Anthony Albanese
Grayndler · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The ground there at Brookvale Oval, as I call it, was of course sponsored by a gambling company, so every time there's a game on there you see that constant advertising around the ground. What our legislation will do is make sure that future contracts can't be issued with things such as advertising on jerseys or advertising on grounds.”
“She's someone who's passionate about it and tells me about her constituent who is 108 years old and travelled, as a very young boy, from South Australia with family for the opening of the first parliament—and he's still there. We hope he's able to attend again.”
“That is why, just this week, there was the increase in the minimum wage, the decrease in taxes, the support for paid parental leave, super being paid every payday. All of these changes make a positive difference to people's lives.”
“This year, Australia is celebrating 125 years of Federation, and I was with you and other members in Melbourne to commemorate that event of the first sitting of parliament, and it was a very good celebration of our history, which is worthy of celebration.”
“We Australians sometimes think of ourselves as a young nation on an ancient continent, yet by global standards, of course, we are one of the oldest and strongest democracies in the world. Next year will mark an important anniversary: the 100th anniversary of Australian democracy making its home here in Canberra, our national capital.”
“I note the member for McPherson, who's a former attendant in Parliament House, has agreed to be one of the members of that committee as well, and that's a good thing.”
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“We're taking action on both—we're tackling antisemitism and hate and we're getting dangerous guns off our streets. On Thursday, we will come together in a national day of mourning, honouring the victims and all those impacted by the violence at Bondi. The theme that the Chabad community have chosen is 'light will win: a gathering of unity and remembrance'. That is what the local community, led by their spiritual leader Rabbi Ulman—whom I have spoken with again this morning—really want to see: a fitting moment for our grieving nation to come together and reaffirm our commitment that in Australia light triumphs over darkness.”
“Here in Australia we respect each other, people of different faiths and backgrounds, and we treat each other properly. Since the horror of that day, our priority has been to keep Australians safe, to combat antisemitism, extremism and hate, to bring an end to violence, to bring the nation together, to wrap our arms around the Jewish community and to be with them in their profound grief. We've announced a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion so people can tell their stories to inform meaningful action. Today we have passed through this House laws to address both the motivation and the method of the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi, because the terrorists had hate in their hearts but they also had high-powered rifles in their hands.”
“I thank the member for Isaacs for his question and his commitment not just as a member of the Australian parliament but also as someone who is very committed to helping his fellow Jewish Australians. He travelled to Sydney in the hours after this terrible attack on the first night of Hanukkah where 15 Australians were murdered at Bondi Beach. They wounded dozens more—men, women and children. It was an antisemitic terrorist attack aimed at Jewish Australians, inspired by ISIS, the deadliest that has ever occurred on Australian soil. It was also an attack on every single Australian because it was an attack on our way of life, in which the Australian covenant is that, if people have any prejudice or hate, that is left in the customs hall.”
“The House of Representatives passed legislation—not as strong as we would have liked in tackling antisemitism, but what we could get through. That was our priority. We called a royal commission once we had the royal commissioner in place and once we had consulted the Jewish community about the terms of reference.”
“Our first priority, unashamedly, on the Sunday night, on the Monday, on the Tuesday, on the Wednesday, on the Thursday, was not to worry about politics. Our priority was: were these people part of a cell? Would there be another attack in another place in Sydney? Would there be a follow-up attack in Melbourne? Were Jewish Australians being kept safe? Were the leaders of those communities being kept safe? We upgraded the security measures around the track. Our priority was that. What were the gaps that were missed in security? Through the National Security Committee, which has met on almost a daily basis every day since 14 December, our priority was to get that right. Our second priority was to make sure not that we did something in a year's time or two years time but that we did something immediately.”
“Our responsibility is to channel that grief, that pain and that anger into meaningful action, making a difference, and that is what I have striven to do. I've said that we would implement in full the recommendations of the antisemitism envoy's report. Unfortunately, some of those recommendations, the most serious ones—about vilification—did not receive the support of either the coalition or the Greens in the Senate and therefore were not able to be pursued. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, our priority was unashamedly about the safety of Australians. If you look at what is happening with terrorist attacks overseas, what often occurs is that one attack leads to another, coordinated attack somewhere else as part of planning.”
“What happened on 14 December was a targeted, evil, antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish Australians, and my heart breaks for every person, every family, every community that has been made to suffer because of that senseless, hate fuelled violence. I've attended homes and synagogues, and had private meetings, both in their homes and in my Sydney home, for the moment, and in my Sydney office with those families. I haven't had TV cameras or radio reporters with me. What I've done is engage respectfully with those people. I've said I feel the weight of responsibility for an atrocity that happened whilst I'm Prime Minister. And, as I have said, I'm sorry that this occurred—sorry for the grief and pain that the Jewish community and our entire nation have experienced.”
“I know, in the member for Mackellar's electorate, over the weekend, we saw examples of that. If you can't see the ground, you don't know what's under the water; you don't know if the road has slipped away. It is simply not worth it. Please follow the advice of our police, emergency services and SES volunteers. They risk a lot to help out their fellow Australians. What they ask is that they get listened to on that advice. That way, we'll keep Australians as safe as possible, even in difficult times.”
“I know that we always have the support of the parliament to do so, and I thank all members of the House for doing so and for engaging. I will continue to work with local members on what else can be done. Of course, this remains a difficult period—a difficult weather period. In Sydney over the weekend, and on the Central Coast of NSW, there was a real impact as well—the impact of the extreme weather events and record rainfall in some of those communities, including in the member for Robertson's electorate and the member for Dobell's as well. This is a difficult period. I remind people, as well, as a final thought: if it's flooded, forget it. Every time I go into a flood area, the police and people will tell you that people think that they can drive through and they know what it looks like.”
“This includes an $11.3 million primary producer support package, in addition to $21 million in disaster recovery grants; almost $10 million for extraordinary disaster recovery assistance grants for small business; $7 million in emergency fodder for stranded livestock; and $11½ million to repair the Cloncurry airstrip, that's so important—vital—particularly for fly-in fly-out workers who work in the resources sector, in the mines around Cloncurry. In addition to that, we've provided support for mental health support and personal hardship assistance. I know the whole parliament cares about helping these communities get back on their feet. There's no politics in any of this. When natural disaster strikes, governments work to provide assistance.”
“In both states, I thank all those in police and emergency services and fire services, volunteers and the SES—the extraordinary people who step up at difficult times. In Queensland, we are working with David Crisafulli's government, who I also met with last Thursday in Brisbane. We travelled there, to Clermont, with the minister. We have provided over $66 million in support to 30 different local government areas.”
“What I said to the remarkable SES volunteers in Hoods Lagoon and locals at the Clermont Bears footie club is the same message I took to Harcourt in Victoria: We have got your back. From response to recovery to rebuilding, we'll be with you every step of the way. In both states, we've made the disaster recovery allowance available—up to 13 weeks of support for people who have lost income. In Victoria, together with Jacinta Allan's government, we've provided $77 million in disaster recovery funding. This is support for emergency fodder, community recovery officers and primary producer grants up to $75,000, as well as assistance for personal and financial counselling and dealing with power outages and clean-up. The Defence Force have made some of their accommodation available, as well, in Victoria.”
“Previously, I travelled to Cloncurry with the emergency management minister and with the Treasurer, and we were in Cloncurry and Mount Isa. The minister went on to visit Julia Creek and Richmond afterwards, looking at the extraordinary impact that those floodwaters had had. I thank the Mayor of Cloncurry and other community volunteers who we were able to meet and thank for what they had done there as well. Tragically, one man died when his vehicle was trapped in floodwaters near Normanton. He and his loved ones are in our thoughts today. Primary producers have seen thousands of kilometres of roads and fencing destroyed, and around 50,000 head of livestock have been lost—at least.”
“As the member for Bendigo knows—I travelled there with her and the Victorian Premier—these are communities where people know each other and they care about each other as well. When fires took out the Mount Alexander ABC transmission tower, Phoenix FM, which is a 100 per cent volunteer local community radio station, switched over to carrying the emergency broadcast for three days, saving lives. One CFA volunteer, Tyrone Rice, was out fighting fires when his own home was lost. In less than a week, the community had raised over $65,000 for his family. In Queensland, the devastation has been different but the courage and generosity have been the same. Monsoonal rain, exacerbated by ex-tropical-cyclone Koji, has caused widespread flooding across North Queensland.”
“But across the road, really a miracle: houses intact due to the extraordinary work of volunteers, rural firefighters, police and just locals—neighbours—fighting for their properties. Quite extraordinary! If you looked at it you would not think it was possible. At the Ravenswood staging centre, I had the opportunity to personally thank CFA members. They were not just from the local community but they had come from Rochester, which had been devastated by those terrible floods just a short time ago and which I had visited seemingly yesterday. And they came from Creswick and Mount Macedon as well to help. They included Darcy, who was a young 16-year-old volunteer on his first day in the job.”
“More than 1,340 structures across the state were either damaged or destroyed. The damage done to Ruffy, Alexandra and surrounds is devastating. In Ravenswood and Harcourt, which I visited, over 50 homes were destroyed. I saw where the Harcourt Co-op Cool Stores and the neighbouring cafe had stood. Standing right on that street, the power of fire was so evident. Over 90 small businesses use that cool store:, local winemakers, brewers and apple growers. Years of their hard work burned away. So much was lost, yet the bravery and dedication of firefighters and volunteers saved so much more. As we were taken into that town by police and emergency services, we could see that the fire had devastated one side of the road. Houses that had been there were reduced to a bit of a chimney or some sign that there was a dwelling there.”
“Every summer in Australia—and often the period which is dangerous is getting longer and longer—our people face the challenge of extreme weather. In the last month, Queenslanders and Victorians have been hit hard. In Victoria, fires burned through over 400,000 hectares of bushland. Authorities had been warning that the extreme conditions were the worst since the Black Summer, and the fireys on the ground said the same thing. These fires were fast moving, unpredictable and intense. Tragically, they claimed the life of Max Hobson. Max had come to cattle farming late in his working life and he went about it with all his engineer's precision, and with real passion. Our thoughts are with Max's wife, Julie, his loved ones, his friends and his community. Over 1,000 farming properties were affected and nearly 25,000 head of livestock lost.”
“What the federal government controls is the importation of weapons. This is sensible reform, which includes stopping noncitizens from importing weapons. This is important legislation, following on from the legislation that was carried a long time ago—”
“I rise to support the legislation as it stands before the parliament. I do think it's important to say what it is but also what it isn't. This legislation is not about targeting farmers. It's not about competitive shooters. It's not about those who are law-abiding firearm owners. This federal bill will establish a national gun buyback scheme to purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms. The gun buyback scheme is based upon the same scheme that was introduced under John Howard, Tim Fischer and Kim Beazley—three leaders who all stood up at an important moment for Australia and who have made a difference. It is important to comprehend that state governments control the issue of licences, state governments control categories, and state governments control gun limits. This legislation does not interfere with those arrangements.”
“May Tim Picton rest in eternal peace. May his family, who have gone through such a terrible time, with him in hospital since the 27 December incident from which he never recovered, get some solace by just how loved Tim was.”
“He was full of joy. He loved his wife, Priya. His beautiful daughter, Charlotte, was the apple of his eye. I want Charlotte to know just how loved her dad was—also his parents, Fiona and Michael; his brother, Chris, who is a minister in the South Australian government; his sister, Johanna; and all of his family and friends in the Labor family across the board. He also worked in the private sector for MinRes and was on the executive of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia. He was respected right across the state and right across the political spectrum. Due to his background of working in three states, as well as in Canberra, he was very well known. I have no doubt that one day he would have sat on this front bench at least had his life not been cut so short by that act of violence on 27 December.”
“on indulgence—My friend and the friend of many on this side of the chamber, Tim Picton, passed away yesterday following a violent incident in Perth on 27 December. Tim Picton was just 36 years old. He was highly respected across politics. He had worked for the South Australian government, the Victorian government and the federal government, but he really found his niche as the secretary of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party. He led the campaign in 2021 that saw Mark McGowan win almost every seat in that state. He was the campaign director for me in 2022 in Western Australia that saw Labor win four additional seats in Western Australia and three Senate spots for the first time in a very, very long period of time. Tim Picton was not only very effective as a political operator; as a human being he was remarkable.”
“I move: That this House: (1) tenders our nation's heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the 15 innocent people murdered at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025; (2) condemns the atrocity which stole their lives, an act of terrorism deliberately targeted at Australia's Jewish community gathering to celebrate the first night of Chanukah; (3) unequivocally condemns the evil of antisemitism and vows new action to eradicate it; (4) honours the courage, composure and quick action of all the police officers, first responders and healthcare workers whose dedication and skill saved lives; (5) acknowledges the trauma of the men, women and children injured physically and psychologically, including those who witnessed the horror; (6) expresses Australia's deep admiration for the heroes of Bondi, everyday people who showed extraordinary bravery and selflessness, including those wounded and killed saving others; (7) affirms the fundamental right of every Jewish Australian to live, work, worship and learn in peace and safety, to participate fully and freely in Australian public life and to gather in communal association unhindered, proud of who they are and proud of the profound contribution their community has made to our nation's success; and (8) stands together in a spirit of national unity, resolved to confront and defeat the worst of hatred and division with the best of the Australian spirit.”
“You do get time to spend with your family and with friends. I look forward to continuing to watch Australia humiliate the English cricket team, starting on Saturday with the PM's XI sorting out the English team at Manuka Oval.”
“It's the best example I can think of in my life where just doing something for someone else—that is, feeding people on Christmas Day—gives more to the people who are serving than the people who are being served, because it's delightful. Bill tells me that once again there are more volunteers who want to help on Christmas Day than they need, so they've had to say no to people helping out. It's a fantastic thing. To all those who are helping people on Christmas Day—all those emergency service workers who keep the hospitals running, aged care, people who are working on Christmas Day to look after others—I thank you as well. I wish everyone across this parliament a wonderful Christmas. I wish the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Nationals and everyone else here a merry Christmas.”
“For people of faith it's a particularly important time. I will go to an event, prior to Christmas, at St Mary's Cathedral with Archbishop Fisher, who has invited me, and I look forward to that. It is an important time, when people can rekindle their faith, think about their place in the world and remind themselves that, in the arc of history, they're small. That is something that is very important, particularly for Christians. For those who will be celebrating their faith and recommitting or just confirming their faith at Christmas time, remember the message of Jesus Christ and what that means about caring for each other as well. Once again, on Christmas Day, I look forward to being at Exodus with Reverend Bill Crews. It's a fantastic thing.”
“But, most importantly, I thank her for what she does for me to make my life so much better. To my son, Nathan, who turns 25 very soon: I'm not quite sure how that happened, I've got to say. But he is a fine young man. I look forward to the 'festival of Nathan', the 2025 version, in a couple of weeks. He is my best mate as well, and we have developed such a fantastic relationship. I know that he is friends with many of the people on this side, but people like David have also reached out and treated him with respect, and I thank everyone for doing that. It sometimes can be hard to have a really obvious surname as a young man trying to make your way in the world; he stands out. He is someone of whom I am very, very proud. As you return to your families and electorates across this great continent, I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas.”
“This is a time when we speak about our families. To my fiance, Jodie: I thank you so much for coming into my life at an unexpected time. This job would be so much harder to do by myself. She is someone who is not a party or political person. Of course, she was born Labor and will die Labor—I'm not into mixed marriages! And, of course, she has a red eye and a green eye—also not into mixed marriages! Jodie has been thrust, in many cases, into a public role that she could not have expected a decade ago or six years ago, and she is so well liked. Everyone from President Macron to Prime Minister Starmer and others on the international stage asks where she is and if she's working full-time, which is what she does as well. She takes leave without pay to represent Australia. And I thank her for that.”
“They get every call from right around the country, and, tragically, they have had to put up with protesters who continue to be outside my former electorate office, which is now just a church, with flags and banners, and engage in hassling people walking down Marrickville Road. I say to the protesters: blocking people from accessing help and services does not send the message that you think it does. It undermines the position that you purport to support. To the staff at the Lodge and at Kirribilli, Kim and Adam and the other staff who look after those premises and host important events, such as the recent dinner that we had for the President of Indonesia, and who work in such a diligent way: thank you. I also want to acknowledge the press gallery. It was a pleasure to have you at the Lodge last night.”
“They work extraordinarily long hours. One of the things I'm quite proud of is I have a range of staff who literally started work for me last century, including Tim Gartrell. That says something about the relationship that we have, and I think it says something about the culture in my office. Culture comes from the top, and Tim Gartrell is a great chief of staff and makes it a great place to work as well. To Tim Murray and my electorate office staff in my wonderful community of Grayndler: it's a bit tough being in an electorate office for a prime minister because everyone thinks the staff are the government as a whole.”
“To you, Mr Speaker: the extraordinary job that you do has given you respect personally, which is really important, but what's more important is that you've lifted up the respect that Australians will have for this chamber by the way that you conduct yourself not just here when Question Time is on but in going around the electorates of people across the parliament. That was something that Tony Smith began and that you have accelerated across the board. I thank you for the work that you do and the other work that you do hosting. I've been to a number of charity events raising funds for important organisations, like Redkite, in your chambers, and I thank you for that. To my own personal staff, led by Tim Gartrell. To Liv and Bell, who look after my diary and look after me as well: I thank you for all of the work that my personal staff do.”
“I haven't got to drive a car for four years, so it's going to be a problem, I think, when that starts! I'm a bit concerned that I was able to renew my license without having a test, but I was earlier this year. But they do an incredible job, and indeed they are friends as well. I look forward to hosting them at an end-of-year function, as I do to hosting the RAAF crew as well, who are just amazing and diligent and so good at the service that they deliver. To my department, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, under the leadership of Dr Steven Kennedy, and to all of the departmental heads and public servants who work right around the country: thank you for what you do. I look forward to once again going down to a function before Christmas at PM&C and thanking the people in my department personally.”
“To everyone who makes this huge building hum, especially our wonderful cleaners as well, who are just delightful. To all of the parliamentary staff: I thank you for the work that you do. I thank in particular the AFP detail, whose job is unfortunately becoming tougher with the rise in threats. We had drinks for the gallery last night. Normally, at the Lodge, people would just be there. Unfortunately, they did notice that I had members of my detail at different spots even in the Lodge. The truth is that there have been a number of arrests in recent times, including multiple arrests associated with my safety. They do an incredible job. They put themselves on the line, and I thank them for their diligence and also their friendship. I spend more time with them than I do with my cabinet colleagues, by definition.”
“We are a middle power that are punching way above our weight, and that's a good thing for our nation, because out of that engagement comes jobs for Australians—a real plus. To the Treasurer and the Minister for Finance, the financial team: they do an extraordinary job. We sit in ERC meetings for a long, long time. We've been sitting there again in the lead-up to the MYEFO. It's hard work, it is detailed work and the Treasurer works in a way that is quite extraordinary. He's across the breadth of everything that has to happen in government across portfolios, and together he and Katy make an extraordinary team. I thank you, Jim, for the extraordinary work that you have done. To everyone who makes this chamber work—the clerks, Hansard crew, ushers, Serjeant-at-Arms, all of you—thank you for the work that you do.”
“To my Senate team: Senators Wong and Farrell are both amazing. They get stuff done—along with the wonderful Katy Gallagher, as Manager of Government Business in the Senate. I sit in meetings quite often, and the Treasurer and I in particular say that we don't speak Senate—and I don't. I think I understand this place; the way that place operates is a bit different, but the Senate team do a magnificent job. When you look at our standing internationally, something that I see when I go to something like the G20 meeting, something that's reflected in what happened at the Conference of the Parties meeting in Brazil as well, our engagement internationally is one in which Australia's place is respected and trusted.”
“You continue to be a source of counsel, and I have a relationship with you that is absolutely perfect between a leader and a deputy—a relationship of absolute and complete trust and faith. To the Leader of the House, Tony Burke: I said to Tony when I gave him this gig that it would be the best fun he'd have in this place—and he does it with diligence and does it very effectively. The changes that have been made to make this parliament function better are a credit to him. And his banter has got better as well! I didn't stay at the caucus and staff party last night because of my ongoing flu I've had all week, but I did hear the beginning of Blur, and 'Song 2', which was fantastic. I pay tribute to the fact the band are better, because, quite frankly, a few years ago they were awful; they really were!”
“I can't go past the words of a great son of Marrickville, Jeff Fenech: I love youse all! The delight, the capacity and the skills we have in this caucus are quite extraordinary, and the sense of solidarity that is there, with people working as a team, is something. As I said last night in a different place, it is the most united team I have seen in the Labor Party anywhere at any time. Since Federation, I think it's fair to say—and it would be hard to argue, given those of us who've read a lot of books of history—it has never been better than it is with the class of 2025. To the Deputy Prime Minister, my friend Richard Marles: thank you for your loyalty, for filling in for me and for the work you've done as Minister for Defence; it is quite extraordinary.”
“As we prepare to return to our electorates and the very people who entrust us with being their voice in this place, it is worth reflecting on the responsibility and also the opportunity that being a member of parliament extends to us. We have the onerous responsibility of being worthy of the trust that our communities place in us by voting for us, regardless of which political party—or none—we represent in this place. We have a responsibility to do all we can to make this wonderful country of ours even better because of our presence. It's a road that doesn't end, even when you reach your destination. To serve our country as prime minister is the greatest honour of my life. I'd like to mention a few of the people who make all this not just possible for me but, indeed, a joy to be. Firstly, the caucus.”
“This chamber looks a bit different to how it did this time last year. I look around and I see a lot of new faces, and I'm pleased that they are still filled with excitement! During question time I asked the newer members if they wanted to keep going with traditional questions, and they had a different view from some in the gallery and some behind me on the front bench, who were quite happy to finish up a bit earlier than we did—and that is understandable, because they are, quite rightly, proud that they have the great privilege that very few Australians get to have of representing their electorates. To come here and serve our communities and our nation is an incredible privilege.”
“When everyone else—the people in front of the camera and the people asking the questions—has gone, they're still there. And they are then going to the studios to make sure that the pictures make sense and to put it all together. Steve: I pay tribute to you, mate, and I thank you for the work you have done and the engagement I have had with you. I also think this tribute symbolises the respect held by all of us in this Chamber for the people behind the cameras.”
“One of the things about the pictures and the coverage that go into the lounge rooms, or the still pictures in newspapers, is that quite often the operators don't get seen. This is unlike Mark Riley, of course, who is the most prominent of the Channel 7 presenters. However, the work that they do behind the scenes is just as important. One of the things that I've found is the unequivocal courtesy and respect that every single camera operator in this building has, whether they be the still photographers or the people who shoot moving pictures and record us. They are incredibly dignified in the way that they conduct themselves. They are always there before the press conferences, because they're the ones who set them up, and they leave afterwards.”
“on indulgence—Can I join with you, Mr Speaker. We had Steve Quick, along with his colleagues from the gallery, at the Lodge last night, and there his colleagues got me to present him with the work they had done putting together a compendium of handwritten messages expressing their love, in some cases, for Steve and for the extraordinary work that he has done. Steve has been in the gallery since 1988. He has been at Seven the entire time, which is quite an advertisement for Seven, it must be said, when you have that longevity and consistency with one employer. I know that, in that time, he has trained his camera on nine prime ministers, and he has covered 13 election campaigns and around 40 budgets, in different ways, across that period. I think, after all that, Steve has well and truly earned a wonderful retirement.”
“We have been going through, one by one, and ticking off the legislative commitments that we have made to deliver for the Australian people—three million Australians having their student debt cut by 20 per cent, 16,000 first home buyers into their own home using our five per cent deposit, another 21,000 social and affordable homes on the way through the HAFF, tax cuts for every taxpayer next year and the year after, more than 130,000 Australians benefitting from batteries to make sure that the solar power from their roofs gets stored and their bills are decreased, higher wages, free TAFE, paid practice, incentives for construction apprentices and 50 more urgent care clinics. One in my electorate will open next month at last. I thank the minister for the final recognition of the electorate of Grayndler!”
“I thank the member for Melbourne for her question. It's been a delight to visit the member for Melbourne's electorate, including on the first journey of the Melbourne metro that will make such a difference to the entire system of Melbourne. What it will do is open up the capacity of the entire network. It opens on Sunday, and I know that there'll be a huge celebration there. That was something that we in government put $3 billion into that was ripped out by the former government. What winning successive elections enables you to do is deliver on the commitments that you put to the Australian people. Since 3 May we have been focusing on delivery—a stronger Medicare, higher wages, more secure jobs—making sure that people earn more and keep more of what they earn.”
“I will see if the Leader of the House—that was a job I used to have—might want to add to the answer. One of the things that has improved, I think, from the reforms in the parliament while I was Leader of the House is the limit on time. That wasn't always the case. There's a limit on time in asking the question and in answering the question as well. One of the things you might notice, Member for Wentworth, as I draw your attention to the time on the clock, is that one of the things I have done is not shut down question time after an hour. Indeed—”
“… … … … that gives businesses greater certainty, supports better environmental outcomes and speeds up housing supply. The Housing Industry Association said: These … reforms would make a marked difference in turning the dial on fast tracking new approvals and clearing the massive backlog of approvals awaiting the green light. Dr Ken Henry said: The Australian Parliament has done its job and restored national leadership to environmental protection and repair. The Urban Development Institute of Australia said: 'The progress of the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 signals that critical and long-awaited reform is finally underway.' We made it very clear we wanted to negotiate across the board. Unfortunately, the rabble opposite couldn't get their act together. But we have got this done.”
“The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies said, 'AMEC has been working to support the best deal possible, and this is it.' It went on to say: 'The agreement finally unlocks progress on reforms industry has sought for as long as anyone can remember. The minerals industry will be a primary beneficiary of these changes.' The Australian Industry Group said in an article titled 'EPBC reforms strike the right balance between development and the environment': The reforms before Parliament to fix our primary environmental laws, while not perfect, provide much needed clarity for essential development and necessary protection for our environment. The Property Council of Australia said: This reform ends years of uncertainty and delivers the most significant overhaul of environmental laws in a generation.”
“I thank the member for Macquarie for her question. Of course, she represents a beautiful part of Australia, the Blue Mountains, which is such an important part of our environment. It links in the urban community of Sydney with the magnificent Blue Mountains area. Indeed, Graeme Samuel is the person who was commissioned by the Liberal and National party government. They chose to commission the report; they ignored it. But finally it's taken this government to put it in place. This is what he had to say today: 'The summation of my position now is one of relief and total elation. Because at long last, after just over five years, the review recommendations are being implemented in total. What we've got now is progress.' That is what Graeme Samuel had to say.”
“What we are doing is increasing supply. What we want to do is to provide more social and public housing, and that's what we're doing through the Housing Australia Future Fund and that's what doing through Housing Australia. In addition to that, we're trying to provide more private rentals, and we're doing that through our build-to-rent incentive as well. It was blocked in the Senate by the 'no-alition'. That was stopped when the coalition and the Greens combined to be the 'no-alition.”
“We have rolled out cost-of-living relief for every single household, energy bill relief, cheaper child care for 1.1 million families, cheaper medicines that have saved Australians more than $1.5 billion, free TAFE for 725,000 enrolments, the largest increase in rent assistance in 30 years, and student debt relief for more than three million Australians, all of it opposed by those opposite, all of it opposed by a coalition that's just too busy fighting each other to fight for Australians.”