Anne Aly
Cowan · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“We're also delivering a permanent two-year loss carry-back for companies with a turnover of up to $1 billion so that they can return to profitability faster. We're cutting red tape and lowering compliance costs by removing a further 497 nuisance tariffs. That's going to save businesses around $127 million a year.”
“The Albanese Labor government backs in that ambition and that aspiration because we understand that, when Australia's 2.77 million small businesses grow, local communities grow with them.”
“I want to thank the member for Tangney for his question but also for his incredible advocacy for small businesses in his electorate of Tangney. It wasn't that long ago that the member for Tangney and I visited a really impressive small business in Willetton, the Willetton Trophy Centre.”
“That's why we're delivering real change for Australians, including tax cuts for workers and sole traders, something that the three right-wing parties voted against. We back all taxpayers on this side of the House. We back families, we back parents and we back small business.”
“There's our multicultural communities in Cowan, as well: the Macedonian community, our Vaishnav Sangh, Mirrabooka mosque, Perth North Tamil School, the Multicultural Services Centre, Malaga Multicultural Alliance, the Organisation of African Communities, Sacred India Gallery, the New Life Christian Centre and the Kenyan Community in WA.”
“I just want to give a shout-out to these groups: the Greenwood Street Pantry; the Lions Club of Wanneroo; Fostering Hope; No Limits; the various men's sheds, which I know everybody has in their electorates; 12 Buckets, who do amazing work with young people; the Marangaroo Family Centre; our Vietnamese Seniors Association; Wheelchairs for…”
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“That's why we're delivering real change for Australians, including tax cuts for workers and sole traders, something that the three right-wing parties voted against. We back all taxpayers on this side of the House. We back families, we back parents and we back small business.”
“We're also delivering a permanent two-year loss carry-back for companies with a turnover of up to $1 billion so that they can return to profitability faster. We're cutting red tape and lowering compliance costs by removing a further 497 nuisance tariffs. That's going to save businesses around $127 million a year. We're supporting small businesses to take up digital technology. We're making it easier to access workers with the right skills, and we're providing free access to mandatory standards. That's going to save some small businesses more than $1,600 a year. We're also continuing new access for small-business owners and the Small Business Debt Helpline. This is a government that backs people who work hard, take risks and build for the future, whether they work for a business or whether they own a business.”
“The Albanese Labor government backs in that ambition and that aspiration because we understand that, when Australia's 2.77 million small businesses grow, local communities grow with them. When I speak to small-business owners, as I travel around the country talking to them, they tell me about their challenges and their pain points—things like cash flow, red tape, access to staff, operating costs and, of course, global uncertainty. That's why, from today, the Albanese Labor government is delivering real change to help small businesses manage pressure to invest and to plan with confidence. From today, our changes kick in. We're making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent so that small businesses can have certainty to invest in the tools and the equipment and assets that they need.”
“I want to thank the member for Tangney for his question but also for his incredible advocacy for small businesses in his electorate of Tangney. It wasn't that long ago that the member for Tangney and I visited a really impressive small business in Willetton, the Willetton Trophy Centre. It's a family owned business passed on from generation to generation, and they've been able to really grow through innovation and being adaptable but also through their incredible hard work and ambition. That's what small business is all about, isn't it? It's about people backing themselves. It's about families taking a risk and putting in the long hours, employing locals and building up communities.”
“A huge thankyou to all the people of Cowan for giving me the honour of serving you for 10 years. I will continue to work my utmost to represent you here each and every day.”
“There's our multicultural communities in Cowan, as well: the Macedonian community, our Vaishnav Sangh, Mirrabooka mosque, Perth North Tamil School, the Multicultural Services Centre, Malaga Multicultural Alliance, the Organisation of African Communities, Sacred India Gallery, the New Life Christian Centre and the Kenyan Community in WA. These are all community groups that I've had the pleasure of working with. Then there are our sporting groups right across Cowan: Balga Football Club; Kingsway Regional Sporting Complex, with the various football clubs as well as baseball, netball and soccer—everything you can imagine; Stirling Adriatic Centre and Bowling Club; West Coast Gymnasts; and, of course, all our local sporting heroes and all those young people in diverse sports from soccer to speed skating to hurling.”
“I just want to give a shout-out to these groups: the Greenwood Street Pantry; the Lions Club of Wanneroo; Fostering Hope; No Limits; the various men's sheds, which I know everybody has in their electorates; 12 Buckets, who do amazing work with young people; the Marangaroo Family Centre; our Vietnamese Seniors Association; Wheelchairs for Kids and renowned Brother Olly for all his dedication and the work that he and I have done together over the years; Grandcarers WA; Ngala Djooken Healing Centre; ISHAR, which is a multicultural women's health centre; Youth Futures; St Vincent de Paul; and Community Connecting Youth, with their wonderful community garden that they've developed out there in Ballajura.”
“We've also worked on some black spots—most significantly, those on Malaga Drive, the Mirrabooka and Montrose Avenue project and the Hepburn Avenue project. I'm really, really humbled by the myriad community groups throughout Cowan that I've gotten to know over the last 10 years, as well as the work we've been able to achieve together and the support that I've been able to give them. I'm going to go through a few of them. Obviously there's a lot to go through, but I'm going to try and get through as many as I can.”
“Well, believe it or not, this week it is coming up to 10 years since I was given the honour of being elected as the member for Cowan—a decade of serving the Cowan community. Over that decade, I must say, my boundaries have changed a lot more than I would have liked, but my commitment remains the same. I want to take a moment to reflect on that past decade and share some of the things that I've achieved together with the community of Cowan for the community of Cowan. Most recently, we had our urgent care clinic open in Nollamara. That's going gangbusters. We've also got the Mirrabooka Medicare Mental Health Centre. Along with the state government, we've built a new train station in Ballajura.”
“I had a conversation with Eve not just about the financial aspects but also about what she does for her community. These are the small businesses in Australia run by migrants, and we love them. (Time expired)”
“Henk has this really great business where he automates things like water and lights coming on in public spaces, really improving the operational efficiencies of local councils. All of these small businesses that I visited are very diverse—from cafes to automation—but they have something in common. They have a few things in common, but one of the things that they have in common is that they are all run and started by migrants. Around 34 per cent of small businesses are started or run by migrants. Some may be citizens. Some may be permanent residents awaiting citizenship. Something else that they share with all Australians is that they have an aspiration of a life for themselves and an aspiration to contribute to their communities. That's what all of them are doing.”
“Distinct Homes is a small outfit involved in the management of building homes, and they really contribute to our policy and our aspiration for building more homes in Australia. I want to mention Kareem from QA Bathroom Warehouse. QA Bathroom Warehouse in Malaga has been around for a while. They do a whole lot of bathroom supplies and sinks. Anything you can think of that goes into a bathroom can be found at QA Bathroom Warehouse in Malaga. Zak from the Meat Giants in Mirrabooka is my local butcher. I actually go there and get all my meat. There's a great variety of meat. Zak has really had to pivot a lot for the clientele in Mirrabooka and really understands and explained to me the flexibility of running a small business. I want to mention Henk from Industrial Automation in Joondalup in the member for Moore's electorate.”
“Over the course of the last few weeks, I've had the absolute privilege of visiting some small businesses not just in my electorate of Cowan but in other electorates around WA. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for inviting me along and for the openness of the conversations that we had. I do want to specifically mention a few of those small businesses. I want to mention Cafe Viazza in Greenwood and Eve, who runs Cafe Viazza. It's a bit of an institution in Cowan. Cafe Viazza in Greenwood has a regular clientele who come in. They serve some pretty good homemade fare, I have to say, for their clientele there. I want to also mention Ahmed from Distinct Homes.”
“They want us to make it easier for them to run their business and to grow when they need to. The Albanese government is backing small business, and we'll continue to do that. We'll continue to do that because small business backs Australia.”
“On making the instant asset write-off permanent, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand said: … it cuts red tape … and lets businesses focus on running and growing their operations … They also said that it 'supports growth and strengthens the economic foundations Australia needs in a challenging global environment'. The Housing Industry Association, ACCI, COSBOA, the National Farmers' Federation, Master Electricians, the Finance Industry Association and the Motor Trades Association of Australia have all welcomed these budget measures for small business, recognising that this government focuses on improving cash flow and supporting confidence so that small businesses can get on with doing what they do best. That's what small businesses tell me every day.”
“It's why the budget includes $3.5 billion in supports for small business to support resilience, investment and growth—things like making the $20,000 instant asset write-off and the two-year loss carry-back permanent, introducing loss refundability for startups, taking measures to reduce compliance costs and removing nuisance tariffs. The Business Council of Australia said: Making the instant asset write-off permanent and delivering loss carry back are useful steps for small- and medium-sized businesses and will help businesses invest, grow and create jobs.”
“I thank the member for Petrie for her question. Last month I had the pleasure of visiting a fattoush restaurant with the member for Petrie and speaking with the owner, Rod. I didn't get to try their fattoush, but I promised I'd be back to give it a go, even though I do believe that my version of fattoush is one of the best. We'll see! I've also been meeting with small businesses right across the country. I'm hearing about their challenges, about their opportunities and about their aspirations. And, importantly, I've been hearing from them about their operating environments and how we can deliver the settings that they need to be able to flourish and grow. That's why this government is focused on cash flow and operating expenses through targeted measures to reduce red tape and make it easier for small businesses to do business.”
“It includes $3.5 billion in new measures that deliver business tax relief to support resilience, investment and growth. For small businesses, this includes making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent; making the two-year loss carryback permanent; introducing loss refundability to support startup businesses; expanding tax incentives for venture capital—”
“Our free TAFE has increased the pool of skilled workers for small business. We've incentivised more apprenticeships. We've halved the fuel excise and reduced the heavy vehicle road user charge to help buffer the impacts of global events. We've strengthened the enforcement of the Franchising Code of Conduct. We've increased penalties for unfair contract terms and extended protections for unfair trading practices. We've invested in digital solutions and cyber-resilience and the Small Business Debt Helpline. We've made changes to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules to ensure Australian small businesses get a bigger slice of government procurement opportunities—and that's not all. Last week's budget goes even further to ensuring small businesses have the settings that they need not just to survive but also to thrive.”
“I want to thank the member for Moore for his question. On Thursday, the member for Moore and I visited Industrial Automation in Joondalup. Industrial Automation is the brainchild of Hank. For over a decade, Hank has been helping local communities to adopt technology that saves them both time and money. Businesses like Hank's are the very reason that we're focused on supporting Australia's 2.7 million small businesses. Since we came into office in 2022, we've worked diligently to deliver for small business. I want to go through the whole list, but it's quite significant, so I'm going to try and get through it all in under three minutes. We've made the payment times reporting regime work for small businesses, with faster payment times, and we've issued our first ever fine. We're taking steps to streamline the National Construction Code.”
“We're delivering the kinds of changes that they need to thrive and grow, because they have an Australian story—a story of nation building, of aspiration and of giving back.”
“The budget also contains a permanent two-year loss carry-back, so that small businesses can return to profitability faster and can have the confidence to invest earlier. The big one is that we are slashing red tape, simplifying the tax system, harmonising national systems with a 'tell us once' approach and cutting regulatory costs by over $10 billion right across the economy. Along with fee-free TAFE and incentives for apprenticeships, we're improving skills recognition and skilled migration systems so that small businesses can have access to the skilled workforce they need. Red tape, cash flow and access to skilled workers are the three big things that small businesses raise with me every time I see them. This budget sends a clear message to them that the Albanese government has listened.”
“We're backing small businesses as part of our $3.5 billion of new business tax relief to boost investment, to increase cash flow and to support growth. The $20,000 instant asset write-off has been a lifeline for small businesses seeking to upgrade or purchase assets to grow their businesses and to keep their cash flowing. But, for many years, they've had to navigate whether or not the instant asset write-off would be available for them in future years; they've had to navigate that uncertainty. That's now a permanent feature of this government's small-business assistance, making it a permanent feature for small businesses, and, importantly, saving small businesses around $32 million per year in compliance costs.”
“I thank the member for Brisbane for her question. It was an absolute pleasure to visit some of the really inspiring small businesses in her electorate around two weeks ago; I thank her for that. Since we came to government, I'm pleased to inform the House that Australians have established an additional 180,000 small businesses—visionary individuals who are strengthening our workforce, strengthening our supply chains and strengthening our communities. Yesterday's budget delivers for them, ensuring they have the settings they need to thrive. As one masthead put it, 'Gee whiz, it's a win for small biz'—clever!—declaring that Aussies running small businesses are a surprise winner in this year's budget, even going so far as to call it 'a cash flow hug' from our great Treasurer here.”
“We're boosting fuel supply, amending fuel standards and working with industry and international partners—including, as the minister announced earlier today, the standards for diesel as well. On this side of the House we remain focused on delivery, particularly in the face of global uncertainty. We are the party for small business.”
“Mr Speaker, you've heard the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and other ministers talk here about shielding Australians from the worst of global uncertainty. We are working as a team across portfolios to deliver for small businesses and ensure that they too are shielded from the worst of global uncertainty. We're ensuring that they're able to take advantage of Australia's transition to renewable energy, and I'm pleased to inform the House that the latest draft default market offer proposes that small-business electricity costs could drop by as much as 21 per cent. We're also ensuring that they can reduce their energy costs by accessing the home battery program, which thousands have already done.”
“Behind that figure there are visionary individuals who take an idea or take a passion and turn it into a business—a business that employs people and supplies critical goods and services, and a business that builds communities. Our National Small Business Strategy, the first of its kind, means that we're working closely with states and territories across three essential pillars—supporting small businesses to grow, levelling the playing field for them and easing the pressure on small businesses. But we know that running a small business can be tough, and I know that members on this side of the House who have run small businesses know exactly what I'm talking about—and it's even tougher when you don't know what's around the corner, when unexpected price shocks or supply shortages throw you curveballs.”
“I thank the member for Canberra and welcome her back to this place after her period of maternity leave. I thank her also for fighting for small businesses in Canberra—small businesses like one of my favourites, Fancy Yarns. Fancy Yarns is run by owners Cat and John, and they recently held another amazing Australian Yarn Show event right here in Canberra. It's an annual event that showcases small businesses in the yarn industry, from producers through to retailers and creatives as well—so I wanted to give them a bit of a shout-out. The Albanese government understands how important small businesses are, and we're ensuring that small businesses have the right conditions in place not just to survive but also to thrive. Since we came to government, Australians have established more than 26,000 new small businesses every month.”
“She rarely says no to a request, and she consistently goes above and beyond to support the centre and, importantly, the community and the people who rely on that centre. Twenty years of service—that is an extraordinary milestone, particularly in community work where compassion, patience and commitment are essential. I dare say it takes a special kind of person, a person like Helen, to dedicate 20 years of their life to this kind of service. Our community is stronger because of people like Helen, and it really is a privilege to be able to recognise her in this place here today.”
“They are places where people come together to access services, to participate in activities, to build friendship and to support one another, and they help foster this really important sense of connection and belonging that really, really does hold together communities and that is the very basis of what our nation can be when we come together in these ways. I've attended several events at the Hepburn Centre, ranging from community gatherings to days dedicated to bringing together a range of services for those in need, including homeless people. I'm really proud to have been able to support the centre over the years as the member for Cowan. Those who work alongside Helen often speak about her unwavering dedication and her willingness to step in wherever help is needed, and I can certainly vouch for that.”
“Helen first joined the organisation as a part-time staff member, and through her dedication, her leadership and her genuine commitment to helping others she quickly became an irreplaceable part of the Hepburn Centre, and today she's widely regarded as the glue that holds the centre together and as someone who ensure that residents and community groups across Cowan feel welcomed, supported and connected to each other and to the services that are there for them. Community centres like the Hepburn Centre play an incredibly significant role in our suburbs.”
“Today I want to recognise a remarkable member of the Cowan community, Helen Cocks. She has dedicated two decades of service to supporting residents through her work at the Hepburn Centre where she serves as the executive officer. Over those two decades Helen has played an extraordinary role in strengthening the centre as well as the many community groups and individuals who rely on the centre.”
“I do thank the member for his question. I'm not quite sure how else I can articulate this other than to repeat that there is an expectation from this government that all organisations that receive funding conduct themselves within the expectations of Australian taxpayers. For the situation in question, I have spoken about it before in parliament, in question time, and have answered questions with regard to that particular situation. I have informed the House of a situation where there was an active submission in place, which was later stopped after that particular organisation was found to have— I am getting there.”
“In relation to further matters, I will reiterate what I said last time in this House, which is that this government takes very seriously the fact that all public funding that goes to any organisations, whether they are religious organisations, whether they are cultural organisations or sporting organisations—we take very seriously the role that they play in ensuring that their activities are in line with the standards that Australian taxpayers expect.”
“I thank the member opposite for his question, though I do take some issue with the inference there about secret funding. The funding that was spoken about earlier this week was very much publicly made. The commitment was very publicly made. And, as I said in this House in response to questions from the shadow minister at the time of finding out about the incident that happened, I asked the department to stop what was an active process. That has now been stopped.”
“I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent: (1) government business order of the day No. 4, Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026, being debated in cognate with government business order of the day No. 5, Superannuation (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Imposition Bill 2026; and (2) any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.”
“I thank the member for his question. I refer to my previous answer, but I do want to reiterate something. I want to reiterate the fact that, like all governments, we do give grants to community organisations, whether they be religious organisations, mosques, temples or sporting groups. But we take very seriously our expectation that the activities of those organisations and the activities of those groups are conducted within the rule of law and within the expectations of taxpayers and the standards that taxpayers expect. In relation to the question and the specific issue that I know the member was standing up to interject on, I was made aware of this in the last 24 hours, I might say.”
“I thank the member opposite for his question. As the Treasurer said, we take very seriously issues where there is funding for activities or for communities. We take very seriously the use of taxpayer money to fund those activities in those communities. When we do that, we do that with an expectation—an expectation that those activities and those communities will abide by the law and within the expectations and the standards which Australian taxpayers expect in the use of their money. This case is no different. So I can assure those opposite that I am doing everything possible to look into this matter, and I will have more to say on it shortly.”
“That's a clear sign of ambition and resilience and belief in the future. As someone who has owned and operated small businesses—”
“I do want to thank the member for Menzies for his question. We've spent a lot of time in Menzies, the member and I, visiting local businesses in his electorate. More recently we visited the Box Hill markets where we stopped at Blissful Station and met the owner-operator there, Lan, who treated us to some pretty delicious vegan dumplings. Now, I'm not very big on vegan dumplings, but I have to say those from Blissful Station were pretty good. From Box Hill to Broome, right across Australia, Australian small businesses create jobs and they support families and local communities and economies in our regions and in our cities. That's why the Albanese government is backing Australia's record high 2.66 million small businesses to run and to grow and to succeed. Australians have started 800,000 new small businesses since we came into office.”
“Their commitment to inclusion, dignity and opportunity speaks to values that we should all hold dearly here, and together they remind us of the extraordinary power of community and what is possible when we choose to lift one another up.”
“This year alone, Dandelions WA will provide 17,000 backpacks to children who might otherwise start school without the essentials that many of us take for granted. But the impact of Dandelions WA goes far beyond backpacks because, under Vicky's leadership, they now support people experiencing homelessness, women and families fleeing violence, individuals in hospital and others navigating hardship. Vicky ensures that people in crisis feel seen and that they are supported and treated with dignity, and she shows us that leadership doesn't always come with grand gestures. Often it's the steady, thoughtful work that makes the greatest difference. Both worthy recipients embody what it truly means to lift others up.”
“Through mentors from diverse backgrounds, the Rhinos are building resilience and leadership in the next generation, and their recognition as winners of the Active Citizenship Award is well deserved. It reminds us that grassroots organisations are often the quiet engines of social cohesion. What they give these young people is dignity, empowerment and a sense of belonging that strengthens our entire community. I also want to acknowledge the remarkable Vicky Young. She's the president and co-founder of Dandelions WA, and she's been named Community Citizen of the Year by the City of Stirling. Vicky's work is grounded in compassion and action—the kind of combination that really has an impact on changing lives.”
“I want to recognise two outstanding contributors to the Cowan community. They're also the recipients of the City of Stirling's 2026 Community Citizen of the Year Awards, and their work reflects the very best of who we are. The first is the Perth Rhinos Basketball club. It's more than just a sporting organisation; it's a lifeline for young people seeking connection, belonging and opportunity. The club was originally established to create elite pathways for South Sudanese youth, but it has grown into a truly inclusive club that welcomes everyone. For many young people who have experienced disengagement or social isolation, the Rhinos offer something that cannot be measured on a scoreboard: a sense of inclusion and safety, mentoring and a place to grow with confidence.”
“I am living proof that what he did had an impact and will continue to have a lasting impact on this nation. In closing, I just want to also extend my sincerest condolences to Senator Bolkus's wife, Mary, and his children. We mourn the loss of a great advocate for migrants and a distinguished parliamentarian. I hope that his family finds comfort in the knowledge that his contribution to Australia in opening the hearts and the minds of successive generations will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Senator Nick Bolkus, and may we continue to build the inclusive Australia that he spent his life striving for. Debate adjourned. Federation Chamber adjourned at 19:29”
“They mattered to me as a young woman growing up in Australia, being able to look at somebody in the parliament who reflected my own feelings, my own voice, my own desires and my own sense of what it means to be Australian and what it means to belong in this nation. I think that gives you all a sense of just how significant and just how impactful Senator Bolkus was as a minister in the government here in this place. I never knew him. I never got to meet him, and I never got to shake hands. I would have loved to have had the kinds of experiences that the minister for health was speaking about. I would have loved to have sat with him and garnered some of his wise words and just drunk all of that in. But I am living proof that what he did mattered.”
“I watched the faces of the people who were getting their citizenship as I spoke this and watched them again as they spoke those words when they took the citizenship pledge. I saw the intense pride when they spoke those words, the intense pride and the recognition that becoming Australian meant that you were pledging your allegiance to a people—to sharing their values and their democratic beliefs, as well as their rights and responsibilities. Indeed, every time I'm fortunate enough to attend a citizenship ceremony, I reflect on just how significant Nick Bolkus's impact was in making sure that they are celebratory moments, as is that very significant part of the citizenship pledge. I've spoken a lot about Senator Bolkus's contributions to multiculturalism and to modern Australia because they matter to me.”
“He worked to enhance the significance of the pledge of commitment. He wanted the experience of becoming Australian to be a moment of profound inclusion. Like many members in this House, I attend citizenship ceremonies quite regularly. At the most recent one, there were about 200 people taking the citizenship pledge, and I reflected with them on that part in the citizenship pledge where we pledge allegiance not just to Australia but to Australia and her people. I asked the people in the room to look around and take in the environment and the atmosphere of that citizenship ceremony and to recognise that they were about to stand up and pledge their loyalty to the people in that room with them today, as well.”
“The passage of time proved that Australia, when tested, rises to the challenge and holds firm on our values of equality and humanity—values that Senator Bolkus put into practice all those years ago in 1993. Today, we also draw inspiration from his steadfastness in holding these values, even while other political and social forces seek to exploit division, appeal to fear and undermine our democracy. Arguably, his most lasting legacy is in relation to the status of citizenship itself. Senator Bolkus believed that Australian citizenship should be a celebratory occasion, not just an administrative requirement. I've heard this described variously as moving beyond formal citizenship to citizenship actually being something that we feel, that we celebrate and that we that we take in, in the way in which we practice our lives.”
“He also made significant advancements in Australia's refugee policy—as if all of that wasn't enough, there's more. In response to humanitarian crises around the world, he streamlined visa processing for those fleeing persecution, and, as many before me have noted, in 1993 he played a critical role in granting permanent residence to tens of thousands of Chinese students and their family members—those who had come prior to the Tiananmen Square incident, which is recalled quite vividly by those of us who can. That decision garnered international recognition, and in his valedictory speech many, many years later, he referred back to that moment with great pride, stating: 'The sky didn't fall in and the hordes didn't invade.' Sadly, though, those same expressions of border anxiety exist today.”