Alicia Payne
Canberra · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“This week, the Parliamentary Friends of the People of Afghanistan farewelled the ambassador of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mr Wahidullah Waissi, with the Afghan embassy in Canberra to close at the end of this month.”
“They highlighted the need for sustained international engagement and renewed focus on protection and access to education for Afghan women and girls.”
“Australia works with established United Nations partners to ensure our support helps those in need, but not the Taliban regime. The world must not turn away from the situation that women and girls in Afghanistan face.”
“They also requested that Australia call for gender apartheid to be codified as a crime against humanity. In January, the Australian government committed a further $50 million in humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan to address the deteriorating situation there.”
“In Afghanistan, under the Taliban, girls and women are barred from secondary schools, universities and other educational and vocational training centres. Most employment is forbidden, as is participation in public and political life, and women must be completely covered and accompanied by a male relative in public.”
“Henry and his family are advocating for this drug to be added to the PBS for children under 12 as well, in the hope that more families' lives can be changed, and I was pleased to discuss this with him yesterday.”
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“Australia works with established United Nations partners to ensure our support helps those in need, but not the Taliban regime. The world must not turn away from the situation that women and girls in Afghanistan face. As UN Women has stated, if the world tolerates the erasure of Afghan women and girls, it sends a message that the rights of women and girls everywhere are fragile and expendable. As my dear friend Dr Nilofar Ibrahimi has said, the women of Afghanistan, the women of Iran and all women living under oppressive extremist systems deserve to be seen, supported and never forgotten. I say that our parliament, our government, does see the resilience and the strength of Afghan women and girls and that we will continue to stand for you and your rights and your quest for justice.”
“They also requested that Australia call for gender apartheid to be codified as a crime against humanity. In January, the Australian government committed a further $50 million in humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan to address the deteriorating situation there. This brings the total humanitarian support provided to the people of Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul in 2021 to $310 million. As Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for International Development Anne Aly have noted, almost 22 million people in Afghanistan are in urgent need of humanitarian support. Australia's humanitarian assistance is focused on supporting women and girls, prioritising food security, health services and protecting dignity, safety and rights.”
“They highlighted the need for sustained international engagement and renewed focus on protection and access to education for Afghan women and girls. The delegation outlined several specific priorities, including stronger diplomatic efforts to safeguard the rights of women and girls, and advocacy to stop forced deportations of Afghan women from Pakistan and Iran. They have called for expanded international cooperation to ensure accessible education pathways, including guaranteed enrolment pathways and fee support for Afghan women in Australia. They have called on the Australian government to increase our numbers and expedite our humanitarian refugee intake of Afghan women and they emphasised the importance of urgent and coordinated responses to humanitarian visa needs for those at greatest risk.”
“In Afghanistan, under the Taliban, girls and women are barred from secondary schools, universities and other educational and vocational training centres. Most employment is forbidden, as is participation in public and political life, and women must be completely covered and accompanied by a male relative in public. Violence and coercion are a constant threat, with women who protest these systemic policies facing arbitrary arrest, detention and torture. I recently met with a delegation of women from Afghanistan who now call Australia home, Voice of Afghanistan Women in Australia. They expressed deep concern for the safety and wellbeing of women and girls in Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan diaspora displaced across the region.”
“This week, the Parliamentary Friends of the People of Afghanistan farewelled the ambassador of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mr Wahidullah Waissi, with the Afghan embassy in Canberra to close at the end of this month. The ambassador has served in his role since 2017 and had continued to represent the people of Afghanistan, but not the Taliban, after they seized power in 2021. It was a sad day, but not one without hope, for we want to continue engaging and strengthening ties with the people of Afghanistan, despite the terrible nature of the Taliban regime. The horror of Taliban rule for women and girls is nothing short of a tragedy, characterised by systemic state-sponsored gender apartheid. The United Nations defines gender apartheid as a system of economic and social sexual discrimination against individuals because of their gender or sex.”
“Mohammed is well known in the Canberra community. He founded HelpingACT in 2018, and since that time it has made such a difference to thousands of people through providing food and other services to people in need. His vision is that no Canberran goes hungry or has nowhere to sleep, and he has taken that into his own hands with his very supportive team of volunteers and supporters, who are making a huge difference. It was really great to see that well-deserved recognition. Congratulations to you, Mohammed, and all your team. Keep up the great work.”
“Henry and his family are advocating for this drug to be added to the PBS for children under 12 as well, in the hope that more families' lives can be changed, and I was pleased to discuss this with him yesterday. I'm proud to be part of an Albanese Labor government that has made the single largest investment in Medicare ever and reduced the cost of everyday medicines on the PBS to just $25—or $7.70 for those with a concession card. The PBS is a critical part of our healthcare system, and I know that new drugs are added all the time. I wish Henry and his family all the best in their advocacy. Last week I attended HelpingACT's JuneroCity fundraising event and was able to see their founder, Mohammed Ali, there and congratulate him on recently being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia—a well-deserved award.”
“Two years ago, Henry received compassionate access to a biologic treatment, and, having turned 12, he can access this treatment via the PBS. Since receiving this treatment, his severe eczema is under control. He has regained confidence and is actively involved in his school community as a member of the SRC and has been invited to represent the ACT at the national chess championships. I'm delighted to say that Henry was in Parliament House this week raising awareness of severe eczema and the impact that it has on children, families and the health system. He gave me a letter, which was very moving, detailing the impact the eczema had had on his life and how transformative this new treatment had been.”
“Yesterday I met a brave young boy from my electorate, Henry Cox, and his mum, Phillippa. Henry, aged 12, is dealing resiliently with an incredibly debilitating and chronic skin condition, having lived with severe eczema his entire childhood. He has endured daily bleach baths, creams, wet dressings, frequent infections and long courses of antibiotics that affected his broader health. His condition limited his ability to participate in school and led to him being bullied at school. Henry mentioned to me what it meant to him to miss out on learning to swim and riding his bike while his friends were. Throughout his childhood up to age nine, the severity of his eczema was distressing and emotionally exhausting for him; his mum, Phillippa; and the whole family.”
“My question is to the Minister for Skills and Training. How is the Albanese Labor government's Key Apprenticeship Program supporting more tradies to build more homes, and what has been the response to the program?”
“For the people of Canberra—the young professionals sharing a house in Ainslie who can't save fast enough to keep up with rising prices, the nurse doing a double shift at North Canberra Hospital, the teacher spending their own money on classroom supplies or the small business owner who has worked their whole life to build something worth selling—this bill is about a tax system that finally works for them. It builds on everything this government has done—the stage 3 tax cuts, the cost-of-living relief and the housing investments. It is the next step in making our economy work in the interests of more Australians and in taking our intergenerational responsibilities seriously, rather than leaving these problems for the next generation to solve.”
“It's a decision to keep more young Australians out of the housing market. It's a decision to back those with the most against the interests of those with the least. It's disappointing but not unsurprising. The Albanese Labor government is choosing differently. We are choosing to back working Australians over the tax advantages of the already wealthy. We are choosing to help young Australians into homeownership rather than entrench investor advantage. We are choosing to reform.”
“This bill puts in place the core provisions that apply to the broadest range of taxpayers, providing certainty to individuals and market participants while the government continues consultation on more complex and specific issues. The new revenue raised will be returned to workers and businesses in the near term and, together with expenditure savings, will improve budget sustainability over the medium term. This is responsible reform. It's a rebalancing of a system that has, over decades, drifted away from its original purpose. The coalition has chosen over the past few weeks to side with the status quo, with a tax system that has contributed to housing unaffordability for generations of Australians. It is a choice to protect the 1999 distortion rather than to fix it.”
“The government has also committed to further consultation on how the new arrangements apply to startups and small businesses with low cost bases, which is a recognition that these sectors need tailored treatment. For Canberra's substantial population of public servants and professionals who hold shares or investment properties as part of their long-term savings, it is worth noting modelling shows that, for someone who invested in the Australian share market over the past 10 or 20 years and received average returns, they would have done the same or better under the indexation system than under the 50 per cent discount.”
“Property investors who buy new builds will have the option to choose either the 50 per cent CGT discount or the new indexation and minimum tax arrangements when they sell, ensuring the reform continues to incentivise investment in new housing supply. Recipients of certain government payments, including the aged pension and JobSeeker, will be exempt from the minimum tax, protecting those on fixed or low incomes. The four existing small business CGT concessions are preserved in full. The vast majority of small businesses are eligible for these concessions, meaning they can pay reduced or no capital gains tax on the sale of their business.”
“Under the new arrangement, investors will index the cost base of their assets in line with inflation. They will only pay tax on what they have genuinely earned above the rate of inflation. That is fairer. The 30 per cent minimum tax ensures that investors cannot simply defer capital gains to years when their income is low to minimise their effective tax rate. It ensures gains are taxed at a rate commensurate with what most workers face throughout their working lives. Importantly, no gains accrued before 1 July next year are affected. The 50 per cent discount will apply to all gains up to that date, using the asset's value at 1 July 2027 as the new cost base. There is no retrospective tax. These are changes to how future gains are treated.”
“Commercial property and other asset classes like shares are unaffected. The modelling shows this reform, combined with the CGT changes, will support 75,000 more Australians into homeownership over the next decade. For Canberra, where the housing market has been particularly tight, this is a meaningful shift. More supply and less investor competition for established dwellings mean more opportunity for first home buyers in suburbs like Curtin, Narrabundah and Watson. Schedule 1 replaces the 50 per cent CGT discount with cost base indexation for gains accrued from 1 July 2027, accompanied by a 30 per cent minimum tax on net capital gains. This reform returns the CGT system to what it was originally designed to do: tax real gains not inflationary gains.”
“Schedules 1 and 2 of this bill fix that, not by punishing investors but by redirecting the incentive structure towards new supply and away from established property speculation. Schedule 2 limits negative gearing on residential property to new builds from 1 July 2027—the properties purchased after budget night. This is a sensible, targeted reform. If you already own an investment property or have already entered a contract, nothing changes. The government is fully grandfathering the existing arrangement for those who already made decisions based on current rules. There is no retrospective impact. For new investment, the message is clear. We want to incentivise building new homes, not bidding up the price of existing ones. Negative gearing will remain available for new builds.”
“The reporting of the Senate Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Discount this year found that this concession, in combination with negative gearing, has skewed housing ownership away from owner-occupiers towards investors. It has distorted investment decisions and encouraged speculative leverage into established properties, driving up prices at the expense of aspiring homeowners. The evidence is damning: house prices have risen far faster than wages. The proportion of young Australians who own a home has collapsed. Canberrans who rent because they cannot afford to buy are doing so in a market shaped in part by tax settings that reward property investors over working families.”
“This is a floor rather than a ceiling, and it makes the system simpler for everyone. Of all the challenges facing young Canberrans, none are more acute than housing affordability. Canberra consistently ranks among the least affordable cities in Australia for first home buyers. The median house price has placed ownership out of reach for a generation of people who grew up here and want to build their lives here. The causes are many and complex, but our tax settings have been a significant part of the problem for too long. In 1999, the Howard government replaced capital gains tax indexation with a flat 50 per cent discount.”
“Canberra workers spend money to do their jobs—on uniforms, tools, home office equipment, professional development and more. Every year, millions of Australians spend hours gathering receipts and filling in ATO forms to claim those costs back. That is time they could spend with their families or doing anything other than tax administration. The $1,000 instant deduction changes that. For 6.2 million workers in 2026-27, with an average tax saving of $205, this measure puts money back in pockets and takes the headache out of tax time. The ATO estimates it will save individuals $380 million in compliance costs every year. Importantly, workers with more than $1,000 in expenses can still claim the full amount. Charitable donations, union fees and professional association memberships remain fully claimable on top.”
“When combined with our three previous rounds of tax cuts and the instant tax deduction, the average Australian worker will be almost $3,000 better off in 2028. Crucially, this measure is deliberately designed to support younger Australians. Millennials and gen Z are expected to make up around two-thirds of those who benefit. For many Canberrans who are early in their careers, renting in our city, paying off their HECS debt and trying to save a deposit, this is real and meaningful relief. This measure recognises the fundamental truth that, for most Australians, income comes from work. Our tax system should reflect and reward that. Schedule 4 delivers on one of our key 2025 election commitments: a $1,000 instant tax deduction for work related expenses from the 2026-27 income year.”
“Canberra is home to tens of thousands of working Australians: APS employees; nurses and midwives at the Canberra Hospital; teachers at our schools, tradies building our city; retail and hospitality workers; and the many small-business owners who are the backbone of our city. Every one of those workers deserves to keep more of what they earn. Schedule 3 of this bill introduces the $250 working Australians tax offset, a permanent structural tax cut for 13.3 million Australians who receive income from work, commencing from 1 July 2027. That includes approximately 6.3 million women. This is a lasting improvement to the architecture of our tax system. It will increase the effective tax-free threshold for working Australians by $1,785 to $19,885, or $24,985 for those also eligible for the low-income tax offset.”
“Together, these measures will build a better, fairer, simpler tax system, reducing the tax burden for working people, helping more Australians into homeownership, delivering $3.5 billion in new measures to support businesses, including startups, and cutting compliance costs by $540 million each year. Treasury modelling released this week shows that the cumulative impact of these reforms would benefit around 90 per cent of young Australians and that, had these settings been in place since the year 2000, 90 per cent of Australians would have been better off by the time they turned 30.”
“I'm proud to rise in support of this landmark legislation that delivers the most significant overhaul of Australia's tax system in a quarter of a century—and a much-needed one. For my community of Canberra, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 is genuinely transformative, particularly for first home buyers. It's making our tax system work for the Australian public. This legislation implements four key pillars of the government's tax reform package announced in the budget: a new working Australians tax offset, providing 13 million working Australians with tax cuts; a $1,000 instant tax deduction for work related expenses; fundamental reforms to capital gains tax; and reforms to limit negative gearing to new builds.”
“We're increasing national fuel reserves by lifting coverage to 50 days and requiring gas companies to reserve 20 per cent of supply for the domestic market. We are also investing to expand our reserves of jet fuel and diesel. By keeping more fuel here and ensuring reliable domestic supply, we are better prepared for future shocks. No matter what is happening around the world, the Albanese Labor government is taking action to support Australians at home. This is a budget that is delivering a fair go for all Australians.”
“In contrast, the coalition left behind chaotic energy policies and opposed cost-of-living support when Australians needed it most. The Albanese government is taking a different approach. We are focused on practical reforms that provide immediate relief for households, while laying the foundations for a stronger and more sustainable energy system. Our budget also supports cleaner and more affordable transport. Fringe benefits exemptions for electric vehicles have been extended through to 2029 and beyond, making these vehicles more accessible and reducing exposure to volatile fuel prices. I know this is very popular in my electorate, which has some of the highest uptake of EVs around the country. At the same time, we are strengthening energy security.”
“Together, these changes are transforming how energy is generated, stored and used in this country. Households are seeing meaningful savings on their power bills, and there are broader benefits as well. By reducing demand during peak periods, batteries are helping to ease pressure on the grid and put downward pressure on electricity prices for everyone. Across Australia, we are already seeing the impact. The recent release of the final default market offer reflects a significant structural shift in the energy system, driven by increased battery uptake and reduced reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal and gas. There is always more work to do. Over 130 renewable projects have been approved. Already, over 50 per cent renewables are supplying Australia's grid, and that's growing.”
“Climate and energy issues are consistently among the most important concerns raised with me by my constituents. Many residents are increasingly focused on the transition to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, as well as the need for practical policies that both reduce emissions and support local jobs and industries. I'm proud that our Cheaper Home Batteries Program is delivering real and measurable benefits for households and for our energy system. Since the program began in July last year, more than 414,000 batteries have been installed across the country, including nearly 7,000 here in the ACT. This effort has effectively doubled Australia's total battery capacity and builds on our world-leading adoption of rooftop solar, which is now installed on around one in three homes.”
“We are also building on our work to make medicines cheaper. Millions of scripts have already been delivered at a lower cost, putting money back into the pockets of families, ensuring they do not have to choose between their health and their finances. Importantly, we are investing in the wellbeing of our young people. This includes targeted funding to strengthen youth mental health services, including to close gaps and ensure support is available earlier, when it can make the biggest difference. We are improving preventive care, from expanding access to dental services for children to strengthening immunisation programs for older Australians. Taken together, these measures reflect a clear priority: a stronger, fairer health system that delivers for every Australian.”
“We are also expanding access to primary care, with three new fully bulk-billed GP clinics and stronger incentives to support existing practices right here in Canberra. This means that Canberrans will be able to see a doctor without reaching for their wallet, and this is in direct response to the fact that bulk-billing in Canberra has been historically low, among some of the lowest rates in the country, and it's something that my constituents raise with me. I'm really proud that our government has responded in this way to deliver that really practical support to get these new clinics up and running. This budget continues our strong support for public hospitals, with an additional $4.1 billion over five years to ensure the ACT has the resources it needs to deliver high-quality care.”
“Women have saved more than $47 million across almost 139 million prescriptions, including through expanded access to contraceptives and menopause therapies. In the health portfolio, this budget delivers real, practical improvements to health care for Canberrans, strengthening Medicare and making it easier for people to get the care they need when they need it. We are making free urgent care clinics a permanent part of our health system, and that includes investment in a new urgent care clinic to be opened in Woden and investing in the five existing nurse led walk-in centres that people know and love here in the ACT. These clinics are already easing pressure on our hospitals and helping families access care quickly without the worry of the bill.”
“These are the most significant changes to the child support system in nearly 20 years. These important reforms will both help keep children out of poverty and ensure government systems are not weaponised when relationships break down. These important reforms will both help keep children out of poverty and ensure government systems are not weaponised when relationships break down. Our majority women government will continue to deliver better outcomes for women and girls. Since 2022, we've made significant progress towards gender equality. Women's average weekly earnings have grown by almost $300 per week. More than one million families have benefited from cheaper child care. Australia has recorded its highest ever international ranking for gender equality in 13th this year, up from 43rd when we came to government.”
“We're investing almost $183 million to make the child support system safer and fairer. Currently, there are more than one million children in the child support system and women make up 83 per cent of recipient parents. Currently, almost $2 billion is owed in unpaid child support debt in Australia—even more when private arrangements are included. That's $2 billion that children are missing out on. The average debt is nearly $8,700. We know that, for many families, this amount could enable a parent to pay for braces for their child, fund club or representative sport, go on school excursions or learn a musical instrument. Our reforms will crack down on financial abuse and strengthen the child support system against weaponisation, ensuring more children and families get the child support they are owed.”
“It strengthens the services people rely on and helps build a more resilient and inclusive economy for the future. Every budget since the Albanese Labor government came to office has included a Women's Budget Statement, providing a clear view of how our investments support women, strengthen women's economic security and advance gender equality. This continues to be a proud Labor legacy. Gender-responsive budgeting and women's budget statements were first introduced by the Hawke government in the 1980s and were restored by the Albanese government in 2022. I know that in opposition we continued to put those out as well in between those periods. This budget delivers for Australian women. We're continuing to invest in women's safety and we're making the child support system fairer and safer so more families get the child support they are owed.”
“This funding supports world-leading research and reinforces Canberra's role as a hub for scientific excellence. We are also contributing $30 million to deliver a new RSPCA animal welfare campus in Pialligo, supporting better care for animals and strengthening services for the region. We are working with the ACT and New South Wales governments to improve rail connections between Canberra and Sydney, helping deliver more reliable and efficient travel. This is something that has been a long time coming and many people have advocated for, including people who were part of the inquiry I chaired last term into fostering the significance of our nation's capital. It was great to see another recommendation of that report delivered on in the investment into the rail between here and Sydney. This budget has a really strong investment for Canberra.”
“Since coming to government, we've committed more than $4 billion to the ACT, ensuring our city receives the investment it deserves. This budget continues that strong trajectory with practical measures that support households, strengthen services and invest in the future. Canberra's national institutions will receive over $20 million in additional funding to continue their essential work preserving and sharing Australia's History. This includes nearly $10 million for the National Film and Sound Archive and $3 million in the Museum of Australian Democracy as it prepares for its centenary. This is such a loved institution in our community. In science and innovation, the CSIRO will receive almost $390 million, building on last year's $278 million investment.”
“We also recognise that not everyone is in a position to buy yet, and that's why we have increased Commonwealth rent assistance by more than 50 per cent since 2022—to help ease pressure for those doing it tough in the rental market. Through the Housing Australia Future Fund we are investing in long-term solutions supporting more social and affordable homes and ensuring that those most in need can access stable and affordable housing. This includes women and children at risk to ensure that they have access to safe and secure accommodation. We saw a $60 million investment into housing for those struggling with youth homelessness. This is about fairness. It is about opportunity and it is about building a future where every Australian has the chance to get ahead.”
“Shortly after the budget, I joined the Prime Minister, Treasurer and housing minister to meet with two of my constituents, Mika and Matt, and their dog, Pikelet, in the Canberra suburb of Kingston thanks to Labor's five per cent deposit scheme. Mika told us that it would have taken many more years of renting and saving before they would have been able to afford their own home had they had to have a 20 per cent deposit. And Labor is not stopping there. We are making sure new homes can actually be built. Through the ACT share of the local infrastructure fund we are investing $50 million in the essential infrastructure that unlocks development, including roads, power and drainage, the building blocks of new communities.”
“We need to build more homes and we need to build them faster. Negative gearing will be limited to only new builds from July next year, and we are delivering 1,000 homes set aside specifically for first home buyers, creating more opportunities for people to secure a place of their own. We are delivering practical support right now. Our five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers has helped more Australians take that step sooner. Since we came to government, around 1,600 people in my electorate alone have bought their first home through this scheme, creating real outcomes for first home buyers and local families.”
“For small businesses, we are cutting red tape and boosting cash flow by permanently extending the $20,000 instant asset write-off. This gives many thousands of businesses, including around 60,000 businesses here in the ACT, the confidence to invest, to grow and to create jobs in our community. For too long, young people and families have been priced out of the housing market, forced to compete with investors benefiting from tax concessions such as negative gearing and the CGT discount. It is an issue that comes up frequently for me when I'm talking with my constituents here in Canberra. That is why we are committed to delivering a fairer system, one that gives first home buyers a genuine opportunity to get into that market. We also know that improving affordability means increasing supply.”
“We are delivering further tax cuts from 1 July this year for every Australian taxpayer, helping ease the pressure of the cost of living. More tax relief is already flowing. This means lower tax bills for working Australians, with permanent relief that puts more money back into people's pockets year after year. For many, that is hundreds of dollars returned, making a real difference to household budgets. We are also making it easier to claim deductions, introducing a simple $1,000 instant tax deduction with no receipts required, cutting red tape and ensuring more people can access what they're entitled to. Taken together, these changes mean meaningful relief for workers and families, with an average benefit reaching about $3,000. That is before you factor in our fuel tax cuts, which are helping Australians save every time they fill up.”
“This budget is a responsible and forward-looking plan that recognises the pressures people are under right now while also making our economy fairer into the future. Canberrans are feeling the pressure right now, and this budget meets those pressures head on. It delivers targeted cost-of-living relief, strengthens essential services like health and housing that people rely on, supports Australia's transition to clean energy and reinforces a more resilient economy. Importantly, it reflects Labor values of fairness, opportunity and ensuring that no-one is left behind. For the ACT, it continues a strong record of investment in our services, infrastructure and national institutions. It ensures that Canberra remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
“His constant presence was a reminder to think of others and his dedication was an embodiment of the hope that together we can make things better. Alan was named the ACT Local Hero in 2011, and he had his portrait painted in 2013 to commemorate Canberra's centenary. In 2022, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. Alan had recently celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife, Joy, and he was father to Wendy and grandfather to Emma and James. My deepest condolences go to them and to his Salvation Army friends and colleagues at this time. Alan's work changed countless lives, and he will be much missed. Vale, Alan, and thank you.”
“I rise to honour the life of one of our most loved Canberrans, Alan Jessop OAM, who passed away on 15 May at the age of 95. Well known in Canberra, Alan collected for the Salvation Army in Civic for almost 40 years and in that time raised over $4 million for the Salvo's critical work. My memories of Alan begin when I was a child shopping with my parents—he'd give me a sticker—and continue until his retirement just recently. He was ever present, a quiet yet deeply valued presence in the lives of so many, and he became an icon at the Canberra Centre. Through every conversation, smile and gentle greeting, he shared not only support for those in need but compassion, warmth and genuine care for others.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government's budget helping young Australians who aspire to own a home of their own? Why is this important, and are there any alternative approaches to housing policy?”
“You really make our city and our country tick, and last week was all about thanking you. I also want to acknowledge Jean Giese and the team at VolunteeringACT for the wonderful work they do in supporting our volunteers, celebrating their work and making sure that volunteers are treated as best as they can be in our organisations.”
“Last week was National Volunteer Week, and I just want to take a second to acknowledge the incredibly important work of all the volunteers in our Canberra community, whether it's the people who keep junior sport running—the coaches, the umpires and the people running the canteen; the people who are maintaining the culture and language of our diverse community; the people who care for our local environment, from our catchment groups and Landcare Australia; the people who run the food pantries, feeding people when they need it the most and providing that support and comfort; the people at Karinya House who are working with women and their young families as they find a stable home and build their future; the people who are raising funds for all the amazing charities out there; the people who are bringing music and art into our aged-care facilities; the people who run our community radio stations and run the very important programs there; the carers and many, many other people that I have not mentioned.”
“I just find that extraordinary, and this is changing that. We've also boosted Medicare rebates for IUDs and other long-acting contraceptives to save women up to $400 and introduced new Medicare items to make gynaecological and menopause care more affordable, because women's health needs to be taken seriously, and our government is taking it seriously.”
“It is an important step in ensuring these voices are heard and that the healthcare system continues to respond to them. From a federal perspective, this only reinforces the importance of continued investment in women's health and the need to keep building a system that listens and delivers. Ultimately, this is what equity in health care looks like, because this work does not just stop at the clinics we've opened around the country. It is part of our government's broader, landmark—almost $800 million—investment through our women's health package. We know that, systemically, women's health has been ignored, and this investment is changing that. We've capped PBS scripts at $25, including new contraceptives and menopause therapies. I'll just say this again: it had been 30 years since new contraceptive pills had been added to the PBS.”