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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“We fasted for Ramadan by politely refusing food and drink so we were not having to answer questions about why we didn't drink water during the day, and we broke fast quietly over home cooked meals in our dining rooms. We didn't practise publicly. Something changed that, and one of the most profound things that changed that for my family was SBS. SBS gave us leave to speak our language publicly, to eat our food publicly and to celebrate our cultural traditions publicly. Under Senator Bolkus's leadership, SBS grew. He really championed it and advocated for expanding SBS. It developed from this specialised broadcaster into what it is today: a national organisation that reaches millions of Australians with news and programs in over 60 languages—a broadcaster that truly reflects the diversity of our nation.”
“He advocated the view that Australians who speak Greek or Mandarin or Vietnamese or Arabic are our competitive advantage in a globalised world. He, in fact, moved multiculturalism from being at the periphery of social policy to the centre of economic policy. Every time we refer today to cultural capability in business or in government, or when we refer to the trade links created through people-to-people relationships, we are drawing upon the same arguments that he advanced 30 years ago. That is some legacy. When I was a child, we didn't practise our cultural heritage or traditions publicly. We listened to Umm Kulthum and Abdel Wahab in the quiet of our living room.”
“In that same sense, we acknowledge that Senator Bolkus was behind the formation of the Multicultural Advisory Council, a standing body of coordination and advice to government, ensuring that our most diverse communities had input into how multiculturalism was shaped, and it formed the foundation of today's Australian Multicultural Council, which continues to do that important work. Prior to Senator Bolkus, the then ethnic affairs portfolio was responsible for delivering government services to non-English speakers. He took the portfolio in a different direction, a direction that would have been perceived as being groundbreaking at that time, rightly arguing that our diversity is in fact an economic asset. He recognised that our diaspora communities are not just people in need of assistance but, rather, bridges to the global economy.”
“He did that by championing the argument that, in a successful multicultural democracy, freedom of speech does not include the right to destroy another person's dignity because of the colour of their skin or their heritage, and his speeches from that period reflect a clarity of purpose that continues to inspire us today. He said then that Australia's future lies not in assimilation but in the rich tapestry of cultures that weave our national identity, and indeed those words are true today.”
“He understood that multiculturalism had to be about inclusion and participation, not just about food and festivals, and that we recognise a community not just because their food tastes like chicken but because of the many contributions that they bring to Australia. One of his greatest legacies was his stewardship of the Racial Hatred Act 1995. He was the early architect of the legislation that protects Australians from hateful attacks based on their heritage, the colour of their skin or their place of birth. It's unsurprising that this was, of course, a hotly contested ideological battleground back then, but sadly that is still the case today. Senator Bolkus at that time had to navigate some contentious debates within the other place, and he had to build cross-party agreement in order to get the bill passed.”
“In both of those positions he worked relentlessly to ensure that the immigration system of this country was fairer and more inclusive. He understood what many in the labour movement understand: inclusiveness is not just an abstract exercise; it has a profound impact on the day-to-day lives of ordinary Australians in their ability to secure employment, in their ability to access services, in having their views heard and in their sense of belonging to this nation. Senator Bolkus was the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs at a time when the Keating government asked Australians to look outward to Asia and inward to our own social cohesion.”
“I too want to record my deep sadness on the death of the Hon. Nick Bolkus and honour his outstanding service to our nation. Senator Bolkus was a pillar of the Australian Labor Party, as the minister outlined in his speech just then, and he was also a pioneer of multicultural Australia. As the first federal cabinet member of Greek heritage, he demonstrated to many of us who were watching from the outside that representation is not just symbolic; representation matters. Senator Bolkus didn't simply inherit the story of migration; he lived it. And he lived that story through his longstanding career advocating for people from every background. He was a minister in the Hawke and Keating governments, and in 1993 he was appointed Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Multicultural Affairs.”
“Their actions on that day compel us—not just those of us in here today and not just for today but every one of us, every Australian, every day at all time—to stand up against those who divide us, to be vigilant against hatred in all its forms, to open our eyes and be vigilant against this ancient hatred of antisemitism and to stand together, as we always have as Australians, against the challenges that confront us: with love, with kindness, with bravery and with the Australian spirit.”
“Ahmed al-Ahmed also bravely ran towards danger to disarm the gunmen, risking his own life to protect strangers—people who he didn't know. He had never met them, but he nonetheless felt that sense of kinship and mateship for them. I also want to acknowledge the first responders—police, paramedics, doctors, nurses, lifeguards and veterans—who came to the aid of fellow Australians. Each one of these acts of bravery was done by a person or people who are Australians—Australians who stood up for the safety of our community, Australians who took action against hatred.”
“We will wrap our arms around you and we will say to you: you are us and we are you. I want to take a moment today to honour the heroes of Bondi, who put themselves in danger to protect their fellow Australians, and the everyday Australians who performed these incredible acts of bravery and assistance to those in need. Boris and Sofia Gurman, the couple who many have already spoken of, took the initiative to run towards danger, something that many of us would find pretty much against our first instincts. They confronted the terrorists before they tragically lost their lives. Jessica Rozena, pregnant, shielded a little girl from the gunfire, as did many people, putting their own bodies in the way of harm in order to shield others.”
“But the day is also remembered for the incredible acts of love, kindness and bravery, and it's that love, kindness and bravery—that light—that will guide us collectively, as a nation, through the dark, as it always has in this country. I take this moment to extend my deepest condolences to the Jewish community. To the families and friends who lost loved ones, to those who were wounded and to those who witnessed horrific scenes that they will never be able to forget, I say: your pain is felt throughout this nation, from our most remote communities to our largest cities. Your pain is Australia's pain and your sorrow is Australia's sorrow. To our Jewish community: we will not look away. We will not let your grief go unanswered. We will not let you grieve alone.”
“It's a spirit that embraces every single Australian in true kinship and genuine mateship, a spirit that says to all Australians, regardless of who they are or where they were born, regardless of their religion or skin colour: you are us and we are you. The day of 14 December 2025 is marked in our nation's collective memory as a day of tragedy. The mass-casualty terrorist attack was not indiscriminate, as most terrorist attacks are; it was an attack that targeted Australian Jews on a day of celebration for who they are. This was anathema to everything Australian—to every value that we hold dear in this country and, indeed, to the very values of humanity.”
“I guess, just a couple of weeks shy of Christmas, most Australians would have been doing the kinds of ordinary things that we do around that time—prepping for school holidays and for Christmas, a time to rest and recoup and spend time with family and friends. For Australia's Jewish community, 14 December was the start of Hanukkah, the festival of light over darkness. Over the course of the history of this great nation, Australians have been tested, through wars and conflict and through droughts and floods. Through each of these challenges something really extraordinary has happened: the Australian spirit has prevailed.”
“This will enable the minister to specify further functions to support and sustain TIS National's operations and important role in the provision of translating and interpreting services for the Australian community, into the future. The bill sends a strong signal about the government's commitment to a united and prosperous multicultural Australia. I commend this bill to the chamber. Debate adjourned.”
“The bill also includes provisions to make clear that arrangements entered into before commencement of the legislation, including those arrangements that continue to be in force when the legislation commences, will continue to have effect. This appropriately ensures that established arrangements are able to be maintained and provides certainty for all parties—and reinforces that the purpose of this legislation is to provide a statutory framework for existing, longstanding functions and services provided by TIS National. The bill will also provide a power for the minister to make rules—a disallowable legislative instrument—to prescribe matters required or permitted by the proposed act, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the act.”
“To achieve this, this bill will establish express legislative functions for TIS National, as functions of the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs. These functions include the provision of translating and interpreting services to government departments, across all levels of government, and private sector entities to facilitate communication by and with people with limited English language proficiency, including visa holders and newly settled migrants. The functions also enable the operation of TIS National's 24/7 phone interpreting service, which supports calls to triple 0 emergency services. Further, the functions will enable the development, training and support of translators and interpreters, and ensure ongoing powers to enter into contracts and arrangements to provide these services.”
“Day-to-day, we know that TIS National provides an invaluable service, with its free interpreting service available to all parliamentarians, ensuring that their constituents are able to access assistance and support from their representatives regardless of their English ability. Ultimately, the government's translating and interpreting services help us to harness the economic and social benefits of our diversity and build a more productive and socially cohesive Australia for all of us. This bill does not seek to change the way in which the services of TIS National or provided or funded. It will simply provide a clear legislative framework for the services, providing certainty and ensuring their continued availability to support our community into the future.”
“Services like this help new Australians navigate the complexity of our country and access essential support. They make it easier for people to engage with government and community services. For patients, these services can mean better access to health care, and the ability to explain their symptoms in their own language and receive the care they need. During the height of the COVID pandemic, translating and interpreting services were absolutely vital. For families with limited English, a simple call to TIS number 131 450 meant they were able access life-saving information on where to get vaccinated, how to stay safe and the latest health advice when they needed it most.”
“Australia's multicultural diversity is fundamental to the character of our nation—it is who we are—and all Australians have an equal right to participate in the social, political and economic life of our country. However, this often isn't always the experience of diverse Australians, and this is why the government recently established an Office for Multicultural Affairs and elevated to cabinet for the very first time the standalone position of Minister for Multicultural Affairs. The government's translating and interpreting services play a vital role in supporting a multicultural Australia. Over the years, new migrants and humanitarian entrants have relied on these services to engage with the community and build their lives as full participants in Australian society.”
“More than one-quarter of us were born overseas, having migrated from more than 200 countries. The diversity of the Australian population provides us with a variety of languages, beliefs, traditions and cultures, and that is why we have the Multicultural Access and Equity Policy—a key policy ensuring that all Australians, whatever their cultural or linguistic background, are able to access government programs and services. This, in turn, means they can fully participate and contribute to our society. The services that TIS National provide are vital in upholding this commitment to Australians. Beyond helping us achieve access and equity outcomes, the government's translation and interpreting services also play a vital role in supporting social cohesion in our multicultural nation.”
“Since 1947, these services have continued to grow and evolve to meet the needs of the Australian community. In 1973 Australia established the world's first telephone interpreting service, which remains a core component of the services today. The government's translating and interpreting services are now provided by Translating and Interpreting Service, or TIS National, in the Department of Home Affairs. TIS Nation's services facilitate communication between people with limited English proficiency and the agencies and businesses that they rely on for vital services. TIS National operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides more than 1.3 million interpreting services each year in more than 150 languages. Australia is a diverse, multicultural society with a rich Indigenous heritage and a successful migration story.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Australia's translating and interpreting services have a long history and play a vital role in our community. This bill will establish a new act to provide a clear statutory foundation for these services, reflecting the government's commitment to the work of the Translating and Interpreting Service—TIS National—and the important role it plays in our modern, multicultural Australia. The Australian government began providing translating services in 1947, and interpreting services commenced not long after that. These were introduced to support post World War II migrants. The government recognised then, as it does today, the critical importance of these services to migrants making their new homes in Australia.”
“At the 2025 election, Australians across the nation voted overwhelmingly for a parliament that looked like the community it represents. A study by the Scanlon Foundation earlier this month found that 83 per cent of Australians think that multiculturalism is good for our country, and they're right. The Albanese Labor government unequivocally stands for multiculturalism reflecting our national identity. I am honoured to be appointed as the first standalone cabinet Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Honourable members: Hear, hear! An honourable member: You're a fantastic minister, too. Thank you to my colleagues for their interjections there.”
“We improvised wickets out of garbage cans, pausing only intermittently to move the wicket to allow cars to pass by. There we played for hours under the hot sun, on the hot tarmac, interrupted only by the cry of parents standing on the front porch letting us know that it was time to come inside for dinner. And as each child's name was called out into the dusky sky, a different accent could be made out—Greek, Italian, English, Irish, Indian, Swedish, Chinese, Arabic, Australian. Nobody made fun of each other's strange names or the funny way our mothers or fathers would call out for us. Under this 48th Parliament, our House of Representatives is the most diverse it has been in the history of this nation—and it is richer because of it.”
“The Racial Discrimination Act underscores and protects this vital part of this proud nation. Our multicultural success belongs to all Australians, every single one of them, no matter where you came from, no matter where your parents came from and no matter how you came to be here. Half of all Australians were born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas. My story is one of those stories. I'm an Australian, but I'm also a migrant. At the age of two, my family chose Australia, settling in the Western Suburbs of Sydney. We quickly became a part of our local community. We had neighbours from Britain and New Zealand, but also from China, Greece and the former Yugoslavia. My Australia is defined by my childhood, in the suburbs where we would gather under the hot sun to play a game of legendary Aussie driveway cricket.”
“I congratulate the member for Moreton on her excellent contribution on this occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act. It is, indeed, an honour to serve with her in this parliament. As the member for Moreton mentioned, today we mark the 50th anniversary of the RDA, or the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. It was the first law to recognise and protect the right of everyone in Australia to be free from discrimination based on race. Fifty years on, Australians take great pride in our free and democratic country, where all of us have the right to live without fear of discrimination and free from acts of intimidation and violence on the basis of race, ethnicity or cultural heritage. Modern Australia is a migrant nation. It is who we are.”
“No matter where I go, when I speak to small businesses, the one thing that constantly comes up is how important the instant asset write-off is in helping them grow and modernise and the extension of the instant asset write-off, giving these businesses the confidence to plan, to budget and to invest as well. For small businesses looking to grow, the instant asset write-off frees up cash flow so that they can purchase new equipment that allows them to expand their operations or open new locations. At a recent roundtable that I attended in the member for Swan's electorate, in Belmont, a group of small businesses there told me that managing cash flow was one of their biggest daily challenges. Really, that makes sense, doesn't it?”
“The extension of the instant asset write-off is a really key part of our commitment under this national strategy. What it means is that small businesses with an aggregate annual turnover of less than $10 million will continue to be able to immediately deduct eligible assets costing less than $20,000. That's $20,000 per asset, not just once but right across the business. Let's have a look at what that means. What that means is that restaurants, cafes, grocers, hairdressers, tradies, accountants and small retailers can actually start to buy the equipment that they need today to keep their businesses going today and into tomorrow.”
“They are not just the engine room of the economy, as is often said; they are also often the beating hearts of communities. That's why our government developed Australia's very first National Small Business Strategy. You would think that an intimate understanding of small business would necessitate a strategy that brings together all levels of government to look at how we can collectively support small businesses to grow and to thrive. You would think that this is something that would have been done a very long time ago, but, in fact, this was done by this government, the very first National Small Business Strategy, bringing together different levels of government and focusing on three key areas: levelling the playing field for small businesses, easing the pressure on small businesses and supporting small businesses to grow.”
“The passion and care that My Aunt's Handmade Noodles brings to each and every bowl of these perfectly chewy and flavoured noodles is a level of dedication that I see in the small businesses that I visit and that I meet with right across the country. The Albanese government is backing small businesses just like My Aunt's Handmade Noodles to ensure that they have the support that they need to thrive, because we know that not only are they building a better life for themselves and for their families, but they are also building a better future for Australia. They employ locals. They train apprentices. They give young people jobs, and they keep regional communities alive. They sponsor local sports clubs, and they donate to school raffles as well.”
“They're working hard to fulfil their dreams. They are your Indian grocer. They are the place you go to to get your eyebrows threaded. They are where you get your Vietnamese pancakes. They are the translators and interpreters who operate with an ABN. They fix your cars. They cut your hair. They cater your birthday parties. They resole your shoes. They help you with your tax returns. An example of a small business is My Aunt's Handmade Noodles, which I visited the other day with the member for Reid and the local mayor in her electorate. This is a family owned business, run by a formidable mother and daughter duo, and they craft these handmade noodles using time honoured techniques.”
“I rise in support of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) Bill 2025. Whilst I support the bill in its entirety, it would be natural for me to focus on a part that is particularly important to my portfolio of small business, which is schedule 7. Schedule 7 extends the $20,000 instant asset write-off until 30 June 2026 for eligible businesses. What this measure does is make a real difference to 2.6 million small businesses in Australia. That includes 1.5 million small businesses that are sole traders and who are also benefitting and have also benefitted from our government's tax cuts. As everyone in here knows—because I hear it head said often enough that people support small business in this House—small business owners are out there every day, and they're working hard.”
“While we're working to keep Australia more secure as the world becomes more uncertain and unstable, our support for Australians overseas is also increasingly critical. This enables us to continue to deliver high-quality consular services to Australians around the world and to help Australians safely leave crisis situations. The 2025-26 budget equips Australia to respond to the regional and global challenges ahead of us in a way that remains true to who we are, true to what we want and true to what we believe in: a democratic nation where every person's dignity and freedom is respected and protected by law; an independent country with the power to decide our own future, free from coercion and interference; and a partner of choice that can be relied upon to be there during a time of disruption and for the long haul.”
“In an increasingly contested global environment, our development program is an integral part of our nation's statecraft. At a time where other donors are tightening their budgets, the Labor government here will not abandon our responsibility to shape the peaceful, stable and prosperous region we want. This is why the budget delivers a record $5.97 billion in official development assistance this year. We have repositioned our development program to where Australia's national interests are most at stake and to where we have the greatest impact—the Pacific and South-East Asia. We now dedicate 75c of every Australian development dollar to our region, the highest share in four decades.”
“The Albanese Labor government recognises that in these uncertain, unpredictable and challenging times we must do our part to shape the future we want, and this budget ensures that we can. Our government is rebuilding Australia's international credibility after a decade of budget cuts to our development program under the previous government. Our government is strengthening Australia's relationship with partners in our region after a decade of dismissive attitudes under the previous government. Our government is restoring our diplomatic capability by investing in our people, our systems and our infrastructure because our nation's frontline is our diplomacy. This budget has made deliberate and disciplined choices to focus our efforts on what matters most to Australia's future—our region, the Indo-Pacific.”
“Two years on from the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, Australia remembers the 1,200 Israelis and foreigners brutally murdered by Hamas. We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas's horrific actions on October 7 and all its other acts of terror, and we call for the immediate release of all hostages. Right now, the situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. Since this conflict began, Australia has committed over $130 million in humanitarian assistance to support civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, and we are part of the international push for aid to flow unimpeded. We urge all parties to make every effort to bring this terrible conflict to an immediate end, and we welcome President Trump's plan to bring peace to Gaza.”
“This year's budget will strengthen our global influence, contribute to a more equitable and peaceful region, deepen our engagement with partners and build our economic resilience through enhanced trade diversification. I don't need to remind anyone that we find ourselves navigating a uniquely challenging global environment. It is a more uncertain and certainly unpredictable world. It is a world where the rules based framework, which once provided clarity and order and which has helped to safeguard Australia's security and prosperity, is now under unprecedented challenge or, increasingly, ignored. It is a world where conflict is rising with corresponding devastating consequences for civilians, with the risk of spillover across borders, continents and oceans.”
“We thank you for everything you have contributed to Australia—to communities, to charities, to business, to politics, to our medical profession and to our economy. We stand with you as we always have. When the immigration of Lebanese Australians was described as a mistake, that was wrong. When the African Australian community were unfairly stereotyped, that was wrong. When the Chinese Australian community were accused of being spies, that was wrong. And the scapegoating of Indian communities, designed to undermine their sense of safety and belonging, is wrong. Every member of this Labor government stands by the communities that they represent, and we will always call out attempts to divide us because it is by calling them out that we will strengthen our social cohesion.”
“This Albanese Labor government governs for all, because we believe that every Australian, whatever their race or religion, wherever they or their parents were born, should be able to feel safe and at home, without prejudice or discrimination. This should not be a partisan issue. Over this week I've spoken to members of our Indian diaspora and they've told me that they did not feel safe—and they did not feel secure—after the rallies that we saw on Sunday. They've also told me that comments by some political leaders have exacerbated their fear and shattered their sense of security. To Indian Australians, this is our message: you do not have to justify your belonging in this country. We know you. We value you.”
“I want to thank the member for Lalor and Chief Government Whip, who is an absolute champion for her diverse community. I am incredibly proud to be a member of a government where a child with a name like Ryan, or Soon, or Ng, or Ambihaipahar, or Abdo, or Smith, or France, or Albanese can look at this parliament and say, 'I belong there'; a part of a government that has a vision of an Australia based on fairness and equality, where everyone—no matter who you are, who your parents are or where you were born—feels valued. But we know that our social cohesion is fragile. As long as we treat people with a gritted-teeth tolerance instead of mutual respect, our social cohesion will remain fragile.”
“Unfortunately, health and age has required that Lorraine step back from her active—really active—work across Cowan. Her remarkable chapter of service is ending, but her impact endures. Lorraine Mills is loyal, fierce, funny and kind. Lorraine: on behalf of all of Cowan, a huge thank you for your decades of service and selflessness. In true Lorraine style, I will finish my speech as she so often finished her letters to me—with words of encouragement. Lorraine, you are loved, you are appreciated and you will never be forgotten.”
“She came to my office every week, filled her car boot with newspapers and made sure that those residents didn't miss out—no fuss, no fanfare, just Lorraine being Lorraine. One of the greatest contributions that she has made has been as a justice of the peace. For more than 30 years, she has certified countless documents. She's supported police, hospitals, courts and families, taking calls at all hours of the day—even at two in the morning. For 15 years she even ran a JP desk at Newpark Shopping Centre, come rain, hail or shine. Lorraine is beloved by police officers, whom she affectionately calls 'her coppers'. Lorraine's service follows a family tradition; she was inspired by her father, Max, who was awarded an Order of Australia.”
“I want to pay tribute today to an extraordinary woman in my electorate, Lorraine Mills. Lorraine will probably be horrified I'm mentioning her, but that's who Lorraine is. She's humble and practical, never seeking the spotlight. When I told her that I wanted to acknowledge her, she said, 'But I haven't done anything like jump out of a plane or fight a bushfire.' But that's exactly why I speak today, because Lorraine has spent more than three decades serving her community in quiet, generous ways—a true unsung hero of Cowan. I first met Lorraine in 2017, and she struck me as fresh, energetic, funny, smart and never afraid to speak her mind. When a local paper stopped delivering hard copies in her suburb, Lorraine instantly thought of older residents who would be left behind.”
“And we're taking action against illegal phoenixing conduct, especially in the construction industry. Small business, as I mentioned, is one of the key backbones of our communities and is represented right across Australia here. We'll continue to back them, because they back Australians.”
“We've got $25.8 million in mental health and financial wellbeing supports for small business—something that's proven to be very successful in helping small businesses to sustain. In supporting small businesses to grow, under that priority area, we are helping to build a skilled workforce through our free TAFE and through reducing HECS debt, providing small businesses with access to the skills and trade workforce that they need. We've provided over $60 million for digital supports through the Cyber Wardens programs, digital solutions, the Small Business Cyber Resilience Service, cyber health checks, reducing red tape and boosting competition. We're levelling the playing field by strengthening the ACCC enforcement of the franchising code and tackling unfair contract terms, to protect small businesses.”
“That's a good thing because small businesses contribute around $600 billion to our economy each year and they support more than five million jobs. To ensure small businesses grow and prosper, we've delivered over $2 billion in practical and targeted supports, focusing on three key priority areas that are outlined in Australia's very first National Small Business Strategy. Those three key priority areas are easing the pressure, supporting growth and leveling the playing field. In easing the pressure, we've extended the energy bill relief. We've paused indexation on the draft beer excise, supporting the hospitality industry and also those who drink beer, and extended the $20,000 instant asset write-off so that businesses can buy the things that they need to grow and to thrive.”
“I want to thank the member for Reid for her question. I know the member for Reid is a very strong advocate for small businesses in her local community, and, when I speak to the member for Reid, she often mentions to me the delicious noodles at My Aunt's Handmade Noodles, a small business in Burwood. I'm looking forward to also visiting My Aunt's Handmade Noodles with the member for Reid when I'm next in her electorate. The Albanese Labor government has the back of small businesses because small businesses are the backbone of communities right across Australia. I'm pleased to say that there are over 800,000 new small businesses since the Albanese government came into office in 2022, and that number keeps growing week by week.”
“It should be about enabling fairness, respect and inclusion. That's how this Albanese Labor government sees a multicultural Australia, and that is what we aspire to do.”
“No-one in Australia should have to justify their belonging in this country, and this Albanese Labor government believes that every Australian, whatever their race or religion, wherever they or their parents were born, should be able to feel safe and at home in any community, without prejudice and without discrimination. Multiculturalism isn't just about a celebration of festivals and food; it is about ensuring everyone is empowered to participate in this democracy. That's why we continue to support the important work of our special envoys to combat Islamophobia and antisemitism, and that's why we have an office of multicultural affairs. Multiculturalism shouldn't be a policy that's tucked away somewhere in a file. It is about the character of modern Australia. It is about our modern identity, both in this nation and in our region.”
“Across the chamber we now see representatives with diverse heritage, just like Australia and the communities we represent. The anti-immigration protests on the weekend highlight, however, that questions of belonging and inclusion linger despite our successes. This government stands with all Australians, no matter where they were born, against those who seek to divide us and intimidate migrant communities. I want to be clear and unequivocal: targeting specific ethnic groups, like the wave of anti-Indian sentiment that we saw over the weekend, is racism—full stop. There is no excuse, no nuance, no justification.”