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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“Speech time limits Ms Campbell 5 minutes Other Members 5 minutes [Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins] The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.”
“Speech time limits All Members 5 minutes each. [Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins] The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day. Notices — continued 4 MS CAMPBELL: To move: That this House notes that: (1) twelve months into the landmark $792.9 million women's health package, the Government is continuing to deliver on its promise of more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women and girls; and (2) since the announcement, more than 660,000 women have accessed more than 2 million cheaper scripts for new contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatment listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. (Notice given 10 February 2026.) Time allotted remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.”
“Orders of the day 1 ENERGY AFFORDABILITY: Resumption of debate ( from 3 November 2025 ) on the motion of Mr Tehan—That this House: (1) condemns the Government for its failures regarding energy affordability and policy transparency; and (2) notes that: (a) Australians were promised a $275 cut to their power bills but under the Government households are instead paying on average $1,300 more; (b) energy bills have already surged close to 40 per cent under the Government; (c) the Government has broken its most basic promise to the Australian people; and (d) the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water advised the Minister for Climate Change and Energy within the Incoming Government Brief of 'a further significant increase in retail electricity prices next financial year'. Time allotted 40 minutes.”
“( Australian Centre for Disease Control Amendment (Gambling as a Public Health Issue) Bill 2026 ) (Notice given 10 February 2026.) Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.”
“2 DR SCAMPS: To present a Bill for an Act to establish a framework for transparent and quality public appointments, and to establish Independent Selection Panels and the Office of the Public Appointments Commissioner, and for related purposes. ( Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2026 ) (Notice given 10 February 2026.) Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142. 3 DR M RYAN: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Australian Centre for Disease Control Act 2025 , and for related purposes.”
“The Committee deliberated on items of committee and delegation business that had been notified, private Members' business items listed on the Notice Paper and notices lodged on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 2 March 2026, as follows: Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon) PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS Notices 1 MS PENFOLD: To present a Bill for an Act to protect prime agricultural land, and for related purposes. ( Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill 2026 ) (Notice given 10 February 2026.) Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.”
“I present report No. 7 of the Selection Committee, relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday 2 March. The report will be printed in the Hansard for today, and the committee's deliberations will appear on tomorrow's Notice Paper . Copies of the report have been placed on the table. The report read as follows— Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and of private Members' business 1. The Committee met in private session on Tuesday, 10 February 2026. 2.”
“You know your communities will thank you for it, and I ask that you look into your deepest conscience and see if you can't bring yourselves to support a bill in the national interest.”
“There is not a single First Nations organisation, advocacy group or community not calling for this bill. You do a grave disservice to each and every one of them by opposing this bill. This is a bill that will establish a permanent, independent advocate for children who have too often been unheard,. It strengthens accountabilities across government and systems; it reflects Labor's commitment to partnership, reform and long-term change; and it affirms a simple but powerful principle—that every child in Australia deserves safety, dignity, opportunity and a voice. That's why I commend this bill to the House. That's why I ask members of the opposition and members of the crossbench to lean in and support this bill.”
“While this bill cannot undo the past, it represents a commitment to doing better and to ensuring that future generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are supported, that they're protected and that they're heard. It's recognition that structural change is required to prevent the repetition of past failures. Deputy Speaker Scrymgour, I don't need to tell you how important this legislation is. I heard your speech, and I know your work and your lifelong commitment to ensuring the protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. But the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026 represents a decisive step forward. That anyone would oppose this is beyond me. I really implore those members opposite to rethink their position here.”
“When Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children thrive, communities are stronger, economies are stronger and our nation is stronger. Investing in children's wellbeing reduces long-term costs associated with poor health, disengagement from education and involvement in the justice system. But, more importantly, it reflects our values as a nation. This bill affirms that First Nations children are not an afterthought; they are absolutely central to our future. There is also a moral responsibility at the heart of this legislation. Australia's history includes policies that caused profound harm to Aboriginal families and children. The impacts of those policies continue to be felt today.”
“This bill is about moving beyond short-term responses to long-term solutions. Some may argue—as, indeed, we've heard tonight—that this bill creates another layer of governance. But this commission is not about duplication. It is about coordination and accountability. It does not replace existing services or agencies; it strengthens them by identifying gaps, highlighting best practice and driving reform where systems are failing. Others may suggest that a targeted focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is unnecessary, but the evidence clearly shows that outcomes are not equal, and equity demands a targeted response. Treating unequal outcomes with identical solutions does not deliver fairness; it entrenches disadvantage. This bill recognises that principle. This legislation is in the national interest.”
“It is the result of extensive engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies, with child and family organisations and with advocates who have long called for a national mechanism focused specifically on children and young people. This bill is not symbolic; it is practical structural reform. It's important to acknowledge why this legislation is necessary. Australia has no shortage of reports, inquiries and recommendations concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. What has too often been missing is sustained implementation and accountability. Without a permanent national body, attention shifts, priorities change and momentum is lost. The national commission addresses that gap. It ensures continuity. It ensures expertise. It ensures that progress, or lack thereof, is visible and measurable over time.”
“This bill reflects Labor's longstanding commitment to improving outcomes for First Nations people through partnerships, respect and action. The Albanese Labor government has placed Closing the Gap at the centre of its agenda, recognising that genuine progress requires shared responsibility across all levels of government. We have strengthened the investment in early childhood education and care, recognising that the earliest years are critical to lifelong outcomes. We've supported community controlled organisations because Aboriginal led services deliver better, more culturally appropriate outcomes. And we have prioritised listening, ensuring that policy is informed by First Nations voices rather than imposed without consultation. The establishment of this national commission builds on that record.”
“Aboriginal families in my region engage every day with child protection, education, health and justice systems that are shaped by national laws, national standards and national policy settings. What happens at the national level directly affects outcomes on the ground, and that's why this bill matters to Newcastle. By strengthening national oversight, advocacy and accountability, it also strengthens the systems that are operating locally. It ensures that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Newcastle benefit from a strong national advocate who can elevate local concerns, support local voices and drive change where systems are falling short. It reinforces the principle that children's wellbeing should never be a postcode lottery and that, when disparities exist, they demand national leadership alongside strong local action.”
“This parliament has a responsibility not only to create policies but to create mechanisms that hold systems to account when those policies fail. The national commission is such a mechanism. I represent the electorate of Newcastle, a region with a very strong and proud Aboriginal community. The Awabakal and Worimi peoples have cared for those beautiful lands that I get to live on now for more than 65,000 years, and their continued contribution is fundamental to Newcastle's identity and community life today. But the challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children nationally are not abstract. They are experienced locally by families in Newcastle and across the Hunter, and every single member in this House would say the same if they were to remain true to their heart and representation.”
“Importantly, it will elevate the voices of children and young people themselves, making sure that their lived experience inform policy development, service delivery and legislative reform. We hear from this debate tonight just how critical it is to ensure those voices are heard. Independence is a defining feature of this bill. The commission will operate independently of government, as it should, with the authority to speak openly, as it should. It will investigate systemic problems and make recommendations without fear or favour. And that is how it should be. That independence matters. It ensures credibility, it ensures transparency and it ensures that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are not silenced by political convenience or bureaucratic inertia.”
“By establishing a national commission with a clear legislative mandate, this parliament is responding to that call and recognising that First Nations children and young people deserve nothing less. The national commission will have a clear and focused purpose. It will promote and protect the rights and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. It will examine systemic issues affecting their wellbeing across areas such as child protection, health, education, housing and youth justice. And it will conduct inquiries, provide advice, make recommendations to governments and institutions and report publicly on progress and failures. It's an accountability measure for all of us as well.”
“They are the product of systems that have too often been designed without these children at their centre—systems that fail to properly recognise culture, family, community and self-determination as strengths. That is why the establishment of a national commission matters so deeply and why this legislation has such strong support from those working at the front line. More than 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations across Australia, advocates, service providers and peak bodies have united behind this reform. They are calling for a legislated, independent national advocate with the authority to drive systemic change, not simply observe it.”
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people continue to face high and persistent levels of disadvantage. We have heard speaker after speaker talk about the fact that First Nations kids are 11 times as likely to be in out-of-home care and 27 times as likely to be in youth detention as non-Indigenous children. Nobody could seriously suggest that that is okay. The idea that we do nothing is negligent, and that's the kindest word I could bring to the debate this evening. They're also more likely, of course, to experience developmental vulnerability and poorer health and education outcomes, and these outcomes are not the result of individual failure. I think that is the point that we're trying to make here.”
“Children depend on those of us who stand here and try to give voice to their concerns, to their futures and to their desires and aspirations. The establishment of a permanent, independent national commission dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people is a longstanding call from First Nations leaders, communities and organisations, and this bill answers that call. So it is unbelievable for me to hear the opposition say they're not supporting this bill. I have lived in the member for Durack's electorate. I know the communities she represents, and the fact that she could not support this bill will be deeply hurtful. I can assure her of that. The scale and urgency of the systemic failures facing First Nations children and young people are profound, and we need to acknowledge that very much upfront.”
“It speaks directly to our responsibility as parliament to protect the rights, wellbeing and futures of First Nations children and young people, the first children of this country. This bill recognises a fundamental truth: that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to experience disproportionate disadvantage but, more than that, that there are harms and systemic failures that we know of. We must acknowledge that, and addressing those outcomes requires much more than goodwill or practical good deeds. We are talking about structural, systemic inequalities and failures. It requires enduring structures, accountability and a national commitment to listening to the voices of children themselves. This parliament doesn't have voices of children.”
“I rise to speak in very strong support of the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026. I just listened to the member for Durack's contribution, and I'm really struggling. How anyone stands in this House—knowing everything that we do and on the eve of a Closing the gap report that's going to remind us again of the work that still needs to be done—to speak against a bill that is to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is gobsmacking. I speak to the rest of the Australian community, who are trying to understand this debate that is happening in this House tonight. I want you to be assured that this is a very significant and necessary piece of legislation.”
“Parliament has a responsibility to speak clearly when human rights are under attack, and today I am pleased that this chamber chooses to stand together in unity and with purpose. This is important.”
“Dianna shared with me stories of loss, fear and resilience. She introduced me to those who have lost loved ones, sons, daughters, siblings and best friends—taken by a regime determined to silence dissent and conceal their deadly crackdown on protesters and other dissidents. These conversations are ones I will never forget. To the Iranian community in Newcastle and across the country, and, indeed, the citizens of Iran, I say this: you are not alone. Your voices are heard in this parliament, and your grief, your anger and your hope matter. Australia stands with you. We stand with the women of Iran who refuse to be erased. We stand with the protesters who risk everything for freedom, and we stand with those who have lost loved ones but continue to speak their names.”
“Australia will never tolerate foreign intimidation, extremism or terror, and when our values and security are challenged we respond decisively. Collectively, the actions of the Australian government matter, and they bring home the threat of state sponsored terrorism and malicious foreign interference for all Australians to see. On 27 January I attended a candlelight vigil in Civic Park, Newcastle, to mourn the thousands of innocent lives lost to the brutality of the Iranian regime. I stood alongside members of our local Iranian community—people who carry immense grief, trauma and courage with them every day. The vigil was deeply moving, solemn and powerful and marked a quiet strength and an unyielding demand for justice. I acknowledge Diana Abdollahi, who invited me to attend the vigil.”
“The government has also taken the significant step of expelling the Iranian Ambassador to Australia, and we have consistently and forcefully raised our concerns with Iran about its human rights abuses, its destabilising actions in the Middle East and its foreign interference here in Australia. The decision to expel the ambassador followed deeply disturbing revelations by the Australian Federal Police that Iran had directed on at least two occasions antisemitic attacks on Australian soil. Those attacks were thwarted, but let's be clear that agents of Iran dared to plan a violent attack in our country. That behaviour represents a profound breach of trust, a direct threat to Australian sovereignty and an affront to the safety of our people.”
“Families are left grieving loved ones who dare to speak out. Australia has been clear eyed and resolute in our response to these shocking abuses of human rights. The Australian government has stood shoulder to shoulder with the international community in calling for the protection of rights of Iranian citizens. We have used every appropriate diplomatic and multilateral forum to condemn Iran's actions and to demand accountability for those responsible, and we will continue to do so. Importantly, we have strengthened Australia's autonomous sanctions framework so that we can directly target individuals and entities involved in oppression. Since 2022, Australia has sanctioned more than 220 Iranian-linked persons and entities, including more than 100 officials and organisations linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
“I rise to support this important motion moved by my friend and colleague the member for Menzies, and I thank him for bringing the human rights catastrophe in Iran to the attention of this chamber. What we are witnessing in Iran is not an isolated or fleeting crisis. It's a sustained and systemic assault on fundamental human rights. Iranian citizens continue to face brutal repression for the simple act of demanding dignity, freedom and equality. Since the death of Mahsa Amini in custody in 2022, the Iranian regime has responded to peaceful protests with violence, mass arrests, draconian detention, torture and executions. Women are persecuted, beaten and imprisoned for resisting compulsory veiling laws. Protesters are crushed by a regime that rules through fear, arbitrary detention and force.”
“They were giving up paid work in order to become a great social worker in our community. So this paid Commonwealth prac payment system is a real game changer for those students, mostly women, doing these professions. It was really energising to hear their stories and their optimism. And that's exactly why Labor is committed to backing students and investing in our future workforce. House adjourned at 20 : 01”
“Let's not forget those students now studying teaching, nursing, midwifery or social work. They were telling me how thrilled they were about now being able to be paid while undertaking those mandatory placements as part of their degree program. These students do essential, demanding and often full-time work for their placements in order to qualify for professions that our communities desperatelyneed, and so paying these students during placement is about fairness. It's about dignity. It's about making sure that cost isn't a barrier to becoming a teacher, a nurse, a midwife or a social worker. And I can tell you that those social workers, who we desperately need many more of in our communities, especially now, were doing 1,000 hours of unpaid work in order to get their degree. Think about that.”
“I love going out to O-Week events at the University of Newcastle, and last week I did just that. There was real excitement and energy amongst the students on campus. One thing kept coming up again and again, and that was student debt relief. It's good to have that word 'relief' at the end of that sentence. Returning students told me just what it meant to have their student debts cut last year. Labor cut 20 per cent off all student debt, and let's not forget that this is not just for university students. Every TAFE student that accumulated one of these debts, every apprentice and everyone under the VET schemes all stood to benefit from this scheme, delivering real relief for people in my electorate. More than 25,000 Novocastrians had 20 per cent cut off their student debt, and what relief that brought!”
“It's good news for our energy system, and it's great news for the environment. Home batteries help households store the solar energy they generate through the day and then use it whenever they need it, not just when the sun is shining. This is lowering bills and giving families more control over their energy use. Home batteries are also strengthening the grid by reducing pressure during all those peak times, making our energy system more reliable and resilient. And, of course, they play a critical role in cutting emissions by helping us to use more clean, renewable energy. This is a practical climate action that delivers real benefits to everyday Australians right now, with lower bills, increased reliability of the grid and a cleaner energy future.”
“They deepen our understanding of the world's oldest continuing culture and strengthen the respect that sits at the heart of our community. I want to thank the organisers—the Awabakal, the Wollotuka and the University of Newcastle, in particular—the artists, the performers, the volunteers and the elders who made this event such a success. Thank you as well to all the partners, and I'm especially pleased to acknowledge the support of the Australian government this year. Ngarrama reminds us that reconciliation isn't a moment; it's a shared journey. In Newcastle, we are committed to walking that path together. Across Australia, more than 218,000 households now have a home battery installed under Labor's cheaper home batteries plan, and that includes over 1,500 in my electorate of Newcastle. That's good news for families.”
“Last week, I attended the Ngarrama, a much-loved community gathering on Awabakal and Worimi country in Newcastle, now in its fifth year. I want to acknowledge just how important this event has become in Newcastle's calendar of events. Through truth-telling performances, dance and song, the evening honours the past, the present and the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as providing a powerful opportunity to reflect on the lives and ongoing contributions of First Nations people in Mooloobinba/Newcastle. It was powerful to see so many locals coming out—families, neighbours, workmates, elders and so many young people, all sharing in storytelling, music, art and truth-telling. Events like Ngarrama matter because they create space to listen, to learn and to walk forward together.”
“In keeping with the Jewish tradition that asks us to remember the dead and honour them by saying their names, tonight we remember Matilda, Edith Brutman, Dan Elkayam, Boris and Sofia Gurman, Alexander Kleytman, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Peter Meagher, Reuven Morrison, Marika Pogany, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Adam Smyth, Boris Tetleroyd, Tania Tretiak and Tibor Weitzen.”
“This motion declares that this parliament rejects hate and terror. It honours the memory of those murdered and commits to standing with survivors and their families. This is an important first step, but words of sorrow are not enough. We must resolve to act to confront antisemitism, and indeed all forms of hatred, with courage and clarity, and to ensure that our laws, education and national conversations reflect our values. I hope tomorrow this parliament can act with dignity, compassion and unity to pass legislation to do just that. May the memories of those lost be a blessing, may the injured fully recover and may peace remain our lasting goal.”
“In the hours following the terrorist attack, I spoke with president Samuel Reich, vice-president Max Lenzer and long-serving member of the congregation David Gubbay. Despite their profound shock and grief, they spoke with a shared determination that this act of terror would not define them—would not define us, our community. The Jewish community will continue to turn towards the light, even in the darkest of times. Newcastle has a compassionate heart. The size of the crowd at the Newcastle synagogue on the evening of 17 December proved that to be true. Novocastrians are empathetic people. We look after one another, we reject hate and division and we refuse to say silent when any member of our community is attacked. These acts of solidarity remind us that, even in our darkest moments, love will always triumph.”
“I want to pay tribute to Rabbi Yossi because it's his strong, compassionate leadership that made everybody welcome and brought our community together at a time when we needed to be unified more than ever. Despite grieving the loss of his dear friend Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Rabbi Yossi's calm resolve and pastoral care for his community have been a profound source of strength at an incredibly difficult time. I also wish to acknowledge the powerful words offered by Rebbetzin Malki Rodal at the vigil—words that provided great comfort and strength, reminding us all of the enduring power of love, light and hope. I was also deeply moved by the response of the members of the Newcastle Hebrew Congregation.”
“Faced with the evil of antisemitism, Novocastrians emphatically rejected hate, choosing unity over division, and light over darkness instead. They donated blood, laid flowers, signed condolence books and checked in on their friends and colleagues. And they turned out en masse in response to Rabbi Yossi Rodal's call to join him, just three days after the attack, at a vigil at the Newcastle synagogue, packing out the synagogue, with hundreds more spilling out onto the streets and into the courtyard and gardens. This was Newcastle at its best, standing together in sorrow and solidarity. It was especially pleasing to see people of all faiths come together that evening, with leaders from all the Christian churches, the Mayfield mosque and Afghan communities all standing side by side with the Jewish community.”
“The Australian parliament condemns in the strongest possible terms the evil of antisemitism and all forms of hatred that fuel violence. We stand in unwavering solidarity with Australia's Jewish communities and reiterate that there is no place in our nation for hatred, antisemitism and violence—not now, not ever. On 14 December, when we saw the absolute worst of humanity, we also witnessed acts of extraordinary kindness and courage from police and other first responders who ran towards danger, from medical professionals who worked tirelessly, and from ordinary Australians who swung into action to help save lives. In my own electorate of Newcastle I have been deeply heartened by our community's response.”
“To the families, friends, children, spouses, siblings, neighbours and colleagues of those killed: this parliament recognises the depth of your grief. Your loss is our collective loss, and your pain is felt across this nation. We also acknowledge the grief and trauma of the men, women, and children who survived and who continue to recover, carrying physical injuries and emotional trauma. The road to healing is long, but please know you won't walk it alone. Let us be clear about what occurred. This was not random violence. This was a terrorist attack on Australian soil, an act of cowardice that deliberately targeted Australia's Jewish community as they gathered to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. That's traditionally a time of light, reflection and hope.”
“Today we stand united in this place in profound sorrow and solemn reflection, not for the passing of time but for the lives shattered by an act of unspeakable violence. At a place and time that should have been filled with sunshine, laughter and light, at the beginning of Hanukkah, terror struck. A joyful community celebration turned into a scene of unimaginable fear, grief and devastating loss when two men armed with guns in their hands and hate in their hearts opened fire. That day, 15 innocent people were murdered at Bondi Beach. They were mothers and fathers, children, friends and community leaders. They were deeply loved and deeply connected. Their absence leaves an ache that words alone cannot soothe.”
“My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry and the Minister for Pacific Island Affairs. How is the united Albanese Labor government delivering critical defence capabilities to keep Australian safe, and how does that compare to other approaches to national security?”
“We can honour those women we have lost with action now, with urgency and with the unshakeable resolve that every woman and child has a right to live free from violence.”
“These are not just names on a page; they're daughters, sisters, aunties, mothers, grandmothers, friends and colleagues—women who should still be here today. We know their names and their stories because of the tireless and painful work of Counting Dead Women Australia researchers of Destroy the Joint, who maintain the national register of women killed through violence. They in turn rely on the responsible reporting of journalists across the country whose work documents this epidemic and makes sure these women are not erased or forgotten. Ending gender based violence is a national priority for the Albanese Labor government and, I hope and I sincerely suspect, every single member of this parliament. It is something we all commit to.”
“Let us honour and remember Sandra Dobrila, aged 41; Pauline Slater, in her 40s; Heang Kim Gau, aged 68; Zhuojun 'Sally' Li, just 33; Charlyz Hayter, aged 19; Khouloud Hawatt, aged 31; an unnamed woman aged 32; Chloe Mason, just 23; Yvonne Beres, 59; an unnamed woman aged 51; Merril Kelly, age unknown; Lilian Donnelly, 88; Rachel McKenna, aged 35; Rachel Moresi, aged 55; an unnamed woman aged 41; Crystal Beale, aged 49; Kara Weribone, 27; Irene Herzel, 78; Audrey Griffin, just 19; Cecilia Webb, aged 79; Czarina Tumaliuan, aged 42; Louise Hunt, age unknown; Thi Kim Tran, aged 45; an unnamed woman, 39; an unnamed woman, 28; Pheobe Bishop, aged 17; an unnamed woman aged 48; Muzhda Habibi, aged 23; Lauren Hopkins, 47; Norma Dutton, aged 85; Krystel Paul, aged 41; an unnamed woman aged 22; Leanne Akrap, aged 47; an unnamed woman aged 81; Amanda Rahman, aged 62; Shafeeqa Husseini, aged 41; Zoe Walker, 38; Athena Georgopoulos, aged 39; Summer Fleming, aged 20; Anu Kumar, aged 32; an unnamed woman aged 30; Carra Luke, aged 48; an unnamed woman aged 31; an unnamed woman aged 23; an unnamed woman aged 52; Irene Selmes, aged 84; an unnamed woman, age unknown; Jordana Johnson, just 36; an unnamed woman aged 58; Lisa Ward, aged 55; Rhukaya Lake, aged 39; and Marcia Chalmers, 86.”
“It is with a heavy heart that I rise to speak on this motion marking the 16 days of activism against gender based violence. Gender based violence manifests in many ways, from coercive control to physical assault and, at its most devastating, the loss of women's lives. Since I last read the names of women killed by violence, 52 Australian women have lost their lives through acts of violence. Every year, I read this list in the hope that it will be the last, but, heartbreakingly, that day has not yet come. Today, as we begin the 16 days of activism, we must recommit ourselves to ending this national emergency of violence against women and children , and we honour the women whose lives were stolen this year.”
“I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 25 November 2025 marks the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, beginning 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence; (b) in Australia, it has been publicly reported that approximately 40 women have been killed by acts of violence so far this year; (c) one in three Australian women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by a man since the age of 15; (d) violence against women and girls impacts everyone, of all genders, ages, ethnicities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds, it does not discriminate and is almost always committed by men; and (e) there is no excuse for violence against women and girls; (2) commends the work that the Government has done so far in taking immediate and practical steps to support women and children to escape violence through significant investments; and (3) recognises that there is still much more work to be done to prevent violence against women and children and create lasting change, which demands a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to prevention, early intervention, response, recovery and healing, alongside strengthening the justice system and addressing issues like financial abuse and online safety.”
“In Newcastle we've always understood that balance—prosperity through innovation while protecting our coast and waterways. This bill reflects that legacy. This is nation-building reform. It creates a modern, trusted system of environmental protection. For the first time, the environmental information will be public in real time; for the first time, the Commonwealth will set binding standards; and, for the first time, there will be an independent, national EPA—a strong cop on the beat. This is what Australians expect, and it is what Labor is delivering. This is a moment of decision. The people of Newcastle expect us to protect both jobs and the environment. We can deliver the renewable energy and the housing we need while safeguarding nature. Let's pass this bill. Let's protect our environment and build our economy at the same time.”