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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“I particularly want to thank the committee's deputy chair, the member for Forrest, for her engagement and contribution not just on this inquiry but on all the inquiries we have worked on together this term. It's been an absolute privilege to work with the member for Forrest. I have really valued all that I have gained from that experience and all that she has contributed to the committee's work. I also want to acknowledge the work of the staff of the committee secretariat. It takes a lot of work to run a parliamentary inquiry, from holding public hearings and going through submissions to drafting and, of course, wrangling members of parliament's diaries—no small task. It is a job that is often thankless but vital to the work of this parliament and our democracy.”
“I particularly want to thank the Australian Antarctic Division for its contribution to the inquiry, including by hosting committee members in Hobart. The opportunity to tour the division's facilities and board the RSV Nuyina to gain a deeper understanding of this critical work being undertaken by the division was inspirational and informative. The dedication of division staff to advancing Australia's Antarctic program and supporting the objectives of the Antarctic Treaty system is commendable. I also want to thank my fellow committee members for their engagement with and participation in this inquiry. I greatly appreciated the good faith and bipartisanship all members displayed.”
“The committee's work was enriched by the generous contributions of many individuals, organisations and government departments. I extend my sincere thanks to the witnesses who participated in public hearings in Canberra and in Hobart and to those who provided written submissions. Your insights and expertise were invaluable to this inquiry. I particularly want to thank the scientists who have shared their incredible work with us. It's really inspiring work, just showing how important Antarctica is in understanding climate change and what we can do to mitigate this existential threat. Our committee is making these recommendations because we want to see our government backing you and your important work as much as we can.”
“Upon listening to the concerns of scientists and other stakeholders, the committee recommends that the Nuyina be prioritised for scientific research and that resupply efforts be led by a second vessel. This report makes several recommendations about the importance and maintenance of Hobart as Australia's Antarctic gateway. The committee recognises the economic and social value of Antarctica to Australia and the important role of Hobart in this. The committee has recommended that Hobart remain the base of operations for the Australian Antarctic Division and Australian Antarctic Program and that the government work to secure hosting for the Southern Ocean observing system and expedite the redevelopment of Macquarie wharf No. 6 in Hobart.”
“This voyage will take scientists to the Denman Glacier in the Australian Antarctic Territory for 50 days, where they will extensively study the glacier, which reaches 3.5 kilometres below sea level and which potentially contains 1.5 metres of sea level rise. The committee wishes the expeditioners all the best for this incredibly important work. While in Hobart, the committee was fortunate to board and inspect the Nuyina , Australia's state-of-the-art icebreaker. The RSV Nuyina is the single biggest investment by a Commonwealth government in the history of Australia's Antarctic program. The vessel was built to deliver a world-leading scientific capability to conduct multidisciplinary science and to deliver personnel, cargo and equipment to and from Antarctic and subantarctic stations.”
“The committee has recommended Australia pursue the establishment of the proposed East Antarctic marine protected area, increase the number of inspections conducted of other nations' Antarctic bases and remediate the abandoned Wilkes Station. Science and conservation are the currencies of influence in Antarctica. Therefore, it is incredibly important that Australia continues to invest in world-leading research and support Antarctic science. The committee recommends that the government provide additional support to Australian researchers working on the million year ice core project, the Denman terrestrial campaign and the Denman marine voyage. It is important to note that later this month the RSV N u yina will begin its Denman marine voyage.”
“This report underscores the interconnectedness of these priorities and affirms Australia's enduring commitment to being a responsible steward of this extraordinary and fragile continent. The committee has made 13 recommendations in its report. These recommendations relate to Australia's relationship with the Antarctic Treaty System, the importance of conservation and scientific research in the face of anthropogenic climate change and the important role the city of Hobart plays as Australia's Antarctic gateway. The committee recognises a strong and effective treaty system helps Australia to realise its national interests and notes the need for Australia to remain a strong leader within the Antarctic Treaty System.”
“On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, I present the committee's report entitled Australia's Antarctic territory: r eport on the inquiry into the importance of Antarctica to Australia's national interests . Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—I am pleased to present this report for the inquiry into the importance of Antarctica to Australia's national interests. The committee's terms of reference focused on four key areas: upholding the principles of the Antarctic Treaty System; conserving and protecting Australia's unique biodiversity and environment; advancing global environmental and climate science; and how Antarctica is contributing to Australia's economic and social development.”
“Under our new agreement, total Commonwealth funding for public hospitals will hit a record $33.9 billion next year. We're not stopping there. We're making record investments in bulk-billing and opening urgent care clinics around the country to take pressure off our emergency departments. Labor created Medicare, and we will always protect it. The choice at the next election is clear: more investment under Labor or more cuts under the coalition. We will always stand up for our public hospitals, for Medicare and for the Australians that rely on it. Under the Liberals it is that simple. You cannot trust them with Medicare.”
“The Albanese Labor government is delivering real investment into our public hospitals, because every Australian deserves high-quality health care no matter where they live or what they earn. This week the Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Aged Care announced an additional $1.7 billion for public hospitals and health services nationwide next year. Here in the ACT we'll receive an extra $51 million, a 16 per cent increase in Commonwealth funding. This is funding that will help cut waiting lists and take pressure off our emergency departments. How does that contrast with the record of the Leader of the Opposition? Well, he cut $50 billion from hospitals and was voted the worst ever health minister by Australian doctors. The Liberal Party's record on health is nothing but cuts, neglect and a system left on its knees.”
“I even heard one of the members opposite yesterday interjecting that the first people they are coming for are the 36,000 Canberra public servants. Why? Because, like everything the Leader of the Opposition does, it's about politics rather than substance and it has no regard for the impact on the Australian people. This is good old Canberra bashing at its absolute finest and a cheap shot with very serious consequences, not just for the 36,000 workers in my city but for the Australians all over the country who rely on the services they deliver and the good governance of this country. But let's focus on that for a moment: people in my city, their livelihoods, their families, the small businesses that rely on them and all the jobs in my city that will be affected.”
“Like my friend the member for Bean, I am incredibly proud to represent so many members of the Australian Public Service who live in my electorate. I'm proud to have been one of them and have worked with some of the most dedicated and professional people you will ever meet—people who come into work every day to serve the national interest, keeping Australians safe, delivering the services they need and developing and implementing the policies and programs that impact the lives of every Australian. Our city is home to 68,000 public servants, and Peter Dutton wants to cut 36,000 of them. Unlike the rest of the cuts he's planning, this one is no secret. They're really proud of this one and they're singing it from the rooftops.”