not just our region where the US is being asked to do more.”
“This is a serious problem because defence policy is no longer about long-term hypotheticals; it is about immediate readiness and about being able to act, not just talk. Our government should be working to make us as strong as possible as fast as possible, but the blunt reality is that, under this Labor government, Australia's defence posture remains overcooked, underfunded and underdelivering. The coalition has been clear: defence spending must rise. We took to the last election a commitment to increase defence investment to three per cent of GDP within a decade because we believe that's what it takes at a minimum to meet the demand. Increased funding means we will be able to afford to build and operate our own nuclear submarines while not skimping on other defence priorities.”
“This bill, whilst small in scope, touches on a much larger question: are we serious about defending our country? That's where the government's record falls short. Yes, the bill enables Defence Housing Australia to support our allies. Yes, it expands eligibility for housing. And yes, the coalition supports these changes, because, quite frankly, they are necessary for the success of AUKUS. But let us not pretend this is some comprehensive plan, because it is not. There is no new funding in this bill, no increase in housing supply, no structural reform to meet the rise in demand and no funded pipeline to build the homes we need to support this commitment. The bill simply expands Defence Housing's remit but not its resources.”
“The government itself acknowledges we are facing the most complex and challenging strategic circumstances in 80 years—and they're right. But acknowledgement without action is not enough. The threats are real. The rapid expansion of China's People's Liberation Army, described by the Minister for Defence as the largest conventional military build-up since the Second World War, is reshaping our region. To add to that, this expansion has happened without any strategic reassurances from the Chinese government as to why this is occurring. The first duty of any Australian government must be to keep Australians safe and our nation secure. That duty intensifies in moments like this, particularly when the government itself concedes that the situation is dire.”
“This bill enables Defence Housing Australia to provide accommodation for those allied forces, our closest and most trusted partners as part of the Submarine Rotational Force—West. It is not a symbolic gesture; it is a foundational step in operationalising AUKUS. Without housing, we cannot host; without hosting, we cannot train; and without training, the AUKUS partnership falters at the very first hurdle and we can kiss goodbye a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a new nuclear defence maintenance industry in Western Australia. Let's step back and be clear on why this all matters. AUKUS is not a slogan or a branding exercise; it is a hard-nosed strategic partnership designed to keep Australia safe in a rapidly deteriorating security environment.”
“I rise to speak on the Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025, legislation that the coalition supports not because it is perfect, not because it is sufficient but because it is necessary. It is necessary because the first operational test of AUKUS is fast approaching. Submarine crews from the United States and the United Kingdom are set to begin rotating through HMAS Stirling from 2027, less than two years away. The preparation must begin now. Housing must be ready well before the first submarine arrives. Timelines are tight, and failure to deliver on this front will send all the wrong signals to our allies. Put simply, this is a test. If we can't adequately host their submariners, why would they have confidence we would be able manage our own?”
“A Western Australian Local Government Association report dated August 2024 lays it bare: 92 per cent of council spending to support general practice comes from towns with fewer than 5,000 people. In the WA Wheatbelt alone, local governments are spending over $4 million a year just to keep the doctors in town. The so-called healthcare system in regional WA is in crisis. I've written to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, urging him to act, because health care is a state and Commonwealth responsibility; it is not our local governments' responsibility. Basic care should not depend on your postcode. It's time for governments to step up and stop relying upon rural and regional ratepayers to fill the gap. (Time expired)”
“Do you know of any service you have to pay for twice? Well, in towns across Durack that's exactly what is happening when it's time to see a doctor. Councils are being forced to spend millions of ratepayer dollars just to get and keep a GP in their town, meaning locals are paying once through their rates and again when they visit the doctor. Now, this does not happen in the city. The Prime Minister has repeated that, under Labor, all you need is a Medicare card. In regional WA that is simply not true. Bulk-billing is down, out-of-pocket costs are up, and towns like Northampton, in my electorate, now don't even have their own GP. How can Medicare work when there's no-one to hand your card to?”
“This trend goes back a long time, with the most notable example probably the Rudd-Gillard government's rejection of offshore processing, which culminated in 50,000 illegal arrivals by boat and over a thousand deaths at sea. Our government, under the leadership of former prime ministers Abbott and Morrison, as the relevant minister, successfully cleaned up this mess with Operation Sovereign Borders. We on this side understand that the No.1 priority of government is to keep our citizens safe, and we are not afraid to make the tough decisions that are required or to invest properly in our defence and national security infrastructure. We hope this government takes national security seriously.”
“But, to add insult to injury, those intelligence agencies were replaced by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Mr Chris Bowen. Can anyone really argue that Minister Bowen has better insights into our security challenges than the heads of our intelligence agencies? Honestly, this is just nonsense. Those opposite, unfortunately, suffer from a general predisposition to oppose the coalition's initiatives before realising we were right all along and having to backtrack. As the shadow minister for cybersecurity, I think an obvious example was the initial criticism from Minister O'Neil calling our SOCI reforms 'bloody useless' before going on to say other countries asked her how they could construct something similar—not so useless it would seem.”
“When we first established the home affairs department in 2017, it was designed so all the intelligence and security agencies would fall within a single department and be responsible to a single minister—sounds like common sense, I'd say. That's why we committed, before the last election, to restoring the integrity of the Home Affairs portfolio—unlike those opposite, who made no such commitment. Unfortunately, this is not the only example of Labor's failure regarding structures protecting our national security. You only have to look back at the nonsensical changes to the composition of the National Security Committee of Cabinet. Under the coalition, Australia's domestic and foreign intelligence agencies both served as permanent members, as you would expect.”
“While the caravan incident turned out to be a hoax, the outcome could have been catastrophic if it had been real and the system had still failed. This wasn't the only issue with the new arrangements. Previously, the listing of a terrorist organisation was known and was a straightforward process. But in Labor's first term this became convoluted. The new process created a back-and-forth loop between the Attorney-General's Department and the home affairs department, blowing out the time required for a decision to be made. In one instance, the Minister for Home Affairs was left out of a terrorist re-listing entirely—absolutely hopeless. These issues should not have been a surprise to the government, and they should apologise.”
“It's noteworthy that these changes were not taken to the 2022 election but had consistently been on Labor's wish list. As we know, they've always been uncomfortable with the coalition's strong national security agenda. Fast forward to today, and the Attorney-General has been marched to the back bench and Labor have backtracked on their changes, now bringing ASIO, the AFP and AUSTRAC back into Home Affairs. Common sense has finally prevailed. Why? Because, according to the Prime Minister, there were issues that arose out of information-sharing during the Dural caravan incident. This is a damning admission by the Prime Minister, acknowledging that the national security changes he introduced by dismantling Home Affairs failed when it mattered most.”
“I rise today to speak to the motion moved by the member for Canning, which makes very clear that the Albanese Labor government has completely the wrong instincts when it comes to the Home Affairs portfolio and our national security. When Labor were elected in 2022, one of their first decisions was to begin to dismantle the Home Affairs portfolio. They did so by removing the Australian Federal Police, financial crimes regulator AUSTRAC and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission from Home Affairs. In 2024 the Prime Minister went further, transferring Australia's domestic spy agency, ASIO, out of Home Affairs to the Attorney-General's Department. The PM defended this shift by saying that ASIO needed to be in the same place as the AFP. Of course, there was no admission that he was responsible for separating the two agencies.”
“Alan's leadership was defined not by how loudly he spoke but by how carefully he listened. He used his seat not for ego but as a platform to advocate for improved regional services. It is with great sadness we farewell Dr Alan Eggleston—a man of heart, intellect and courage whose legacy lives on in the lives and communities he proudly served.”
“Alan was a counsellor, mayor of Port Hedland and, later, Liberal Party vice-president, before being elected to the Senate in 1996—a position he held until 2014. As a senator for WA, Alan was relentless in championing regional communities. He did not just speak for the Pilbara; he embodied it—resilient, sometimes overlooked but vital to the nation's prosperity. In parliament, Alan served on no fewer than 17 Senate committees, including five years on the Senate Standing Committees on Economics and two years as the Chair of the Senate Economics References Committee. During this time, more than 130 reports were tabled under his stewardship. His questions were always precise, informed and fair. He had little appetite for political theatre because he wanted answers, not applause.”
“It showed the deep connection and trust that he held in the community. Born in Busselton in 1941 with a form of dwarfism, Alan faced many challenges. When doctors at the Royal Perth Hospital tried to exclude him from training because of his height, he refused to quit. Alan went to London, qualified as a physician and surgeon and then returned to serve remote Western Australia. For more than two decades, Alan was sometimes the only GP for hundreds of kilometres, treating minors, Aboriginal families, single mothers and truck drivers alike with compassion and respect. His own challenges gave him a deep empathy for others, and he worked tirelessly to lift up those too often ignored. That same spirit drove his political career.”
“It is with deep respect and sadness that I speak today to honour the life and legacy of Dr Alan Eggleston AM, or Eggy, as he was affectionately known across Western Australia and beyond. Alan was very kind and encouraging to me during my first federal campaign in 2019, when I was first elected. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Durack, particularly the Pilbara, and he absolutely loved Port Hedland. His affection for that town ran deep, shaped by over 22 years serving as its doctor and, later, as its mayor, long before he entered the Senate. On many occasions, when I was visiting the Pilbara with Alan, people would stop and proudly tell him that he had delivered them or that he had delivered one of their children. I will never forget the way that Alan's face would light up during those moments.”
“Please consult more broadly to make sure we get this right. This government is full of hubris and confidence, and I ask that you think about the Australians and stop thinking about yourselves. (Time expired)”
“Not surprisingly, we've recently had a really good example of cuts which are related to the remotest and most vulnerable people in this land. I am talking about Labor's snap NDIS decision to remove regional loading and reduce travel support, which is a serious concern for regional therapy providers and recipients. Over the last couple of weeks, I've met with NDIS providers across the Kimberley, the Mid West and the Pilbara, and they have serious issues with the government's reforms. It's clear to me and to all of us that the NDIS has blown out of its original intent, but surely this is not where you start—with the remotest and most vulnerable people in our country, people who have real health needs. That is not where you start, and I encourage Minister Butler to go back and, have a look at this.”
“This is a big problem facing younger Australian, as is the nation's debt, which is set to hit $1 trillion this financial year and which will be hanging over their heads and those of their children and their grandchildren for years to come. Before the election, there was no talk from those opposite about higher taxes or cuts, but now we know that the advice from Treasury—that secret Treasury document that has been disclosed—is that Labor cannot fix the budget without raising taxes and cutting spending. As the Leader of the Opposition said earlier, when Labor runs out of money, well, they come after yours. We know that Labor's radical super tax on unrealised capital gains will not be the end of their crusade to come after Australians' money. One of the things that I'm particularly interested in is where these cuts are going to come from.”
“The so-called Housing Australia Future Fund is a complete joke, and my colleague in the Senate, Senator Bragg, has pointed out the government's $10 billion has so far built just 17 houses in Canberra and bought 300,000 pre-existing houses. This failure with respect to the housing crisis is having real-world consequences. Australians are entering the housing market later and putting off having a family because it's just too expensive, and now we have the lowest fertility rate in Australia's history. What bigger issue could there be than making it easier for Australians to buy their own home and start a family?”
“As the MPI before us says: these issues have been perpetuated by the government's failure. That's why the economy is stalling and households are in recession. One of the greatest issues facing our country is Labor's housing crisis, and I assure you we didn't need a leaked Treasury document to tell us that the government plan is failing. Labor went to the election promising 1.2 million new homes. Members on this side of the house and industry always knew that this number was simply nonsense. Now Treasury has accidentally confirmed this. The Treasurer has said he's not concerned by the leak. Well, he may not be concerned about the leak, but I really hope that he is concerned by industry estimates that we are on track to miss the target by over 400,000 homes.”
“In my electorate of Durack, which voted overwhelmingly against this Labor government, I still have dual-income families across Geraldton and many other parts of my electorate relying on Foodbank just to get by—just to put food on the table. They can't work anymore, and they're just hanging on by the skin of their teeth. So I say to those opposite, in between patting yourselves on the back—and I'm sure you will do plenty of that—please consider those Australians who are doing it tough. Please consider the 330,000 Australians now trapped in over $300 million of energy debt. Please consider the fact that the average mortgage-holder remains $1,900 a month worse off than before the election of this government back in 2022. Please remember the young Australians who feel that the Australian dream of homeownership is just out of reach.”
“I'll begin my contribution to this debate today by acknowledging the elephant in the room. Yes, those opposite had an excellent election night, and I congratulate the Prime Minister and all the new Labor members in this place. Politics surely should not be about personal victories. Politics must deliver tangible results for Australians, and, unfortunately, this government has failed to deliver. The Prime Minister—well, he'll naturally be pretty pleased with himself. There he is, sitting in the Lodge. But, let me tell you, things aren't so good in the real world. While this week marks the start of the 48th Parliament, the same issues exist today as existed on 3 May.”