Andrew Hastie
Canning · Liberal Party · Australia
“My question is to the Minister for Housing. I refer to the minister's previous answer. When did the minister first become aware that the government's changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing imposed a new death tax on widows, divorcees and victims of domestic violence?”
“In many cases, these tariffs apply to goods that already enter Australia duty-free under free trade agreements or other concession arrangements.”
“It is a practical contribution to Ukraine's economic resilience, which is so important to their overall war effort, and it is also a symbolic demonstration that Australia continues to stand with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. The measure is appropriately targeted.”
“The first is the removal of a further 497 so-called nuisance tariffs from 1 July 2026. This follows the first tranche of nuisance tariff removals in 2024, when 457 tariffs were abolished by having their existing rate of duty reset to 'free'.”
“This the bill is intended to produce compliance savings for business and administrative efficiencies for government, and that is welcome, but there remains limited public detail about the overall revenue impact, the sectors most exposed to the changes, and the expected value of the compliance savings for importers and Customs brokers.”
“Before the last election, the Prime Minister ruled out changes to taxes not once, not twice, not three times. In his own words, he ruled out tax changes 50 times. The Prime Minister was clear as day—no new taxes. People took him at his word because, apparently, his word is his bond.”
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“Labor is selling off key bases like HMAS Penguin , which provide an important presence and capability in Sydney for the Royal Australian Navy, and Labor is selling off land near sensitive bases like Swan Island in Victoria, putting at risk important capabilities. The Albanese government are not stewards; they are wreckers, and they are wrecking our inheritance. They are pushing our fighting men and women and their families further away from the cities that we depend upon for the recruitment of our soldiers, sailors and airmen. Why? For money—it's all about money. That's why I say again: shame on the Albanese government for this shortsighted and foolish decision. These bases belong to the Australian people. Why do you think you have the right to sell them off?”
“Shame on the Albanese government for their neglect of the Australian Defence Force. Shame on the Albanese government for the way they have stripped out the Defence budget. Shame on the Albanese government for the way they have compromised our warfighting capability. Shame on the Albanese government for the way they have destroyed the morale of our fighting men and women, and shame on the Albanese government for the news today that they are selling off our prime defence land and bases across our country. Labor is selling off historic bases like Victoria Barracks in Sydney and Melbourne, central to the ADF's identity and history. Labor is selling off important bases like Irwin Barracks in Perth, home to the 13th Brigade and the heart and soul of our Army Reserve in the west.”
“Again, I extend my most sincere congratulations to all those recognised within our community. Your service and dedication does not go unnoticed, and you are all well-deserving of the accolades that you received. To our new Australians, I hope you are as proud and grateful to live in this great country as I am. Citizenship of our great nation comes with rights and responsibilities, and together we are all collaborators and stewards of this great democratic project here in Australia. I hope that we all work together as a community to keep building our future.”
“This remarkable program is driven by young local volunteers who work hard to make sure that children who might otherwise go hungry have access to daily nutritious meals. Today, Backpack Buddies supports more than 220 kids across Mandurah, Peel and Rockingham, working in partnership with 17 local schools. Their extraordinary fundraising efforts are impressive, but even more inspiring is the compassion, initiative and leadership shown by these young volunteers. Active citizenship starts in our own communities, and the next generation in the Peel region is leading by example. Also recognised on Australia Day were Community Citizen of the Year, Emeritus Professor Lyn Beazley AO, Young Community Citizen of the Year Millie Penman, and Senior Community Citizen of the Year John Stone.”
“We all share in the hard-fought freedoms, rights and opportunities that come with being Australian. This Australia Day I was also honoured to help recognise and celebrate the achievements of members of my local community. Among the long list of Australians honoured in the 2026 Australia Day Honours, I was delighted to see Peel residents Chief Petty Officer Erol Williams and Commander Wesley North Ran awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Military Division. Chief Petty Officer Bradley Smith was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross and Lauren D'Arcy was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal. Each of these Peel locals reflect the very best of what it means to be an Australian. I was very proud to also present the city of Mandurah's Active Citizenship Award to the Backpack Buddies program.”
“Every Australia Day, we celebrate our great country, our democratic values, our freedoms and our beautiful landscape, as well as our national character of strength and resilience, forged over many years. Significantly, this Australia Day, we also came together in Mandurah to recognise and welcome our new Australians taking the pledge of allegiance to our great nation. I had the pleasure of welcoming 80 new citizens from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities, and it was a delight to sing, all of us together, our national anthem. The ceremony also gave me and many others the opportunity to renew our pledge to Australia. It was a reminder for all of us, whether born here or naturalised after birth, that Australian citizenship is both a privilege and a responsibility.”
“So we must talk about immigration and citizenship and the kind of country we want Australia to become. To avoid this hard reality is to ignore the darker truth at the heart of the Bondi terror attacks.”
“But, even as we do this, the hard truth of the Bondi Beach attack remains. While our Jewish neighbours sought our welfare with a peaceful religious festival, our authorities were unable to uphold their welfare in return. This failure needs a close examination. I commend the Prime Minister for appointing a royal commission. We must have a full accounting, even if the truth is harsh and brutal. We must confront it. One thing is clear, and I close on this reality. We now have people living in Australia who do not share our values, who despise our way of life, and they will use violence to make the point, as the father-son homegrown terror cell at Bondi Beach has shown us. Militant Islam is a cancer that must be cut from our communities before it kills more of us.”
“I acknowledge those who, on the day, acted from love and courage to overcome hate and cowardice: the police who returned fire and neutralised the threat; the civilians, like Ahmed al-Ahmed and the late Boris and Sofia Gurman, who disrupted the attack and created space and time for our police to get in shooting range of the terrorists; the family, friends and locals who stood between the gunfire and those they shielded with their bodies; the first responders on the scene who rendered first aid, staunched the bleeding and recovered order from the chaos so that the wounded had a chance; the doctors and nurses who shouldered the burden of a mass-casualty event and managed to save those who otherwise might have perished. I say thank you. You are the best of Australia, and we honour you in this House today.”
“Many might have taken the safer option and withdrawn from public displays of their faith and tradition, and who could have blamed them after the antisemitism that we have witnessed in this country? Instead, Jewish Australians persevered as a blessing to our community and proceeded with their Bondi Beach Hanukkah festival celebrations. But, on that first day of Hanukkah, their welfare was shattered as militant Islamists armed with high-powered rifles cowardly gunned down and murdered 15 innocent people in cold blood. The elderly, parents and children were cut down. Many more innocents were grievously wounded by the long-range gunfire. Bondi Beach became a blood-soaked battlefield as tough and focused New South Wales police, along with the efforts of brave bystanders, closed the distance and overcame the jihadists with lethal force.”
“This passage of Scripture has inspired generations of Jewish people throughout history, living far from Jerusalem, to make homes, to be productive citizens and to build up the welfare of their local and national communities. Jewish Australians have done this since the arrival of the First Fleet, helping to build the welfare of our local communities and our great country. And that is what Jewish Australians were doing on 14 December 2025 as they celebrated the first day of Hanukkah with family and friends down at Bondi Beach. By celebrating the Festival of Lights, they were seeking the welfare of our city and of our country, even though their welfare and security had been compromised by intimidation, as their homes and properties have been graffitied and firebombed over the last two years.”
“Sometime during the late seventh or early sixth century before Christ, the prophet Jeremiah wrote to the Jewish exiles who had been carried off from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. This is what the Hebrew text says in chapter 29 in the Book of Jeremiah: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
“Labor talks about affordability but refuses to address the root cause. It's demand, which is massively outstripping supply, and they're fuelling it. Over the last few years, 1.2 million people have been added to our population, and only 500,000 dwellings have been built to support it. It's very simple, and we cannot continue on this path. Homeownership is fundamental to ensuring young Australians have a meaningful place, an investment in the future of our country. A home means roots, it means stability, it means community and it's the heart of family formation. Our fertility replacement rate is 1.5, and we need to get it up. In my community, the pain is real. People are feeling Labor's failure acutely. I'll keep fighting for them and talking about this issue in this House.”
“It's expected that Perth prices will jump by another $85,000 in 2026. These price jumps and future price projections crush the hopes of young Australians looking for a home. While house prices and rents soar, wages remain stagnant. Young Australians are being pushed out of the market fast, and the gap between what people earn and what homes cost is growing wider every single day. The median multiple, the mean salary to mean housing price, should be pegged at 1.3. That's traditionally what's been considered affordable. In most metropolitan markets across the country, it's around one to 10. Completely unaffordable for young Australians. What is driving this? Well, there's a couple of factors, but net overseas migration is out of control under the Labor government, and Australians are finding it harder and harder to get into property.”
“There used to be a ladder for young Australians to climb, but now they feel like that ladder has been kicked out and there's no actual— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 10:48 to 11 : 07 There used to be a ladder for young Australians to climb. But now many feel that the ladder has been kicked out and that there is no way to rise, particularly when it comes to buying a home. In WA, house prices have surged 8.4 per cent in the last year alone. Across my electorate of Canning, the prices have skyrocketed. Serpentine Jarrahdale has seen a spike of 11.3 per cent. In Silver Sands, there has been an increase of 29 per cent in just the last 12 months. It's unsustainable. And, with Labor at the helm, it's only going to get worse.”
“The Australian dream was always a promise. It was a promise that if you worked hard you could own your home, raise a family and build a better future. That promise is fading for young Australians. A home represents security and belonging, a stake in the country and a patch of ground on which to build a life with those you love. It's the cornerstone of stability, community and aspiration in this country. It's what generations have saved and worked for over many years. Today that dream is further out of reach than ever before. Under this Labor government, the path to homeownership has become steeper and narrower, and for many Australians it feels completely out of reach. Many Australians under 30 believe they will never be able to afford a home in this country.”
“The father hosting us is Papuan and played Rugby League, and we spent time reminiscing about the NRL greats from the nineties. I have a love of the game, too. Growing up in Sydney, I backed the Balmain Tigers and played for the Enfield Federals Rugby League Club in 1992 for the under-10s. We had a former South Sydney Rabbitohs first-grader as our coach, and he showed us how to play: tough tackles; quick hands; moving as one line in defence. Young Australians do learn a lot through sport. So I am glad that we are starting the Papua New Guinea Chiefs in 2028. No doubt it will have its challenges, and it's a big financial investment—$600 million over a decade—for the Australian people. But, if we do this well, we can build a new institution with the Papuan people and deepen our partnership as neighbours.”
“I think that common Christian heritage is very powerful, as it acts as an immediate cultural bridge when you meet people. I knew what a local chieftain meant when he told us that he was a steward of God's creation and that we were welcome on his land. The second thing that struck me was Papuans' deep love of Rugby League. You can't go far without seeing a reference to the National Rugby League competition. Returning from a patrol in Lae, we saw one bloke walking down a quiet road all by himself dressed in New South Wales blue State of Origin kit. He got a massive shout-out from the boys in the truck. I think it's very clear that we have a deep connection through that sport. I was reminded of this over the weekend in Perth, when I took my son, Jonathan, to a friend's birthday party.”
“But tonight I want to add my support to the plan to introduce the Papua New Guinea Chiefs into the National Rugby League competition from 2028. I think this is a very important project that will build on our common love of the game of Rugby League and join our nations in the great endeavour of sport. I spent time in Papua New Guinea with the ADF in Port Moresby and Lae, and I was struck by two things. The first was the common Christian heritage that our nations share. I recall sitting on sentry duty in the jungles of Lae during my patrol course, listening to the local villagers singing hymns on a Sunday during their worship service. I can still remember the rain coming down softly, as those beautiful voices travelled through the foliage carrying the melody of Wesleyan hymns.”
“The Prime Minister's recent rare-earths deal with President Trump revealed a new realism in our foreign policy—ditto the government's ongoing support for AUKUS, albeit underfunded and behind schedule. The point is that we need more hard-headed thinking here in Canberra where we see the world as it is and not as we wish it to be. I think this is an urgent priority for us in the Pacific island chain to our north, as China seeks greater influence with countries like Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji and Solomon Islands. I think it's very clear that we cannot risk a Chinese deep-water port to our north. Now, there are many ways that we can avoid that, using our national power and influence to deepen our partnerships with our Pacific neighbours.”
“Their BRI program is designed secure their expanding global influence through commercial agreements, and of particular interest are critical minerals and strategic assets like ports in Africa, Latin America and the Indo-Pacific region. A good example of a BRI agreement is the 99-year lease of the port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka. China now controls a port that straddles key sea lanes in the Indian Ocean and can stage elements of their blue-water navy as required. The AUKUS deal would look very similar from a Chinese perspective, with the US Navy basing submarines in Perth from 2027 onwards. I think the challenge for Australia is to chart a course that secures our national interest without resorting to platitudes about a world of free trade and a rules based order that simply doesn't exist anymore.”
“The great game is on: strategic competition, tariffs, quotas, subsidies—President Xi and President Trump are the figureheads of this new contest, but there are deeper structural forces at work, and China and the US have adopted a form of mercantilism, as both countries seek to build their national wealth and strategic power from a positive balance of trade. That's why we see an increase in industrial policy, tariffs and technological protectionism from both countries. The bottom line is that we're seeing the growth of state-directed capitalism as US led globalisation slowly breaks down and countries seek to secure their economic interests using all elements of their national power. China's Belt and Road Initiative is a case in point.”
“So the point of my speaking this morning is to affirm the intent of this bill, which is to give certainty for families suffering through the loss of a child, and I absolutely support the intent of that. I think it's a noble and good thing, and Baby Priya's bill deserves our support for that reason. But I do call upon the government—I note the sensitivity around this—to clarify that it does not apply to late-term abortions. That is the question at the heart of my speech. That is all I have to say on this matter.”
“I support this bill and its intent to give certainty around employer funded paid parental leave in that event. Families need support during that terrible time after eight to nine months—maybe even less—of anticipated joy at welcoming another life into this world and building a family, the grief is hard to describe in words. Having not felt myself, I can only imagine. My dear friend in Perth helped me understand what that meant for him and his wife. But I do have a question about the unintended consequences of this bill, and it applies to late-term abortions. This is a place where we can come and express views according to conscience. It's no secret that I am opposed to late-term abortions.”
“Children are a tremendous blessing, and that's why the grief of a lost baby hits so hard—it really hits hard. I truly learned this while riding with a good friend of mine. Cycling in the mornings, and he opened up to me about his experience of stillbirth. He and his wife lost a child. It took some time before he really got into what that meant for them, but it wasn't until I went into their living room and saw on their wall two little footprints which remind them of their lost child. Stillbirth is incredibly painful for people. That's why I support the intent of this Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya’s) Bill 2025 to uphold and preserve employer funded paid parental leave for those who have lost a child in stillbirth or immediately after.”
“We're not going to let this government pat themselves on the back, because patients are walking away from the emergency department because they simply can't wait any longer. Our healthcare workers are doing their best, but they're stretched to the breaking point. The fault with this hospital lies solely with WA Labor, who promised an upgrade and haven't delivered. We want action. We want it now. We'll make sure that we deliver accountability.”
“A leaked letter from a senior Peel Health Campus staff member to the federal health minister revealed the truth—compromised patient care, overwhelmed nurses and a system under strain. Where is our local member? A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 09:43 to 09:58 I asked the question: where is our local Labor MP for Mandurah, Rhys Williams? He has disappeared into a void of silence on this issue. He's admitted the budget isn't enough, but has done nothing to fight for us. We don't hear his voice. He's silent and WA Labor continue to fail us, so we've had enough and we're going to pursue this money. Labor keeps pointing to the same line in the budget year after year, but money in a spreadsheet means nothing if it doesn't leave the page. So we want action.”
“This year alone, ambulances have been ramped outside the Peel Health Campus for over 1,000 hours. That's 1,000 hours of patients waiting for urgent care. It's 1,000 hours of paramedics stuck at hospitals, unable to hand over patients. It's 1,000 hours of lives at risk. It also means fewer ambulances available to react and to get to emergencies in our community. Now we learn that the cost of the upgrade has blown out to $558 million, more than three times the original budget. That's a $400 million blowout—and still no clear timeline for delivery. This cost blowout is so massive that it threatens to chew through nearly the entire $500 million health infrastructure fund that Labor announced, leaving little for any other hospitals across Western Australia. Now we know the inside story.”
“(): Let me speak plainly. My region's local hospital, the Peel Health Campus, is in crisis, and WA Labor has failed us. Back in 2020, we were promised by the then Labor premier, Mark McGowan, $152 million to upgrade the hospital. That was five years ago. Since then, nothing—no new wards, no new beds, no progress, just spin, delay and excuses. I fought for this upgrade from day 1. I've raised it in parliament—not once, not twice. This will be the sixteenth time I've stood in our national parliament to call on WA Labor to deliver for this hospital. I've stood with doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, patients and families. I've launched petitions, held community meetings and demanded answers—because I know how important this hospital is to the region. But, despite all that, things have only gotten worse.”
“So what's happened over the last 30 years? Very simply, our advanced manufacturing capability in this country has collapsed. We don't make complex things of value at scale anymore—things like cars, for example. We Australians have a choice to make, and it's an urgent one: do we want to make things again? If so, we have to make power cheap again. We have to take back control. That means killing net zero. That means getting power prices down. That means investing in manufacturing. And, to those on the other side, that means putting Australians first.”
“Australia is a wealthy country, and that's because of the hard work of previous generations. But there are no guarantees that our wealth will continue. In fact, the Harvard Economic Complexity Index tells us that we are going backwards. The index places the industrial capabilities and know-how of a country at the heart of its growth prospects, and it asks a basic question: how big is your engine? The Harvard index makes it clear that Australia has a big growth problem. Our engine is too small, and it's getting smaller. We are in the bottom third of 149 countries. We rank 105th, and over the last 30 years we've been sliding down the rankings. In 1995 we ranked 62nd. Today we rank 105th. We're outperformed by the USA, China, the UK, Canada, Singapore, Japan, Germany, Italy and Sweden. Even New Zealand, at 68th, is ahead of us by 37 places.”
“This is about whether this government is willing to face the truth and fix what's broken. WA Labor must be held accountable for the promises it's failed to keep and the lives it continues to put at risk. I will keep rising in this place until this government stops making excuses and starts delivering results. My community and all Western Australians deserve better from the Cook Labor government.”
“Despite all this, Roger Cook claims our health system is world class. I've said this many times, and let me be clear: our health professionals are world class. Our doctors, nurses and paramedics are doing extraordinary work under almost impossible conditions, but the system they're working in is broken. Seven thousand hours of ramping is not world class. A broken morgue door at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is not world class. Flying to Canberra to beg for federal funding is not world class. WA has a $2.4 billion surplus in the state coffers. There is no excuse for this level of failure. The people in my state aren't asking for much. They're asking for a health system that works, leadership that listens and promises that are kept. This is about more than just statistics; it's about trust. The WA Labor government has broken that trust.”
“Behind every one of those hours is a person: an elderly patient in pain, a paramedic stuck outside a hospital unable to help, a nurse stretched to breaking point or a doctor doing their best in a system that is failing them. People in WA know the truth. They live it in waiting rooms and in ambulances in perpetual crisis. My community's local hospital, the Peel Health Campus, is a clear example. WA Labor has been promising upgrades for more than eight years, and still we wait. Just this Monday, the average triage wait time at Peel was 100 minutes, the second-worst in the state. That's not just a number; that's a mother with a sick child, a pensioner in distress or a family waiting for answers. The Peel region is growing rapidly, but our hospital hasn't kept pace. The result is longer waits, more pressure on staff and compromised care.”
“Deputy Speaker Small, it's great to see you in the chair, particularly as a Western Australian, representing the great seat of Forrest, because this speech is about the WA health system. This is the 15th time I've stood in this place to speak about the state of health care in Western Australia. And I'll keep speaking about it because the situation is getting worse. WA's health system is in a death spiral. Last month, WA Labor broke its own record again, with more than 7,000 hours of ambulance ramping. That's two months in a row. Nine years ago, then Labor opposition health minister and now WA premier, Roger Cook, called 1,000 hours of ramping a crisis. If 1,000 hours was a crisis, 7,000 hours is a catastrophe. Yet the Premier continues as if nothing is wrong—no urgency, no accountability, no plan. The Premier is disconnected from reality.”
“We also encourage Australians to pause and reflect on the extraordinary service our police give to our communities and country. I join the minister in acknowledging those members in this House who served in uniform as police officers prior to coming to this place. Every day, our police serve on the front lines, often in dangerous and difficult circumstances, sometimes at great personal cost and, all too often, unrecognised for their sacrifices. On behalf of the coalition and this parliament, I pay the deepest respect to our fallen officers. We thank all those who continue to serve. Their sacrifice and their service embody the great tradition of ordered liberty under law that makes our nation safe and free.”
“We also remember and honour the detective who was injured and those the police officers working tirelessly in the cold, rugged Victorian countryside to bring the killer to justice. These tragic events are a sombre reminder of the dangers police face every day and the incredible courage it takes to serve our communities and country with that uncertainty. Every year on 29 September, we pay tribute to those officers who gave their lives while serving and protecting the Australian people—men and women who lost their lives for the betterment of ours. Every year on 29 September, we also recommit to providing solace and support to the partners, children, families and colleagues of our fallen officers who now carry their memory but also the scars of their loss.”
“I joint with the Minister for Home Affairs in making a statement on National Police Remembrance Day. On 29 September every year, we pause to honour the service and sacrifice of our police officers who paid the ultimate price and lost their lives in the line of duty. We take this opportunity to honour the men and women who dutifully serve each and every day, willingly putting themselves in harm's way to protect their fellow Australians. On 16 June this year, Constable Keith Smith was tragically shot and killed on duty in Tasmania. Just last week, Australians were horrified when Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart were shot and killed in the line of duty in Porepunkah in Victoria. Our deepest condolences go to their loved ones and colleagues, who have been devastated by this loss.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the aforementioned reports in the Australian and your previous answer. Is the Prime Minister aware of any info that suggests that ISIS brides are seeking to return to Australia, and is your government making preparations to receive them?”
“The Union Jack reminds us that our tradition of ordered liberty under law and parliamentary democracy is British in origin, anchored in the Glorious Revolution of 1689 and the English Bill of Rights. That is a historical fact. The federation star reminds us that we are one people, one Commonwealth and one country, and the southern cross reminds us that we live down under, far from the ancients strife that has divided Europe and the Middle East over the millennia. We are different, and Australians want to keep it that way. That's why thousands unfurled our flag on Sunday.”
“Flags are important symbols. That's why it is unlawful in Australia to display the flag of listed terrorist organisations like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic State and Neo-Nazi groups. None of those flags are welcome in our country, nor are people who support extremist ideology. But fair minded, law-abiding Australians can march on our streets and display Palestinian or Australian flags—as thousands did last month—without being labelled a terrorist or a Neo-Nazi, even if the marches are tainted by the unwelcome presence of people who support Islamic terrorism and Neo-Nazism. Like most Australians, I prefer the Australian flag because my first allegiance is to this country and our people. Our flag speaks to who we are.”
“When the High Court handed down its ruling in the NZYQ case in November 2023, this government was caught flat-footed when it should have had the laws drafted and ready to go. Instead, this panicked government released hundreds of criminal noncitizens into the community with no plan to manage the very serious risks to public safety. On 14 November 2023 the hopeless former minister for home affairs and the hopeless former minister for immigration said that the released detainees were 'subject to a range of strict mandatory visa conditions'. But as it turns out, no visas were in place at all. According to documents obtained by the coalition under FOI, this government released at least 83 detainees from immigration detention into the community without any visa conditions, meaning they were roaming about freely and completely unchecked.”
“Here we are again—a new parliament but the same shambolic handling of Australia's migration system from the Albanese Labor government. Another bill introduced at the eleventh hour, subverting proper parliamentary scrutiny, as Labor tries to patch over its own failings. Again, it has fallen to the coalition to help clean up Labor's mess. This will be the fifth bill Labor has introduced in an attempt to fix the chaos it created when it released hundreds of dangerous criminals onto our streets after it lost the NZYQ case almost two years ago. Make no mistake, it is the Labor government's successive policy failures that have brought us to this position in the first place. It's not the High Court, it's not the coalition or the Greens. This mess sits at Labor's feet alone.”
“Next month, I'll have been 10 years in the parliament. My wife has spent the last 10 years having kids and raising kids, often without me present, and she does it because she believes in what I do in this place. So I want to acknowledge my wife, Ruth, for her love and her support. I also acknowledge my kids. My three-year-old said to me on Friday, 'Why don't you live with us anymore, Dad?' which was hard to hear. But my 10-year-old boy and my eight-year-old daughter explained that I go to parliament and I do it for a good reason, and I hope that one day she will understand why I've taken this job on. I'll leave it there. Thank you very much.”
“But nonetheless, we need to fight for our constituents, for fairness, for prosperity and for the dignity of every single Australian. That's what leadership demands. It's about standing firm when it counts, speaking up when others stay silent and never forgetting who you represent. Before I conclude I want to thank my campaign team, who worked tirelessly through the rain and on hot days because they believe in our community and our cause. I want to thank our volunteers who gave their time, energy and heart to our campaign. It's always encouraging when you meet new people who are willing to put on a T-shirt and stand with you—you'd know this, Deputy Speaker Sharkie—because they believe in what you stand for. So I want to thank all those people. I also want to thank my family—my wife, Ruth, and our children—for their support and sacrifice.”
“It's about listening, learning and standing firm in the face of adversity. It's about representing the values of the people who sent us here: hard work, honesty and a deep commitment to our country. Our schools are filled with bright, curious and capable young Australians. They're ready to take on the world, but they need a future that they can believe in and one that they want to step into—a future built not on debt and decline but on opportunity, stability, cohesion as a country and national pride. That future begins with a commitment to the people we serve, not just in election years but every single day. It's not easy. We're all imperfect people. There is not a single perfect person on this earth, and, particularly in politics, our imperfections can sometimes be magnified. That's just what comes with public office.”
“Some of my favourite moments are, in fact, shopping at Coles in Halls Head, doing constituent work in the aisles. I remember the seniors I spoke to recently, who were trying to work out if they could afford eggs for the week. It's a great community, but rarely do I hear people whinge. They've always got constructive feedback or encouragement, and I thank them for that. I'm proud to be a leader in my community and I don't take that responsibility lightly. Leadership is about service. That's what I learnt over the lake there at the Australian Defence Force Academy and the Royal Military College, Duntroon. The motto for ADFA is To Lead, To Excel, and at Duntroon it's Learning Promotes Strength. Leadership in those institutions was always about service, and it's a privilege to continue doing that in public office in this parliament.”
“Everyone else in the street was talking about the stink, and they said, 'We can't even turn our air conditioning on, because it smells like blood and bone in our living room if we do.' This is a serious disruption to their lives, their health and their homes. I've held community meetings, I've called for action from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and I've invited the Minister for the Environment to see the impact firsthand. This is just one of the many challenges facing our community. But, despite this, my constituents remain hopeful. They're proud of their community and they are determined to build a better future. I want to acknowledge the people who came up to me on the street to have a chat. They might have given me a word of encouragement.”
“I think it's unfair and unsustainable. Another issue is the unbearable odour affecting residents in the northern suburbs of my electorate. For those here it might sound like a minor inconvenience, trivial even. But for those living with it, this smell emanating from waste and compost facilities is making homes unlivable and outdoor spaces unusable, particularly in summer when temperatures hit 35-plus and you get a roaring easterly out to the coast. These smells are dumped on a lot of our coastal community living in the north of the electorate. Kids can't play outside, and people can't open their windows in the middle of summer. In fact, when I was doorknocking in Singleton, an elderly couple came to the door.”
“Under this government, we're seeing local communities and their wishes overridden and we're seeing inefficient, expensive and environmentally-damaging solar and wind farms pushed on local communities. We're outsourcing emissions. This is a government that does a lot of carbon leakage. They claim they're green, but they do a lot of carbon leakage. They're increasing our dependence on foreign supply chains. We're not building these wind turbines. We're not making the solar panels. We're importing them from China. So, effectively, we're dismantling our comparative advantage in energy, which comes from our coal and our gas. We could have nuclear power because we've got a lot of uranium. We're dismantling that comparative advantage and we're making ourselves dependent on the importation of power made overseas.”