Susan Templeman
Macquarie · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The three key focuses of the government's action are, firstly, to disrupt and dismantle border threats to stem the flow of illicit tobacco and vapes to Australia before they make it to our shores; secondly, to enhance detection, disruption and destruction of illicit tobacco and vapes at the border and within the community; and, thirdly, t…”
“AUSTRAC is working with the banks and service providers to shut down the money flows that keep illicit tobacco profitable. Hundreds of accounts have already been closed and payment systems stopped.”
“We need to keep fighting it and not blame each other. Those opposite need to recognise that, just as we supported the steps they made, we need their full support in taking these actions.”
“That's not good enough for participants, it's not good enough for employers and it's not good enough for the economy. That's why these reforms are so important. This is the most significant change to employment services in 30 years. At the heart of these reforms is the end of the one-size-fits-all model.”
“The Commonwealth, states and territories are working together to reverse the equation for organised crime at every step and in every way to make the illicit tobacco trade more risky and less profitable, disrupting the illicit supply chain and shutting down illegal shops. This bill is another step in that process.”
“Mr Robert, at that time, spoke of the actions they were taking and the changes they were making on duty liabilities being paid when tobacco is imported into Australia.”
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“The public lending right and educational lending right schemes are an important way of reconciling these two objectives. These programs are founded on the simple principle that, while the public benefits from free access to books through libraries and educational institutions, the people who created those books should be compensated for the income they would otherwise have earned through direct sales. They're based on the belief that public access and fair payment can coexist, that libraries should be free and that writers should not be expected to survive on gratitude alone. The origins of these programs lie in the reforming ambition of the Whitlam government. In 1974, the Whitlam government introduced the public lending right, which recognised that books on library shelves represented labour, not just culture.”
“There is a particular kind of silence that exists in a library. It's not an empty silence; it's a living one. It's the silence of curiosity, of imagination at work, of children discovering worlds larger than their own and of someone reaching for comfort, knowledge, escape or recognition between the covers of a book. In every city, town and suburb across Australia, libraries hold the accumulated voices of generations: histories, poems, field guides, children's stories, novels and memoirs, and behind each of those books is a writer who worked, often for years and years, to turn their thoughts into language. Everyone deserves access to those words. It's a cornerstone of a fair and democratic society like ours. We must also ensure that our writers are fairly remunerated for the contribution they make to our society and culture.”
“This award is a testament to the power of storytelling and creative ambition as a force for good in our society. This award shows what's possible when we recognise the value of culture, when we invest in it and when First Nations creative leadership is given autonomy. This award is a recognition of Australian creative power, bringing the world's oldest continuing cultures to the centre of global cultural life. So congratulations, Bangarra, on this wonderful achievement and this well-earned global recognition. But, more importantly, thank you for shaping the story of our country with strength and integrity, with wit and grace. Federation Chamber adjourned at 18:35”
“I'd like to especially acknowledge the artistry of his brothers, the late David Page and the late Russell Page, whose legacies live on in the spirit and the dynamism of this company and the standard of performance it presents. It is so fitting that this is the first time the Golden Lion has been awarded to a company rather than an individual, because Bangarra's work has always been collective. It's based on the philosophy of shared cultural authority, storytelling that arises from community and culture that is carried forward together. This award is shared by every dancer, choreographer, musician, crew member and administrator who's helped build this company over the past 36 years. I love that they've created an alternative pathway for young First Nations dancers.”
“That's what Bangarra does every time the curtain rises. It takes our history and makes it more tangible. It takes complexity and makes it more visible. It takes stories that have been sidelined and places them centre stage. For these reasons and so many more, the Australian government is proud to support Bangarra through Creative Australia. Bangarra's extraordinary accomplishments are the product of an extraordinary cultural leadership. I congratulate the current executive team of Frances Rings and Louise Ingram for their leadership of the organisation. I also want to record my admiration and respect for Stephen Page, whose artistic vision defined Bangarra for decades.”
“The work allowed audiences to emotionally connect with both her dislocation and resilience. In Patyegarang , Bangarra reframed the story of first contact in Sydney. Centred on a young Eora woman sharing language and knowledge, this work restored First Nations agency and complexity to a defining moment in our history. In Dark Emu , Bangarra challenged the myth that Aboriginal societies were purely nomadic and brought to life systems of agriculture and care for country. They transformed hard research into something audiences can see and feel. I've been very fortunate to attend many Bangarra performances in the past, most recently H orizon , and I'm looking forward to seeing their upcoming work, F lora . It's impossible to see a performance by Bangarra without your perceptions being shifted and your awareness being broadened.”
“Over almost four decades, Bangarra has developed a body of work that's reshaped our culture and our nation's sense of self, from Ochres , a defining early work that reimagined what Australian dance could be, to C orroboree at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, where Bangarra presented a new vision of Australia to the world, and works like Mathinna , P atyegarang and Dark Emu , which have deepened our understanding of First Nations culture and reframed our thinking about the past. In Mathinna , Bangarra showed us the power of truth-telling through creative expression. This work told the story of a young Aboriginal girl removed from her family in colonial Tasmania and made it immediate and human—not distant history but lived experience.”
“Through movement, Bangarra tells stories that are tens of thousands of years old yet feel entirely of the moment. Bangarra helps us reflect on the confronting truths in our history while inspiring us to imagine a future that transcends it. Its work is grounded in cultural authority, created in consultation with communities. It's guided by story, by country and by lineage. Yet, when it reaches the stage, it speaks a language that audiences all over the world can understand. That is its power.”
“I'm exceptionally proud to add my voice to the congratulations to Bangarra Dance Theatre on receiving a Golden Lion award from Venice Biennale. This is now the third Golden Lion award to recognise Australian creativity in as many years. This award is something truly exceptional and deeply meaningful because the Golden Lion is not just an award for creative excellence. It recognises work that is transformative, work that expands the boundaries of what art can be and work that fundamentally reshapes how we see ourselves. To receive a Golden Lion is to be recognised not just as an outstanding organisation or individual but as essential to the global cultural conversation. And that is exactly what Bangarra is. What is so remarkable and so distinctive about Bangarra is its fusion of ancient tradition and contemporary expression.”
“While Rhoda may now walk in another place, this place has been changed immeasurably for the better by her time here with us.”
“Rhoda did not just help tell Australia's story; she reshaped it. Today, as we reflect on her life, we see a legacy that is both profound and enduring. It lives on in our institutions, it lives on in the artists she supported and it lives on in the way Australia now better understands and more deeply values First Nations culture. We can best honour her memory by continuing her work of deepening that understanding and respect and by ensuring that the doors of opportunity are always open to ambitious First Nations creatives like her. To her children—Sarah, Jack and Emily—her partner, Stephen, and the extended Roberts-Field family, and to her friends, her colleagues and the many communities she was part of, I offer my sincere condolences and my deepest gratitude.”
“In no small measure, it's because of Rhoda Roberts that welcome to country is now part of our civic culture. I worked with Rhoda in her role as creative director at Sydney for the New Year's Eve celebrations. Whether it was in her work as a curator, a producer or a mentor, she continued to open doors for other First Nations creatives, ensuring that the pathways she helped create would not close behind her. The thread that binds all her accomplishments together is a deep belief in the power of culture, a belief that storytelling and representation matter. Perhaps the greatest legacy is her demonstration that, when we tell our stories with truth and with confidence, we become a stronger, more connected nation. Her work empowered us not only to reflect thoughtfully on our past but to think deeply about who we aspire to be.”
“That accomplishment reflects so much of what made Rhoda Roberts the extraordinary cultural leader that she was. She ensured that the representation of First Nations culture was not superficial or symbolic in the narrow sense but meaningful, respectful and engaging to the broadest possible audience. Her contribution to the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics is just one part of a much grander legacy. As head of Indigenous programming at the Sydney Opera House, Rhoda brought that same clarity of purpose to one of our most important cultural institutions by embedding First Nations voices into its programming and identity. As director of the Dreaming festival, she created a space where Indigenous culture could be celebrated on its own terms—dynamic and contemporary, but deeply rooted in tradition.”
“I was fortunate to be at the rehearsal for that opening ceremony, and the night itself was a moment of immense national significance—a moment where First Nations culture was positioned at the very centre of our national identity. It was a powerful statement about who we are—a nation whose story began tens of thousands of years ago and continues today. It remains one of the defining cultural moments in Australia's modern history. That level of prominence for Aboriginal culture in a public ceremony was unprecedented at the time, but it has now become a baseline expectation. That is as it should be, and it's because of Rhoda's efforts that it is. She set a new benchmark for how Australia presents First Nations culture on the world stage.”
“Rhoda Roberts, a proud Bundjalung woman of the Widjabul and Wia-bal clan, was one of the most influential and transformative cultural leaders our country has ever produced. Her career was marked by moments that didn't just contribute to Australian culture; they helped redefine how Australia presents itself to the world. One of the most powerful of those moments came during the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. It's difficult to think of a time when more international interest was directed towards Australia in a single moment. It was an unprecedented opportunity for Australia to show the world who we are. It was because of Rhoda's inspired work on the stunning Indigenous element of that ceremony that we told a story that celebrated and was grounded in the world's oldest living culture.”
“The input will ensure that our policy continues to reflect the ambitions of the arts community and help realise its potential. We want to hear from artists, audiences and communities right across Australia. Whether you're a leading major organisation or a small home-grown outfit, an individual artist or simply someone who values creativity every day, my message to people right across the country is: your ideas and experiences can help shape what comes next—how we support creativity, expand access and tell Australian stories in a way that's ambitious, inclusive and future focused. I encourage everyone to have their say.”
“The strength of our National Cultural Policy, Revive, is that it's grounded in the ideas and aspirations of Australians themselves. For me, as Special Envoy for the Arts, it's been heartening to see so many of the ideas shared during the 2022 consultations become a reality through this policy. Three years into a five-year plan, we've delivered on 75 of the 85 actions we committed to. We've taken important steps to rebuild the sector, supporting artists, strengthening institutions and backing live music and local storytelling. I'm proud of what we achieved, but I know there's more to do. Our cultural policy must evolve with the communities that it serves. That's why we've opened consultation on the next cultural policy.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. With the war in the Middle East impacting global supply chains, how is the Albanese Labor government taking further action to strengthen Australia's fuel security?”
“Having visited PNG recently, I know how highly regarded Australia's service was at that time. We were able to honour John recently with a beautiful quilt presented by the New South Wales Governor at the unveiling of the Penrith war memorial plaque honouring women who have served Australia in both peace and war, which John of course had a role in making happen. I will miss this lovely but determined gentleman, John Fenton. Thank you, John, for your service. May you rest in peace.”
“I rise to honour John Fenton, vice-president of the City of Penrith RSL sub-Branch, who recently died with his family by his side. John was a highly dedicated and respected veterans advocate who supported thousands of New South Wales veterans over many years. I first got to know him more than a decade ago as an active member of the Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans and Associated Forces group. John was an Army officer, a Vietnam vet himself, commanding the 17th Construction Squadron Workshop, and a formidable veterans volunteer. John's aim was to drive improvements and support for the benefit of others. Among many roles in his Army career, John was posted to the Territory of Papua New Guinea for two years to train Pacific soldiers. I know he derived satisfaction in playing a role in bringing that nation to independence.”
“That's why it isn't a crisis here, but there are distribution issues that are impacting the ease and readiness with which people have been able to access it. We have also made it easier for Australia's refineries to access government funding when they run at a loss, because we don't want any brakes on their ability to produce. After we suffered the opposition in government for nearly a decade, the two refineries that remain are vital to our supply, and we are supporting them. We have also indicated a change to the law so that we can bring more fuel and we can help subsidise or underwrite whatever mechanism is needed to bring fuel in offshore. These are practical things, and we will do everything that is needed.”
“As the member for Macquarie, my job is to raise these issues with the government, and that's what I've been doing. I'm very pleased to see the things that we've done to support consumers. We have passed new laws to double the penalties for petrol companies that are taking unfair advantage of this situation. We have the new National Fuel Supply Taskforce. Its coordinator, Anthea Harris, has been working to ensure that all the different bits of the system are talking together. It's absolutely crucial that that happens. We have released 20 per cent of Australia's fuel reserves, and that has been particularly targeted at regional areas. We have temporarily changed petrol and diesel standards so more fuel can flow. That's why there is a supply of fuel now.”
“Like everyone, they are increasing prices and resorting to temporary levies for their clients to cover it, but it's a big issue for jobs that are some way off but have already been quoted before this fuel price rise and availability hit. There are also cases of turf growers getting yelled at when they go to petrol stations with their regular vehicles, their regular trucks and containers to get their diesel fuel. I want to encourage people to think about how it's not just day-to-day drivers, mums and dads driving kids around; we've got turf growers, agricultural people, the equine sector who all have a pattern of accessing their fuel. They are doing what they always do at the petrol station. They deserve respect for that and they deserve to be able to access the normal supplies that they normally would.”
“And so our job, as a government, is not just to think about now, and the immediate needs, but also to think forward and to make sure that our farmers, and communities like mine, our more regional communities, can all get the fuel that they need. I want to particularly talk about one part of my community, and that's the Hawkesbury turf growers. A major concern for them is ensuring that their businesses, which use diesel in every part of the business—on the tractors, on the mowers, on the pumps, on the harvesters, on the trucks—have access to a supply. I want to ensure that when we talk about distributing diesel across the country, we don't forget the peri-urban areas, which are so dependent on it.”
“In my own electorate—a peri-urban electorate, where you can't easily switch to public transport for every purpose—we are really feeling the effects of an uneven distribution of fuel, and certainly, in the last week or two, that has had its impacts. In my area, where we have agriculture, many construction workers and many, many tradies, we need to see steady diesel, as well as petrol. That, of course, is the role that, together, at a federal and state level, working with the industry, we will be aiming to achieve. I think it's obvious to all of us that, the longer this goes on, the more significant the impact will be. The longer the Middle East war goes on, the harder it will get for us.”
“We, the Albanese government, are looking at every practical measure that we can to shield Australians from the very worst of this global uncertainty. And, globally, it is a crisis. What we're seeing at home is the need to really manage not just the supply of fuel that comes to our shores, but also the distribution, so that it fairly gets around our country. National Cabinet is convening again today, to further coordinate activity and make sure that we have national consistency. We know Australians are following events in the Middle East, and we also know that they are seeing and feeling the consequences here at home.”
“My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering cost-of-living relief by making medicines cheaper for all Australians? How are new medicines being added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme helping to improve the lives of Australians with multiple myeloma?”
“The six-month adjustment lowers what's known as the flashpoint for diesel from 61.5 degrees Celsius to 60.5 degrees Celsius, and what it means is that we can increase the diesel supply options from refiners and from international sources. It's about having more flexibility, and that's exactly what's needed here—flexibility by a government that's saying, 'What are the things we can quickly put in place to support our industries adapt and be flexible to the conditions they're facing?' I commend the bill.”
“The minimum six months will no longer apply when there is an emergency declaration made, and this gives the minister the powers to do that. As the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations said, this is about us stepping up to help create fairness through the supply chain and manage the impacts of global fuel challenges and helping truckies and transport operators be protected from fuel price rises. This is a second really important piece of legislation being put to the parliament. We are asking those opposite to get on with it and allow this to go through the parliament in a very prompt way. It adds to multiple announcements we've made to support getting more diesel flowing. One of those that I want to focus on is the minor adjustment to diesel standards. This is going to support truckies in my community.”
“We're getting more fuels into the market by temporarily amending the fuel standards, and we're engaging international partners to strengthen the supply chains and fuel security. The work we've done with Singapore in the last couple of days is a very good example of that. That is one side of this legislation that is about making a practical difference. The second is around truckies. My electorate has truck drivers all over the place in every possible sector, and what we know is that they haven't had the tools to respond. Before the chamber is an amendment to the Fair Work Act to allow truckies and road transport businesses to make an emergency application for a contractual chain order to deal with the current spike in fuel prices. Instead of something that would normally take more than six months, we want this to be done fast.”
“We're putting petrol companies on notice and this Treasury laws amendment to double the penalties does literally that. It doubles the penalties for false or misleading conduct and cartel behaviour to a maximum of $100 million per offence across the economy. We'd already increased penalties to $50 million—that's five times higher than what they were when we came to government—and we've given the ACCC more tools, such as extending petrol price monitoring powers and the ability to issue on-the-spot fines. This is a really important step, and it comes on top of the other action we're taking to address fuel affordability and security. We're boosting the fuel supply by releasing 20 per cent of the baseline minimum stockholding obligation for petrol and diesel, and that is already beginning.”
“The first is to protect consumers from petrol price gouging, and the second is to provide the trucking industry with a way to respond and manage the impacts of the war. We are less interested in blaming someone for what's happened and more interested in solutions, and I really urge those opposite to support the solutions. These are two key parts of the things that we can do in this unprecedented situation. All they seem to be saying is, 'You're doing it too fast and you should have done it before.' I'm really not interested in debating that rhetoric. Let's look at the practical things that the Albanese government is doing. One is the new legislation to provide for bigger penalties for misconduct in the fuel sector to help consumers get a fair go at the petrol pump. The conflict overseas should never be an excuse to profit off Australians.”
“Whether you're a teacher commuting from the mountains to a school on the plains; a disability worker driving a client you support; a turf farmer, construction worker or truckie operating diesel vehicles; or a family just trying to keep the wheels turning, the price at the pump is hurting and availability has been hard. I know we've had petrol stations in my electorate out of one or more fuels. It's constantly changing and in flux as the supply continues to flow through. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026 and the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026 are designed to add to the work we've already done to respond very promptly to the world environment that we're seeing. They're designed to do two things.”
“Since it began, Hotel Etico has employed and trained 50 young people, with 86 per cent of its graduates gaining secure, ongoing employment in the tourism and hospitality industry. Their run wasn't all easy, but they arrived in Canberra on World Down Syndrome Day, dancing on the front lawn and finally finishing in the rain at the Mercure Canberra, the site of their new academy of independence. I congratulate them and thank them for their ongoing dedication to inclusion.”
“Last Saturday, Hotel Etico CEO and co-founder Andrea Comastri finished a 400-kilometre, 13-day run right here at Parliament House. I was among those who waved Andrea off from Mount Victoria on Sunday 8 March as he began the Long Run to Inclusion. The mission was to connect Hotel Etico's original home in Mount Victoria, which I officially opened in 2022, with their two new academies of independence, in Leura and Canberra. Hotel Etico is a multi-award-winning, not-for-profit, social enterprise hotel—the first in Australia—and a trusted industry partner in tourism and hospitality. Their innovative model lets young people with disability work alongside hospitality professionals to build skills, confidence and real-world experience that supports their transition into open employment.”
“The delis, the cafes, the butcher and the accommodation are all open and noticing that fewer people are stopping. So my message is: 'Go visit them, and Easter is the perfect time.' I commend the state member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle, on the work she's doing to make sure all suggestions to help traffic move through the detour smoothly are considered and to ensure that the investigations into the Victoria Pass happen as fast as possible. Some vehicles are opting for the Bells Line of Road to and from Lithgow. Don't forget to stop at Berambing, Mount Tomah, Bilpin or Kurrajong, if you come that way, and support those local businesses. We are open for business.”
“I want to set the record straight: Mount Victoria, Blackheath and Megalong Valley, west of Katoomba, are all open for business. Media reports of the closure of Victoria Pass—the steep hill you drive down at the end of the mountains to get to Little Hartley—have given people the wrong idea that somehow the mountains are closed. Yes, when you're heading west beyond Mount Victoria, the Great Western Highway is closed and a detour is in place to get people to the Central West. While traffic would that would normally stay on the Great Western Highway moseys on through the village of Mount Victoria, the cafes, hotels and retail shops are open as usual and keen for people to stop. The same is true for Blackheath and the Megalong Valley.”
“Jake Warner, who's the director, a Penrith local who started out as an electrical apprentice, says the Cheaper Home Batteries subsidy has been incredible not just for mums and dads but for everyday Australians across Australia in getting access to more affordable energy. Not only is it more affordable; it's more secure and more stable. We're seeing the grid become increasingly stable since the deployment of these decentralised home batteries. We're seeing power bills slashed, in some cases to zero, he says. This is an incredible effort. For companies like his, it's created 50 new jobs. He and Damian McMahon from Blue Mountains Solar speak to what a difference this is making to their customers. I'm proud to be part of a government doing this good work.”
“Along with the community batteries that are up and running in Blaxland, Blaxland East and Hobartville, these home batteries help the grid manage demand more efficiently, improve system reliability and support the shift to more renewable energy. Our local clean energy businesses are busier than ever, with more than 2,000 homes and small businesses in Macquarie benefiting from this Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Around the country, we've surpassed 250,000. I think we're up to 265,000-plus home batteries. I want to talk about Penrith Solar Centre as an example, now known as PSC energy. I visited their Penrith facility with the minister last year.”
“So that is a reliable form of energy, and that speaks to another reason this is so important not just for individual households but for us as a nation. Cheaper Home Batteries is one of my very favourite programs at the moment because it is so embraced by people in Macquarie and neighbouring areas. It helps households store the cheaper, cleaner energy they generate during the day from their rooftop solar and then use it when they need it most, including during the evening peak. So we've got less pressure on the grid at peak times, lower reliance on expensive generation and downward pressure on prices for everyone.”
“At a time like this, when we can see the pressures that the more traditional energy sources have when there are critical things happening around the world, that's something I think more and more Australians will wake up to. I want to quote the minister for climate change. He spoke to this MPI long before it was proposed earlier this week in talking about the sovereign capacity of Australia. He said that the transition of our energy system to more renewables, which is the cheapest form of energy, is not dependent on global supply chains; Vladimir Putin cannot interrupt the supply of sun to Australia, and the international circumstance in the Middle East cannot interrupt the flow of wind in Australia.”
“It's being done on roofs in electorates like mine in Western Sydney, in peri-urban and regional areas, more than it is happening anywhere else in the country, and we're very proud of that. This is partly about acting to tackle energy bills. Of course, there'll always be more to do on that it. But we have, over the course of our terms in office, tackled power bill relief, put caps on gas prices and invested in renewables, all of which the coalition opposed. If they had their way, we would be back shovelling coal into our own little coal stoves. The plan really does have those two parts—cheaper, cleaner energy and a better deal for households—so it's putting Australians back in charge of their energy bills with better access to solar, batteries and, of course, cars that will run, more cheaply, on electricity.”
“I'm really pleased to have an opportunity to speak to this MPI and about the really significant support the Albanese Labor government has given households to take control of their energy use and bills. This is something I have been wanting to see for a long time, and it did not happen until we came to government. One way of thinking about how Australians have embraced, for instance, our Cheaper Home Batteries Program is that it took us 10 years to put in the first six gigawatt hours of household storage—it took the country 10 years to do that—and it's taken eight months to put in the second six gigawatts of household storage. That is a remarkable turnaround for the country.”
“Along with the community batteries that are up and running in Blaxland, Blaxland East and Hobartville, these are really helping shift our system and helping people tackle the cost of living.”
“These are fantastic ways to incentivise young people and get them training up in the areas that we know we need them most. I want to finish by touching on the clean energy part of our Labor government commitment. Clean energy businesses are busier than ever, with over 2,000 homes and small businesses across Macquarie benefiting from our Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Around the country, it's well over a quarter of a million cheaper home batteries. This program not only helps people reduce their power costs and store their energy; it also means less pressure on the grid at peak times, lower reliance on expensive generation and downward pressure on prices for everybody.”
“In New South Wales it's 2,273 apprentices in that first six months. The program helps apprentices start and finish training in that critical skills area that we need so we can keep building more homes. Apprentices participating in the program receive $10,000 over the course of their apprenticeship to assist with costs such as tools, equipment and fuel. If people are wondering whether they have a family member who might be interested in it, go searching for it. It's called the Key Apprenticeship Program. The top three housing construction occupations for commencements under the program are carpenters and joiners, plumbers and electrical trades workers, alongside other occupations like glaziers, plasterers, bricklayers and concreters.”
“It'll help former students as they're establishing their post-student lives. Less debt gives them a firmer foundation on which to build those lives. From student debt cut being cut to prac placement payments and programs like free TAFE and the Key Apprenticeship Program, we are backing Australians to get the skills they need for the jobs that we need. Apprenticeships in the clean energy sector, for instance, are on the rise, with more than 17,000 apprentices choosing careers in new energy industries such as solar, automotive and smart technology. We have signed up thousands of construction thanks to our Key Apprenticeship Program. In the first six months of the program, launched in July last year, 11,400 apprentices have commenced in the housing construction trades under the program.”
“In my electorate they're in Hawkesbury, Penrith—just outside the electorate but still handy—and Katoomba, supporting young people and family to be mentally healthy and engaged in their communities. While I'm speaking of young people, one of the big changes that has come in and alleviated a lot of stress for a lot of people, particularly young people, is a cut to student debt. More than 3.2 million Australians have now had their student debt cut by 20 per cent. Whether you call it HECS or FEE-HELP, in total, the Albanese government has cut more than $16 billion in student debt. The ATO has sent more than 2.8 million messages notifying people of their cut. The average student debt was $27,600, and we took $5,500 off that. This will help students as they plan for their future.”
“Then, from late May, self-guided programs will also be available, allowing people to participate in structured modules on their own with support available if they want it. The service focuses on helping people cope with stress, anxiety, worry, panic or low mood, and it's based on a very safe and evidence based approach called cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT. That's something that many psychologists use in their counselling sessions. It's recognised for its effectiveness in helping manage symptoms and regain a sense of control. This is a really key next step in our objective to enable people to receive free mental health support when they need it and where they need it. For young people needing mental health support, we have headspace centres.”
“This is a free national service that offers early support for people who are beginning to experience mental health concerns or symptoms. It's designed to be really easy to access, so there is no need for a referral, for a diagnosis or even to explain what's wrong. You can dig into trusted information—everyday tools. You can see real stories from people with different backgrounds and experiences. What's really significant is that, from the end of March, the service offers programs that will take around six weeks that you can work through over that time with a trained mental health practitioner who will focus on ways to cope with common challenges. So we've got the first level of that. This next level comes in at the end of March.”