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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Every one of 1,176 lines we hold for Anthony Albanese, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 16 of 24.
“I thank the member for Leichhardt for his question. He represents an electorate from which you can swim to Papua New Guinea, from Saibai Island. That is how close we are. Last year, when Prime Minister Marape and I walked the Kokoda Track for Anzac Day, we reflected on our nations' shared bond. At the 50th anniversary of PNG independence last month, we reflected on our shared history. And yesterday, at the signing of the Pukpuk treaty, we reflected on our shared future. Our bond, our history and our future—that is what this treaty is about: an alliance between two equal partners, between two old friends, furthering the interests of our nations and of our peoples and finding our security in the Pacific from within the Pacific family, and, for Australia, family means Papua New Guinea. This is indeed a historic moment.”
“That is the only path to enduring peace and security in the Middle East—a future without Hamas and a future that encompasses two states, the State of Israel and the State of Palestine, living side by side within internationally recognised borders and recognising each other's right to live in peace and security. That is the possibility of the future that is before us. It is our duty to do everything in our power to seize it.”
“We will always stand against antisemitism, as should everyone. We must break this cycle of violence and build something better. Australia has consistently been part of the international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza, for the return of the hostages, for aid to flow and for a two-state solution. Australia welcomes President Trump's plan to bring peace to Gaza after almost two years of conflict and a devastating loss of civilian life—a plan that calls on Hamas to lay down its arms and to immediately release all remaining hostages. In our original motion here in 2023, carried with the support, bipartisanly, of both parties of government or potential government, we explicitly recognised that Hamas does not recognise the Palestinian people or their legitimate needs and aspirations. We have never wavered from that stance.”
“I say to him we hold you in our hearts. We also hold in our hearts all who are still being held hostage—those who remain alive and those who tragically had stolen from them not only their freedom but their life as well. We stand with their families and all those who wait. We stand with all those who endure loss. We stand with all those who endure hope—all who have had to hold this two-year vigil, which must feel like an eternity. Even now, as President Trump presents us with an opening to peace, we owe it to all of them to never forget what was done. Hamas sought to kill and to terrify. They planned a nightmare of scarcely comprehensible cruelty and made it a reality. The Australian government stands with Jewish people around the world, who feel the cold shadow of history's darkest chapter in any act of antisemitism.”
“The seventh of October 2023 was a day of pain and terror for Jewish people around the world. When our parliament first gathered in the aftermath, the shock of what Hamas terrorists had perpetrated was still raw and growing with each new and devastating detail. Their attack on a music festival that promoted 'friends, love and infinite freedom', an event attended by so many young people, underlined a core truth: Hamas stands in opposition to all humanity and all that we value as human beings. Two years on, we remember those who were lost on that day, the largest loss of Jewish life on a single day since the Holocaust—over 1,200 lives taken without mercy. We remember Australian Galit Carbone, who was tragically among them. Galit's brother, Danny Majzner, joins us in the gallery today, and I will meet with him tomorrow.”
“Everyone should comply with the law; it's as simple as that. Everyone should comply with the law; it's as simple as that. That's my job. This is a rather bizarre line of questioning that they're going down. Everyone should comply with the law, whether it's someone who is part of selling a port and then goes on the board of that port or anyone else.”
“I'll tell you what the term is—the term is for someone who, in their first speech in this parliament, speaks about these projects and champions them; who backs it in 2020; who, when money is put in the budget—$250 million—puts out media releases saying: 'Woohoo! This is going to be of great benefit!' and then pretends somehow that they're against the very project that was given the tick by the coalition government and funded by the coalition government, and then tells people, 'Yes, no worries, get out there, bring along a noose to a public meeting,' as if that's appropriate. But it doesn't stop there, because a range of Nats MPs have form in backing in the electorate, and—”
“It wasn't a one-off, because this was in 2020: This is why we desperately need to prioritise projects that will increase Victoria's grid capacity, including the Western Victorian Transmission Network Project, which will install new power lines from Melbourne through Ballarat to Ararat as well as VNI West … … … … … in Australia's energy grid infrastructure … I will continue to support the development of related projects in my electorate of Mallee. But it didn't stop there. This is someone who was committed to renewables in that part of the world. On 7 October 2020, Dr Webster welcomed announcements she said would benefit the Mallee electorate. These included 'up to $250 million to accelerate major transmission projects, including VNI West, which will benefit Mallee in order to deliver reliable energy'. The member used a term.”
“They're on the big picture today! Indeed, Tony Abbott was elected in 2013, but he didn't make it to a two-year anniversary. So it depends when in 2015—because he didn't make it. I'm asked about the renewables issue in that part of Victoria and about the Bush Summit. I can quote from someone's first speech: Mallee is perfectly positioned for renewables, but the capacity of our existing grid infrastructure is making some promising options unviable. I look forward to working further to improve connectivity to the grid in Mallee. First speech! But don't think it stopped there.”
“That is an outrageous suggestion. I have respect for our police officers. The questions that were asked yesterday went to whether the Australian government was giving support to this cohort. I confirmed that the Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort. Syria is an increasingly unstable region. Our security, as well as our intelligence agency—as you would expect—will continue to work to ensure they are prepared for any Australian citizen who comes home. But the Australian government is not providing assistance to this cohort. The report yesterday was wrong. I declared it to be wrong. And long may the opposition continue to get their questions from 'Sky after dark'.”
“Our government has been focused on that in the first four months since that election—going through commitment by commitment, passing legislation to deliver and providing funding to deliver on the commitments so that we restore faith in the political system in this country. We will continue, over coming months, to make sure that we tick off those commitments one by one, and it will certainly be a year of delivery. That's our focus as we go forward.”
“Australians are about strengthening Medicare; if you know, you know. There have been over 1.8 million visits to the 90 Medicare urgent care clinics we have opened. The only thing they've needed was their Medicare card. We've made an $8½ billion investment into bulk-billing, tripling the bulk-billing incentive for 11 million pensioners and concession card holders last term, extending that to all 27 million Australians this term. We're making medicines even cheaper, and then cheaper again—the bill passed through parliament just this week—from $42 down to $30 and then down to $25, but freezing it for concession card holders for the entire decade at just $7.70. At the election, Australians voted for a government with the plans and policies to build Australia's future.”
“I thank the member for Canberra for her question, and I note that this is her last question time before she takes a bit of leave, for obvious reasons, and I wish her all the very best—I'm sure, on behalf of the parliament—for the youngest addition to her family when they come along in coming weeks. This week marks four months since the Australian people put their trust in our government to keep building Australia's future, and every day since then has been all about delivering. We're cutting student debt by 20 per cent, benefiting some three million Australian students and apprentices to the tune of an average of $5½ thousand each. We're enshrining penalty rates into law to protect weekend and overtime pay, and fast-tracking five per cent deposits, making it easier for young Australians to get into their first home.”
“But the idea that, on an issue such as opposition to the Iranian regime, you look for difference where there is none—it actually undermines Australia's position in international politics, as did the response from last Wednesday morning, which was to try and look for distinction and look for political difference for what was the first time that any government has expelled an ambassador since the Japanese ambassador was expelled during World War II.”
“It is: we did not send any government representative because it wouldn't have been appropriate. None of my team would have sat in that position; it's as simple as that. There was no representative. What individuals do, very separate from the government, is a matter for them. I note that it certainly is not something that I would have even thought of doing, and no-one in my government would have thought of doing; it's as simple as that.”
“They are delulu if they are going to come here over an issue in which there was bipartisan support for the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador for at least 12 hours before there was criticism of the government's action. My government have taken decisive action. I am not responsible for what every Australian citizen does. What I'm responsible for is what our government does, and the former government was responsible for sending Minister Ronaldson to the previous event. We stand unequivocally in condemning the Iranian regime. What international affairs requires is for governments of purpose, with that sense of purpose, to engage diplomatically with our friends. We had yesterday people such as President Prabowo and a whole range of people attending there. My position is very, very clear.”
“on indulgence—Can I just join the minister in expressing my admiration and thanks to Commissioner Kershaw. I made some lengthy public comments when we announced his retirement. I say to the commissioner: thank you for the relationship, for the briefings, for your diligence and for your commitment to keeping Australians safe, and I say just two words—happy fishing.”
“The member for Mallee chose to organise people to come along and yell with loudhailers and to disrupt the event. I was fine with that, as I was last week when I engaged in one-on-one discussions. But I do make this point. Yesterday a neo-Nazi crashed the events with the Victorian premier.”
“I did attend a meeting in Ballarat last week, and I attended a meeting in Wagga Wagga as well. I attend, regularly, regional events. And, when I do, I inform the members, as the member for Page would know, as the member for Maranoa would know and as the member for Riverina would know. Indeed, I took the member for Riverina to the event in his electorate last week. I have attended an event with the member for Mallee, where I opened local community infrastructure at the invitation of the local council. There were schools there because it was the first time a prime minister had visited Horsham, a small community, in some 40 years. There were school children there; there were lots of people there. I rang up the member for Mallee to invite her to come along.”
“What Australians want to see are two things: they want to see the killing stop, and they want to see—whether they are Israelis or Palestinians—that the conflict is not brought here.”
“It's the right thing to do to work towards a long-term solution where both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security; where Israel can continue to exist as a majority Jewish state, providing a homeland for the Jewish people; and where the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for their own state can be realised. That is something that I have held onto throughout my political life and, indeed, before I came to this parliament, and that is something that our government will continue to do—continue to be a strong advocate, regardless of the criticism thrown at us and regardless of the misinformation that is put out there. For example, we do not fund or provide arms to the State of Israel. We are not a participant in this conflict.”
“It called for innocent people, whether they be Israelis or Palestinians, to be protected. We have called out issues in Gaza with regard to a failure to adequately provide food and essential aid. We've called out, for example, the 'double tap' that occurred at the hospital in Khan Younis for what it was—something that saw the loss of life of journalists, doctors, nurses and people providing assistance. We have continued to take a principled position. That has resulted in criticism from all sides of this debate, but it's the right thing to do. It's the right thing to do for the role that we play internationally.”
“I note that there are processes before the ICJ and that, while people have different views, those processes are legal processes, and what we do as a responsible government is allow legal processes to take their course. What I would say about the situation in the Middle East is that my government has been consistent. We've been consistent since the terrorist atrocity that Hamas committed on October 7 in calling that out for what it was, we've been consistent in calling for the release of hostages and we've been consistent in calling for a ceasefire and for innocent civilians to be protected. I must say that the resolution that was carried with the support of the major parties in this House has stood the test of time quite well. It called for international law to be upheld.”
“I think that point of order said it all about the question. I'm responsible for the Australian government, the Australian government did have a representative there, and the Australian government did have a representative 10 years ago. That was a minister in the government. Our government chose that that would not be the case.”
“At the 70th anniversary, 10 years ago, the former government sent a Liberal minister, Michael Ronaldson, to represent the Australian government. I understand that Australian embassy officials will formally represent Australia this time. Last month, on 15 August, I attended a commemoration for Victory in the Pacific Day in Martin Place, along with the Leader of the Opposition. It is on that day that we commemorate the end of the war in the Pacific in Australia. In that case, we celebrate it on the day of the surrender of the Japanese forces. We also, on that day, celebrate the courage and sacrifice of all those Australians who served. I can confirm it was a very moving occasion, as these occasions always are when we honour the men and women who wear our uniform.”
“Last year, public servants spent more than one million hours processing FOIs—not doing policy, not helping people out there with their issues; but going through FOIs.”
“I thank the member for Wentworth for her question and for her engagement on this issue, including yesterday, I think it was, when we had a meeting with other members about these issues. With regard to other reforms coming on top of our creation of a national anti-corruption commission and other reforms that we have already introduced, today the Attorney-General has announced consultation on stage 2 of public sector whistleblower reforms. That will be important going forward. As I indicated, that would come forward. Freedom of information is a vital part of our democracy, but, right now, the FOI system is broken. The current framework is stuck in the 1980s, and this was before new technology was there—before email, before smartphones—and we need to keep up with that.”
“It says so much about his character and the fact he is just always thinking of others. Even after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2023, he continues to think about how he can make a difference while going through what is a very difficult period. He continues to be an advocate and continues to show leadership, and the courage that he has shown is an inspiration for all Australians, including every member of this House. This announcement means that we can continue to stay at the forefront of the fight against cancer, we can continue to train the world's best researchers, and we can continue Professor Scolyer's vital work.”
“Professor Richard Scolyer is an extraordinary Australian, a humble man who has achieved so much, and, for so many Australians, his story has resonated so deeply. He is a renowned pathologist, a melanoma researcher who's made remarkable contributions to Australian medical research. He is the first in the world to receive an experimental treatment approach adapted from his own melanoma immunotherapy research, becoming both a patient and a research subject. Together with the other Australian of the Year recipient, his research partner Professor Georgina Long, he represents the very best of this country—someone who has brought skill, tenacity and courage, someone who always thinks of others. Indeed, even today he was suggesting that the chair in brain cancer research shouldn't be named after him.”
“I thank the member for Robertson for his question. He is just one of the people who have brought their professional skills in the area of health care into this parliament, and the parliament is better for it. Today I was very honoured to once again meet with the 2024 Australian of the Year, Professor Richard Scolyer. We announced $5.9 million to establish the Richard Scolyer Chair in Brain Cancer Research at the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in Sydney, together with Gail O'Brien, Chris O'Brien's widow. This investment will support a number of research positions, including a professorial chair as well as postdoctoral fellows, research assistants and PhD scholarships, along with research costs. That will be rolled out in conjunction with the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney.”
“In the lead-up to the Pacific Islands Forum, I've had discussions with a range of our neighbours—including Vanuatu, which I will visit on the way to the Solomon Islands next week—about our joint commitments which are there. The member quite rightly quotes Admiral Barrie and the fact that this is a national security issue. It is because these issues do raise our relationships with our neighbours. They also raise the issue of security and the very survival of those island states. They also raise how we participate and how we're seen by our neighbours. That is important. I've said that our defence relationships are also about investing in our relationships, not just our capability, and this is just one way in which we do so.”
“The entry fee for credibility in our region, in the Pacific and in ASEAN is action on climate change, and we indeed will be pursuing our hosting of the conference of the parties to be held, we hope, in Australia in partnership with our Pacific Island neighbours and family. I welcome the overnight support for that from at least one person in the Liberal Party, Senator Hume. It's important that we engage constructively. We will do so. We have funding for climate change infrastructure, resilience and preparation as well as agreements, such as the Falepili agreement with Tuvalu. We have a specific program recognising that sea levels are rising. That is having an impact and allowing a number of Tuvalu citizens to be able to come to Australia each year. That has been welcomed.”
“I thank the member for Wentworth for her question, and, more importantly, I thank her for her commitment to acting on climate change and participating in this parliament as the representative for Wentworth on behalf of her constituents. For the people of Wentworth—or the people of Grayndler, for that matter—acting on this can make an enormous difference, but, as she correctly identifies, for people in the Pacific—the people of Tuvalu, the people of Kiribati—this is an existential threat to the very existence of their nations. When I attend the Pacific Island Forum hosted by the Solomon Islands next week, I will be attending as a participant, not as a block to climate action. That is one of the big distinctions that has occurred.”
“on indulgence—I will just acknowledge some of the parents who I met with today, who are in the gallery. They are parents who, amid their grief and loss, have found the strength to work towards helping other Australians, particularly young people coming through. To Wayne Holdsworth, thank you for sharing your story about your son, Mac. To Emma Mason, thank you for sharing your story about your daughter, Tilly. To Fiona Carusi and Jane Rowan, thank you for talking with me about your daughters and the journey you are on together with them. Your courage and your candour is a powerful reminder of why it's so important for not just the government but the whole parliament to act to keep Australians safe online. Your courage in speaking about such personal stories really is changing future lives for the better. I thank you and acknowledge you.”
“Possibly because the member for Hume wasn't there! The member for Hume had this to say on 7 April 2022: We are investing in VNI West because it is expected to generate $1.9 billion in net market benefits and will be a key part of an efficient transmission backbone for the electricity market. The protesters in Ballarat on Friday were protesting against a program that was initiated and given regulatory approval by the former government, something that I pointed out at the time. The member for Hume went on to say this: Our investment in this project will support reliable electricity supply, deliver substantial cost savings and help keep the lights on for Australian families, businesses and industries. Well done, Angus.”
“We've also frozen the cost at just $7.70 until the end of the decade for concession card holders, making an enormous difference. At the last election we promised to do all this, and now we have delivered on this promise, something that makes an enormous difference to communities that we represent, easing cost-of-living pressures right across the country. But it also says something about the way that we do policy. We consulted with the Pharmacy Guild, we consulted with senior Australians in particular and we consulted with people in the health sector about what was needed—a nation committed to Medicare, committed to the Australian idea that, when you get sick, you get the care that you need, not because of your bank balance but because you have this little piece of green and gold plastic—”
“Last night, our plan to make medicines cheaper passed the parliament, cutting the cost of a PBS script from $30 down to just $25. That follows up from what we did in our first term to cut it from $42 down to $30. Had we not done that, if we'd continued the policy that was in place under the former government, those costs today would have been more than $50. So in fact we have cut the cost of medicines by half for people who need them, many of whom, of course, will need multiple scripts. On top of that, we have 60-day dispensing, something that those opposite said would lead to massive closures of pharmacies. We wouldn't be able to find them anywhere around Australia—what nonsense! It's another example of their speciality of scare campaigns rather than engaging in good policy.”
“Australians here certainly don't want to go back, business doesn't want to go back, and their old friend the former minister Mathias Cormann—who is now the Secretary-General of the OECD, and we congratulate him on his re-election—doesn't want to go back either. Those opposite, of course, are having a review, but today we know that Senator Canavan, the person in charge of reviewing net zero for the Nats, has announced that he's introducing a bill in the Senate to abolish it. So he's reviewing it, but he's already going to legislate to abolish it. To mirror the member for New England—spoiler alert!—I reckon the review's going to say it should go. That's what we see: the Liberals fighting with the Liberals, the Nats fighting with the Nats, and the Liberals and Nats fighting each other. Meanwhile, what we will do is fight for Australia.”
“It's the largest economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution. And we have everything we need to make the most of it right here in Australia: the best sun, wind and hydro in the world and critical minerals—Australian industries backed by Australian resources. We're making all of this progress despite what we inherited when we came into office. We know that, on the former government's watch, 24 out of 28 coal-fired power stations announced their closure. They did absolutely nothing about it. They had 23 failed energy policies over a decade but didn't implement any of them. Over $600 billion of taxpayers' money was promised to build nuclear power stations, to be ready sometime in the 2040s. They want to go back to denial and delay, but Australians don't want to go back.”
“Thank you to my friend the member for Bennelong, who, of course, won an important seat in 2022 off the Liberals and, in 2025, had to win it again on the other side of the pendulum. He received such an overwhelming endorsement, in part, because he understands that climate change is real. He understands that moving on climate change is not just a challenge but an opportunity for Australia. That is why we've legislated for net zero by 2050 and the safeguard mechanism. That's why we have the Capacity Investment Scheme growing the renewable energy industry. That's why the vehicle emissions standard is cutting emissions on our roads. And that's why the Cheaper Home Batteries Program has installed over 44,895, to be precise, batteries in homes. We're backing renewable energy because it makes sense for our economy.”
“The National Emergency Management Committee will next meet in November this year and will be considering further events for possible declaration at that meeting, pending the receipt of this expert advice. I commit to the member for Calare that I will inform him at the first available opportunity as to their deliberations.”
“This will enable the committee to consider whether the Central West floods should be recommended to the minister—who would be the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, to whom I have allocated responsibility for this—to be considered a nationally significant emergency for the purpose of the National Emergency Medal. Under the National Emergency Medal Regulations 2011, the responsible minister must not make a recommendation to the Governor-General to declare an event as a nationally significant emergency unless the responsible minister has received advice from the National Emergency Medal Committee. To date, over 530 National Emergency Medals have been awarded to individuals who served during the 2022 flooding event.”
“I wish to add to an answer to a question from the member for Calare to me at the last question time, Thursday 28 August, where I indicated I would get more detail and get back to the member at the first opportunity, and this is the first opportunity. The member for Calare asked me about the availability of the National Emergency Medal for emergency responders, community workers and volunteers for their acts of service during the floods in the Central West of New South Wales in 2022. I am advised that the independent National Emergency Medal Committee has requested additional expert information on the timeline of events and overall impact on individual areas and localities.”
“In addition to that, the public transport links to Western Sydney airport, as well as the road upgrades, are creating jobs in the short term but creating economic activity and efficiency in the medium term as well.”
“What that will do isn't just provide for higher productivity and more efficiency; it will take trucks off the Western Sydney roads, which currently go right through Sydney to get to Mascot. That makes no sense whatsoever. Together with the other major piece of infrastructure in south Western Sydney, the Moorebank Intermodal, those two things combined will transform Western Sydney. In addition to that, the Aerotropolis area will see a range of high-value industries created, creating high-value jobs there for locals in south Western Sydney. For the first time, instead of Sydney always turning towards the harbour and the CBD, this is about Sydney looking towards where most people live—Western Sydney—and will provide significant benefit.”
“When it opens, you will have what will be undoubtably be the most modern airport in Australia by a long way, with the best facilities in terms of the entries into the best experience for passengers going through. As to the deals that have been signed, the latest one when I was there was a deal signed with Air New Zealand. We know there is a great New Zealand Kiwi diaspora that lives in Western Sydney as well, and that will be a very successful arrangement between New Zealand and Australia, coming on top of the deals that have already been signed with the Qantas Group and, in addition to that, Singapore Airlines. The airport, when it is operating there, will provide a massive boost for passenger aircraft, but we make no apologies for the fact that there will be a lot of freight through that airport as well.”
“I'm delighted to get a question about the Western Sydney airport and why it will deliver and is already delivering jobs in Western Sydney, particularly jobs in south Western Sydney, including literally hundreds and hundreds of apprenticeships, which are taking place as part of the construction there. Part of the arrangements that were put in place for the Western Sydney airport construction is about local employment. Local contractors—over 50 per cent of people live in that local community. Local contractors are prioritised for the work that's taking place there. I've had the opportunity to visit the airport with the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.”
“I'm not sure what the basis of them is, but I can refer to the latest NOM—the net overseas migration—which was down 37 per cent on an annual figure in the last figures that were raised in 2024. I'd ask the minister to comment.”
“I make two points to the member for Kennedy before I ask the Minister for Resources to comment on the issues you raise regarding resources policy. First, regarding the will of the people, those are called elections, and we have a proud democracy in this country. I defend it. And people in this country voted for a government that would understand that modern Australia is, as the minister has just reflected, a different nation to the one it was under the White Australia policy some time ago. They voted for a government that would understand that our diversity is a strength in modern Australia, and it provides us with incredible economic opportunity as well, due to the diaspora here and their connections with every country on the planet. With regard to the figures—I don't accept some of the figures that he's raised.”
“In addition to that, we are delivering 50 additional Medicare urgent care clinics, meaning there'll be a network of some 137 clinics that have already serviced 1.6 million Australians. In addition to that, we're establishing 1800MEDICARE, a 24/7 health advice and bulk-billing hotline. Medicare is a Labor legacy. It is central to what makes us the best country on earth. Our government will strengthen Medicare, and we will defend it so that all Australians can get the high-quality health care that they deserve, making an enormous difference to not only the health but also the living standards of Australians.”