Libby Coker
Corangamite · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Well, it's finally open. After years of planning, investment and construction, the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is now welcoming visitors. While it's on Geelong's waterfront, the benefits won't stop there.”
“Participants and their families deserve confidence that the workers entering their homes and providing essential supports are appropriately trained, properly supported and accountable.”
“That's what makes this project so important. It's an investment that strengthens Geelong as the gateway to everything my part of Victoria has to offer, and it's already delivered 1,400 jobs, with more to come. It builds on the work we're doing across the Bellarine and Surf Coast to support growing communities.”
“It should be noted that, throughout this inquiry, the committee made clear that choice and control are the foundation of the NDIS, and they must remain at the centre of any reform. During this inquiry, the committee heard from people with disability, families, advocates, providers and experts.”
“The NDIS was built on trust—trust that participants would receive the right supports, trust that providers would act in the best interests of the people they support and trust that public funding would be used for its intended purpose. As the scheme has grown, the risks facing it have also evolved.”
“This includes a greater focus on fraud prevention and detection, stronger oversight of providers, improved collaboration between agencies and reform to better protect participants. During the committee's inquiry, what was highlighted was the importance of such continued work.”
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“For a 400 litre tank, operators will now save around $130. But the benefit does not stop there. Because of the way road user charges interact with fuel excise and fuel tax credits, the total benefit to trucking operators is even greater. In total, they will see savings of around 32.4c per litre. They will save 26.3c per litre at the pump, and their fuel tax credits will increase from 20.2c to 26.3c per litre. That is an additional 6c per litre. It will provide critical cashflow support to operators at a time of rising costs and uncertainty. Schedule 2 of the bill ensures we are not limited in our response to these uncertain times. It gives the Treasurer the ability to go further to reduce the fuel excise and equivalent customs duty rates by more than 50 per cent if we need to act.”
“For a typical 65 litre tank, that means savings of nearly $19. That is real money going back into the pockets of Australians, and it can make a real difference between stretching the household budget and staying on top of it. We have also gone further. We are reducing the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero for three months. This is delivered through schedule 3 of this bill, which provides government with the flexibility to adjust the road user charge, including suspending limitations on increases over this financial year and the next. For the period from 1 April to 30 June, the charge will effectively be reduced to zero. This is direct support for the freight sector. It recognises the critical role that transport operators play in keeping goods moving around our country, and it delivers meaningful savings.”
“With the watchful oversight of the ACCC, it means lower prices for households, for businesses, for families, and it means support at a time when it is needed most. This bill legislates a three-month reduction in fuel excise and equivalent duties, and it enables changes to the road user charge to be made in response to the changing conditions Australians are facing. These are practical tools and they are deliberate measures. Importantly, they ensure we have the capacity to respond to our fast-changing global environment. Schedule 1 of this bill gives effect to the core measure. It halves the excise and excise equivalent customs duty rate that applies to most fuels. From tomorrow, 1 April, through to 30 June this year, the rate will be reduced from 52.6c per litre to 26.3c per litre. That is a reduction of 26.3c per litre.”
“While there is great uncertainty on the world stage, the Albanese government is working to deliver certainty for all Australians. We know conflict in the Middle East is not distant from us here at home. It is being felt in very real ways. Australians are feeling it when they pull up to the bowser. Across my communities in the Bellarine, the Surf Coast and throughout the Geelong region, people are concerned about rising fuel costs. We recognise this and it's why from the outset we have taken action. From tomorrow, the fuel excise will be halved for three months. That's what this bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026, delivers. This is immediate and meaningful relief.”
“If we want our communities to continue to thrive, if we want our environment to be protected and if we want future generations to enjoy what we all enjoy today, then we must act. This bill is part of that action. I commend the bill to the House.”
“The treaty creates mechanisms for sharing knowledge, technology and expertise. Together, these pillars form the first comprehensive international system for protecting biodiversity on the high seas. This bill is about responsibility: responsibility for our environment, responsibility for our communities and responsibility for future generations. The ocean connects us all, and protecting it is a shared task. In my electorate, people understand what is at stake. They see the ocean every day, they rely on it and they can expect us to act. This bill meets that expectation. It strengthens Australia's leadership, it protects our national interest and it contributes to a global effort to safeguard the health of our oceans.”
“The treaty establishes rules around how these resources are collected and used and how the benefits arising from them are shared fairly. The second pillar relates to area based management tools, including the establishment of marine protected areas on the high seas. These tools will allow countries to work together to protect important ecosystems beyond national jurisdiction. The third pillar focuses on environmental impact assessments. Before activities that could harm the marine environment take place, their impacts must be properly assessed. This ensures that development and research activities are carried out responsibly. The fourth pillar deals with capacity building and technology transfer. Many countries do not yet have the resources or capability to monitor and protect marine biodiversity effectively.”
“The health of marine ecosystems far from our coastline can influence our fisheries, our weather patterns and our biodiversity close to home. This treaty is not about just us. It is about global protection of a global asset: our oceans. As the world gets smaller, the need for stronger protection grows. That's why protecting biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction is not simply a theoretical international issue. It is central to the long-term health of the global ocean, and it is firmly in Australia's national interest. The agreement ratified by this bill is built around four key pillars. The first concerns marine genetic resources. Marine organisms often contain unique genetic material that can be valuable for research, medicine and biotechnology.”
“This bill allows Australia to implement and ratify that global agreement, and, importantly, it will help protect biodiversity on the high seas. To clarify, the term 'the high seas' relates to ocean that lies beyond the national waters of any country. They are not under the direct control of any single nation, and they make up the majority of the world's oceans. They cover roughly two-thirds of all oceans across the globe and around half of the planet's surface. Because they sit beyond national borders, they have historically been difficult to manage. No single country is responsible for protecting them, and yet the health of these waters affects everyone. We know the ocean is one connected ecosystem. Ocean currents move nutrients, fish and pollution across the globe.”
“For my communities on the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast, the ocean is part of everyday life. From surfers to fishers, from local cafes to tourism operators, the ocean shapes our economy and our identity. As a Surf Coast local for more than 30 years, I know just how deeply our communities care about our oceans and the need to protect them. They want to see marine life thrive. They want to ensure future generations can enjoy our coastlines, and they expect us, as their representatives, to get the balance right. For coastal communities, this is real. It is local and it matters. That's why the High Seas Biodiversity Bill 2026 is so important and much needed. This legislation gives effect to Australia's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. Today, the Australian government and the European Union reached historic agreements, bringing us closer together across trade, industry and defence. Why are these agreements important, and how do they deliver for Australians?”
“And now they call our investment in free TAFE wasteful. Tell that to Jack, whose life was forever changed for the better because of free TAFE, or to the parent retraining for a secure job. This motion recognises something important. It is that free TAFE reflects a belief in the future, in fairness and in Australians. The real choice Australians have is simple: do we go backwards or do we build what comes next? Or, in the words of our skills minister, do we get drawn in by nostalgia or push forward to the future, writing our own story? The Albanese government and Australians choose to push forward, to invest in people, to expand opportunity, to build our prosperity. I'd like to thank the member for Dunkley for bringing this motion forward and for her advocacy, supporting free TAFE and helping Victorians and all Australians to get ahead.”
“And if we're serious about a future made in Australia, we need skills, and skills require investment, and that is why the Albanese government has made free TAFE permanent. That is why we're investing over $1.6 billion into the future of the program, supporting at least 100,000 places every year. And it is why we are targeting those who need it most—young people, job seekers, women, First Nations Australians, people with disability. This is about fairness. It is also about delivering economic prosperity. We know that VET graduates are more likely to find employment and will earn more after completing their qualifications. This is cost-of-living relief and this is real workforce policy. It stands in clear contrast to the approach taken by those opposite—a decade of cuts, a weakened TAFE system, fewer teachers and fewer opportunities.”
“More than 740,000 Australians have now enrolled—hundreds of thousands of people gaining skills in areas our country needs in construction, aged care, early childhood education, technology. In my home state of Victoria, we've seen nearly 150,000 enrolments. These are not just about numbers; they are about real people who will gain qualifications to set them up for rewarding work. They're people like Jack, an apprentice plumber from my region who is now working on some of the most transformative government projects that we've seen. That is what free TAFE does. It opens doors, it creates pathways to meaningful work, it builds confidence and it strengthens our country. If we are serious about building more homes, we need tradies. If we're serious about delivering care, we need qualified workers.”
“We know that talent is everywhere in Australia, from our cities to regions like mine across the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Geelong. Those opposite take a different view. They oppose free TAFE, they vote against making it permanent, and they continue to undermine a policy that is changing lives for the better. As their former leader said, 'If you do not pay for something, you do not value it.' That statement reveals everything. It says that opportunity should depend on your capacity to pay. The Albanese government rejects that, and so too do Australians. We believe that skills and training is a public good. We believe they connect aspiration to opportunity and success, and that is exactly what free TAFE is doing.”
“There is a simple question at the heart of this debate: who gets opportunity in Australia, and who gets left behind? The Albanese government believes free TAFE is all about opportunity—opportunity for people to get ahead and lead fulfilling lives. That is why I rise to support this motion, because this is about more than policy. It's about what kind of future we choose to build. Last week the Minister for Skills and Training set out a clear idea in a speech at the McKell Institute that skills policy is about the future, equipping Australians with the skills to navigate change—embrace opportunity or be left behind. That is the choice before this House. On this side, we believe in building that future. We believe in expanding opportunity.”
“We encourage the agency to continue this important work, to make information about the strategy publicly available, and to include a clear data strategy within it. Finally, the committee makes recommendations aimed at strengthening safety within the scheme, including improving safe and confidential processes for victims-survivors of domestic and family violence who interact with the NDIS. The NDIS represents a profound commitment by our nation and this government to support people with disability to live with dignity, independence and opportunity. The committee's work—and the recommendations in this report—are intended to ensure the scheme continues to deliver on that promise. I commend the report to the House.”
“So, to strengthen accountability and transparency, the committee recommends the National Disability Insurance Agency and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission provide annual updates on the progress made in responding to the committee's recommendations since the 45th Parliament. The committee also recommends extensive consultation and testing of the I-CAN assessment tool across a broad range of people with disability. It is important that participants and those who support them understand how this tool works and how it will inform the participant's budget. Clear public information should be provided by the NDIA, and participants should have the opportunity to review a draft plan before it is finalised. The committee also notes that the NDIA has previously commenced work on a gender strategy.”
“Across this evidence, a consistent theme emerged from Participants, carers, and representative organisations. The need for clear and constant communication and support for all those navigating the scheme. For that reason, the committee emphasises the importance of maintaining public confidence in the scheme and ensuring that reforms continue to reflect the NDIS's founding principles. Deputy Speaker—in staying true to those principles, this report makes eight recommendations. That is in addition to the more than 400 recommendations the committee has made since it first commenced its work.”
“This builds on the significant evidence gathered through the committee's previous Inquiry into Rural, Regional and Remote community access to the NDIS. On behalf of the committee, I thank everyone who appeared before us and who took the time to make submissions. Your lived experience of the Scheme is invaluable, and it has directly informed the recommendations in this report. The evidence we received makes one thing clear -the NDIS remains a world-leading initiative. It is built on the principles of choice and control for participants, genuine co-design, and long-term sustainability. This first Annual Report of this Parliament outlines a number of recent legislative and policy developments within the Scheme. It also summarises the evidence the committee has received so far in the 48th Parliament through hearings and submissions.”
“This report also demonstrates something important: a committee united in its commitment to deliver strong oversight of the scheme, and to workconstructively towards outcomes that improve the lives of people with disability. I'd like to thank all members of the committee who contributed to this Annual Report. In particular, I thank the deputy chair, Senator Kovacic, for her support and collaboration. And of course, I want to acknowledge our secretariat—Dr Jane Thompson, Sarah Redden and Emma Wannell. The committee greatly appreciates the work you do. Deputy Speaker, over the past year the committee has continued to engage closely with the disability community. We held two public hearings, in Canberra and Sydney, and received 23 public submissions.”
“On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, I present the committee's report, incorporating a dissenting report, entitled Annual report No. 1 of the 48th Parliament . Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with order 39(e). by leave—Deputy Speaker, the NDIS changes lives, it is a transformative reform—but we know it can always be better. That is the message at the heart of this report. It reflects the experiences of people with disability and their families from right across the country. Their insights, their challenges, and their aspirations have guided the committee's work and shaped the recommendations we put forward today.”
“Our superannuation system is a national achievement, and we should all be very proud of it. This legislation ensures it continues to deliver for millions of working Australians, today and into the future.”
“When I speak with older constituents in my electorate—people who have worked hard all their lives—I see the difference that superannuation makes. I also think about my two daughters, who are part of a generation that will contribute at 12 per cent across their entire working lives. With the right settings, they will retire with greater security than any generation before them. That only happens if we maintain the integrity of the system. That's what this bill is all about: strengthening the system, making it more sustainable and, importantly, making it fairer for all. This bill will enable the strengthening of superannuation for those on low incomes. It ensures tax concessions are better targeted and it reinforces the legislative objective of super: to provide income for a secure retirement.”
“It ensures that low-income workers are not disadvantaged by the tax system. It ensures that concessions are proportionate and responsible. And it does so while maintaining the core concessional framework that has made Australia's super system. Voting against this bill would be a vote against a fairer super system, and it would be a vote for larger tax breaks for those who already have millions in their super accounts. This is not the choice this government is prepared to make. We believe in a superannuation system that reflects Australian values—a system that rewards work, a system that supports families, a system that provides dignity in retirement and a system that is strong enough and sustainable enough to endure for generations to come.”
“We have expanded the coverage of the superannuation performance test from around 80 products to more than 800, driving accountability and better outcomes for members. We've announced mandatory service standards and are reforming the retirement phase to ensure Australians are supported as they transition from work to retirement. And today we introduce legislation to increase LISTO and better target super tax concessions. This is a coherent reform agenda. It is a reform agenda that's about fairness. It's about sustainability and it's about confidence in superannuation. Millions of Australians are approaching retirement over the coming decade. For them, the decision they make at this time is significant and can sometimes be daunting. This bill will help strengthen their confidence in super, knowing it can and will deliver for them.”
“Importantly, these changes ensure that tax concessions are better targeted and more sustainable. Labor built Australia's superannuation system, and under this government we are strengthening it in significant and practical ways. We have legislated the objective of super: to provide income for a secure retirement. We have increased the superannuation guarantee to 12 per cent, the culmination of decades of effort. We are paying super on government funded paid parental leave, helping to close the gender gap on retirement savings. We've legislated payday superannuation so that, from July this year, workers will receive their super at the same time they receive their wages—not once a quarter, not when it suits the employer, but every payday. For a 25-year-old on an average wage, that could mean around $6,000 more at retirement.”
“Earnings corresponding to balances below $3 million will continue to be taxed at 15 per cent in the accumulation phase, and earnings will remain tax free in the retirement phase. This is commonsense reform. The concession rate applying to future earnings on balances above $10 million will be 40 per cent, and both the $3 million and $10 million thresholds will be indexed. These reforms maintain the concessional treatment of super but ensure it is provided in a more equitable and sustainable way. Our superannuation system provides concessional tax treatment because super has a clear objective: to provide income for a secure retirement. This government legislated that objective. Concessional tax treatment is justified because it encourages long-term savings for retirement.”
“That's my commitment—to work constructively alongside the community, listening and ensuring our history is accessible, respected and protected for future generations to enjoy and cherish. House adjourned at 20:00”
“I'd like to thank the Deputy Prime Minister, the Assistant Minister for Defence and all Defence officials who have played a key role in getting us to this point. The Defence estate asset audit sets up our ADF for the future while honouring the past. It acknowledges Defence is not a heritage management administrator. It recognises that our historical sites must remain accessible to community, and, notably, heritage assets must be protected. It sets the foundation for an increase in funding for defence capability. And it's good economic management, with the potential to increase visitation and economic benefit. There's much water to pass under the bridge, but I will work with and for communities to get the best outcome possible.”
“I have to be abundantly clear that this divestment process will uphold all relevant obligations, including under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Likewise, the land at Swan Island that is currently home to the Queenscliff Golf Club will not be subject to inappropriate development. Any such outlandish suggestions are just another attempt to sow fear. The golf club will continue to be consulted. They have been kept in the loop, and they have had an opportunity to feed into the process. My message to locals is this. Divestment will not happen overnight. Engagement sessions are set to take place, and I will let you know when and where they will happen. The heritage assets will be protected and respected, and community access will be much better than it is now.”
“Let me be crystal clear; a purchaser will need to adhere to strict heritage protections, and community access will be enhanced. The whole idea that the fort could be pulled down is an absolute furphy. There is so much misinformation flying around, and it's not constructive. The fort cannot be bulldozed and turned into a supermarket, as some peddlers of misinformation have suggested. Heritage buildings cannot just be torn down. These are just two ridiculous examples that have been peddled by people who should know better. I urge those people to take instead a commonsense, rational approach, where we work constructively to protect the heritage assets while embracing tourism and the economic benefit that could well come from opening the doors of the fort more often.”
“This being said, the heritage elements within the fort will continue to be protected into the future. This is non-negotiable, and it will apply to the magnificent red-brick exterior walls, the black signal tower and the Army barracks, alongside many other key buildings and features on the site. On top of this, we will work with the community on how we best increase visitation to the site, including the museum. Any divestment will mean that whoever decides to purchase the land must treat the site with care, respect and a demonstrable focus on preservation and increasing public access. Currently, the fort only holds tours twice a week, with 35 spots available for each session. Outside of those times, the gates are shut and the community is kept out. This will change for the better through this process.”
“I rise tonight to speak about the Defence estate audit and what it means for Fort Queenscliff and parts of Swan Island in my electorate of Corangamite. I am so fortunate to have these sites in my region—places with incredible histories, sites that are loved by our communities. Like my communities, I share a passion for these sites and want to see them protected and celebrated, with greater access for all Australians. Fort Queenscliff is more than 160 years old. It is iconic. It is part of our defence history. It was home to many defence personnel, bringing vibrancy and economic benefit to the town of Queenscliff. While it will remain a significant part of our nation's heritage, it no longer serves to benefit Defence in our defence capability.”
“This will affect less than half a per cent of all Australians and will commence from July this year. Let me repeat that. It will only affect less than half a per cent. It will mean the concessional tax rate applying to future earnings on balances between $3 million and $10 million will be a combined headline rate of 30 per cent. Earnings corresponding to balances below $3 million will continue to be taxed at 15 per cent in the accumulation phase and— Debate interrupted.”
“The LISTO eligibility threshold and maximum payment amount will also automatically adjust in line with any future changes to income tax thresholds and the superannuation guarantee rate. This will ensure that low-income workers receive a fairer tax concession on their super contributions to align with the government's third round of tax cuts taking effect in 2027. Those tax cuts and these changes will make a real difference to the lives of millions of Australians who work hard and who do deserve better, such as Australians who volunteer at sporting clubs and food relief centres. They should have support, and that's what this bill delivers. The second key part of this bill reduces tax concessions for individuals with a total super balance above $3 million.”
“These are the workers who care for us, who care for our communities and who bring people together, and yet, too often, they retire with far less than they deserve. By strengthening LISTO, we are making sure that low-income workers receive a fairer tax concession on their super contributions. Over the course of a working life, these changes could deliver around $15,000 extra at retirement, depending on an individual's income path. This is not insignificant. For someone on a modest income, $15,000 can mean the difference between replacing a broken-down car or going without. It can mean more Australians have the ability to pay for the support they need at home, whether it's improving the energy efficiency of their home or simply ensuring they have what they need to live comfortably.”
“They are meaningful reforms that deliver on the Albanese government's core commitment to help more Australians get ahead and lead fulfilling lives. Changes in this bill will help deliver on that commitment. The changes will deliver a more secure retirement for 1.3 million Australians, the majority of whom are women. It will mean the total number of Australians eligible for LISTO will increase to around 3.1 million people. Our changes will benefit all workers with incomes between $28,000 and $45,000, with an average increase in LISTO payments of $410 annually. These workers are our disability support workers, our aged-care workers, our retail hospitality staff, Australians who work weekends, nights and public holidays, our early childhood educators and our nurses.”
“Firstly, it boosts the low-income superannuation tax offset and, secondly, it better targets superannuation tax concessions for very large balances. Together, these reforms strengthen the system. They provide more support for those on low incomes, while ensuring that the concessions for larger balances are fair and sustainable. On the first change, the low-income superannuation tax offset exists for a simple reason. Without it, low-income earners could pay more tax on their super contributions than they would on their ordinary income. This is not fair, so under this legislation we will increase the maximum payment by $310, lifting it to over $800 from July next year. We'll also raise the eligibility threshold from $37,000 to $45,000. These are not minor adjustments.”
“They worked in factories, on building sites and in small family businesses. They weren't wealthy people, but, over decades of steady work, they built up superannuation balances that now sit alongside the age pension and provide them with something incredibly important: choice, certainty and dignity in retirement. For younger generations, this superannuation reform will deliver even more over the course of their careers. But, while this is so, we also know this: the benefits of super could be better distributed. That's why we're introducing this bill—to make superannuation fairer for all, to help disability and aged-care workers, to help retail and hospitality staff and to help early years educators and nurses get the secure retirement they need and deserve. To achieve this, this bill makes two important changes.”
“I rise today in support of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026. This bill is about something absolutely fundamental: making Australia's superannuation system stronger, fairer and more sustainable in the longer term. Superannuation represents the best of what it means to be Australian. It represents dignity, it represents security and it represents confidence that, after a lifetime of work—often physically demanding or sometimes underrecognised—Australians can retire with stability and independence. In my electorate of Corangamite in Victoria, I often see what superannuation means in very practical terms. I speak regularly with people who came to Australia after the Second World War, moving to the Geelong region to build new lives.”
“The opposition must explain how more homes will be built without training and backing in the tradespeople and businesses needed to deliver them. Our view on this issue is crystal clear: the Key Apprenticeship Program delivers fairness, opportunity and a better future for Australians. I thank the member for Bennelong for moving this motion and commend it to the House.”
“The Housing Industry Association has said programs like the Key Apprenticeship Program are critical, particularly given that 85 per cent of apprentices are employed by small businesses. Master Builders Australia has confirmed these incentives are driving completions, with 95 per cent of trade apprentices finding work after finishing. Nationally, the data supports this approach. According to NCVER, there were 22 per cent more apprentices training in construction at 30 June 2025 compared to 2019. These gains follow years of decline under the former coalition government, which, after a decade in office, left behind the worst skills shortage in 50 years. Just over the weekend, the opposition vowed to scrap the Key Apprenticeship Program.”
“Right now the program is supporting over 4,000 carpenters and joiners, more than 2,300 plumbers and nearly 1,800 electricians across Australia. Importantly, employers also benefit with payments of up to $5,000 in the first year, which helps small businesses take on and retain apprentices. The motion today also recognises additional measures to support apprentices beyond direct incentive payments. The living-away-from-home allowance has been increased for the first time in more than 20 years, providing support to apprentices who need to relocate for work. Support for employers hiring apprentices with disability has also been doubled, making workplaces more inclusive and accessible. Industry has welcomed this targeted approach to skills and workplace development.”
“Jack told me, 'It's a great time to be an apprentice heading into the workforce.' But Jack was also honest about the challenges apprentices face, particularly cost-of-living pressures and managing payments while starting out. That's exactly why the Key Apprenticeship Program matters. Since 1 July 2025, more than 11,400 apprentices have commenced in housing construction trades and are eligible to receive— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 12:58 to 13:21 Since 1 July 2025, more than 11,400 apprentices have commenced in housing construction trades and are eligible to receive $10,000 over the life of their apprenticeship. The payments help cover the real costs of starting out, including tools, equipment, fuel and travel.”
“In just the first six months, more than 11,400 housing construction apprentices have commenced, helping to address acute skill shortages and supporting the delivery of more homes where Australians need them. Just last week, I met Jack from Corio, a second year apprentice plumber supported by gforce, a local group training organisation that helps apprentices rotate across host employers to build a broad range of skills. Jack, who is working on the federal and state funded Armstrong Creek Sports Centre, has already worked with several employers across different disciplines ranging from roofing through to major commercial plumbing. This has given him the experience he needs to build a long and secure career.”
“There are few more fundamental responsibilities of government than making sure Australians can get ahead and get a good job. The Albanese government understands that apprenticeships, vocational education and learning a trade matter. Backing apprentices and the businesses that take them on is how we build Australia's future in a way that supports workers, businesses, regions and the nation. It gives Australians meaningful work, a decent wage and, importantly, enables businesses to thrive and help grow our economy. That's why I'm pleased to speak in support of this motion, which recognises that the government's Key Apprenticeship Program is already delivering real outcomes.”
“She has already etched her name into sporting history and now she stands on the brink of adding another extraordinary chapter with the prospect of a second Olympic gold medal. What makes Jakara's success even more inspiring is the pathway behind it—the early mornings; the winter training at Mount Buller; the support of family, coaches and community; and the resilience to come back from injury setbacks. For young people across my region watching her compete, Jakara represents what is possible. She proves that growing up in regional Australia is no barrier to reaching the pinnacle of world sport. As she prepares for tonight's final, our entire community stands behind her. Jakara, Corangamite and the whole of Australia are cheering you on.”
“I rise to recognise an outstanding achievement by a remarkable local sportswoman, Jakara Anthony, who has once again shown why she is Australia's most successful winter athlete and our nation's flag bearer at the Winter Olympics. Last night, Jakara delivered a dominant qualifying performance at the Winter Olympics in Italy. She showed the composure, precision and grit that have become her trademark on the world stage. The result reflects years of discipline and relentless training and the ability to perform under immense pressure when it matters most. Jakara, a proud Barwon Heads local from my electorate of Corangamite, carries the pride of our coastal community whenever she competes.”
“When we invest locally, we build more than venues; we create opportunity and pathways for the next generation, whether that leads to the Olympics or simply a lifelong love of sport and community. Corangamite is full of young people with talent and ambition. They deserve access to quality facilities and opportunities just like anyone else. Our government is committed to ensuring regional communities like mine are not left behind. As Jakara takes to the slopes once again, chasing a second Olympic gold medal, she does so with the support of her hometown of Barwon Heads and with the entire nation behind her. I know communities right across my electorate will be watching with pride, and I encourage all Australians to get behind Jakara and every member of the Olympic team as they represent us on the world stage. Good luck to all our athletes.”