Sharon Claydon
Newcastle · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“That was not an easy decision back then. We know what happened. We know the litigious nature of big tobacco and big tech, and that's why this is so damn critical right now. That is why every parent in Australia is asking: 'How can this be happening?”
“They knew that this was going to be a challenging moment for the Australian parliament. They knew it full well. They knew the arguments they were having every day at their kitchen tables and in their lounge rooms about kids spending so much time doomscrolling. But they also knew it wasn't the fault of their kids.”
“Colleagues fondly remember Julia's vibrant personality, her loyalty and the lasting impression she left on those fortunate enough to work alongside her. On behalf of members and staff who were privileged to work alongside Julia, I want to put on record our sincere gratitude for her remarkable service spanning more than three decades.”
“I rise today to honour the life and service of Julia Morris and to extend my deepest condolences to her daughter, Mollie; her parents, Allan and Anne; her brother, James; and all of her friends, family and colleagues. Julia passed away last month after a five-year battle with breast cancer.”
“That's the very legislation that we need to hold big tech to account—to make sure that kids are not left fending for themselves against these giants that have never, ever displayed an intention to change their business model and to do the right thing, which has constantly been asked of them.”
“These are parents that lost their kids. These were kids who were victims of addictive design features in social media that led to self-harm, extreme levels of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body image harm, cyberbullying, misogyny, radicalisation and mis- and disinformation.”
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“I rise today with a deep sense of gratitude, pride and responsibility. To the people of Newcastle: thank you. Thank you for once again placing your trust in me to represent you in the Australian parliament. It's an extraordinary honour and one that I will never take for granted. The message Australians sent at this election was clear. They want a government that rolls up its sleeves, tackles the big challenges and delivers real, practical change. And that's exactly what this Labor government is doing and will continue to do. This election delivered Labor a strong mandate.”
“I urge all members of this House to support the important bill before us and to continue working towards a future where gender based violence is eradicated from our universities and where all students can learn, grow and thrive in an environment of respect and safety. I commend the bill to the House.”
“Together with the National Student Ombudsman, these measures will ensure greater oversight and accountability of higher education providers and help drive the cultural change we need to see in the higher education sector to prevent and respond to gender based violence. The Albanese Labor government is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their gender, can access education in environments that are free from harm. The Universities Accord bill is not just a piece of legislation; it is a call to action. It is a call to universities to take responsibility for creating safer campuses, and it is a call to all of us to stand together in the fight for justice and equality.”
“We've provided an additional 20,000 Commonwealth supported places to train more Australians at university, and this is providing extra subsidised places for people studying bachelor and sub-bachelor courses in areas in need of skills, meaning more teachers, nurses and engineers. And we've established university study hubs in suburban and regional areas, providing people with a place to undertake their education closer to home, which means that the next teachers, nurses, midwives or social workers can study and then go on to work in the areas where we need them to work. The national code is a key measure of the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education, agreed to by every education minister across Australia.”
“We've invested in students who've signed up to do the most important jobs in this country by introducing a prac payment for those wanting to undertake teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work degrees, because we know these students have to do mandatory placements, and it was unfair that they gave up paid jobs in order to go and do unpaid placements. We've massively expanded fee-free university courses, which act as a bridge between school and university, helping more Australians to succeed when they get there. The University of Newcastle is a national leader in this regard. We've made changes to the provision of student service and amenity fees, requiring higher education providers collecting them to allocate a minimum of 40 per cent of the funds raised to student led organisations.”
“The ombudsman commenced earlier this month and enables higher education students to escalate complaints about the actions of their higher education provider, including its management of gender based violence complaints. We've passed the legislation to cut a further 20 per cent off all student loan debts, wiping around $16 billion in student debt for around three million Australians. This will see around $5,700 deducted on average from the debts of more than 25,000 students in my electorate of Newcastle alone. This builds, of course, on the work we've already done to fix the student loan indexation formula, which has cut around $3 billion in student debt, with most receiving their credit or refund in December last year.”
“Making those legal changes are what we can do in parliament, but what really is the hard work is changing culture. That is the work that we need every university leadership team to really lean in on. We're going to provide, through this bill, the important frameworks to enable you to do that—but helping drive culture change will be a responsibility of every single person. This bill is just one part of Labor's commitment to making our higher education system safer, fairer and more accessible. To date, we've established the National Student Ombudsman, another key measure of the action plan addressing gender based violence in higher education.”
“But for universities to fulfil that vital role they must be places where students feel safe, valued and respected. Students should be able to focus on their studies and pursue their dreams without the fear of harassment or violence. This bill is a step towards making that vision a reality. Implementing a code of conduct, establishing clear reporting and investigation mechanisms, and ensuring more training are important steps towards stopping gender based violence at our university campuses. But universities must also work towards cultural change, which will be the only thing that brings about permanent change. We all know—in fact, from our own experience of this parliament—that drafting the codes of conduct were in fact the easy work.”
“By establishing clear guidelines and expectations for behaviour, we are sending a strong message that violence, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable—period. For too long we have tolerated a culture where these issues are minimised or, worse, ignored. This bill shifts that narrative. It empowers universities to be leaders in the fight against gender based violence and sets a national standard for how higher education institutions should behave in the 21st century. Universities play an integral role in shaping the future of our society. They are places of learning, growth and opportunity where people from diverse backgrounds come together to develop skills and knowledge that will enable them to contribute in the workplace and their communities for generations to come.”
“This includes access to counselling services, legal support and accommodation options, ensuring that students are not forced to remain in environments that compromise their safety and wellbeing. Importantly, the bill ensures that universities are held accountable for their actions. Institutions will be required to publicly report on their progress in implementing the code and to demonstrate how they are improving safety and support systems on their campuses. An independent body will oversee the implementation of these measures, ensuring that universities not only are compliant but are genuinely making strides in creating safer environments for everyone. This bill is not just about preventing violence; it is about creating a culture of respect and inclusion in our universities.”
“The bill mandates that universities provide ongoing education and awareness campaigns aimed at preventing gender based violence. This includes programs that promote respectful relationships, consent education and bystander intervention. These initiatives are essential in changing the culture that allows gender based violence in the first place. This bill establishes clear, accessible reporting mechanisms for students and staff who experience or witness gender based violence. This bill ensures that these reports will be taken seriously and investigated in a timely and transparent manner. Victims will no longer have to navigate a maze of complicated systems to seek justice. The bill mandates that universities provide comprehensive support to survivors of gender based violence.”
“This will help to improve experiences and outcomes for people who disclose their experiences of gender based violence, strengthening the discloser's autonomy to ensure they are heard and appropriately supported. A key feature of the code is its national reach. For the first time universities from across Australia will be bound by a uniform set of expectations and protocols ensuring consistency in how they address gender based violence. This approach will eliminate the patchwork system that currently exists, where responses to gender based violence can vary from one institution to another. The Universities Accord bill is comprehensive, addressing the prevention of gender based violence as well as support for those who experience it.”
“This bill seeks to establish a national code of conduct for Australian universities, setting clear standards for how universities must prevent and respond to gender based violence. It will require universities to adopt best practice in supporting those who have experienced sexual assault or harassment, investigating allegations and creating a campus culture that prioritises respect, safety and inclusion. Under the bill the national code will require policies, procedures and processes for responding to gender based violence in a trauma informed away and ensuring key functions are undertaken by people who have the appropriate skills and expertise.”
“One in 20 people have reported being sexually assaulted, with one in six reporting they have been sexually harassed. Even more stories emerged of inadequate responses from our higher education institutions, with students experiencing a lack of any complaints process, a lack of materials on how to begin a complaints process, a lack of feedback when a complaint has been made and a lack of education on consent. As a society we cannot accept this. We must act to ensure that all students can study in an environment that is free from harassment, violence or discrimination. The Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025 offers a solution, a comprehensive framework to tackle this issue head-on.”
“For too long students have been let down by their universities and inaction by previous governments, and the introduction of this bill is a sign that perpetrators and higher education institutions are now on notice. Gender based violence in all its forms has no place in our communities, yet for far too long we have seen it persist in various spheres of society, including in our universities. Gender based violence is an epidemic that impacts students, staff and the broader campus community. It affects individuals' mental health and academic performance and their sense of safety and belonging. We have heard heartbreaking stories of students, many of whom are young women, who have experienced violence, harassment and discrimination while pursuing education. The statistics are alarming, and the effects are far-reaching.”
“I rise to lend my strong support to this landmark piece of legislation introduced by the minister just now on behalf of the Albanese Labor government, one that addresses a critical issue facing our universities and indeed all of Australia, and that is gender based violence. The Albanese Labor government has demonstrated a clear commitment to making Australia's higher education system a safe and more inclusive environment for everyone. The introduction of a national higher education code to prevent and respond to gender based violence is an historic step towards achieving this goal. Many students and staff have said that they don't know where to seek support or how to make a formal complaint to their higher education provider, and those that do are often dissatisfied with the process.”
“It's about saying to workers in Newcastle and, indeed, in every single electorate represented in this chamber, that their time matters. Their effort matters and their sacrifice matters. Most of all, your government sees that effort and sacrifice. This is what Labor governments do. We stand up for workers, legislate for fairness and deliver for working people. I commend this bill to the House. Let's protect penalty rates, let's protect overtime and let's keep building a country where no worker is left behind and every worker gets to have a fair go.”
“It must adapt as the workforce evolves, and, as a parliament, we must be responsive to the needs of the people we represent. We are reinforcing the role of the Fair Work Commission. We are raising the floor for workers, not just for now but for the future. We are rebuilding public trust in a system that puts people before profit. For many modern-award-reliant employees, penalty rates and overtime are not optional extras. They are a critical part of their take-home pay, and this bill continues the Albanese Labor government's commitment to deliver fair and decent conditions for working Australians. It delivers on our government's key election commitment to protect the penalty rates of around 2.6 million modern-award-reliant workers. However, this bill is about more than money. It's about dignity and security.”
“This bill is a gender equity measure, it's an antipoverty measure, it's a youth justice measure and it's a multicultural equity measure too. It is everything a good government should be. We use the levers of the law to protect those most at risk of being left behind. This bill doesn't just fix the past; it futureproofs the system. We know the nature of work is changing faster than ever. The rise of gig work, the growth of casualisation, the increasing influence of AI and automation—these are big forces reshaping our economy. But no matter how work changes, some principles must remain constant. Workplaces must be safe, they must offer fair payment and fair remuneration for work done, and they must be places where people are not exploited. This legislation says clearly that the Fair Work Act is a living document.”
“Let me highlight exactly who does benefit from this bill: women, who make up the majority of the part-time and casual workforce and the majority of those in the care sector, the cleaning sector and the retail sector, who dominate sectors like aged care, cleaning, hospitality and retail, and who are more likely to be working irregular hours and relying on penalty rates to top up otherwise modest pay packets; young people, many of whom began their working lives in shift based industries like fast food, retail and customer service and are more vulnerable to unfair agreements and pay erosion; migrant workers, who are disproportionately represented in award-dependent, shift based jobs and are more likely to be unfamiliar with workplace laws or less empowered to bargain; and low-paid workers, who do not have the leverage to say no to a bad deal and who rely on the award safety net to ensure fairness.”
“The former leader of the opposition confirmed it when he said, 'The independent umpire sets the conditions,' and affirmed, 'We don't propose any departure from the current arrangements.' Of course, we have seen the shadow minister come out criticising these laws as well. In contrast, Labor has always fought for a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. It's part of the founding principles of our party. We brought you the Fair Work Act, we introduced universal superannuation, we created paid parental leave, we criminalised wage theft, we banned pay secrecy clauses, we legislated 'same job, same pay' laws to stop the labour hire exploitation, we gave workers the right to clock off and, now, we're acting again to protect penalty and overtime rates, because, when Labor is in government, working people are never on their own.”
“For the aged-care worker who watched their pay shrink while costs kept rising, it wasn't minimal. Labor opposed these cuts from day one. We stood with workers. We fought alongside their unions. I want to give a very special shout-out to Hunter Workers, who are at the forefront of defending workers rights each and every day. It's hard work, but it's noble work. We stood with everyday Australians who knew that a pay cut, no matter how it was packaged up by those opposite, was a blow to both dignity and fairness. The Liberals never believed in strong workplace protections. They don't support collective bargaining. They don't support a robust awards system. They don't support workers having a real say. We know those opposite won't lift a finger to protect workers entitlements.”
“They pay the bills; they cover the school uniforms; they keep the fridge full. I've had many conversations with workers in Newcastle who've told me that the penalty rates they earn make the difference between just scraping by and actually getting ahead. For single parents, carers, casuals and part-time workers, penalty rates are a lifeline, and for too long they have been under attack. Let's be very clear about how we got here. Penalty rates were cut under the former coalition government. They allowed it to happen; indeed, they defended it. They said it would help business. They said it would create jobs. They said the impact would be minimal. But, for the retail workers who had to cancel their kids' birthday parties, it wasn't minimal. For the student who had to take on an extra shift instead of studying for an exam, it wasn't minimal.”
“We are home to thousands of nurses, paramedics, aged-care workers, cleaners, hospitality workers, retail workers, transport drivers and security guards—people who don't work standard hours but work odd hours, long hours and hard hours. This bill means that those workers can have certainty that their penalty rates can't be stripped out through enterprise bargaining and their overtime pay won't be sold off for a flat rate or a 'take it or leave it' deal. That matters because, in Newcastle and in so many communities across Australia, every dollar counts. Penalty rates are not an extra; they're not an add-on luxury item. Some members struggle to understand this concept, I think. They are part of essential recognition of long and often very family-unfriendly hours worked and served.”
“This bill is designed to be simple, flexible and workable, providing clarity without adding unnecessary complexity. It makes clear that the safety net of minimum conditions under the award system is just that—it's a floor and not a ceiling. The bill strengthens the role of the Fair Work Commission, upholds the principle of no disadvantage and stops the erosion of hard-earned conditions under the guise of flexibility or cost cutting. It closes the loopholes, it restores balance and it sends a clear message that workers rights are not negotiable. In my community of Newcastle this bill will make a real and immediate difference. Newcastle is a city built on the backs of shift workers.”
“When a warehouse worker clocks out at 2 am and makes the long commute home, that deserves recognition. When a barista opens up a cafe every weekend while studying full time during the week, that deserves recognition. These are hardworking Australians who keep the country running. They deserve a system that fairly compensates them for this work. Penalty rates recognise that sacrifice. They say: 'Your time matters. Your labour matters, and it's worth more when it costs more.' That's why this legislation matters—because, in recent years, we have seen exactly what happens when workers don't have the protection of government behind them. The Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 ensures that penalty rates and overtime cannot be undermined or bargained away as part of enterprise agreements.”
“We want these changes passed and enacted so the commission can apply the new law to those cases immediately, stopping the erosion of pay before the damage is done. Penalty rates and overtime are not perks. They are not bonuses or benefits to be bargained away. They are recognition of the time that workers spend away from their families, their friends and their communities, working nights, weekends, early mornings and holidays. They are compensation for working nights, when everyone else is asleep, for showing up on Sunday when others are resting or for saying yes to shifts on Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or school holidays, when, honestly, you'd rather be with your kids. When a nurse does a double shift and misses bedtime with her children, that deserves recognition.”
“It amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to legislate protections that ensure that penalty rates and overtime payments in modern awards cannot be reduced or substituted by any other term that would lower a worker's take-home pay. It's a simple principle, really. Workers should not have their rights eroded under the guise of efficiency or flexibility—not when that flexibility only ever seems to benefit one side, and it's not the worker. Right now, there are active applications before the Fair Work Commission in sectors like retail, banking and clerical work—industries where workers are already underpaid and undervalued—that are seeking to trade away penalty rates. That's why this bill is so urgent. It speaks to the issues the member for Curtin raised. This is why this urgent bill needs to be before the House now.”
“It's a bill that honours the shift workers, weekend workers, early risers and late finishers—the people who work while others rest, who clock in at 4 am to bake the bread or sign off at 3 am after a long night working behind the bar. It's for the workers who spend Christmas Eves stocking shelves and Easter Sundays changing hospital beds. For too long, these Australians have been told their sacrifice doesn't matter—that their time isn't worth more than a Monday-to-Friday nine-to-five. This bill says the opposite. It says that your time does matter, and so does your pay. This legislation delivers on a key Labor election commitment to protect the penalty rates of around 2.6 million modern-award-reliant workers.”
“Deputy Speaker Scrymgour, this is the first opportunity I've had to congratulate you on your magnificent role as Deputy Speaker in the chair. I wish to rise this evening to speak in strong support—unlike the member we just heard from—of the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025, which aims to protect penalty and overtime rates for Australian workers. This bill was introduced by my good friend and colleague the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, a woman who has undertaken extensive consultation. Some might say we had an entire election fought on some of these issues. Millions of Australians got to have their say. This bill is a bill that goes to the heart of what Labor believes: fairness, dignity and respect for working people.”
“My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government's cheaper medicines policy delivering more choice, lower costs and better health care for women across Australia?”
“From grassroots leagues to the elite level, our community backs women in sport 100 per cent. We turn out and drives and we cheer just as loud. We know the power of representation, especially for young watching their heroes and heroines take the field. This Magic Round is more than just sporting event; it's a statement, a celebration of equality, talent and determination. I want to wish all the players, teams and supporters a fantastic Magic Round. Let's show the rest of the country how we do in Newcastle. Go the Knights and go the NRLW.”
“This weekend, Newcastle will proudly host the NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium, and what a celebration of women's sports it will be. For the first time ever, all the NRLW teams will take to the field across one action-packed weekend, and there is no better place for it than Newcastle. Our city lives and breathes football. We are the beating heart of Australian sports. When it comes to backing our teams, no-one does it quite like Novocastrians. That passion runs deep, and it's just as fierce for our women as it is for our men. It was Newcastle that delivered the record crowd of almost 28,000 for the NRLW State of Origin game, and I know it will be Newcastle that delivers record crowds for the Magic Round this weekend. If you haven't got your tickets already, you'd better hurry up before it's sold out.”
“The catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never happen again. It is the collective responsibility of all of us—indeed, of all nations across the world—to learn from this tragic history and to commit to building a safer future where nuclear weapons are never used again. Australia must continue to work with our international partners to strengthen the global nonproliferation regime and promote diplomatic solutions for resolving nuclear related concerns and disputes. No-one, for one moment, thinks this is easy work. But it is incumbent on all of us here to ensure a future that is safe for everyone on this planet. If there is a real purpose to commemorating 80 years of this anniversary, it is to double down on our efforts to ensure the elimination of nuclear weapons wherever they might be.”
“I want to acknowledge the longstanding work of two very important community groups in my electorate, the Hunter Peace Group and Christians for Peace Newcastle, who will be hosting important commemorations to mark 80 years since the devastating nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I want to thank them for organising these commemorations and for their tireless advocacy for peace. As a lifelong supporter of nuclear disarmament, I will continue to do everything I can to support Australia in continuing to lead the way in promoting nonproliferation and disarmament efforts through existing and emerging international legal architecture. I'm proud to be a member of a government that has reaffirmed Australia's deep commitment to working towards a world without nuclear weapons.”
“Australia is also party to, and was instrumental in creating, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty—the treaty of Rarotonga—and continues to lead on the international push for a fissile material cut-off treaty. Australia shares the ambition of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons's goal of a world free from nuclear weapons, and the Albanese Labor government has renewed Australia's role in working constructively with international partners on practical and realistic pathways towards nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. I must also commend my hometown of Newcastle. The city of Newcastle was first declared a nuclear-free zone in June 1982 by Australia's first female lord mayor, the late Labor lord mayor Joy Cummings.”
“Let us also remember those affected by nuclear bomb testing throughout the world, especially in our Pacific region and right here in Australia, where the effect of the Black Mist fallout at Maralinga and Emu Field continues to have devastating impacts for veterans, their descendants and First Nations communities to this day. Through the United Nations, the international community came together to stop the spread of nuclear weapons with the landmark Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It was Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1973 who proudly ratified the nonproliferation treaty and committed Australia to a world without nuclear weapons. The nonproliferation treaty remains to this day the cornerstone of international efforts towards this goal.”
“I rise to speak in support of this motion moved by my friend and colleague the member for Hasluck. As we approach the 80th anniversary of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we must reflect on the widespread devastation that saw more than 200,000 people killed in the explosions and subsequent fires, including around 38,000 children. Many more succumbed to injuries, burns and radiation sickness in the months and years that followed. The bombings also caused significant psychological trauma and long-term health problems, including increased cancer rates for survivors and their dependants. The immeasurable harm and enduring legacy of these inhumane bombings will continue to be felt for generations to come.”
“Young women were very excited to find out they can finally afford an IUD or access their preferred oral contraceptives, like Yaz, Yasmin or Slinda, thanks to Labor's investments. For the first time in 30 years, new oral contraceptives have been added to the PBS. Most of these young women weren't even born the last time a pill was added to that list. And women undergoing IVF are going to get the support they need. I will conclude by saying Labor created Medicare. We will always fight to protect and strengthen it. In Australia, we know that the only card you need for quality health care is your Medicare card.”
“He said, 'Medicare just saved my life.' Let that sink in. Kevin attended the clinic with some abdominal issues, and his GP identified the problem and immediately called an ambulance. Kevin underwent emergency surgery at the John Hunter Hospital shortly afterwards. As a result of that surgery, they discovered Kevin had bowel cancer, which has now been treated. Kevin said that without the urgent care clinic he wouldn't have known about his cancer. That's what affordable, accessible health care does: it saves lives. But we're not finished. As I said, we've committed to these additional funds, and it is really exciting to see some big work and investment into women's health. We are making sure that health care is equitable for women. I was at the University of Newcastle orientation week recently.”
“Novocastrians have certainly been making use of Labor's urgent care clinic, and my office has received a lot of positive feedback from people who have used the clinic up at Charlestown. Eighty-year-old Colleen got my community information magnet in the mail with details about the urgent care clinic and the GP Access After Hours service. She stuck it on the fridge and thought she'd never have to use it, but shortly afterwards she fell and injured her knee. Luckily, she was able to grab that magnet off the fridge, and she got the health care she needed. She told me that the service, the staff and the treatment were fantastic, and, most importantly, it was all bulk-billed. After attending Labor's urgent Medicare clinic at Charlestown, another constituent, Kevin, contacted my office with a very simple message.”
“We have committed to the single-largest ever investment in Medicare to deliver more bulk-billing services. We're opening an additional 50 urgent care clinics on top of the existing 87, and we're cutting the maximum cost of PBS medicines to just $25. We're investing $662 million in a workforce package that will expand the largest GP training program in Australian history, funding 2,000 new GP trainees every year. And, on top of this, all Australians will soon be able to access free 24-hour telehealth services, with the launch of 1800MEDICARE. That might seem a lot, because it is, but we know that investing in Medicare makes a real difference to the lives of all Australians, so we make no apology for our ambitious plans for a stronger Medicare.”
“But, in the last term of parliament, the Albanese Labor government did what Labor governments do best. We made record investments into Medicare to help stop that bulk-billing freefall, we lifted the six-year freeze on Medicare rebates and we reinstated funding to Newcastle's GP Access After Hours service to take the pressure off emergency departments and help ensure access to bulk-billing GPs. We rolled out 87 urgent care clinics across the country, ensuring that, when Australians need their health care most, they can get it free of charge. But that's not all. From 1 July this year, we boosted hospital funding by $1.8 billion. We've made more contraceptives, endometriosis treatments and IVF therapies accessible and affordable for women across Australia, and we expanded access to Medicare funded MRI scans. But we're not finished.”
“I rise today in support of this motion moved by my dear friend and colleague the Chief Government Whip, the member for Lalor. I'm supporting both her motion and Labor's determination to strengthen Medicare, because no matter your age, no matter your income, no matter who you are or where you come from, all Australians deserve quality, affordable health care. The Australian people value Medicare, and so does Labor. We always have and always will. That's why the Albanese Labor government has made record investments into strengthening Medicare since coming into office in 2022. The Liberals left Medicare in a mess. They had bulk-billing in a rapid decline, they slashed funding and they froze rebates. Novocastrians told me just how hard it was to find a GP, let alone one that bulk-billed their patients.”
“To those who have suffered from poor telco service, from unfair treatment, from outrageous penalties and from frustrating delays, this bill is for you. It is for the family who needs reliable internet for their child's education. It is for the small-business owner who cannot afford to lose another day of work due to service failures. It is for every Australian, as every Australian deserves to be treated with respect, and I urge all members in this parliament to support this bill and to stand with the millions of Australians who rely on their phone and internet services every day.”
“The Australian Government's reforms address longstanding consumer concerns about the relatively weak regulatory settings of the telco industry and will go a long way towards improving trust in the telecommunications industry. I also note that Communications Alliance CEO Luke Coleman welcomed the announcement. I appreciate their congratulations for the government's attention here. The Communications Alliance have consistently called for stronger enforcement powers for the ACMA, and they welcomed this announcement to enhance consumer protections in the telco industry. Labor believe in fairness, we believe in accountability and we believe that no telco should get away with harming consumers for the sake of their bottom line.”
“The Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025 is about ensuring that the telco industry serves Australians, and not the other way around. This bill has received strong support from consumer advocates, regulators and industry groups alike. The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and the ACMA all agree that these changes are necessary and overdue and will make a real difference in people's lives. ACCAN chief executive officer Carol Bennett hailed the strengthening of the act as a major win for consumers. She said: These reforms will promote increased accountability, transparency and compliance within the telecommunications industry and contribute towards improving diminishing consumer trust in telcos.”
“We've created the domestic family and sexual violence industry standard, ensuring that telcos provide safe and secure communication options for survivors, including prohibiting perpetrators from interfering with their accounts. We're working to revise the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code, ensuring stronger standards on responsible selling, consumer rights and complaint handling. We're improving telecommunications accessibility, investing in the National Relay Service and working with industry to enhance services for Australians with disabilities. We're making sure that no Australian, regardless of their circumstances, is left behind when it comes to accessing reliable, high-quality telecommunication services.”
“Finally, this bill is empowering the Minister for Communications. This bill clarifies the minister's authority to increase penalties issued by the ACMA, ensuring stronger consequences for breaches of key telecommunications rules. This means that future governments can act quickly in response to emerging consumer risks. This bill is just one part of Labor's broader plan to strengthen protections for Australian consumers. We've introduced the telecommunications financial hardship industry standard, which makes it mandatory for telcos to prioritise keeping customers connected and offer real assistance, like payment plans for those struggling to pay their bills.”
“Industry codes, which include requirements for customer service, billing practices and complaint resolution, will now have real weight behind them. The third measure in this bill introduces significantly increased penalties. Currently, the maximum penalty for breaches of consumer safeguards is only $250,000, which for some telcos would be pocket change. This bill will raise that to $10 million or up to 30 per cent of the company's turnover, ensuring that penalties are severe enough to make sure compliance is heeded. If a company knowingly profits from noncompliance, they could face fines three times the value of the benefit they gain from breaking the rules. This aligns with penalty frameworks in sectors like energy, banking and Australian consumer law, ensuring that telcos are held to the same high standards.”