Andrew Giles
Scullin · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“We've got to continue to boost supply, and that's why we're investing so heavily in enabling infrastructure—the nuts and bolts, or, in this case, more the pipes and the power—to unlock 65,000 new homes, while maintaining incentives for new housing construction and for workers to do that work, too.”
“I'm so pleased to see that $37.4 million has been invested to continue upgrades along Donnybrook Road, cutting congestion and improving the flow of traffic for motorists in Melbourne's outer northern suburbs—less time on the road; more time to enjoy at home.”
“Today, I reflect on the Albanese government's budget handed down just last month—in particular what it means for the communities I'm so privileged and proud to represent as the member for Scullin.”
“We see in these conversations how our Labor government has been listening and using the opportunity and the obligation we have as the national government to make Australian lives better.”
“This builds on the work that we've done to make the cost of medicines cheaper, bringing PBS medicines down to a maximum cost of $25, or $7.70 for concession card holders.”
“That responds to a message that's been delivered to me very directly from young people right across the northern suburbs—younger people who might be renting or still living at home, saving up for a first home of their own—and from their parents and their grandparents, who worry that their kids won't be able to reach the milestone that the…”
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“Bubup Wilam is an amazing facility, and early learning, early education and care are only the tip of the iceberg for what it delivers for Aboriginal communities in Melbourne's north. To Lisa Thorpe and her amazing team: I look forward to seeing you when I'm back in town, but I'm so pleased to see the work that you do, and the impact it has, recognised more broadly. Question agreed to. Federation Chamber adjourned at 11:27”
“I'm so pleased to see that $37.4 million has been invested to continue upgrades along Donnybrook Road, cutting congestion and improving the flow of traffic for motorists in Melbourne's outer northern suburbs—less time on the road; more time to enjoy at home. This is a budget that's built on listening, and recognising the challenges that people face right across our communities. It demonstrates to people that they have been heard and they matter. The confidence that they placed in our government, across two elections, is not and will not be taken for granted. We're getting on with the job that they have tasked us with doing. Today, I was absolutely thrilled to read in the Herald Sun that Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre was recognised for the extraordinary work it does in educating young First Nations people.”
“This builds on the work that we've done to make the cost of medicines cheaper, bringing PBS medicines down to a maximum cost of $25, or $7.70 for concession card holders. We're also delivering, for our public hospitals, an extra $25 billion in funding, so hospitals like the Northern can have more beds and are better resourced to service a growing community. All of this is bringing health care closer to communities—more accessible and more affordable—when we see, around the world, health systems drifting further away from the people they need to be reaching. Beyond housing and health, the budget's also been focused on helping people get where they need to go safely and efficiently.”
“We've got to continue to boost supply, and that's why we're investing so heavily in enabling infrastructure—the nuts and bolts, or, in this case, more the pipes and the power—to unlock 65,000 new homes, while maintaining incentives for new housing construction and for workers to do that work, too. We're not standing still; instead, we're taking action to expand opportunity and security for more Australians in communities like those in our northern suburbs. People in my electorate also welcome the certainty that comes in the budget from the news that the Medicare urgent care clinic in Epping is here to stay. Since opening in 2024, it's seen 23,000 presentations—around 45 a day—easing pressure on Victoria's busiest emergency department, at the Northern Hospital, while saving on medical costs for families right across the community.”
“That responds to a message that's been delivered to me very directly from young people right across the northern suburbs—younger people who might be renting or still living at home, saving up for a first home of their own—and from their parents and their grandparents, who worry that their kids won't be able to reach the milestone that they were able to. That dream was at risk of disappearing for an entire generation of Australians—driven, in part, by tax breaks for investors that made it easier for people to purchase a 10th home than a first. We know, of course, that rebalancing tax settings alone won't fix the housing crisis.”
“We see in these conversations how our Labor government has been listening and using the opportunity and the obligation we have as the national government to make Australian lives better. People are seeing how government can and does make a difference, such as through how we're putting more money back into household budgets; tax cuts for every Australian worker; the $1,000 instant tax deduction; and the $250 working Australians tax offset. It is all part of a budget that is working to rebalance the tax system that, for too long, has taxed workers more on income earned through labour than on income that others are fortunate enough to earn through their assets. It's also a budget focused on bringing that dream of homeownership back within reach for Australians, particularly younger Australians.”
“Today, I reflect on the Albanese government's budget handed down just last month—in particular what it means for the communities I'm so privileged and proud to represent as the member for Scullin. When I got back to Melbourne after budget week I went doorknocking in Wollert, a suburb that's rapidly growing in the northern end of my electorate. Not everyone I spoke to that day had been thumbing through the budget papers or even knew that a budget had been handed down—and I'm not surprised by this; with family commitments, work and activities in the community, people are juggling a lot at the moment. But the conversations I had that day and since then—doorknocking in other suburbs, and at train stations in the morning—reflected on how our budget is delivering for them and also delivering democratically.”
“Lastly, I'll give a shout-out to an old friend of mine, Dave Gregg, who came back from western Victoria with his sons to play a part in something that he had a really big connection to.”
“It represents a hub where culture, sport and community can all intersect, fostering an environment which promotes sporting and social participation. But it's also a place where community can come and reconnect to country, sharing in teachings from First Nations Australians about Indigenous life and culture. It's an asset the whole community should be proud of, and I look forward to seeing it enjoyed and valued for many years to come. I acknowledge, in particular, Ian Goolagong, former president of the club, who came back from New South Wales to play a really significant part in the event—a pretty significant tennis-playing family there!—and also Liz, Dein and Rose, leaders of the committee, who've done such an amazing job in fostering inclusion.”
“Communities in Melbourne's northern suburbs deserve thoughtful, sustainable planning, not decisions that place their amenity, health and environment at risk. This simply cannot proceed. Last month I attended Seeds for Culture—an absolutely fantastic community event in my electorate—to launch Lalor Tennis Club's new Indigenous garden, which is absolutely beautiful and a wonderful community asset. This was a vibrant celebration of Indigenous culture, complete with a smoking ceremony, live dance, didgeridoo performances and bush tucker planting sessions that I didn't completely ruin! This was developed by Cultural Gardens, an amazing group supported by the City of Whittlesea and a really welcome addition to the community.”
“Against a backdrop like this, the plan to import an additional 760,000 tonnes of waste into the area raises deep anxiety amongst residents that is quite understandable. So, too, does the proposal to burn this waste, including significant amounts of plastics and other landfill materials, producing hazardous by-products that carry the potential to cause harm to surrounding communities. These emissions, these by-products, pose serious risks to air, water and soil quality and could have lasting environmental and social effects for those communities. In this regard, I want to give a big shout-out to the NO Northern Incinerator Wollert group, a dedicated community movement driven by genuine concern for the health and wellbeing of local residents and for the climate.”
“Wollert is a high-growth community in the north of the Scullin electorate. It's forecast to welcome around 20,000 new residents over the next decade. It's a place where families are building their dream homes and forming communities right now. This is why I'm so deeply concerned by the proposal to build a large waste-to-energy incinerator there, effectively right in the backyard of these family homes and local businesses. So I stand here to make it very clear that I join with concerned locals in saying that this is a proposal that simply does not stack up on any basis whatsoever. The suburb is already grappling right now with issues like illegal rubbish dumping and soil contamination.”
“On this side of the House, in the Albanese Labor government, we're helping Australians get trained to build more homes—building homes, not hamburgers, as was the case under the former government's BAC and CAC schemes. The Leader of the Opposition has a lot to say when it comes to talking Australians down and seeking to divide—”
“Caitlin benefits too, because she's amongst the thousands of small-business owners backed by an employer incentive as well. We now have 25,000 new housing construction apprentices who've signed up to the Key Apprenticeship Program in just the first 10 months. That's 25,000 Australian apprentices who we are backing to build more homes in every corner of this country, including 9,300 more chippies, 5,300 more plumbers and 4,800 more sparkies like Poppy—and the member for Moore as well. More are signing up every week. We are providing targeted support through this program to businesses like Caitlin's to take on apprentices and to apprentices just like Poppy to become qualified tradies.”
“Thank you to my friend the member for Canberra for her question. Like everyone on this side of the House, she understands just how critical it is that we pull on the full range of levers to ensure that more homes are being built for Australians. This morning, the member for Canberra and I were with the Minister for Housing in the northern suburbs of Canberra to meet Caitlin. Caitlin is an electrician, and she's a small-business owner. Caitlin this year has taken on an apprentice, an amazing young woman called Poppy. Poppy's just 16, but she always knew that she wanted to undertake a trade. Caitlin and Poppy are both benefiting from the Albanese government's Key Apprenticeship Program: $10,000 for an apprentice, paid in instalments, backing apprentices like Poppy to start and, most importantly, to finish their apprenticeship.”
“Australians know that only Labor stands with them to get the skills they want so that we can get the jobs we need done now and into the future. Labor delivered free TAFE and Labor will always stand up for free TAFE and for Australians like Caitlin getting the opportunities that come with it. Aspiration for all, not just for some.”
“Sadly, however, we know that not everyone in this place supports free TAFE. Those opposite voted against making free TAFE permanent. The Liberals voted no to free TAFE. The Nationals voted no to free TAFE. One nation over there voted no to free TAFE. That's every one of the extreme right-wing parties in this place. And let me tell those opposite that Australians have noticed. When the leader that you axed said of free TAFE, 'If you don't pay for something, you don't value it,' not a single member opposite said anything. The silence was noticed. On silence, the current Leader of the Opposition hasn't used the word 'TAFE' in this place for more than a decade, not since his idol and his new boss, Tony Abbott, was prime minister.”
“Caitlin said that getting that backing meant so much to her. She told me that free TAFE meant less stress on providing for her son's schooling and his after-school activities too. It means that she's been able to start her job at a hospital right here in Canberra, working with her brother, without a student debt. Caitlin's one of 245,000 free TAFE course completions. That's in just over three years of the program, and there are plenty more to come, as members opposite will be interested to hear. That's more nurses like Caitlin, more aged-care workers and more tradies to build homes for Australians—something we are passionate about on this side of the House. That is why the Albanese Labor government has made free TAFE permanent, because we want to ensure that every Australian can follow their dreams just like Caitlin did.”
“Thank you to my friend the member for Bean for his question. He's a huge supporter of the work this government, under this prime minister, is doing to ensure that Australians can get the skills they want so that we can do the jobs that we need. In particular, he's a big supporter of free TAFE, which has been life changing for hundreds of thousands of Australians. It's this government saying to Australians that it will back them to further their training in those critical industries where we need more workers. A couple of weeks ago, I had the great honour of attending the graduation ceremony of Caitlin, who now has her Diploma of Nursing, thanks to the Albanese government's support of free TAFE. Caitlin's a legend. She's a single mum. She's a Navy veteran. For her, free TAFE meant that she could follow her dream of becoming a nurse.”
“It was reminder too about the tangible impact the Albanese government's policies are having on the lives of Australian women and on addressing gender based inequities. We are, of course, Australia's first women-majority government and together have delivered real progress: a record low gender pay gap, record investments into women's health and safety and the extension of paid parental leave with super paid on it, too, so women aren't left behind in retirement. In my own portfolio of skills and training, women are around 60 per cent of free-TAFE enrolments. We're breaking down barriers that have held back so many women from getting into previously male dominated trades. I want to thank the fantastic speakers and everyone who came along to this IWD event and recommit myself to working towards an equal Australia.”
“With that in mind, I hosted an International Women's Day event in my electorate of Scullin, a gathering of strong, inspiring women from diverse backgrounds who are, all in their own way, making contributions to Melbourne's northern suburbs and the special community that it is. We were incredibly lucky to be graced with the presence of my great friend and colleague Assistant Minister Ged Kearney, who came and shared her story alongside some local trailblazers like Peta Fualau, Tracy Perry and Jude Armanazi. It was also fantastic to have Whittlesea Community Connections and the Epping Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic—another important women's health initiative to recognise today—on hand to provide tailored assistance.”
“When we fast forward from that time to today, we see an extraordinary immigration success story—deep roots across local communities, businesses thriving, strong families and vibrant cultural institutions and connections to culture that enrich us all. I say, to Secretary George Sachinidis and the entire Greek Orthodox community of Whittlesea, zito I Ellada We've just celebrated International Women's Day, a critical opportunity for all of us to recognise and to celebrate the contributions of women in our own communities, our own lives and a broader sense. It's also vital that we recommit ourselves at this time to the work that must be done to address ongoing gender inequality.”
“Today is of course 25 March, and that means it is Greek Independence Day. In my electorate, the local Greek community are gathering to celebrate a day that should be remembered not only by the Greek community but by us all for it's important significance historically and as we look forward. Because I'm here, I cannot be there, but I do want to recognise the extraordinary influence the Greek Australian community has had in shaping modern Australia. I think it's fair to say that it is an indelible influence, and it's particularly found in that corner of Melbourne's northern suburbs that I'm so proud to represent here. Much of the Greek Australian community arrived following a period of postwar instability in Europe with little to their names other than hope, hard work and aspiration for a better future.”
“He should also clarify for the thousands of apprentices and the thousands of people who employ them his position on the Key Apprenticeship Program, given his shadow minister calls it 'wrong' and talks about throwing good money after bad money. Free TAFE is getting thousands of Australians new qualifications in areas of need. We think that's a good thing. The Key Apprenticeship Program is backing in thousands of housing apprentices. We think that is a good thing too. Labor—and only Labor—is backing Australians like Blake to get skills they need for the jobs we need doing.”
“In just the first six months of this program, more than 11,000 apprentices have commenced in housing through the Key Apprenticeship Program—a program that, importantly, is helping not just apprentices but also their employers, the vast majority of which are small businesses. You'd think the coalition would support programs that are making a real difference, helping Australians get a good start in great careers and making a contribution, but the former leader of the opposition infamously said of free TAFE that Australians don't value what they don't pay for. What about her replacement? Well, we don't know, because it would mean actually saying the word 'TAFE' in parliament, something he hasn't done in more than a decade, since his idol Tony Abbott was Prime Minister.”
“This means more opportunities for young Australians like Blake, who I met while he was completing his cert II in carpentry. For someone like Blake it means more opportunities after free TAFE, too, as he moves into his career, because the Key Apprenticeship Program is offering $10,000 in incentives to new housing apprentices, people like Blake, to help with the cost of tools and transport so they can play their part in meeting our national priorities, like building more homes for Australians—the more than the 373 social homes that the Minister for Housing was just talking about.”
“Thank you to my friend the member for Swan for her question. She's an incredible advocate for learners and apprentices in her community, and I saw that when I went with her to see students at Bentley TAFE to celebrate a $2 million commitment that we made to deliver a state-of-the-art commercial training kitchen through the TAFE Technology Fund. TAFE is breaking down barriers and setting up Australians for the future, and free TAFE is of course at the very core of this. This is a policy that this prime minister took to the 2022 election. Australians voted for it, and we have delivered it. Just last week I announced that we've reached nearly three quarters of a million free TAFE enrolments, at 742,000 so far, and almost a quarter of a million course completions, at 245,000, with plenty more on the way.”
“I firmly believe that our diversity is our greatest strength as a community. It's something I see every day and take inspiration from. I think there's so much to celebrate in the cultural festivals. But, to paraphrase what Minister Aly said today, it's one thing to celebrate these things, but we shouldn't celebrate them if we're not prepared to defend them. That's the very idea of a country in which everyone is respected and everyone belongs. Fundamental to doing that is dealing squarely with racism and other forms of hatred wherever they form, and recognising that where racism is present, it harms individuals. I think all of us recognise that, but I think it's more insidious than that. I think the existence of racism hurts us as a society too. On this day we should all commit ourselves to eliminating this ugliness from our national life.”
“But all of us here in this place and in our communities need to be absolutely unequivocal in condemning racism and hatred in all of its forms. I recognise the work in my own community, particularly the work led by Whittlesea Community Connections in finding better answers to address the pain and the hurt of racism. I think about the work we can all do to foster a closer sense of belonging and understanding through interfaith networks and through listening to each other more carefully. For all of us in this place, and all of us who occupy positions in public life, perhaps we can work on thinking about the words that we use and reflecting more on their impact on others, and thinking about how, through our words and our deeds, we can help build a society where mutual respect and a sense of belonging are nonnegotiables.”
“We know, sadly, right now that isn't the case. All of us reflect on the awful act of terror that was committed in Bondi and its repercussions that continue in our communities around the country. We reflect also on the act committed by an Australian in Christchurch years ago, another act born of hate. In my own community, I think about the attack last year of two women at the Epping plaza shopping centre because of how they were dressed—visibly Muslim women. Of course, in a short time we will also be recognising the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. With our First Nations people, we think about not only the pain inflicted directly on people in Perth on 26 January but also how that reverberates. I know that these incidents do not reflect how Australia is.”
“I do think that the greatest success of modern Australia is the multicultural society that we have built—its strength and its diversity at so many levels. It drives our economy and it makes our communities so special. I'm here with my friend the member for Chisholm, who sees this absolutely every day in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. That's one bit. The other bit, of course, are the 65,000 years of continuous culture that we have the privilege of sharing. These two things together make our country special, and it's something that I think all of us should celebrate. But, in celebrating these things, we can't take them for granted or ignore the threats. An insidious threat is the ongoing prevalence of racism and other forms of hate. In our country, everyone should be proud of who they are and proud to be Australian everywhere.”
“I rise to make some brief remarks on a very important topic which should be debated in this parliament to recognise the significance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This pays tribute to the victims of an awful racist attack recognised by the United Nations. But it's not about looking back; it's about looking at our country today and recognising the good and the challenges. It's also about looking forward. I'm inspired by the words said in the chamber earlier today by my friend the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Anne Aly, who looked at our country squarely but optimistically, seeing the extraordinary opportunities that are before us. For me, they fall broadly into two categories.”
“Community led and responsive to the needs and understandings of community, Budup Wilam is one of 50 backbone organisations working with communities to co-design solutions that get more kids the support they need prior to starting school, as well as doing fantastic work in addressing family and domestic violence. Organisations like this and partnerships based on respectful listening are absolutely fundamental to doing better in closing the gap, which must be an absolute national imperative.”
“With that in mind, as the local member for Scullin, I want to refer to Bubup Wilam, an Aboriginal child and family centre not only delivering early childhood education and care but also, more broadly, culturally appropriate support services. Bubup is also an RTO, delivering quality training at cert III and diploma level, too. That's why our government is backing Bubup and two other First Nations RTOs in Victoria with $9 million to run a three-year pilot looking at strengthening First Nations led VET training, guiding the way to building greater capability in the sector and the long-term growth of Aboriginal community controlled RTOs. I see Budup Wilam as a model for the work we talk of in Closing the Gap.”
“This is being supported by a dedicated cultural advisory panel who provide governance, genuine co-design and shared decision-making authority to hold Jobs and Skills Australia accountable and to ensure this really important study is grounded in cultural knowledge and guidance. And we know there's more to be done when it comes to VET workforce, ensuring, as is the case at NITA, that First Nations students have the opportunity to be guided by First Nations teachers and trainers. We've been doing some fantastic work with NACCHO to expand the delivery of its successful First Nations Trainer and Assessor Demonstration Project, one example—of many—of government working closely with the Aboriginal community controlled sector and taking on board the understandings that it and only it holds.”
“The Australian U niversities Accord : f inal r eport emphasised that First Nations participation in tertiary education across learning, teaching and research is absolutely critical to self-determination, which is fundamental to what we are trying to do. So too is the Murtu Yayngiliyn study, which is being undertaken by Jobs and Skills Australia. The study is a national initiative designed to determine the most culturally safe and effective ways to measure the literacy, numeracy and digital literacy levels of First Nations people, developed because for too long this has not been something that we paid attention to.”
“These are initiatives—free TAFE, remote training hubs—to provide pathways to ensure that First Nations Australians can attain secure and well-paid jobs on their terms. They build on other programs, like the First Nations stream of the Skills for Education and Employment Program, projects co-designed with local government groups to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can build foundational skills on their terms. When we think about the government's agenda more broadly, tertiary harmonisation is a really critical element, and I'm really pleased that the new Australian Tertiary Education Commission will appoint a statutory First Nations Commissioner. I want to recognise the great work done in that role, as part of the interim ATEC, by Larissa Behrendt AO, now carried on by Professor Tom Calma AO.”
“has been contracted to build and deliver these mobile training units to go alongside it to ensure that industries like carpentry, conservation and ecosystem management, cookery, and resource and infrastructure can be built up in these areas. In addition to this, last year at Garma, the Prime Minister announced a $31 million investment in mobile TAFE to deliver up to 12 projects in outer regional and remote locations around Australia, bringing training opportunities to people rather than asking them to leave country to access training. Of course, free TAFE has had a huge impact in enabling First Nations Australians to access the important skills they want to do jobs that are really necessary, including in communities. In the first three years of the program, there have been more than 44,000 enrolments by First Nations people.”
“Last year, the Prime Minister announced a $299 million investment to create 6,000 new jobs in remote communities. With this increase in the number of jobs will come increased demand for skills to help fill those positions. We understand that it's not always possible for people to travel from communities to regional centres to attend training. That's why, in the 2024 budget, the Albanese government announced a $30 million investment in remote training hubs to be established across seven remote Central Australian communities to provide access to high-quality on-country training, operating as a hub-and-spoke model. Desert Peoples Centre Inc.”
“Because, at the moment, we simply don't know enough about the First Nations RTO sector to make decisions with First Nations people to ensure we make it stronger together, two sector-strengthening scoping projects—one led by the Coalition of Peaks and one by my department—will work to build the appropriate evidence base. These projects will tell us how to go about supporting the sustainability, capability and cultural integrity of the First Nations RTO sector. Later this year, skills ministers from across the country will consider both projects and how they might inform longer term policy reforms under the VET Policy Partnership. This is not all we're doing in the training space to meet those three elements of the Closing the Gap targets.”
“In partnership with states and territories and, of course, the Coalition of Peaks, the Commonwealth is establishing and managing a nationally networked VET policy partnership to ensure active engagement with First Nations people, organisations and communities. It will support organisations and affiliates to lead research projects, pilots and initiatives on national policy and programs in VET. With this in mind, we're also establishing the Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence. The ICOVE, as it will be known, will be a national best practice First Nations hub promoting high-quality, culturally responsive training opportunities for First Nations students. A First Nations RTO will host the ICOVE and support its operations, to be built around four pillars: innovation, capacity building, policy and advocacy, and research and data.”
“As Minister for Skills and Training, I'm very proud to be part of this work. A major part of our reform in this regard is the National Skills Agreement. The NSA, which we signed with every state and territory government, embeds Closing the Gap as a national priority—the first national agreement to do so. VET plays a key role in advancing outcomes 5, 6 and 7 of the Closing the Gap agreement. Outcome 5 is concerned with increasing the proportion of First Nations people aged 20 to 24 years who have attained a year 12 certificate or equivalent, a cert III or above. Outcome 6 seeks to increase the proportion of First Nations people who have completed a tertiary qualification. Outcome 7 is about increasing the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth who are in employment, education and training to 67 per cent.”
“As of last Friday, 797 graduates had achieved a cert III under one of the programs. Many are now directly employed at the Ayers Rock Resort and the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. Many of them have learned their skills from trainers who are NITA graduates themselves—they gained their qualification, went out into the world to gain industry experience and came back with their training and assessment qualification to play their part in skilling the next generation. I echo the Prime Minister's words by saying that the 2026 Closing the Gap implementation plan demonstrates that our government is determined to focus on areas where we can have the greatest impact, providing jobs and economic opportunities, access to essential services, community safety and, of course, long-term wellbeing.”
“The graduates in the hospitality and service industries have benefitted from on-the-job training across a range of services. In many cases they stepped from their graduation straight into full-time employment. The National Indigenous Training Academy is also a great example of the quality and diversity of Australia's VET sector. NITA has developed, from the ground up, a cert III course in tourism focused on tour guiding. This course, developed from Indigenous experience and understanding, caters to the needs of the tourism sector in Uluru, as I saw, and also in Mossman Gorge. This is work that takes time, but that time has been invested to deliver a course that's of high quality and in high demand. NITA caters to First Nations people from all across Australia, aged between 18 and 30, who are seeking a career in hospitality and tourism.”
“I want to begin my remarks by recognising the Ngunnawal peoples as traditional custodians of the land on which we gather today. I'd also like to recognise the Wurundjeri people, traditional custodians of the land that I'm so proud to represent in the electorate of Scullin. I want to recognise more than 65,000 years of continuous culture and connection to country right around this beautiful country. Last week I had the enormous privilege of attending the National Indigenous Training Academy graduation ceremony. The ceremony, at the Uluru meeting place, celebrated 23 new graduates. It's at Uluru that practical skills being used in the tourism sector are being aligned with generations-old skills of storytelling and connection. These graduates are walking in two worlds, connecting culture and country with skills that open doors everywhere.”
“by leave—I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent debate on order of the day No. 6, government business, in the Federation Chamber today, extending beyond one hour. Question agreed to.”
“I want to talk briefly about a friend of mine who has never sought recognition or any accolades: my friend David Leydon, who is about to retire from a lifetime of service to the Australian Services Union. David is an extraordinary human being who's given so much in many aspects of life, in particular to the mighty Burnley CYMS Cricket Club. David has also been an absolute stalwart of the Australian Labor Party and particularly the union movement. He is our movement at its very best—someone who has never asked for anything and always sought to make a difference to the lives of others in their workplace and in their community and more broadly. Thanks for everything, Dave.”
“It's a day that means different things to different people, as the assistant minister here well knows. For some, it's spent at citizenship ceremonies, celebrating our newest Australians. For others it's a day to reflect on what it means to be Australian. This year I was so pleased to attend an event hosted by the Unity Libyan Youth Association, supported by our government and showing first- and second-generation Australians coming together to demonstrate their pride in our country and our shared cultures. I was so proud of the work of Ines Ahmed and the wider Libyan community for inviting me along to learn about them, to learn about their culture, and to learn about their pride in Australia and the journey they are on, making our country even better. We spend a bit of time recognising people in this place, as we should.”
“Similarly, it is our fundamental belief as the party of Medicare that people should be able to see a GP for free, and, thanks to the investments we've been making into bulk-billing—the beating heart of Medicare—this is now a reality. These rates were in freefall thanks to a decade of neglect and underinvestment under the coalition, but we've reversed that trend and, thanks to our record investments in bulk-billing incentives, residents in the Scullin electorate now have 23 bulk-billing GP clinics to choose from, up from just 11 before the investment. This is tangible evidence of the real difference our policies are making to the lives of every Australian. Last month, many Australians participated in a wide range of Australia Day activities.”
“Affordable health care is one of the critical ways in which we in the Albanese Labor government are delivering real cost-of-living relief for every single Australian. It has now been just over a month since we slashed the price of PBS listed medicines to just $25, and $7.70 for concession card holders. The result of this is pretty simple but fundamentally important: millions of Australians are now paying less for the medicines they rely on every day, including thousands across those communities that I'm so proud to represent. Why have we done this? We believe, fundamentally, that every Australian should be able to get the medicines they need without worrying about whether or not they can afford it. They shouldn't have to choose between their health care and other cost-of-living pressures.”