Anne Stanley
Werriwa · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Time today does not permit me to speak on the other parts of our health system, particularly the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and this government's support for our public hospitals across the country, but suffice it to say that, along with the pillar of bulk-billing, the picture looks wonderful.”
“Previously, more than 1,400 of these were mixed billing practices. The upshot of this means that approximately 97 per cent of the population is now within a 20-minute drive of a bulk-billing practice.”
“My parents and our country were excited for Medibank; there would be no more bankruptcy to stay healthy. The disdain for the universal healthcare system from those opposite was established from the outset, as far back as 1975.”
“Indeed, Medicare and the PBS are among the most trusted federal public services in the country. Medicare is central to Labor's philosophy and DNA. We will always defend it and strengthen it. To that end, the matter before us today is yet another step in the Medicare story.”
“By introducing these amendments, the government will strengthen the way it provides financial incentives to primary care providers and ensure the integrity of existing and future incentive programs.”
“Since the urgent care clinic network commenced in 2023, there have been more than 623,000 bulk-billed visits in New South Wales. In Werriwa, the newly opened urgent care clinic in Austral has seen thousands of patients, which both helps those who need to see a GP and takes the pressure off our stretched public hospitals.”
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“The Albanese government is investing an historic $1.1 billion over a range of incentives to deliver new and expanded mental health services across the whole of your life, working with state and territory governments to provide affordable and often free support as soon as possible. In 2025, as part of the $41.1 billion mental health election commitment, we committed to boosting the number of Medicare Mental Health Centres by 30, taking the total to 91. In my part of the world, my opponents did not even match this commitment to deliver any more community based mental health services. As part of the Albanese government's plan to strengthen Medicare with this historic $1.1. billion commitment, people will be able to access mental health support whatever age they are.”
“The Campbelltown centre is also special because it's the 50th Medicare Mental Health Centre that has opened in Australia and the 44th opened since the Albanese government was elected in 2022. For anyone needing support, there is also a Medicare Mental Health Centre located in Liverpool on Macquarie Street. All the details are on the website if you need them. I'm looking forward to joining the assistant-minister in opening our own Medicare Mental Health Centre in Werriwa in 2026. No-one has worked harder than the members for Hindmarsh and Dobell to provide support for Australians seeking help with their mental health.”
“Recently I joined the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and the member for Macarthur at the opening of the Medicare Mental Health Centre in Campbelltown. The service is beautiful, calm, welcoming place, close to Campbelltown railway station and the bus interchange, and there's parking in proximity. The service is open seven days a week, and, like all Medicare Mental Health Centres, it has a range of support professionals including peer support workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and wrap around supports when you walk in. Medicare Mental Health Centres are free. All you need is your Medicare card, and they're available for you to walk in and find support straight away.”
“In Werriwa, work has begun on Fifteenth Avenue, with community consultation for the upgrade underway and early work started. Next year, Western Sydney international airport will open, bringing jobs and opportunities for our community. I especially want to wish my constituents, each and every one of them, the best for Christmas and the upcoming New Year. It's only because of your support that I stand here and can advocate on your behalf. That honour and privilege is never lost on me, and I treasure it, and it is a task I recommit myself to each and every day as I look forward to 2026. To one and all, a very merry Christmas. House adjourned at 20 : 00”
“On 1 January, medicines will be the cheapest they've been since 2004—no more than $25 per PBS script and $7.70 for concession card holders. We've reduced the beer excise to support consumers and venues. We've made the biggest investment in health in decades—bulk-billing incentives, 137 urgent care clinics and $1 billion to support Australians' mental health. There's a new Aged Care Act, implementing the recommendations of the royal commission, that started on 1 November. There has been a minimum wage increase in each of the three years of our government. There are fee-free TAFE places legislated for the future and 10,000 for apprentices that support housing construction. New homebuyers only need a five per cent deposit for a new home, and there are over 100,000 Australians that have taken advantage of cheaper home batteries.”
“I would also like to add those who serve the electorate through their work. I think of all the first responders, nurses, teachers, police and retail workers. Thank you for what you do. Please be patient with the retail workers at this time of the year. It's not okay to be rude to anyone trying to serve you. Remember they are someone's parent or child. The Albanese government, having been so resoundingly re-endorsed at the May 2025 election, has wasted no time in delivering. The government is focused on cost-of-living relief. Just this week, we reduced student debt by 20 per cent. A constituent wrote to me: I cried when I saw the $11000 come off my debt. I have been making payments, buying a house and honestly unable to get ahead on any of it—this helps!”
“Thank you to all the volunteers of the Liverpool Catholic Club, junior rugby league, Liverpool Olympic Football Club, Southern Districts football, Preston Hornets, Hoxton Park Tigers cricket, Autism Advisory & Support Service, CNA and Ladies Like To Lunch. I've been generously invited to many events, including those of the Liverpool historical society, the Rural Fire Service medal presentation and the opening of McGirr Park. The events I've listed are just a taste of what I've been to this year, and I always receive a generous welcome in our community. Day in and day out, in countless ways, there are thousands of people who devote themselves to helping others. To each of them, I express my sincere thanks and extend the very best for the upcoming Christmas and New Year season.”
“As this is my last speech in this place for 2025, I want to acknowledge and thank everyone who has invited me so warmly and welcomed me into our community: All Saints Liverpool, St Rafqa's, Saint Zaia Cathedral, John the Baptist, the Bilal Mosque at Hinchinbrook, Iftar and Ramadan dinners, Assyrian New Year events, the Affinity Intercultural Foundation, the Ramadan Eid bazaars, the many Buddhist new year and lunar events, Mandaean events such as Dehwa Daimana ceremony, the Hindu Festival of Chariots—the list is extensive and encompasses every corner of the globe and of Werriwa. And then there are the many sporting groups who do so much in the electorate to support fun and healthy activities for tens of thousands of people.”
“Longer days and queues at shopping centres and Australia beating England in the Ashes cricket can only mean one thing—Christmas is fast approaching, along with the end of the year, and 2025 has been a very interesting year. Globally, we've seen conflict after conflict and, tragically, the needless deaths of far too many people, especially civilians. Famine and war are sadly a constant, and I acknowledge all of those in my community who are touched because they have friends and family in danger. Their fear and concern are something they live with every day.”
“Similarly, students deserve equal certainty that their sensitive information is handled appropriately and according to the law. Australia, under the Albanese Labor government, has a VET program which will be the envy of the rest of the world, and this bill will ensure it remains that way. I commend the bill to the House. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.”
“Importantly, the matter this bill speaks to has been addressed throughout 2025, as the department has made updates to relevant IT systems to mask the VSL student tax file number, meaning that VSL providers no longer need to handle the TFNs. Thankfully, I note there have been no VSL student complaints as a result of past practices. I note that, as a result of this bill, there will be no change to the way that students apply for these loans, and they will still continue to use the electronic Commonwealth assistance form. I commend the minister for bringing this matter before us for debate. Providers and relevant government offices need certainty that they were acting lawfully at the time in the way that they handled students' tax file numbers.”
“The bill before us will result in stronger alignment between the relevant IT systems and the legislation. This bill will retrospectively authorise VET student loan providers to handle students' tax file numbers to administer the VET student loans program. This also includes retrospective authorisation of approval of the VSL provider's historical activities that involve requiring or requesting, collecting, recording, storing, using and disclosing students TFNs for the purposes of facilitating the administration of a student's loan application for a VET student loan or the loan itself. Finally, the bill will also provide certainty to providers and government offices that their past handling of students' TFNs for administration of the VET Student Loans program from 1 January 2017 to 30 September 2025 was indeed lawful.”
“The 2017 program had its own legislative framework, while still continuing to use the same system platforms. A review of how VET student loans are administered has identified that there is no role for VSL providers to handle tax file numbers in the act. To be clear, VSL providers are registered training organisations approved by the Australian government to deliver these approved courses, including TAFE institutions and private colleges. This bill seeks to address this issue to ensure there is certainty for both students and those providers. Tax file number information is essential for the administration of the VSL program, because a provision of the TFN enables accurate tracking and repayments of VET student loans, particularly when a student's income reaches the repayment threshold.”
“Hundreds of thousands of Australians have already received that SMS message from the Australian Tax Office, and millions of Australians will continue to receive it over the coming weeks, advising them that their debt has been slashed by 20 per cent. I'm sure that will be a welcome early Christmas present for everyone. Importantly, and relevant to the matter before us now, VET student loans are also included in the debt reduction scheme. Student loans for vocational education and training were first introduced in 2008, under the VET FEE-HELP scheme. Without these VET student loans, many students wouldn't have had the opportunity to undertake tertiary studies, with serious flow-on effects for Australian businesses and industries. The 2008 scheme was subsequently replaced in 2017 by the VET student loan program.”
“Along with the states, the Albanese Labor government has partnered to deliver more than $1.5 billion worth of funding for 500,000 fee-free TAFE and VET places across Australia from 2023-26. This is a marvellous program and one that I am delighted to support. I have seen firsthand in the electorate of Werriwa the life-changing and positive effects that the fee-free TAFE program is having. It really can be a game changer. It opens opportunities to my constituents that they would never have been able to achieve. Complementing the fee-free TAFE program is the government's delivery of a 20 per cent reduction to student HECS debt.”
“I've spoken at other times in this place about the critical need for Australia to have a skilled and job-ready workforce. Unfortunately, the failure of successive coalition governments has meant that many geographical areas around our nation have critical workforce shortages. Further, there are a number of workforce speciality areas that have severe shortages, regardless of your postcode or where you live. The key to addressing workforce shortages is training and education. This can often commence at high school but also occurs at TAFE, university and through approved course providers. A key aspect of meeting Australia's workforce needs is free TAFE courses.”
“I'm delighted to say that they are currently open for community feedback and will remain so until 14 December. This is a great opportunity for those members of my electorate to look at what's proposed and give feedback. I have some leaflets in my office. If you would like to come to my office we can give you something, or you can go on the website, but please make sure you have your say. The upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue can't come soon enough, and, for so many in Austral and surrounding suburbs, this will be a game changer. Please make sure that you give your feedback.”
“South-west Sydney is growing rapidly. Every day, new houses are going up and farm land, once so prevalent, is disappearing. The rapid population growth brings real opportunities but also raises challenges. Foremost among those is the demand for infrastructure, not least as it relates to roads and transport. In the lead-up to the election this year, I was delighted to announce a billion dollar upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue, one of the worst bottlenecks in my electorate. The commitment of a billion dollars is a joint initiative by both the New South Wales and federal Labor governments. The project will upgrade Fifteenth Avenue but requires careful planning and staging, including extensive community consultation. I've met with the project team, and the plans are well advanced.”
“Funding for the road was provided by the New South Wales and federal governments. The upgrade fixes access and makes the route safer, especially during flood events, meaning access to houses, the M5 and Holsworthy station will stay open. The opening of the bridge was accompanied by a community walk to raise money for cancer. It raised over $2,000. I congratulate all those who made this special day happen. Alison's name and achievements will never be forgotten.”
“Just over three years ago I lost a dear friend, my community lost a true champion and a family lost their much-loved mother and partner. Alison Megarrity, former Liverpool councillor and local member for Menai for approximately 12 years, fought a heroic battle against cancer. Friendships in politics are hard to form, but with Alison it was impossible to be anything but her friend. Coupled with a hardworking disposition that would never give up, she was also a very effective local member. So I was delighted, along with her husband, Robert, sons Liam and Glyn, and many state colleagues, including the Minister for Transport, to recently attend the opening of the Alison Megarrity Bridge over Harris Creek on Heathcote Road. It's a fitting tribute to Alison because she fought tirelessly to see Heathcote Road upgraded.”
“An important function of these agencies is to ensure that national security legislation is necessary, proportionate and effective. Strong and effective oversight mechanisms for national security and intelligence agencies are an essential part of protecting and advancing Australia's national security interests. The measures in this bill will ensure that Australian intelligence and oversight bodies are well placed to provide the appropriate oversight of the NIC now and into the future. It also builds on the strong Labor legacies of providing strong and effective oversight of Australia's national security and intelligence agencies. I commend the bill to the House.”
“Amendments to the Criminal Code will provide defence officials, and others, with an exemption for civil and criminal liabilities for relevant conduct for computer related conduct engaged in Australia that cause an effect outside Australia. This will address recommendation No. 72 of the Richardson review and has been drafted on a similar basis to the existing immunities for officials of other agencies in the national intelligence community, specifically in relation to the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation. The national intelligence community, and the PJCIS in particular, play a critical role in overseeing the national intelligence agencies and scrutinising national security legislation.”
“The IGIS plays an extremely important role in assisting in the oversight and review of the activities of the agencies within the NIC, and for legality, propriety and consistency with human rights. The bill expands the jurisdictions of the IGIS and the PJCIS to the ACIC, in full, and the intelligence functions of the AFP, AUSTRAC and the Department of Home Affairs. These amendments will ensure that the whole of the NIC is subject to holistic and specialised intelligence oversight. Another primary purpose of this legislation is to minimise duplicate oversight jurisdictions where appropriate. The bill also includes technical amendments to modernise and enhance the efficiency of the PJCIS. Lastly, the bill contains amendments to provide immunities for certain computer related acts carried out by intelligence and security agency officials.”
“Furthermore, the bill will ensure that the PJCIS has a necessary and relevant context to support the extremely important work that it does by amending the IGIS Act and the Office of National Intelligence Act 2018 to require that the PJCIS be briefed annually by the IGIS and the Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence. The bill also amends the IS Act to add the INSLM to the list of people and agencies from which the PJCIS may request a briefing. In addition to these measures, the bill aims to expand the jurisdictions of the PJCIS and the IGIS. To do this, the bill will amend the IS Act to allow the PJCIS to review its own motion proposed reforms to counterterrorism and national security legislation.”
“One of the purposes of this bill is to strengthen the relationship between existing intelligence oversight bodies that supervise the national intelligence community, particularly the PJCIS, the IGIS and the INSLM. These bodies perform distinct yet complementary work in overseeing the NIC and its legislative framework. The three bodies require a strong, statutory relationship. This bill proposes to strengthen this relationship by amending the IGIS conduct with an inquiry into the legality and propriety of operational activities of the agencies within the jurisdiction and providing a report to the PJCIS and the relevant minister.”
“Further, the bill complements measures in a bill passed by both houses on 6 September 2023, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Modernisation) Bill 2022. The bill amends several pieces of legislation, including the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986, the Intelligence Services Act 2001 and the Criminal Code Act 1995. The bill will expand the jurisdiction of the PJCIS and the IGIS to include all the ACIC and intelligence functions of the AFP, AUSTRAC and the Department of Home Affairs. It will also provide the PJCIS with its own motion power and requirements for regular briefings.”
“They include: recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in its advisory report on the Intelligence Oversight and Other Legislation Amendment (Integrity Measures) Bill 2020; the comprehensive review of the legal framework of the national intelligence community, known as the Richardson review, conducted by Mr Dennis Richardson AC; and the 2017 and 2024 independent intelligence reviews. The bill includes measures proposed in bills introduced by colleagues in the other place, including the Intelligence and Security Legislation Amendment (Implementing Independence of the Intelligence Review) Bill 2020. This was introduced by Senator McAllister as the newest iteration of the 2015 bill introduced by Senator Wong, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Amendment Bill.”
“As a result, it is critical to maintain public trust and, to do this, effective oversight of these agencies is required. The work done by these agencies is of a covert nature, and work and decisions are rarely overseen by the courts; therefore, robust and independent oversight is essential and extremely important. The bill implements recommendations made over the past several years that were failed to be implemented by the previous government.”
“The government is committed to strengthening Australia's security agencies and to ensuring they are subject to appropriate public and parliamentary oversight. The national intelligence community is made up of the following agencies: the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Signals Directorate, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, the Defence Intelligence Organisation, the intelligence division of the Department of Home Affairs and the Office of National Intelligence. These agencies do important work, and they have significant powers.”
“I rise to make my contribution to the debate on the Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025. The purpose of the legislation is to strengthen the oversight of the national intelligence community. The bill builds on two strong Labor legacies: the creation of the roles of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, the IGIS, and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, the PGCIS, among others. These agencies were established under the Hawke government in 1986 and 1988 respectively. The bill will ensure the oversight of the national intelligence community will be holistic and appropriate in relation to significant powers invested in these agencies. The bill was developed in consultation with agencies from across the government.”
“In addition, my former high school—Lurnea High School—is celebrating 60 years of excellence in teaching and learning. A highlight of their celebrations will be a large function on the afternoon of 28 November, an event I wouldn't miss for all the world. Hopefully, we won't be still sitting. Finally, Miller Technology High School is also celebrating its 60th birthday. To each of these schools—in fact, all of the schools in Werriwa—their staff, students, past and present, I give genuine congratulations and best wishes, and I thank them for what they do.”
“Labor governments have always believed in education as the vehicle to lift living standards and improve the lives of all Australians. The Albanese government is no different in upholding Labor's traditions and record in this public policy. Who else would have been bold enough to offer hundreds of thousands of free TAFE courses? And who would provide a discount for HECS debts for hundreds of thousands? It was also our Minister for Education who negotiated and signed fair funding agreements with all of the states. A number of schools in my electorate are celebrating significant milestones this year. Fifty years ago the prime minister and local member, Gough Whitlam, opened St Francis Xavier's Catholic Primary School at Lurnea.”
“This will help agencies understand where there might be involvement of foreign governments or foreign entities in a request and to appropriately manage any potential national security risks. Freedom of information is a vital feature of democracy, promoting accountability and transparency of government decision-making. The government will improve the freedom of information system so genuine freedom of information requests are prioritised. I commend the bill to the House.”
“There are not inexhaustible government resources available to process large and complex requests or to process requests that are abusive to people and abusive to government processes. Providing access to information to those who genuinely are seeking it is inhibited by inefficient systems and processes and a tolerance of abuse in the system. There is also a need to clarify the law following the decision of Patrick v Attorney-General [2024] FCFCA 126, which raises complex issues in respect of requests to ministers and the established convention that deliberative documents of previous governments are not provided to an incoming government. The reforms are also intended to provide transparency about who is seeking access to information held by the Australian government.”
“The rate and volume of electronic records generated today by public sector agencies would have been unimaginable when the Freedom of Information Act was first introduced. The freedom of information processing cost to agencies has been steadily increasing over time. In 2023-24, FOI processing was conservatively estimated to cost agencies $86.24 million—a 23 per cent increase on the year prior and more than double the $36.32 million in 2010-11. The government received over 34,000 requests for freedom of information in the 2023-24 year and spent over one million hours dealing with freedom of information requests in the same year. Freedom of information requests are also being used in malicious ways to disrupt government operations and make contact with public servants in abusive, threatening and excessive ways.”
“It creates a power in the act to enable to introduction of application fees for freedom of information requests, internal agency reviews and IC reviews. The bill was designed in close consultation with government agencies and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. This was following considerations of recommendations from the independent statutory review of the FOI Act and the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into the operation of the Commonwealth freedom of information laws in 2023. This bill builds upon existing regulation powers in the FOI Act. The Freedom of Information Act was established 40 years ago, before the advent of common use of electronic documents, communications and records in the workplace.”
“The bill strengthens the ability of government agencies to deal with vexatious and abusive requests and protects employees from harm, including by removing the ability of applicants to make FOI requests anonymously. Additionally, it limits the circumstances in which agencies are required to release employee-identifying information captured in the freedom of information requests. The bill clarifies that information on agency or ministerial systems that contain personal or non-work related matters of staff are not captured in the definition of a document of an agency. The bill extends the timeframe for agency decisions to reflect working days and consultation processes to ensure high-quality original decision-making. It also introduces a 40-hour processing time limit for FOIs.”
“The bill provides for how the act applies to documents of a minister where a minister ceases to hold office or moves to a new portfolio, responding to a 2024 judicial decision which introduced some uncertainty in this area. The bill will also clarify issues around the definition of what is a document of a minister and provide that agencies should not be required to conduct searches for official documents of a minister hosted on agency systems. The bill modernises aspects of the act and clarifies the law in certain areas to ensure efficient management of freedom of information applications. Furthermore, efficient management of reviews and complaints by agencies and Office of the Australian Information Commissioner addresses duplicative and inefficient processes.”
“It also makes amendments that go beyond recommendations of these reviews. The proposed amendments would amend the cabinet exemption to clarify its operation. This ensures that it operates to appropriately protect information central to the cabinet process and ensure that the principle of collective ministerial responsibility is not undermined. It would also amend the public interest test as it relates to the deliberative processes exemption to clarify public interest factors which weigh against disclosure of deliberative material. These factors will include prejudicing the frank or timely provision of advice to or by an agency or minister, or prejudicing the orderly and effective conduct of a government decision-making process.”
“Deputy Speaker Wilkie, I promise not to make any of the same comments about your contribution to this place. I rise to make my contribution to the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025. The Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 would amend the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to improve the operation of the freedom of information framework through reducing system inefficiencies, providing clarity of the law and addressing abuse of the processes that impact on people's right to access information. The bill responds to recommendations from a number of previous reviews and inquiries that have made recommendations for reform of the freedom of information system. This includes the Freedom of Information Act 1982, the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 and recommendations from the 2013 Hawke inquiry.”
“Liverpool council also received more than $2 million from the New South Wales and federal governments to redevelop Pye Hill Reserve at Cecil Hills, but, because of the discovery of asbestos in the construction of the park, it's yet to be officially opened and is not available for use—another disappointment for the people of Liverpool. I am seeking further updates from Liverpool council and the CEO, and I'll continue to fight for the constituents in the electorate of Werriwa to ensure that the grants and money that have been provided to it are used by council as efficiently and quickly as possible.”
“The commitment from the federal government is $6.9 million and fully funds this upgrade, improving safety for traffic and pedestrians and easing congestion. The community needs this project to be delivered as soon as possible, along with the signalisation of the intersection of Mowbray Street and Kurrajong Road. Last year, the council received $15 million of grant funding to develop a new park in Austral. Unfortunately, planning and preparation work on this project did not get underway until April this year, and construction is unlikely to start until early next year. I've again written to the CEO to advocate for this to be provided as soon as possible. The suburb of Austral has seen so much change over recent years and, as in many new housing estates, the provision of footpaths, parks and other amenities is sadly lacking.”
“I am pleased to say that early works on the safety upgrades to the road commenced in August, and they will provide a third lane added to Cow Pasture Road between Fifteenth Avenue and the M7, reducing weaving and congestion. There will also be improvements to pedestrian safety, speed limits and line markings. In October 2022, confirmation was provided to Liverpool council for $6 million as an election commitment to extend Middleton Drive, giving options for the residents of Middleton Grange. Three years later, the road is still being planned, and they hope that construction will be completed sometime in 2026. Also, in MYEFO last year, Liverpool council were provided with extra funds for the upgrade of Kurrajong and Beech Roads at the intersection with Lyn Parade.”
“The roundabouts lasted 48 hours before they were removed, causing further damage to the roads. Thankfully, I didn't hear of any serious injuries caused by accidents at these spots, but I fear that's far more because of the skill and patience of Liverpool drivers than anything else. I am grateful that the $1 billion announcement made by the Albanese and Minns government in January this year for the upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue, where these roundabouts were located, will be delivered by the New South Wales government. My colleague the member for Leppington and I have spoken to Minister Aitchison, the New South Wales Minister for Roads, on numerous occasions about the commitment.”
“Unfortunately, I have been further disappointed, and, given that the number of inquiries about Liverpool council my office deals with is actually double the number of any other type of inquiry my office gets, it seems the residents of Werriwa agree. This council built a completely inappropriate 'diamond-about' instead of providing traffic solutions that were fit for purpose. The ratepayers of Liverpool deserve delivery the first time, without projects having to be removed and redone. In June this year, the council constructed several 'roundabouts' on Fifteenth Avenue. That description suggests they should be round, or at least oval, to assist with the flow of traffic. Instead of this, they actually hindered the flow of traffic because trucks and buses need to do three-point turns around them, slowing traffic and causing hazards.”
“Councils are the third tier of our important democracy in this country. They serve our communities every day and are the conduit for community activities. They provide and maintain sporting grounds, playgrounds and green spaces, and they deliver initiatives to build community cohesion and build capacity. They should also be focused on fixing roads, collecting rubbish and using the rates, grants and other income they collect to do this with integrity, governance and equity. Leadership is essential. Delivery is essential. As a former councillor, I had hoped that, after the council elections in September 2024 and the confirmation of a substantive CEO earlier this year, Liverpool council would start to be that council, a council that would start providing the community with what it had been craving: delivery and leadership.”
“My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese government standing up for workers, including those who have to work on public holidays? What other approaches have been put forward?”
“On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the dismissal, it's timely in this place that changes and shapes so much of our public life in Australia and a place that Gough dominated for decades that we acknowledge Whitlam's life and the efforts of people like Jenny Hocking, who have meticulously recorded it.”
“Professor Jenny Hocking, one of Australia's eminent biographers, fought hard and at great personal risk to ensure the events that led to the dismissal were discovered and made available to the Australian people. Her tenacity ensured that it is now part of our history. She needed to take her case to the High Court so that she could get access to the Palace letters. Her goal was to see whether there had been external circumstances which led to the dismissal. And what she found demystified the events and allowed a fuller explanation of what led up to the events of 11 November 1975.”
“But all those reforms came to an abrupt halt when, on 11 November 1975, the Governor-General sacked Prime Minister Whitlam. This was a difficult time for Australia and our community. I still remember the day vividly. I came home from school to find my mother in a flood of tears. When I asked who died, thinking that could have been the only explanation, she told me it was much worse than that—that Mr Whitlam had been sacked. She was fearful about what would happen next, as I'm sure many were at the time. In this time of uncertainty, it was, however, Mr Whitlam's composure and strength that ensured the election campaign remained a contest of ideas. He asked the Australian people, famously, to maintain their rage and enthusiasm.”