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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“This is the same Greens party that teamed up with the coalition to block the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in 2009, setting the stage for a decade—indeed, decades—of climate inaction. They also teamed up to send more of Australia's rubbish overseas, missing an opportunity to create jobs here and protect our environment. Whether it's the climate, housing or environmental reform, the Greens have too often put their own political interests above the national interest. If the Greens now choose to block this legislation, they will only have themselves to blame for the lack of progress on environmental law reform. This bill is not about choosing between the environment and the economy. The two are inseparable. Strong standards provide certainty for investors and fairness for responsible operators.”
“Graeme Samuel himself has warned that the ongoing obstruction by the coalition and, disappointingly, by the Greens is a betrayal of the Australian government—and he is right. This is our one shot for a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix a system that has failed both business and nature for far too long. The Greens want to frame this legislation as a tug of war between the environment and the economy. They assert a false choice: that you can have one but not the other. And that is simply wrong. You don't have to choose between the environment and jobs or business. You can protect and grow both. Rather than petty political stunts, the Greens should learn their lessons and work with the government to deliver what the Australian people want. The Australian people have voted not once but twice for this legislation. Let's get this done.”
“You all should be on board, quite frankly, in the national interest to begin with. But review after review has told us that these laws, our current environment laws, are not fit for purpose. We all know that. If you were all honest you would all admit that yourselves. In 2020, Professor Graeme Samuel delivered that review and made it very clear to all that the current system was broken: it's too slow, too complex and too weak. He called for strong national environmental standards and a tough, independent regulator to enforce them. Yet, since then, we've seen delay after delay after delay, and that is fuelled not only by community but by people who take advantage of political games.”
“In crafting these reforms, we have looked to three pillars: firstly, stronger protection and restoration; secondly, efficient and robust assessments and approvals; and, thirdly, accountability, including the National Environmental Protection Agency. When it comes to housing, the Greens choose politics over progress every single time. They worked with Peter Dutton in the last term to block progress here in Canberra, they block housing in their local communities and they offer fantasy fixes that make the housing crisis worse. The Australian people have shown the Greens that they have a pretty dim view of opposition for opposition's sake. It's time they heeded the message and worked constructively with government. You've got an option. We can work this way, or we can work that way.”
“It means safer, healthier communities; stronger air quality standards; better land-use planning; and cleaner waterways as well as greater resilience to the growing impacts of climate change. But this bill doesn't just tighten rules; it streamlines processes. For too long, approvals have been mired in duplication. This bill creates a single consistent framework with efficient, transparent decisions. For too many builders, it takes a longer time to get approval for a home than to build one. Building on the Australian Labor government's ambitious $43 billion housing agenda, the government announced in August that it would fast-track 26,000 homes currently under environmental assessment. But the measures in this bill tackle the underlying cause of delay while delivering stronger protections for nature.”
“The Hunter is at the forefront of the clean energy revolution with green hydrogen and ammonia, battery manufacturing, a clean energy precinct at the Port of Newcastle and a net zero manufacturing centre at Tighes Hill TAFE. We need a framework that supports that transition, not one that rewards inaction or delay. It means investment certainty for the renewable energy and clean technology sectors. Investors want clarity. I do not understand how the coalition does not get this point. Investors want to know that environmental approvals will be handled efficiently and transparently. This bill gives them that confidence by unlocking new projects, cheap and clean energy, and new jobs—very important in regions like Newcastle and the Hunter.”
“It delivers one system, one set of rules and one national approach underpinned by a tough, independent national environment protection authority with the powers and resources to enforce the law and hold offenders to account. For Newcastle, this reform means real, tangible outcomes. It means a cleaner harbour and waterfront. Our port activity is vital to our regional economy, but our community also deserves clean water, safe recreation and restored shoreline amenity. Stronger standards and a tougher EPA mean better monitoring, less pollution and healthier waterways for everyone. It means stronger protections for our industrial zones as they undergo transition.”
“It creates a streamlined, efficient and effective framework that cuts duplication, reduces the delays and restores trust in the system. For too long, approvals have been bogged down by complexity and inconsistency, frustrating businesses and communities alike. This bill replaces that patchwork with one clear, strong set of rules that are legally enforceable national environmental standards. They are the first of their kind in Australia's history. Let's not hear this nonsense that these laws are not profound enough or that they're too profound for some members opposite. No longer will polluters be able to shop around for the weakest rules. No longer will Australians be left guessing which government is responsible when things go wrong.”
“Our harbour, our wetlands and our coastline from Merewether to Stockton are not just beautiful backdrops; they are part of our city's identity. They sustain livelihoods, tourism, recreation and community wellbeing. They provide the critical habitats for biodiversity and shorelines for threatened migratory shorebirds and, of course, the green and golden bell frog. Every worker who clocks on early in the morning, every family that walks the foreshore and every child who plays in our parks and on our beaches deserves clean air, clean water and a safe environment. This bill offers that better future. The Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 is the most significant overhaul of Australia's national environmental laws in a generation.”
“I rise today as the federal member for Newcastle, a city deeply proud of its historical heart which sits alongside our world-class beaches and our internationally recognised wetlands, to speak in very strong support of this Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025. This bill is about far more than legislative reform. It's about the kind of future we want to choose for our children, our grandchildren and the generations to come. Newcastle is no stranger to transformation. We've evolved from our foundations in steelmaking, shipbuilding and heavy industry to a city of innovation, creativity and resilience. We know what hard work looks like. But we also know that the health of our environment underpins everything.”
“It's making sure local people— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 13:20 to 13:30”
“Across the country we partnered with states and territories to deliver $1.5 billion for over 500,000 free TAFE and VET places and we made free TAFE permanent, locking in 100,000 places every year from 2027 under the new free TAFE act of 2025. Already more than 650,000 Australians have enrolled in free TAFE and over 170,000 have completed a course, 48,000 of those in construction alone. That is 170,000 people saving thousands of dollars and setting themselves up for secure well-paid work. In Newcastle we're seeing this investment transform our region. At TAFE NSW, on the Tighes Hill campus, Labor is investing or delivering a $60 million net zero manufacturing centre of excellence. It's a partnership between the Albanese and Minns Labor governments that links our clean energy goals with real training and real jobs.”
“In the first month of the incentives for housing construction apprentices, 1,250 apprentices have signed up, and I am very pleased to advise the House that 475 of those were from my electorate of Newcastle. If ever you wanted to understand a community that prides itself on the benefits of a trades education, you need look no further than Newcastle. We have increased the living away from home allowance for the first time in 20 years and we have lifted the disability Australian apprenticeship wage support payments for the first time since 1998 because we want cost-of-living support to match the value of the work that apprentices do.”
“A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 13:04 to 13:17 We know times are tough and cost-of-living pressures are real and that is why the Albanese Labor government is helping more Australians take up apprenticeships and stick with them, particularly in the housing and construction sector where the demand for skilled workers has never been greater. From 1 July 2025 we expanded the Key Apprenticeship Program to include a housing construction apprenticeship stream, offering up to $10,000 in incentive payments to eligible new apprentices, and already more than 4,700 have commenced in trades like plumbing, carpentry and electrical work.”
“I welcome this opportunity to speak in the Australian parliament on apprenticeships and skills and to make one thing clear: when it comes to rebuilding our TAFE system, backing apprentices and setting Australia up for the future, Labor delivers. Every Australian deserves the chance to learn a trade, build a career and shape the future of our country. Apprentices are the backbone of our workforce, from the homes we live in to the infrastructure that connects us and to the industries that power our economy. Under Labor, apprentices are getting the support they need, not just to start but also to finish their training. We know times are tough and cost-of-living pressures are real.”
“I also want to acknowledge the work of the state member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery MP, who has been standing shoulder to shoulder with me and the Shortland community in our efforts to try and get this decision reversed. This petition represents a community that is angry, frustrated and, frankly, heartbroken at the prospect of losing an essential local service. Australia Post must listen. In the words of my constituent, Sommer: 'Stop closing all the post offices. We need them.' I seek leave to table the petition. Leave granted.”
“We have seen the same story play out in Elermore Vale, Lambton and Glendale, where local branches have already been shut down. Each time, Australia Post ensures residents that nearby outlets will be able to cope, but the reality is very different. I want to thank the more than 2,000 residents who have signed a petition and contacted me directly, calling on Australia Post to reverse its decision to close the Shortland Post Office. For these residents the efforts to date are simply not good enough. I want to assure Shortland residents that their voice matters. I will continue to fight alongside you to keep the Shortland Post Office open and accessible for all.”
“The message from Shortland residents is loud and clear: 'We want our post office to stay open.' Jennifer told me, 'Shortland is a great post office offering early opening times and a convenient local collection point for parcels.' Francis said, 'I have limited capacity to access postal services, so the impending closure of Shortland Post Office has significant impact on me.' Merryn stressed to me: 'This decision to close post offices is selfish and discriminatory to those in the area who are elderly, don't drive, are disadvantaged or are disabled. They provide vital services to people, such as banking, and not even has access to technologies.' These are not isolated concerns. They reflect a pattern of disregard from Australia Post for local communities right across Newcastle and the Hunter region.”
“I rise today to again raise the concerns of my community about the imminent closure of Shortland Post Office. Shortland Post Office has been a critical part of the social fabric of this community for decades. It's more than just a place to send letters or collect parcels; it's a lifeline, especially for older residents, people with disabilities and those who don't drive.”
“This bill is a solemn promise to the Australian people that we will not drift into wilful unpreparedness again and that we will build institutions that are resilient and capable of safeguarding life. In doing so, we honour the lessons from the past—from COVID and outbreaks of influenza to other health shocks. We equip our nation for the future. I commend this bill to the House, and I sincerely urge all members to support it.”
“It respects federated responsibility; it doesn't try to usurp the states or territories. It complements, cooperates and coordinates. It safeguards rights and balances powers. Transparency, accountability, privacy protections and limitations on coercive powers are built into this legislation. It demands continued investment, so passing this bill is only the beginning. We must resource the CDC properly and ensure it remains responsive, credible and well governed. Above all, it is people focused. This is about protecting Australian lives, restoring trust and making sure Australians, no matter where they live, can rely on a system that is going to respond swiftly, transparently and effectively when it matters most.”
“There are many Australians who have long advocated for this, but I want to take a moment to recognise two Novocastrians who really worked hard to ensure that this was on the Labor government's agenda and part of our national conversation. One is a fantastic local constituent of mine, Sue Wood, and the other is my predecessor, the former federal member for Newcastle, Sharon Grierson. Let me summarise the case for supporting this bill, because I heard a lot of mischief-making last night in some of the debate on the bill. There is a strong case for supporting the bill before the House. It is foundational. Without these provisions, the CDC cannot function coherently. This bill enables clarity and certainty by legislating the roles and the migration of powers to prevent legal vacuums and confusion.”
“Because of the lack of planning, Australia's pandemic response to COVID was slow and confused and lacked authority. Our community, like so many others, lived with the uncertainty of changing rules, supply shortages, school disruptions and the heartbreak of isolation from loved ones. These were not abstract policy failures; they were lived experiences. Communities want certainty that when the next outbreak or emerging threat arrives we will be ready. The new CDC, supported by this bill, provides that assurance. In our region, and right across Australia, this reform will streamline responses and ensure that emerging infectious threats, whether pandemic or endemic, receive a national backbone of leadership, not fragmented responses.”
“The Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases has also endorsed this bill and called for continued support and partnership with the research and clinical community. Thus we must commit not only to the passing of this legislation but also to the funding, staffing, infrastructure and oversight mechanisms, including transparent reporting, parliamentary scrutiny and community engagement. As the member for Newcastle, I understand how local health infrastructure, trust in public health advice, and preparedness for outbreaks matter deeply to people's lives—in our schools, workplaces and aged-care homes and in our urban and regional centres. In recent years our nation saw how fragile continuity can be when systems are overwhelmed. As the COVID-19 response inquiry highlighted, Australia wasn't prepared for a pandemic.”
“In short, transparency is baked into this legislation, not retrofitted. Another concern is how data—in particular, sensitive health information—will be handled. This legislation ensures that the use, sharing and disclosure of data will be consistent with the Privacy Act and tightly controlled. The CDC cannot compel government entities to release data. The legislation explicitly prohibits any overreach, including data power grabs. Protected information under the CDC Act is exempt from freedom-of-information requests under the FOI amendments in this bill. An institution without resources is just an aspiration; it's not a reality. The Australian Medical Association has welcomed this legislation but emphasised the importance of sustained funding and expert leadership for the CDC to command credibility.”
“Of course, new institutions and powers always invite scrutiny—rightly so. In supporting the Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill and the Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill, I want to acknowledge several legitimate concerns and show how legislation is structured to address them. The CDC must be seen by the public as an independent, objective and evidence driven institution. The draft legislation includes mandatory publication of advice and underlying evidence; an advisory committee appointed based on expertise to provide challenge and perspective, though without decision-making powers; and that at least one member of the advisory council be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, to ensure that First Nations perspectives are included.”
“These changes mean that caring is no longer an automatic penalty for women's economic participation and that women's retirement savings will no longer suffer because they took the time to raise their family. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 1 1 : 59 to 12:11 Proposed expenditure agreed to.”
“Closing the gender-pay gap is a key ambition of Labor's Working for women: a strategy for gender equality the first national strategy for gender equality this nation's ever seen, I note. While we've achieved the lowest gender-pay gap on record and the highest record of women's workforce participation, we know there is more to do, and we will keep going. We know the unequal burden of care is one of the biggest drivers of women's economic disadvantage, and that's why we've expanded paid parental leave to six months and, for the first time, we are paying superannuation on that leave. We've made child care more affordable for more than a million families, making it possible for more women to stay in or return to work.”
“They mean women are able to earn to their full potential, reduce reliance on insecure work and provide stability for their families, as well as boosting our nation's productivity. We've also taken real steps to close the gender-pay gap. Labor has legislated to make gender pay equity a core principle in workplace relations. We've pushed for stronger wage outcomes in industries where women dominate, like aged care, health, education and social services, and we have delivered four consecutive increases to the minimum wage, lifting the pay of nearly three million Australians, most of them women. Women on average are now earning $255.10 more per week than they did in May 2022, when we were elected. Labor's doing work right across the economy to lift women's pay.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026 with a special focus around women's economic equality, because it's never an afterthought for the Albanese Labor government but rather the centrepiece of our economic plan. If you're going to talk economics, you need to talk about how you achieve gender equity, and you are never going to get there, on the other side of the chamber, so listen up. Since 2022 women's total employment has increased by 193,400 positions, with more women now in fulltime work with greater security, higher pay and the opportunity to build long-term financial independence. Importantly these achievements are much more than just statistics.”
“It is only right that these plans be developed in close consultation with survivors and families of the victims so that it can stand as a place of quiet reflection, of remembrance and of learning for future generations. Newcastle will never forget Jennifer, Colin and Fiona. We honour their lies and stand alongside their families. In doing so, we recommit ourselves to building a world defined not by hate and violence but by peace, compassion and enduring strength of community. That is the best way we can honour the lives lost—by ensuring that love and unity have the final word.”
“I know that Sharon's presence at the memorial service was very much appreciated. I'm struck by the courage of the survivors and families who continue to share their stories, keeping alive the memory of those we lost and reminding us of the enduring power of love and resilience in the face of terror. Their words were not only an act of remembrance but also a gift to the rest of us, teaching us about courage, perseverance and the unbreakable bonds of community. It is fitting that the Australian government has now committed to establishing a new permanent memorial, ensuring that the memory of the victims of the 2005 Bali bombings will be forever honoured. This will be not only a place of quiet reflection but also a national marker of our collective grief and our determination to stand firm against the forces of hatred and terror.”
“For the families of Jennifer, Colin and Fiona, and all of those who lost a loved one that day or continue to live with injury or trauma, the pain is ongoing, but so too is the strength of our community's resolve to come together, to remember and to honour. I was devastated to be unable to attend the memorial service in person, but I want to thank my friend and colleague, who joins me in the chamber today, the Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, Tim Watts, for his attendance, which I know meant a lot to my community. I also want to pay tribute to my predecessor, the former member for Newcastle, Sharon Grierson, for her thoughtful actions and compassionate response 20 years ago, when our community was forced to face squarely the shocking consequences of terrorism.”
“I rise today to acknowledge the solemn occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Bali bombings, a terrible act of terror that claimed 20 innocent lives, including three beloved members of our own Newcastle community: Jennifer Williamson, and Colin and Fiona Zwolinski. Their loss continues to be felt deeply by their families, their friends and, indeed, all of us who call Newcastle home. That's why Novocastrians gathered for a moving memorial service at Bar Beach last week to mark the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. Anniversaries such as this one remind us that grief does not always diminish with time.”
“It's a bill that everybody in this parliament should be getting behind, and I absolutely commend this bill to the House and look forward to speaking on it at a later time. Debate adjourned.”
“In short, the Centre for Disease Control will be the nucleus of public health leadership. It will be accountable, transparent and expert driven. So it'd be astonishing for anybody in this House to stand up and oppose this bill, to vote against such an important, critical, transformative legislative framework that will deliver good public health leadership and outcomes. I really call on members opposite to think carefully, to remember what it was like in this national parliament at a time when we needed to be able to pull all of those levers together. Let's not be caught next time there is a pandemic without a national body like the Centre for Disease Control. This is a time for this parliament to really show some good leadership from all sides and stand behind important public health initiatives in the national interest.”
“This gap has hampered coordination across the state and territories, its limited agility in response and it's made central leadership in health and medical agencies less effective. If ever we needed an example of where we needed to have that kind of national leadership, it was during COVID. Those of us in the national parliament at the time remember very clearly the need for such leadership. Under this bill, the new Centre for Disease Control will have functions to collect, analyse and share critical public health information and data; advise and communicate with governments, health agencies and the public; develop and publish guidelines, statements and standards; conduct or commission awareness, education and prevention campaigns; and serve as a conduit for Australia's obligations under international health law.”
“These are not mere housekeeping matters; they are important scaffolding upon which a trusted, effective and legally coherent centre for disease control will stand. Let us not lose sight of the ultimate goal here. The establishment of the standalone statutory Australian Centre for Disease Control is a transformational reform. It's one that a Labor government will very, very proudly stand up to defend in this parliament. Until now, Australia has lacked a truly national expert public health agency with clearly conferred powers and independence. Indeed, prior to this, Australia was the only OECD country without a centre for disease control style national body. Let me repeat that—Australia was the only OECD country not to have a centre for disease control style national body.”
“So this bill ensures that the existing public health functions now in the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, under the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer or under other bodies are properly migrated to the Centre for Disease Control director-general; that the machinery-of-government changes proceed smoothly, with documents, records and responsibilities transferred in an orderly way, including preserving continuity of existing arrangements while the new agency is bedded in; that conflicting overlapping of legislation is reconciled; and that appropriate exemptions and protections are preserved—for example, in the Freedom of Information Act—so that protected information under the Centre for Disease Control bill is handled carefully.”
“Without them, the legislative framework would be incomplete, roles and responsibilities would be unclear, statutory functions would remain stranded in legacy legislation and the transition to the new Centre for Disease Control would be chaotic.”
“The lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic remain fresh in our minds, and the recommendations of the COVID-19 response inquiry are unequivocal. Australia must build institutional capacity and clarity in public health decision-making so that we are never again caught without a playbook. The inquiry noted several significant gaps in dataflows, in coordination across jurisdictions and in public trust. This consequential and transitional provisions bill is a key bridge between where we stand now and a more robust, resilient future. Some may regard this bill as a mere technical fix to the principal Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill, but, in fact, these supporting provisions that I just spoke of are utterly essential.”
“It's a vital piece of foundational architecture that will underpin our nation's capacity to protect lives, manage public health risks and ensure that Australia is better prepared for the next pandemic or health emergency. And why wouldn't every government in Australia want to be on a path of continuous improvement? That is the ambition of the Albanese Labor government. It is true that the Morrison government didn't get everything right. I'm sure there are governments at all levels across Australia that have reflected on the time of the global pandemic, and it is precisely a centre for disease control which many experts from Australia asked for. I'll come to that a little bit later on. But let's begin by acknowledging that the time for complacency is well and truly over.”
“We certainly won't be taking a lecture from the member for Goldstein on disease control in this country after that astonishingly rude outburst defaming all kinds of people and using parliamentary privilege to say what he wouldn't dare say outside of this chamber. But that's his style. I would like to really move to the substance of the bill before us, because, unlike the member for Goldstein, I will be relevant to the bill that is before the House this evening. I rise to speak in very strong support of the Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025. This is by no means a dry, technical bill.”
“(Notice given 28 August 2025.) Time allotted 25 minutes. Speech time limits Ms Stanley 5 minutes. Other Members 5 minutes each. [Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 5 x 5 mins] Time allotted remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm. The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day. THE HON D. M. DICK MP Speaker of the House of Representatives 8 October 2025”
“9 MS STANLEY: To move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and that Wednesday, 15 October 2025 marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day; and (b) this day acknowledges the shared loss experienced by parents, friends, and healthcare workers of babies lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death; (2) acknowledges: (a) that there is a significant impact on families who have lost a baby; (b) that every year 110,000 Australians experience a miscarriage, more than 2,000 experience stillbirth, and almost 700 lose a baby within the first 28 days; (c) that stillbirth occurrence is higher in Aboriginal and culturally diverse communities; and (d) all families who have experienced loss, either recently or over time; and (3) commends the Government for providing more than $40 million to organisations to support women and families following stillbirth, neonatal death or miscarriage.”
“(Notice given 7 October 2025.) Time allotted 40 minutes. Speech time limits Ms Coffey 5 minutes. Other 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.”
“8 MS COFFEY: To move: That this House: (1) notes the: (a) Government has accepted the Climate Change Authority's independent advice and has set Australia's climate change target at a range of between 62 to 70 per cent on 2005 emissions; (b) release of the National Climate Risk Assessment, which found that no Australian community will be immune from climate risks that will be cascading, compounding and concurrent; and (c) release of the Department of the Treasury's modelling on 18 September, which found Australia's ambitious and achievable plan to reduce emissions will support continued economic growth, higher living standards and employment, including resulting 2.3 million more people being employed by 2035, and Australia's economy being up to $2 trillion worse off cumulatively by 2050 compared to a disorderly transition scenario; (2) recognises the Government is delivering on its promises which Australians voted for to act on climate change, upgrade our energy system and seize the economic opportunity before our nation; and (3) calls on the Opposition to leave the climate wars in the past, solve its internal divisions and join the rest of the Parliament in taking meaningful action on climate change.”
“Speech time limits Dr Webster 5 minutes. Other 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.”
“(f) former ALGA president Linda Scott said in 2023 'making the LRCI permanent would be an investment in Australia's future productivity'; (g) Local Government Association of South Australia CEO Clinton Jury said the LRCI program 'made a significant, positive impact on our neighbourhoods by uplifting our regional roads—making them safer for everyone'; and (h) despite the very strong endorsements of LRCI and the road maintenance burden on local governments across regional Australia, the Government axed LRCI with final payments due this financial year and have not provided an alternative to make our roads safer and improve regional productivity; and (2) calls upon the Government to outline how it will fund local roads to improve road safety and productivity for regional Australians. (Notice given 28 August 2025.) Time allotted 40 minutes.”
“7 DR WEBSTER: To move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) a Royal Automobile Club of Victoria 'My Country Road' survey in July 2024 of over 7,000 Victorians saw 64 per cent of respondents identify potholes and poor road conditions as their top safety issue, up from 46 per cent in 2021; (b) a National Transport Research Organisation survey found 91 per cent of Victoria's 8,400 kilometre road network is rated poor or very poor; (c) the Audit Office of New South Wales identified in November 2024 that in the last available reporting year the estimated total replacement cost of council road assets across New South Wales was around $102 billion but in the same year local councils reported collective road asset maintenance expenditure of around $1 billion; (d) according to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), local roads make up 77 per cent of Australia's road network by length, with 678,000 kilometres managed by local governments, only 39 per cent of which are sealed roads; (e) ALGA president Matt Burnett described the former Government's $3.25 billion Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program as a 'game-changer', adding that 'reinstating the LRCI Program will support every council, and more importantly, provide tangible benefits to every Australian community'.”