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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“If a provider poses an unacceptable risk to consumers, the Australian Communications and Media Authority will have the power to stop them from operating. This means that rogue operators who exploit customers will no longer be allowed to fly under the radar. Secondly, we're making industry codes directly enforceable. Right now, when a telco breaks consumer protection rules, the ACMA must first issue a direction to comply before they can take action. This unnecessary delay means that consumer harm can continue, while bad actors get a second chance. Under this bill the ACMA will be able to immediately enforce industry codes, protecting Australians from further harm. This reform will incentivise compliance and ensure that telcos take their obligations to consumers seriously.”
“It cost me thousands in lost revenue, and there was nothing I could do.' For too long telcos have faced penalties that are simply too low and were not the deterrent we would want to see for that kind of bad behaviour. Companies simply absorbed them as a cost of doing business. Companies that fail to follow the rules must be held to account, and this bill ensures that they will be. This bill will introduce stronger consumer protections and give regulators the power that they need to take immediate action when telcos break the law. It does this in four key ways. Firstly, it creates a carriage service provider registration scheme. This will increase transparency by ensuring that only responsible telco providers operate in the market.”
“We've also seen serious issues in the industry such as the Optus scandal, when vulnerable Australians, many of them from First Nations communities and culturally diverse communities across Australia, were signed up for services that they did not need and then were chased for debts they should never have owed. Consumers are fed up. One regional customer recently told the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network: 'We rely on our internet for everything: paying bills, schoolwork, even medical appointments. But, when something goes wrong, it takes forever to fix and we're left in the dark.' Another customer, a small-business owner, said: 'My business depends on phone and internet services, but, when I had a major outage, I got no help from my provider.”
“Whether it's a parent trying to connect with their child, a small-business owner running their company or someone in a remote area depending on the internet for essential services, our lives are built around reliable connectivity. For too long consumers have been left behind, with some telcos putting profits before people. Right now too many Australians are struggling with their telecommunications services. Complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman rose 13 per cent in the last quarter of 2024. Small-business complaints also increased, and service outages have left thousands of Australians frustrated and disconnected.”
“I rise in support of the Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025, a vital piece of legislation that will ensure Australian consumers are placed at the heart of the telecommunications industry. This bill is about fairness, accountability and consumer protection. It's about making sure that, when Australians sign up for phone and internet services, they are treated with the respect and care they deserve. I really think it's great the Minister for Communications is here, as I know she has been paying strong attention to this debate throughout. I really thank you for your leadership in bringing these important consumer protections to our parliament. We all know how crucial telecommunications services are in our modern world.”
“I really thank her family and everybody who enabled her to be shared and do all that hard work on behalf of so many women that she would not have even known that were coming behind her—those generations of Labor women coming through. Her vision, her leadership and her commitment to justice have shaped the paths of so many Labor women who followed in her footsteps. I—indeed all of us who sit in this House today—have a lot to be very grateful for in Senator Crowley's work. Today we mourn her passing, but we also celebrate her immense contributions to our nation. The Labor Party is stronger because of Rosemary Crowley, Australian politics is more inclusive because of Rosemary Crowley and the fight for gender equality remains front and centre of Labor's agenda because of Rosemary Crowley. Vale, Rosemary.”
“Without her foresight and sheer determination, the landscape for women in Australian politics would look very different today. Beyond politics, Rosemary was a tireless advocate for women's rights. She worked to improve access to child care, support working families and strengthen all of those policies that went to empowering women both economically and socially. She understood that gender equality required real, substantive action. She dedicated her career to making that action happen. I stand here today as one of the national co-chairs of EMILY's List Australia, deeply grateful—indeed deeply indebted—to the work that Rosemary not only began but really nurtured for the decades to come. That is such a deep, personal commitment.”
“She appreciated, as do many of us who've come afterwards, the need to be forever vigilant about those important changes that have been made—never taking that for granted and to be always willing to stand up and be counted in this place, in the other house and, indeed, everywhere that women play, work and have a say. The other point I want to touch on here is the very pivotal role that Rosemary Crowley played in the establishment of EMILY's List Australia. I've often spoken of EMILY's List's history in this House. Since its founding in 1996, EMILY's List has now supported over 600 women in their political journeys, with more than 320 being elected to parliaments across Australia. The increasing representation of progressive women in our political institutions is testament to the vision that Rosemary Cowley helped bring to life.”
“We sit in a parliament where, on the government benches, it is a majority of women. I suspect that was unimaginable—maybe not unimaginable for Rosemary; she always had a big vision—or would have seemed like a very long way away in 1983. Her legacy is not just in the policies that she helped shape but also in the doors that she opened up for women in politics. She understood that breaking barriers was not enough; it was about creating lasting change and ensuring that women had both the support and the structures that they needed to succeed and, importantly, sustain those positive changes over time.”
“She was the first woman from South Australia to serve as a minister. Her contributions as Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women and later as Minister for Family Services in the Keating government have had a profound and lasting impact on the lives of Australian women and families. I'll come to her legacy in a moment, but it's pretty astounding to think what it might have been like to be a woman in the Australian parliament in 1983. Obviously, this was the parliament sitting in Old Parliament House, where we know they didn't even have toilets built for women. There were very few women; we were a very rare, precious commodity in the '83 environment. I know that Rosemary would be so proud of a Labor government today having a majority of women for the first time in Australia's history since 1901 when Federation formed.”
“I thank the member for Spence for his contribution to this condolence motion. We had the opportunity to share some of the parliament's thoughts with the family yesterday when the Prime Minister spoke to this motion. It gives me real pleasure to be able to stand and make a modest contribution myself, because Senator Rosemary Crowley was indeed an extraordinary Australian, a real trailblazer in our nation's political landscape and a very fierce advocate for women's rights. She was somebody who, within the Labor movement, inspired me from her very early steps towards ensuring that women's rights were on the national agenda and up for public debate. Senator Crowley was a woman of many firsts. In 1983, when she was elected, she was the first South Australian woman to be elected to the Australian parliament.”
“It's going to give women a whole new level of confidence and wellbeing, and that's what is especially important. I just want to end in the brief time that I have left by saying that this historic boost to women's health will deliver on that important matter of choice, help lower costs and make health care for women a much more affordable option. I am very, very proud to be part of the government moving this. I am also very proud to be hosting the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney, who will be conducting a women's health forum in Newcastle on Thursday 20 February. I invite all Novocastrian women to join us in this important historical moment.”
“The government will also provide funding for health professionals to undertake additional training in menopause and perimenopause and develop the first ever national clinical guidelines. That's an important step. After more than 20 years, three new menopausal hormone therapies will be listed on the PBS. Again, from 1 March, EstroGel and a number of others now will go onto the PBS listing to help secure supply and end that shortage of these really important treatments. Around 150,000 women each year are expected to benefit, who otherwise might pay between $400 and $670 a year. They will only pay a maximum of $31.60 a month or only $7.70 if they're on a concession card. Women on these therapies will be saving $290-odd a year. But it's much more than the financial gain.”
“We know they're not for everyone, but every woman should absolutely have the choice and be able to access them if she chooses. An investment of $25.1 million will establish eight centres of training of excellence to ensure healthcare professionals are trained, skilled and confident in recommending and inserting IUDs. One in five Australian women will have menopause symptoms severe enough to interfere with their daily lives. I know a number of my colleagues have spoken about either themselves or women that they've known who've had the extreme end of having to give up work. That is shocking for our economic productivity as a nation, not to mention the extreme impacts that that has on women, forced out of the workforce way too early.”
“That is compared to one in eight women in—our closest neighbours—New Zealand, one in seven in Ireland and one in three in Sweden. So we've got some work to do there. The government will be boosting Medicare payments to doctors and nurse practitioners to provide bulk-billed insertion and removal of IUDs and implants, and Medicare rebates will increase by up to 150 per cent, with around 300,000 women each year expected to save up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs. IUDs and birth-control implants provide health benefits that extend way beyond contraception—I think that's kind of important to note—including the management of really heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods and endometriosis, as well as perimenopause and menopause.”
“From 1 March, in just a couple of weeks time, some of the most commonly used contraceptive pills, like Yaz and Yasmin, will be listed on the PBS after the Minister for Health and Aged Care asked the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to finally put some deep thinking into how we might extend PBS benefits to this newer generation of oral contraceptives and the menopause hormone therapies. The listing of these pills is expected to benefit around 50,000 women each year who would otherwise have paid $380 a year and will now pay $126.40 a year, or just $30 a year if they're on a concession card. Work is underway to progress the listing of other contraceptive pills, so stay tuned. Australian women have got some of the lowest uptake of long-term contraceptives, like IUDs, and only one in 10 Australian women use a long-term contraceptive.”
“Women face almost sole responsibility for family planning in this nation, physically and financially. That's why we've introduced this package to take unfair financial pressure off women and provide them with more choice. After more than 30 years, we finally have a new contraceptive pill listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. I have to say—I'm sure this is a shock to Australian men—women have been more than patient about this. I think patience has absolutely run out. Thirty years is more than enough time to finally get some new-generation contraception onto the PBS. So it's great that's going to happen. Currently, one in three women aged 18 to 39 who use the combined oral contraceptive pill are paying for a non-PBS listed pill, which costs them hundreds of dollars more each and every year.”
“A majority women government means that every single piece of legislation has a gender lens run over it, and we no longer have ridiculous conversations in our party room about trying to establish the value of ensuring equity in Australia. In all of those areas, we've got fantastic female ministers, as well as the fabulous women MPs and senators in the caucus room, advocating consistently for policies that ensure women get a fair crack at opportunity in this country. The women's health package is part of a much broader agenda from the Albanese Labor government. It's making sure that women get a fair opportunity and are treated equally in Australia. We've made big steps in the last two years, but there is, of course, always more to do. We know that women face dual gender biases in health care and society.”
“The Albanese Labor government certainly are listening, and we're doing all of this because, of course, we are Australia's first majority women government. When you have a majority women government, the conversation changes. We can see that not only in women's health but also in every piece of legislation we have created. We see it in wage increases for female dominated industries like aged care and early childhood education; access to increased paid parental leave and ensuring superannuation is paid on that paid parental leave; investments in women's safety; supporting women's sports; and securing more safe housing for women.”
“This is not a new story, but we finally have a government that is listening. The response to this half a billion dollar package for women's health measures has been literally overwhelming. All of the peak medical bodies, including the RACGP, the AMA and all of the nursing colleges, as well as all of the other professional health bodies, have praised this package as an absolute game changer. But it's not just the health professionals that recognise this; it's women. We have been hearing from the women of Australia. They have been rejoicing that, finally, someone is listening to them about their pelvic pain, menopause symptoms and experiences with contraception. Someone is listening to our concern that to be a woman in Australia means we pay thousands of dollars more on our health over our lifetime.”
“Every woman has a story about gender bias in the health system. For too long, women and girls have faced barriers to accessing appropriate health care, from being told that their pain during IUD insertion 'isn't that bad', waiting years for a diagnosis of endometriosis, paying hundreds of dollars a year for their chosen contraception, to not being able to access hormone replacement therapy. That's why Labor is delivering an historic boost of over half a billion dollars to women's health. This will deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for millions of Australian women, including tens of thousands of women in Newcastle. This package is a result of a chorus of voices from across Australia. Women have been telling us that they have needed more from the health and medical system.”
“The biggest threat to household budgets and to Newcastle's future is indeed a coalition government. We know this because we know people would be at least $7,200 worse off under the coalition government based on their approaches to wages, tax cuts and energy bill relief alone. It's time that we gave up on giving tax breaks for bosses' long lunches and focused on the needs of everyday Australians. (Time expired)”
“We've already fixed the student-loan indexation formula, which cut $3 billion in student debt, with most students receiving that credit or refund in December last year. But we're going a step further. A re-elected Labor government will cut a further 20 per cent off all student loan debts, wiping around $16 billion in student debt for around three million Australians. In Newcastle, that means the average deduction of around $5,700 for more than 25,000 students. Along with these record investments in our region, Labor's primary focus has been around cost of living. That's why our government made sure that every taxpayer got a tax cut, that every household got energy bill relief and that people have access to cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, a stronger Medicare, free TAFE and student debt relief.”
“These changes include new PBS listings for oral contraceptive pills, lower costs for and better access to long-term contraceptives and more support for women experiencing menopause, as well as PBS listings for more new menopausal hormone treatments, and more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, including one in the Hunter and Central Coast region. It's about time that women in Newcastle had more choice, lower costs and better healthcare. Only Labor can be trusted to protect and strengthen Medicare. We know there's more work to do and we're working hard to improve our system each and every day. The Albanese Labor government's also easing cost-of-living pressures for students.”
“More than 2½ thousand people have received bulk-billing care through that clinic since it opened its doors just two months ago. We've also announced an 11 per cent increase in funding to public hospitals in New South Wales and Labor's historic boost to women's health to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for the tens of thousands of women in Newcastle. Women have asked government to take their health care seriously, and Australia's first-ever majority female government has listened. Labor's investment of more than half a billion dollars will save women and families thousands of dollars across their lifetimes.”
“We've got more Novocastrians working, which is great for workers, families, business and industry alike. By investing in infrastructure, innovation, training and skills, Labor's building Australia's future with good, secure, well-paid jobs at its heart. We've also made good on our promise to save GP access after hours, having restored the clinics at the John Hunter and Mater hospitals to their full capacity, as well as opening a new Medicare urgent care clinic at Charlestown. This new urgent care clinic offers walk-in care seven days a week across extended hours, and, importantly, it is completely bulk-billed. This means you can access high-quality health care, and the only card you'll need will be your Medicare card.”
“While we work to create a future made in Australia, we remain focused on easing the cost of living for Australians. Our economic plan is all about helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn. It's not a 'mission accomplished', because people are still under pressure, but we've made some welcome and encouraging progress on the cost of living in the past couple of years. Under a Labor government, inflation is low, wages are up, and employment is also up, with more than one million new jobs created under this government. Just last week we celebrated a major jobs boom in the Newcastle region. Since coming to government, almost 20,000 jobs have been created in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, highlighting a nine per cent increase. This surge in new jobs is great for Newcastle and our region.”
“The Newcastle to Sydney route will open a host of housing, employment and business opportunities for our region, as well as providing sustainable low-emissions transport. Ahead of the 2022 election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched plans for a high-speed rail in Newcastle, committing $500 million. Since then, we've established the High Speed Rail Authority, with an office and community information hub in Newcastle. We've completed the necessary geotechnical drilling, and now we're in receipt of the highly anticipated business case. It's an exciting time for Newcastle, which will be the birthplace of high-speed rail in Australia. This is what building Australia's future looks like in Newcastle, and only a Labor government will deliver it.”
“The exciting potential of new industries like offshore wind and green hydrogen and ammonia to shift our region's economy to net zero and position us as a global leader in new energy cannot be overstated. Newcastle and the Hunter have powered Australia for generations, and this project ensures that we'll continue to do so for many generations to come. Decarbonising our economy is the greatest economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution, and establishing the clean energy precinct at our port will ensure good local jobs are created and protected into the future. Labor is also making great progress on high-speed rail, which represents the next chapter in the economic story of Newcastle.”
“Significantly, this precinct will repurpose a 220-hectare industrial site on Kooragang Island that was once destined to become another coal-loading terminal. Instead, it will now be used to facilitate clean energy—its production, storage, transmission, domestic distribution and international export. The clean energy precinct reached a major milestone in October last year, signing agreements for key design work and environmental impact studies covering electrical infrastructure, water services, general infrastructure, storage, berth infrastructure and pipelines to the berth. A formal advisory agreement has now also been signed with global leader Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The clean energy precinct is a major economic boost for our region.”
“We've also just delivered almost $21 million for a new future industries facility at the University of Newcastle, which will bring together students, small and medium enterprises and the community to test and scale up new technology and to upskill people in Australia's energy, resources and manufacturing sectors for this net zero economy. These investments in Tighes Hill TAFE and the University of Newcastle's Future Industries Facility, coupled with our investment in renewable energy projects like offshore wind, solar, green hydrogen, ammonia and aluminium, pave the way for a bright future for Novocastrians and position us as a leader in the industries of today and tomorrow. Work is underway on the clean energy precinct at the Port of Newcastle, which is backed by a $100 million upfront investment by the Albanese Labor government.”
“Labor is also establishing a $65 million net zero manufacturing centre of excellence at Tighes Hill TAFE—a game changer for our region. This TAFE centre of excellence will play a pivotal role in building new net zero manufacturing skills for workers in our region. With this new facility we will be able to grow the workforce to support the renewable energy industry of tomorrow; build on the partnerships between TAFE, universities and local industry; and drive down power bills, because we know that renewables are the cheapest form of energy and getting more into the system sooner will bring down prices.”
“We want Australian workers to make more things here. To do that, we need to train Australians for that future, and that's why we're investing in education, research and development, and opening the doors to university and TAFE to ensure our country has the skills we need to reach net zero and build our future here in Australia. Labor's free TAFE has already given 600,000 Australians the chance to learn new skills for new jobs at no cost. As we move to a net zero global economy, Newcastle is leading the charge in transitioning to a cleaner, more sustainable economy and ensuring that workers are not left behind. That's why we're locking in a further 100,000 free TAFE places each and every year. But we aren't stopping there.”
“The Albanese Labor government has been steadfast in delivering for Newcastle. Creating more than 20,000 new jobs, easing cost-of-living pressures for families, investing in skills and training, and addressing key infrastructure needs, Labor's commitment to our region today and into the future has never been more evident. Our government's most significant achievements have been our focus on creating jobs, driving the transition to net zero in a methodical and orderly manner and providing economic stability. Through major investments in clean energy, Newcastle has become a hub of innovation in the transition to renewable energy. Labor know the pivotal role that Newcastle, as Australia's largest regional economy, will play in our plans to build Australia's future. Labor's ambition for a future made in Australia is clear.”
“This could have been resolved years ago had the former Liberal government followed due process. I'm pleased that the Albanese Labor government worked methodically to reach this decision. I thank the Newcastle community for its patience and advocacy. In particular, I'd like to give a big shout-out to Natasha Dean and the fabulous Save Our Coast team, and acknowledge the tireless efforts of Josh Kirkman and the Surf Riders Foundation for leading the community fight against PEP-11. I'm honoured to have taken up this fight on your behalf. The minister's rejection of PEP-11 is a huge win, and I thank Novocastrians for their strong and steadfast advocacy. This—”
“I rise today with some great news for the Newcastle community. The petroleum exploration permit known as PEP-11 has been formally rejected, putting an end to the decade-long threat of oil and gas off our precious coast. More than 75,000 people signed petitions to stop PEP-11. So when Labor's Minister for Industry and Science formally rejected the applications, there was a huge collective sigh of relief. PEP-11 has no friends in Newcastle. Our community's message has been loud, clear and consistent for over a decade: PEP-11 is not welcome—not in Sydney, not on the Central Coast and certainly not in Newcastle. This project never made sense—economically, environmentally or from an energy standpoint. It endangered local jobs in tourism, hospitality and fishing.”
“Any opportunity to discuss child care in this House is a great day. Affordable and accessible child care is not just a policy issue; it's a fundamental matter for equity and fairness. It's about ensuring that every child, no matter their background, has the opportunity to thrive, and it's about supporting families so they can balance their careers, their aspirations and their responsibilities at home. It's also about strengthening our economy, because, when you give people access to child care, they are able to participate fully in the workforce. It's great for productivity. That's why the Albanese Labor government's cheaper childcare policy is so vital. The member for Moncrieff's motion before us today frankly raises more questions than answers.”
“This is about building a safer, more secure environment for all Australians. It will complement a lot of work that Labor has already done to try and improve our privacy laws and our consumer protection laws to really make Australians as safe and protected from this evil scam industry as possible.”
“This public information and awareness campaign complements work being led by the National Anti-Scam Centre, and, under this bill, these types of advertisements will be supported by easy-to-access resources where Australians can report scams and receive guidance on how to handle suspicious activities. I know, like most members on this side of the House, who have been running our scam information forums in our electorates—I've had the minister at one of mine as well—that trying to make sure we inform our constituencies about ways to best protect them is absolutely critical. We do have information available at our electorate offices. We do have a national anti-scam centre on our side. We'll be enhancing enforcements and penalties through this legislation, which will hopefully be passed in the House today.”
“Currently the Albanese Labor government is running the 'fighting scams' awareness campaign. That's already out there, trying to equip Australians with tools to protect themselves. The campaign is running on TV and online ads using three very simple but memorable steps to empower Australians to identify these sophisticated scam tactics. I want to briefly put those on the record. The three critical steps are as follows: firstly, stop. Stop right now and think about whether or not you should be sharing your personal information. That's the first question you should ask yourself. Secondly, check. Do you know who you are dealing with? The third step is to protect—protecting yourself against the scams by reporting them to the scamwatch.gov.au body.”
“It recognises that scams cannot be fought through regulation and law-making alone. We need all our citizens to understand the threats and the ways to best protect themselves, and we need a whole-of-government, whole-of-community approach. We must make sure that Australians are informed, aware and equipped to protect themselves from the ever-evolving range of fraudulent activities. This bill mandates the creation of a national public awareness campaign that will run across multiple channels, and that's important because we know people are getting their information through all sorts of different means now. The campaign will educate people on how to recognise the warning signs of scams, how to protect their personal information and what steps to take if they suspect they have been targeted.”
“I know I'm going to run out of time for a lot of the detail of the bill, and I appreciate many of my colleagues having gone through that previously, but I cannot stress enough the importance of strengthening the regulatory environment. This is a bill that has undergone a lot of consultation, and it is now incumbent on this parliament to provide passage of this legislation so that we can really start swinging into action on this issue. We shouldn't be waiting another single day to get this through this House. We want to be very proactive about consumer protection in Australia, and we want to be proactive about the education that we should be providing to consumers now. One of the key aspects of this bill is its focus on consumer education, and I really commend the minister and the government for ensuring this is a part of the bill.”
“It's even more alarming that scams increasingly target the most vulnerable members of our community—the elderly, people who are experiencing financial hardship and even young people who are just less experienced at spotting the threats. This leaves many people, as I mentioned, exposed and vulnerable to manipulation and deception at the hands of what we now know are often organised criminal syndicates. These are not just rogue operators; these are very sophisticated, highly organised criminal syndicates that are out to exploit. This bill is designed to address head-on the issues that I have mapped out by introducing this comprehensive framework that will prevent, detect and combat scams in our country.”
“That's the size of the problem we seek to deal with today. It is more than just an economic expense, as I tried to put forward at the beginning of this discussion. This has profound psychological and emotional impacts for our constituents as well. There is such a significant human cost here that the government's trying to tackle as well. From identity theft to phishing and from fraudulent investment schemes to romance scams, no-one is immune. Scams are not just financial losses, as I said. They result in this profound distress for people, destroying relationships, ripping families apart and leaving long-lasting scars on the lives of individuals and all of their families.”
“It's no secret that scams are on the rise in Australia. Any member of parliament would know that from their communications with their constituents. We know that with technological advancements the internet has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. However, as our lives have moved online more and more, so too have the perpetrators of these scams. We know they are absolutely in that space; they are increasingly sophisticated, as I mentioned earlier; they are ruthlessly deceptive; and they are unrelenting in their pursuits. In 2023 alone, Australians lost more than $2.7 billion to scams. That is a terrifying figure. I know it's pretty hard to imagine what billions of dollars looks like or feels like. Perhaps it might be easier to reframe that: Australians are losing an average of $7 million every day to criminal scams.”
“I urge all parties—it doesn't matter if you're sitting on the crossbench or on the opposition bench—to get on board. It's important to understand that this is not just a legal initiative. We are making law here, absolutely, and that is our job, but it is also a comprehensive commitment to protecting individuals and businesses from the devastating impacts of scams. We're not just a bunch of lawmakers here; we are also ensuring that we are part of a comprehensive commitment to the Australian people this is about protecting them and protecting those small businesses that are also caught up in this dreadful scam industry. We know that this is a really big challenge in our digital age. It's an acknowledgement that in today's interconnected world we must work together to prevent and respond to scams effectively.”
“At its core, this bill seeks to create a national coordinated framework that brings together multiple sectors, including government agencies and financial institutions, the telecommunications providers and the consumer protection groups, to address scams in a unified manner. We're not picking off one sector from another; we understand this requires a whole-of-government, whole-of-community approach. We are bringing people together, not trying to divide them up. It recognises that an ecosystems approach is required to reduce the gaps, which we know are exploited by the scammers. We can't afford to have people splintered off and not on board with this bill. If we're genuine about delivering strong consumer protection to our consumers, the very people we represent in this parliament, then we need everybody on board.”
“That is why this House collectively should support this legislation before the Australian parliament today. The Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2024 being introduced is, as I mentioned, world-leading legislation. It is also central to this government's broader agenda on consumer protections. If I've got time, I will try to come back to that broader agenda as well. It is this framework which is an economy-wide reform to protect consumers from scams by requiring the private sector to adhere to consistent principles-based obligations and strong, tailored industry codes that are enforceable.”
“They are especially vulnerable people in that they are usually too embarrassed to come forward. They're ashamed. They feel like they've fallen for something. But I say to those people—indeed, all people who feel like they cannot come forward to report these scams—please know that you are one of many. You are not alone. You are not a mug. You haven't been hoodwinked, because these people are highly sophisticated criminals that are now so manipulative and know so much about your personal information and data that you think they are absolutely ridgy-didge when they speak to you on the phone or send you those emails. I say to Novocastrians again and again: there is help. It's not good enough now, but this bill, which I will come back to now, is going to help enormously.”
“As we know, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the tactics that they deploy as well. We need to be much better at coordinating our efforts to stop them. I want to highlight upfront the real human cost of the scamming industry, which has really threatened so many Australians now. Over the last couple of years, I, like all my Labor colleagues, have been hosting scam information forums in my communities. Indeed, the minister has attended some of these in my electorate and in other electorates across Australia, because we know how devastating the impact is, whether it's an investment scam—I've had devastating stories from people in my electorate who have lost their life savings. Imagine how you feel at retirement losing everything you had put aside. We've got people who have fallen prey to romance scams.”