Luke Gosling
Solomon · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Yesterday marked one year since the Albanese government's landmark $3.9 billion National Access to Justice Partnership 2025-30, the NAJP, commenced. It represented our government's largest investment in legal assistance.”
“I acknowledge and thank these local providers and the private sector practitioners supporting them for their professionalism, their expertise and their unwavering commitment.”
“The bill also modernises and clarifies the Defence health system framework by establishing a dedicated legislative basis for Defence health services, including clinical governance, health monitoring, quality assurance and improvement activities, enabling lawful, proportionate use of health data to improve health care, suicide prevention a…”
“Critically, the bill supports a more integrated approach across Defence, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and other portfolio agencies, including the new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency that was launched this morning, and the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission that began last year.”
“Purposefully, we need members of this place and senators to take their responsibility to lower anxiety and to provide proper information. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 13:03 to 13:12 We are making it so the DVA can operate better, with increased efficiency, to deliver a level of serv…”
“Our government is working at pace to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Acknowledging the national tragedy of veteran suicides, this government called for the establishment of the royal commission while we were in opposition, and we have supported the work of the royal commission since…”
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“I'm delighted to share a moment of inspiration from a visit to Nhulunbuy, in Arnhem Land, last week. I was visiting in my capacity as the special envoy for defence and northern Australia. I caught up with 15-year-old Darwin local Jennifer Hunt, who is about to start the final leg of her 21-day solo circumnavigation of Australia by air along with her loyal copilot, her puppy Bella, a little golden retriever—beautiful thing! At just 15, Jennifer has flown herself around the entire country, starting in Darwin and following the entire Australian coastline counterclockwise, including Tasmania.”
“It will provide—as I'm sure many others have mentioned—oversight and evidence based advice that drives systematic reform to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for the Defence and veterans community. We are currently recruiting for the inaugural Defence and Veterans' Services Commissioner through a merit based recruitment process. The commissioner will have significant independent investigative powers into veteran supports and the progress of implementation of the recommendations from the royal commission—and that is important. Today we released the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy . That is important as well. We're doing everything we can, as we should.”
“There was an interim report of the royal commission in 2022 containing recommendations, and we started getting after those recommendations when we came to government. There was a backlog at DVA that we've acted to fix. We've legislated around the overhauling of complex systems and harmonised legislation. We're at a year now since the royal commission was handed down, with seven volumes and 122 recommendations. It's really important that we have a continued sense of urgency in the implementation of those recommendations. We've established an implementation taskforce within PM&C. At the beginning of August, nine recommendations had already been fully implemented, with a further 110 underway. The establishment of an oversight body is important. The new Defence and Veterans' Services Commission will be up and running by the end of September.”
“That is my main message to family members and to those thinking about serving in the Australian Defence Force. We needed a royal commission, and we fought for it so hard and are now getting after those recommendations, because anyone who serves in the ADF should know their nation will do everything it can to provide the conditions for success, for one, and it will also provide the support that is only fit and proper for a grateful nation. It's our nation's duty to empower and support the mental health and wellbeing of our defence, veterans and families communities and to look after them. Many others have said this, and I acknowledge all those who have contributed to this debate.”
“We want Australians to be attracted to serving our nation in the Australian Defence Force, in our national intelligence organisations, Australian Border Force and, for that matter, our first responders—anywhere there is a need for good people serving the common good. I am also always talking to families so they understand that we pushed for and eventually had a royal commission, which is the subject of this morning's speech. The cultural deficiencies that were there and that led to unnecessary and unavoidable suffering by members of the ADF and veteran community are being addressed. It is with confidence that I say to families that you can be assured that the ADF of today and of the future is much more about supporting the individual to be a team member and to complete the mission, but also to be set up for a happy and successful life.”
“Tomorrow morning I'll be attending the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School graduation at HMAS Cerberus down in chilly coastal Victoria. I'm looking forward to that. My brother, Xavier, graduated from HMAS Cerberus about a quarter of a century ago. I look forward to the opportunity to talk to those naval recruits becoming sailors tomorrow morning—after talking to Admiral Johnston, the Chief of the Defence Force, at the Australian War Memorial this morning—and learn more from them about how our ADF is positioned to take on the challenges that we ask them to take on. Serving is the greatest purpose one can have in life, in my view. Serving the family, serving the community and serving the nation.”
“It was great to understand more about how they're recognising current competencies and prior learning in the military and helping defence members to move as they transition—or a long time after they've transitioned—with that commitment to lifelong learning and with the skills that are inherent in anyone who's served in the military by way of the values that are instilled and the passion to get after it, whatever it may be. I encourage all veterans, wherever you can, to look for mentoring opportunities where you can assist those who are working through that period of transition, so we can have more veterans working across the various sectors of our economy, including the Public Service, and so you can share your leadership with them.”
“I want to say well done to Steve Patrick and the whole team at Bravery Trust, who are raising vital funds through Bravery Trek to provide a financial safety net for current and ex-serving members facing hardship. They also do longer term financial counselling and proactive financial literacy programs. Also, this morning I attended a launch of the strengthened partnership between Invictus Australia and the University of New South Wales. I'm continually impressed by the way Invictus is leading the world in terms of its programs. I want to give a shout-out and thank the chair, Glenn Keys, and the whole Invictus team. It was great to talk to the vice-chancellor at UNSW, my alma mater.”
“I was there with the Chief of the Defence Force and Matt Anderson, the Director of the Australian War Memorial. I thank them for facilitating the wonderful event in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and then to see the names that have been added in recent times to our honour roll to mark those who were killed on operations. Before that, I attended the launch of Bravery Trek, a national fundraising challenge held every year by Bravery Trust. It was wonderful to see my good friend and former not-quite-classmate—she was a second-year when I was a first-year at the academy— Lieutenant General Susan Coyle. It was great to walk with her this morning and Khalil Fegan, our repat commissioner.”
“Australians mostly understand that service and sacrifice are the hallmarks of our ADF veterans, their families and community. As a fourth-generation veteran, I had the great honour of being appointed by the Prime Minister as the Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans' Affairs and Northern Australia. As a result of that, I have many opportunities to meet with ADF members, veterans, their families, ex-service organisations and other people that come into contact with this community of outstanding patriotic Australians. To give you an example, this morning I was honoured to represent the minister at the Australian War Memorial to lay a wreath with the Australian Federation of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex Service Men and Women.”
“Finally, I want to thank the staff of the NAIF that not only live in the north but around Australia; in particular, CEO Craig Doyle, who's done a fantastic job and is now retiring. Long may the NAIF deliver for the north.”
“They attended six site visits to consider current and potential outcomes of NAIF investments as well. To further secure Australia's position in the global critical minerals market, our government is establishing a $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, which I mentioned earlier, stockpiling essential minerals like lithium, cobalt, graphite and rare earths; ensuring more supply chain resilience; and supporting advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defence. This reserve will also incentivise domestic exploration and production, creating new opportunities for Territory based projects and projects across the north, and reinforcing our role as a reliable global supplier.”
“The panel was chaired by my good friend and former colleague, a former member of this place, the former member for Lingiari, the Hon. Warren Snowdon, working alongside Dr Lisa Caffery and Professor Peter Yu, all long-term champions of the north. Their review recognises the importance of the NAIF in northern Australia and makes 21 recommendations aimed at strengthening the outcomes that the NAIF can deliver. Our government is currently considering these recommendations and will respond in due course. Our focus will remain on ensuring that the NAIF can continue to deliver real outcomes for the north. To inform its recommendations, the panel received 40 written submissions and held 85 targeted meetings with stakeholders from all levels of government, industry, First Nations organisations, research groups and regional development bodies.”
“This particular project in Cairns is very special because it addresses housing challenges for senior members of the Cairns community, the elders of the Cairns community, who can be vulnerable to risks of homelessness and, of course, loneliness. The seniors community village that we're building there with NAIF support will address that. Importantly, using innovative construction methods, it provides a powerful model for other parts of northern Australia, and I'm very eager to promote those. Certainly, in Darwin we have similar challenges, and I'm very keen for the proponent in Cairns to look a bit further to the west for another great opportunity, hopefully backed by the NAIF. To ensure that the NAIF remains fit for purpose, last year, our government appointed an independent expert panel to review the NAIF Act.”
“People want to come live in northern Australia, but we need to catch up in our social infrastructure and housing. Last year, I had the opportunity to visit in Cairns the Seniors Community Housing Project, which was funded with a loan of up to $140 million in partnership with Housing Australia and Queensland's Housing Investment Fund. This is Queensland's biggest social and affordable housing project. It will deliver a whopping 490 homes in Woree, a suburb to the south of Cairns. Using innovative construction methods, they have already installed more than 20 housing models at the site, and it's currently on track for construction to be complete by the end of 2026. This project is a great example of how the NAIF can boost social infrastructure and genuinely make lives better for people living in the north.”
“It is clean, smart and Territory made, showing the world the north can lead on innovation, not just playing catch-up as we have done in the past but leading. We are proud to be doing so. I spoke earlier about how the NAIF investment mandate and statement of expectations have been amended so that the NAIF is able to invest in a broader range of projects, including agriculture, as I might have mentioned earlier, and social housing. When it comes to social housing and social infrastructure, this now is a very important mandate or focus for the NAIF. We know that housing supply issues are important not just for the big cities in the south but for the north as well. If we are to grow and prosper in the north—and we need to to grow the population—we need investment in housing and community infrastructure to attract workers and capital.”
“The Nolans rare earth project directly supports key government agendas, including the Critical minerals strategy 2023 - 2030 , the Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, the Building Better Regions Fund, building the Future Made in Australia and the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, to name a few. The NAIF is also supporting smaller innovative projects such as a local Territory start-up called Environmental Keystones, which is leading the country with a groundbreaking green energy project. Environmental Keystones, supported by the CSIRO and Pyrochar, is building a world-first pyrolysis plant to convert green waste—palm fronds, clippings, wood chips—into biochar, syngas and bio-oil. This $8 million project backed by the NAIF will create 30 construction jobs and 12 ongoing roles.”
“One of the most exciting developments is Arafura Rare Earths' Nolans Project, located north of Alice Springs. The Australian government is proud to have invested in this project with support from the NAIF, Export Finance Australia and the National Reconstruction Fund. This rare earths mine and processing facility will supply materials essential to electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence technologies, to name a few. It is expected to create hundreds of jobs and deliver long-term economic benefits to the Territory, particularly Central Australia, through logistics services and training opportunities, strengthening our human capital and building skills for the future.”
“We've also amended the NAIF Investment Mandate and Statement of Expectations so that the NAIF is able to invest in a much broader range of projects, ranging from resources and energy to airport upgrades, agriculture, aquaculture and social infrastructure, including social housing and university accommodation, which are so much needed. To date, NAIF has committed over $4.3 billion to 32 projects across Northern Australia. I'm pleased to say that the NAIF has supported eight projects in the Northern Territory, with loans totalling around $0.9 billion. We look forward to getting up over the billion-dollar mark soon. These 32 projects in the north are forecast to generate more than $33 billion in public benefit and support thousands of jobs in the north.”
“We all know that the Northern Territory is at the forefront of Australia's energy transition, with projects like SunCable leading the way and tapping the incredible potential of solar energy—what I like to call 'Territory gold'—to power local industry and the energy needs of our neighbours, such as Singapore and others in the future, and to help assist us all to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The Albanese Labor government is fully committed to northern Australia. We have worked to ensure that the Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility, or NAIF, is supporting key projects that help unlock the north's potential and deliver tangible benefits to northern communities.”
“NT Resources Week focuses on driving resources, industry, investment and trade opportunities in northern Australia, and it combines three conferences in one. The first is SEAAOC, the South East Asia Australia Offshore and Onshore Conference, which is northern Australia's largest and longest-established petroleum conference. The second is the Mining the Territory conference, which is northern Australia's leading mining conference, taking a deep dive into our north Australian industry. The third is the Clean Energy and Decarbonisation conference.”
“Since being appointed as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans’ Affairs and Northern Australia in July last year, I've been working with stakeholders and with governments, including local government, to deliver real outcomes for northern Australia. These outcomes mean jobs, much-needed infrastructure and long-term prosperity for our northern Australian communities. It's been a busy week in Darwin—my home and the place that I'm proud to represent here—and a big week for resources industries across the north. I attended the Bush Summit on Monday in Darwin, and NT Resources Week kicks off today at the fantastic Darwin Convention Centre. I want to give a shout-out to Peter Savoff and the multi-award-winning team at the Darwin Convention Centre for the great work they do.”
“Darwin has the lowest number of aged-care beds in the country, so this funding is really important to directly address critical supply shortages in residential aged care. This of course builds on the $560 million, which is a 30 per cent increase, to be delivered in hospital funding for the Northern Territory in the next year. It is the largest increase of any jurisdiction, and we absolutely need it. Add to this the fact that we've upgraded our Darwin headspace, which is really important to look after our young people with complex needs. We've also given CareFlight $10 million for a new medical evacuation helicopter, which is very important too.”
“How dare you! The Albanese Labor government is strengthening Medicare with more doctors, more urgent care clinics and even cheaper medicines—all assisting families with the cost of living and giving them better health care. I was proud to deliver on a number of health commitments for Darwin and Palmerston in my electorate in the Northern Territory during the election. The Albanese government committed to an urgent care clinic for Darwin, and EOIs will open this month. We'll invest up to $60 million through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program to support the construction of a new residential-care home in Palmerston, delivering no less than 120 new residential-care beds.”
“I want to quickly mention the team Solomon volunteers, including but not limited to: Johnny Cook, Sue Condon, Alf Leonardi, the Costello family, Barry Norton, Monty Montgomery, Laura Rowe, Sheena Dunne, Steve Asher, Jason Craig, Brett and Sean Hagen, Alan Berman, Patty Ring, Tim Nicol, Michael Hylard, Caleb Burke, Rachael Chisholm, Marina Gomaz and the whole Gomez family, Georgie Corrie, Jo Kierboom and her mum, Cathy Spurr, Patrik Ralph, Hemali Seneviratne, Fiona Le, Joel Bowden and family, Jaya Srinivas, Brian Manning, Brett Melzner, Lynne Walker, Feroz Ibriham, Peter O'Hagan, Travis—you know who you are—Scott Beven, Nick Barnard, Emma Darby, Tim Rivett, Catherine Philips, Annie Nankivell, Yolanda Kanyai, Dani Everleigh, Nicole Brown, Debbi Lees, Yasmin Warren, Emma Henke, Chay Keating, Ed Smelt, David Thomas, Kerry Gardiner, Sharon McAnelly, John King, Eve Somssich, Phil Maynard, Vida Goodvach, Michael Bezuidenhout, Tristain Sloan, Brett Edwards, Reuben Hart, Mary Fall, Mark Dodge, Mark Monaghan, Rosa Carrascola, Rajeev Sharma, Victoria Brenton, Will Eddyvane, Matt Shaw, Georgia Maloney, Eddie Peters, Jane Agaard, Karen Walsh, Mitch Dyson, Anna Goode, Brionee Noonan, Raelene Noonan, Tony Sievers, Ngaree Ah Kit, Alyce Mokrzycki, Andrew Fyles, Mel Mayo, Jarryd Evison-Rose, Petea Stark, Clare Martin, Jane Gunner, Martin Riley, Damien Hale, Lon Wallis, Egas Alves, Domingos da Silva, Cat Moriarty, Bes, Jenny Anderson, Teresa Fauser, Kailaki Haloti, Andrea Moriarty, Libiane Dos Santos, Ines, Rego, Christine Palmer, Tony Viegas, Alice Casmiro and me old mate Snow.”
“I want to recognise and thank my EO team: Zach Cork, who's still in the office working hard right now; Lucy Gunner; Paul Rowston; Emcille Wills; Mitchell Rand; Phil Roberts; Mel Nixon; Mitchell Hearne; Simone Gomez; and Anne McDowell. I want to recognise and thank campaign director, Shlok Sharma, NT Labor secretary Karlee Dalton, NT ALP president Anthony Venes, all of the national secretary team, the Prime Minister, the Deputy PM and all my ministerial and other colleagues. I thank the shoppies for their support and other unions who supported along the way, but I thank all of the supporters that want to see a better Territory and a better Australia.”
“To my extended family; to my dad, Johnny G, who's always there; to mum, Chris, for her unconditional love and support; to my brothers and sisters, their partners, their kids and their friends; and to my mates: thank you for being there for me, whether it be for a chat or putting out corflutes or whatever it may be. To my electorate office team, which includes those that work out of the Canberra office: thank you for keeping us connected with Territorians and with our stakeholders that I serve now and did towards the end of the last parliamentary term as a Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans' Affairs and Northern Australia.”
“It's a great honour to continue being the federal representative for Darwin and Palmerston, and I want to thank the Solomon team that worked very long and hard to deliver for and assist the people of Darwin and Palmerston and, of course, the electoral result in May. Firstly, to my family and to my beautiful wife, Kate, thank you so much for all your patience, understanding and guidance and for the great friend to me and the mum you are to Sally and Frank, our beautiful kids. I thank them for coming out to so many events to have fun with dad. You are a wonderful support to me and, by extension, to the people that I represent.”
“The urgent care clinic in Palmerston opened in 2023 has seen 26,000 presentations and is one of the best in the country. We've announced an urgent care clinic for Darwin as well, and the EOI process will open this month. Our government, the Labor Albanese government, is making the largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago, expanding the bulk-billing incentive and making sure we've got more GPs on the job.”
“I want to talk about the health services and facilities available to Territorians. In the Northern Territory, we're going to have more doctors like my good friend here the member for Macarthur when we put an extra 40 a year through Charles Darwin University. This is all part of the Albanese Labor government's strengthening of Medicare—more doctors, more urgent care clinics and cheaper medicines. And, all the while, this is helping Territorians with the cost of living. Now, the Medicare urgent care clinics provide bulk-billed care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, seven days a week, with extended hours and no appointment needed. Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are taking the pressure off hospitals like the Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional, so that they can focus on their job for Territorians with life-threatening injuries.”
“We're also powering up with more than 70 household batteries already, under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which means that they're going to have next to no power bills. That again is going to make a big difference for families in my electorate. The NT and Australian governments have signed a $4 billion partnership agreement on remote housing last year. That is to help deal with the massive overcrowding we see in a lot of our communities in the Northern Territory. Unfortunately, under those opposite, over 10 years, hardly any houses at all were built. We're turning that around. We need the NT government to do their job so we can get high-quality housing into remote Northern Territory in a timely way.”
“I'll direct some positive commentary, based in facts, to our guests here in the gallery today. The five per cent housing deposit is about assisting you and other young Australians, and any Australians wanting to own their own home—just a five per cent deposit. It's going to make a huge difference, as is fee-free TAFE and 20 per cent off your HECS debts—that, I'm sure, for those with HECS debts, is very much appreciated. In my electorate, in Darwin and Palmerston, our government is assisting in unlocking more supply by, for example, in Palmerston, providing $11 million for upgrades in power and water—all those headworks that mean that our housing developments can happen quicker.”
“I met this morning with the very impressive deputy chief of Army, Chris Smith, and we talked about a lot of issues that came out of the royal commission and the way Army is changing in ways subtle and significant to make sure that we optimise the human capital of the patriots who sign up to serve in our defence forces, particularly when it comes to looking after people who are using weaponry. That is serious weaponry that we need as an insurance policy for our nation. We need a strong military. I'm proud of those that are working on the AUKUS endeavour. I'm proud of those who are making sure that our men and women have got the best possible support that they can. And, as a special envoy, that is exactly what I'm committed to.”
“It's to power green industry, because that's where the future is, but it's also to send overseas—undersea, in fact, through cables to Singapore and, in the future, Indonesia as well to help them with their energy security. We've certainly got the land to do that, and we've got some of the best solar radiance in the world, so that is really exciting, and it's really exciting for young Territorians to know that there are going to be so many future energy, renewable energy and critical minerals jobs in the NT. I'll touch on defence. Obviously, having served in the Defence Force, I'm incredibly proud of our serving men and women and those who have worn the uniform. They are great ambassadors for the country.”
“When it comes to youth, I particularly want to make sure that we've got opportunities for young Territorians. They'll always seek to go interstate to have the adventure of living in a big city interstate, but I want to make sure that there's enough going on in Darwin and Palmerston and that we're building our population and infrastructure, social and otherwise, so that Territory kids say, 'I've heard from my schoolmates about great employment opportunities happening back at home in Darwin'—or in Palmerston or anywhere in the Top End. The infrastructure builds, the logistics hubs, the focus on solar and the focus on how we utilise our gas reserves in environmentally sustainable ways and turn Territory sunshine into energy security is not only for us in the north.”
“But, when you consider that the Northern Territory is about 60 doctors short, it's about our ability to get a pipeline of doctors, including First Nations doctors, but with a preference for Territorians so that there's a better chance of them hanging around rather than us training up doctors and then seeing them disappear down south. We are building the north. We're building the Territory. The way we are doing that is through things like fee-free TAFE and things like having young Territorians able to purchase their first home and become homeowners with just a five per cent deposit and, if they happen to be studying, knocking 20 per cent off their HECS debt. It all helps—tax cuts and the whole lot helps. Assisting Territorians with the cost of living has been very important for me, as it is for our whole government.”
“I'll be forever thankful to the Prime Minister and the Governor-General and the Chief of Defence Force, for that matter, Admiral Johnston, who actually was a young boy in Darwin when Cyclone Tracy hit. To have those three esteemed people from our nation attend and give up their Christmas morning with their families to be there with us in Darwin to mark the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy was very important to the people of Darwin and the survivors and to our whole community. I'm very proud to have achieved 40 Commonwealth funded medical places so that our university, Charles Darwin University, is going to have next year a medical program for the first time. We're very thankful to Flinders University, who will continue to provide a medical program.”
“They built a brilliant new community and arts centre, and that will drive local employment. And that's what the best projects are—where we have our First Nations brothers and sisters in the workforce, whether it be building roads, just making their art, which is incredible, and having opportunities to get their product to market, working as rangers, protecting country, or working with the Defence Force. There are fantastic job opportunities in health as well and in doing a lot of the tasks that they naturally do in the community, such as child care and aged care. As I said, 1974-75 was a significant time for Darwin, and one of the reasons for that is that 50 years ago, on Christmas Eve, Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin with a big loss of life.”
“They remain our eyes and ears throughout northern Australia, and I would certainly recommend to young people in the north that I come across, whether they be Indigenous or not, to consider service, whether it be reserve service or full-time service. I was very thankful—and I'm conscious of time; there are other issues in my electorate that I'll reflect on at future opportunities. But the Army is doing fantastic things in Indigenous communities in a program called AACAP. That's where the National Indigenous Australians Agency joins with Army and builds infrastructure in communities. Just recently, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, was there in Gapuwiyak, a place very familiar to us in the Arnhem squadron of NORFORCE.”
“I want to give a shout out to Colin Heard, the single remaining World War II veteran in the Northern Territory. He was in the Air Force as a pilot in World War II, and I send my regards to him on the 80th anniversary of the end of that awful conflict. I've been very pleased to get out and see some of the people I served with in NORFORCE and certainly with a northern Australia lens and a defence lens. The best thing we can do with young people who are not sure what they want to do is cadets, the Army Indigenous Development Program, the Navy Indigenous Development Program and servicing NORFORCE 51 Far North Queensland Regiment and the Pilbara Regiment.”
“In the veteran space, I continue to work with the Minister for Veterans' Affairs to roll out the recommendations that came from the royal commission, which I've worked very hard to see put into place with many others, including the families of those whose sons or daughters had unfortunately made the decision to die by suicide. I think we are making good progress. In my electorate, we had a recent veterans conference. It was excellent. It was a veterans and families conference, because families are so important. That was excellent. The Scott Palmer Services Centre is now with the Salvos as part of a federally funded program where the Salvos will be purchasing some units that we will be making available for veterans if they become homeless or at risk of homelessness. So that's something that I'm very passionate around.”
“The relationship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia is also fantastic these days, on a number of levels, and it's good to see that that reconciliation process has been so successful. I look forward to spending some time here tomorrow with the Indonesian defence minister. He's visiting the parliament. It is 50 years. A lot of things happened at that time—1974 and 1975. There are some big anniversaries. One of those is the anniversary of the Timorese refugees arriving into Darwin and the compassion and solidarity that we showed with them because of, in many ways, the solidarity and compassion that was shown to our Australian soldiers in World War II by the Timorese.”
“Twenty years later—last week—representing the defence minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, I attended the 50th anniversary of the Timor-Leste armed forces, which was a great event. They're obviously very proud of their independence and their defence of their sovereignty. It had been 20 years since I met with a lot of those Timorese generals, and a funny thing that they and I reflected on was that none of us looked any different from how we did 20 years ago! Maybe we do a bit! Maybe we're a bit slower than we were back then. But I was able to catch up with old friends who still have that real desire to strengthen the relationship not only between our military and their military but also between our two countries.”
“Recently Kate and I took our two kids, Sally and Frank, over to Timor and we did some diving. Whenever I talk about the tourism potential of Timor, it's not only because it's so beautiful and so different to the Top End of Australia; it's also that you can just marry them up. If you go over to Timor-Leste, you stop in Darwin on the way over. If you come to Darwin to get out to Kakadu or whatever, consider the one-hour flight to get over to Timor-Leste. It's a beautiful place, and it's a really practical way that we can help our good neighbours in their development. Certainly their democracy has been very resilient. They've had five rounds of parliamentary and presidential elections now. It was good to catch up with a lot of friends that my brother Daniel and I served with when we were with the Defence Cooperation Program in Timor-Leste.”
“So there's a great love affair not just for those Goslings who went on that trip around Australia and made Darwin or the Territory home but for all the rest of the family as well. I spoke in that first speech about the things that built me in terms of my life experience and my desire to be part of the leadership of the nation that I love so much. I see serving in this place, the federal parliament, as an extension of that service in the military and for non-government organisations. I will briefly touch a couple of those things. I met my wife, Kate, on Anzac Day in Dili. We were both living in Darwin, but for different reasons we were working in Timor-Leste at the time, and we met playing two-up in Dili. So I never forget the anniversary of our meeting; it's Anzac Day.”
“Mum and Dad took us out of school for about three months and we travelled around Australia, and that's the first time we went to the Territory. I really fell in love with it at that time—Uluru, up the Stuart Highway to Litchfield and Kakadu, and rolling into Darwin. When we think back, it was only 10 years or so after Cyclone Tracy. But the seed was certainly sown on that trip around Australia. A lot of us had fallen in love with the Territory a bit. Dan served there with NORFORCE in the Army, one of our sisters nursed there, our youngest brother worked as a teacher in both Arnhem Land and the Red Centre, another brother has been a Territory firefighter for 16 years, and Mum and Dad still love coming up to see their kids and also their grandkids.”
“As a proud Territorian, I always tell my colleagues—they're all pretty aware of it; there's no need to bang on and sell the Territory, because everyone's pretty clear about how incredible the place is. I love this territory too, as you do, Deputy Speaker Payne. I spent four years here—three years in the Australian Defence Force Academy and then one year in the Royal Military College, Duntroon. I did came back for some postgrad study later on as well. It's the place that my children call 'the cold place', but they love it all the same. They've got cousins down here. They come down here infrequently. But my heart has always been in the Northern Territory, ever since Dan and I and the other six kids, and Mum and Dad, headed around Australia in a HiAce van.”
“In my first speech, I spoke about the great privilege of representing the people of Solomon, the northern capital of Australia, where we've got people from over 100 countries that have been generously welcomed to the ancient lands of the Larrakia people and other groups of First Nations people in the north of Australia, who have not only their ancient connection to land but also their 300 to 500 years of relationships with people from other surrounding islands in what is now called Indonesia. Those trading relationships go back a long way, and that relationship with Indonesia and, certainly, Timor-Leste continues to be part of my life but also my service to the nation. I'll touch on that briefly in the time I've got available.”
“But a lot of that experience—and a lot of the reason I'm here now in this place, representing the people of Darwin and Palmerston and serving as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans' Affairs and Northern Australia—is down to my brother Daniel. So I wanted to publicly acknowledge that and put it in the Hansard forever and a day that I really appreciate all the support that you've given me over the years, brother.”
“Warren was in that photo and was a great assistance and mentor to me, and he continues to assist the Northern Territory and Australia in our mission for advancing reconciliation and developing the north. He's also very passionate about his veterans work; he was the veterans' affairs minister. I'm very honoured today to have another veteran, my brother Dan, join us in the Fed Chamber. Dan served in the Australian Army for about 28 years in the infantry and in a variety of roles, but a lot of his work was with both NORFORCE—our Indigenous First Nations soldiers—and the people of Timor-Leste. I refer to my time in both of those places, serving with those cohorts of both Australian and Timor-Leste soldiers, and it very much enriched my life.”