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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“Our pause to the excise applies specifically to draught beer served from kegs between eight and 48 litres—the containers used every day in pubs, clubs and bars—and to larger kegs over 48 litres used in bigger hospitality venues. It does not apply to bottled or canned beer, spirits or other excisable beverages, because this is a policy targeted squarely at supporting hospitality venues. Around 10,000 venues across Australia will benefit directly from this decision, and roughly 75 per cent of those venues are small, family run businesses. These are venues that employ local people, donate raffle prizes to the bowls club, lend their function rooms when the SES need space after a storm or put on a community night when the town has had a tough season.”
“They are where local musicians get their first gigs, where community groups meet and where generations of locals have gathered around the same tables for decades, sharing in laughter and debate and often providing a supportive ear. These venues also keep workers in shifts, keep our regional economies moving and keep our communities together. In my electorate of Corangamite, there are many distinctive townships—coastal, rural, thriving communities—each with their own distinctive watering holes, like the Torquay Hotel, the Barwon Heads Hotel, the Dina, the Grovedale Hotel, the Portarlington hotel, the Drysdale Hotel, Sporties in Leopold, the Esplanade Hotel in Queenscliff and so many more. We have brewers, like Bells Beach Brewing, Barwon Heads Brewing, Blackman's Brewing and Little Creatures, and our changes in this bill back them in.”
“The Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 gives effect to our decision to pause indexation on draught beer excise and excise-equivalent customs duty for two years, beginning on 1 August this year. This is a practical measure. It is a targeted measure and a responsible measure. It keeps the price of a pint stable for everyday Australians, it provides certainty for publicans and their staff, and it strengthens the industries and communities built around our local venues. In my electorate of Corangamite, from the Surf Coast to the Bellarine and across the Geelong region, pubs and clubs are part of who we are. They host fundraisers when a family is doing it tough. They sponsor local sporting clubs. They offer that first casual job to a young person, building confidence and independence.”
“In communities right across Australia, from our biggest cities to the smallest towns, the local pub or club is much more than a business. It is a gathering place—a place where people come together after a long shift, a long week or a long day; a place of celebration when the local footy or netball team has a win; or a place of commiseration or comfort when the week hasn't been easy. It's where friendships form, where stories are shared, where loneliness is forgotten and where the heart of community life beats strongest. That's why the Albanese Labor government is stepping up to support our venues, their workers and the Australian brewers who supply them.”
“It's worth remembering that our communities sent us here to act, to do better for our environment, to do better for business. I urge all members across the chamber to work with the government in good faith. Every day without these laws is another day of environmental decline and another day Australians wait for homes, clean energy and the regional jobs that these reforms will unlock. We can fix our broken laws, we can protect nature and we can build the future at the same time, but only if we pass these reforms now.”
“Every day we delay reforming Australia's environmental laws is another day where nature loses ground. We need urgent action now, and our reforms would deliver it. If passed by the Senate, the reforms will enshrine national environmental standards, better protect threatened species and deliver an independent national EPA with real powers. These reforms will modernise an approval system that is too slow and too confusing, holding up renewable energy, housing and critical minerals projects our country urgently needs. These reforms build on our achievements to protect 95 million hectares of bush and ocean, to drive investment in renewable energy and to work towards ambitious emissions reduction targets. After years of debate, now is the moment for this parliament to choose progress over politics.”
“I can share that public consultations have just concluded on a legislative framework that will allow us to impose targeted sanctions and travel bans in relation to those who are responsible for the oppression of minority groups, women and girls, and the people of Afghanistan. In closing, this work is about standing up for basic human dignity; standing up for women, who deserve freedom of equality and who deserve to live a life without fear; and standing with the families in the gallery today. We will support you, we will continue to hold the Taliban to account and we will continue to stand up for those who face persecution wherever they are.”
“To our Hazara communities and to those here today, my message is simple: your stories matter, your safety matters and you deserve to live in peace, dignity and opportunity. Despite the Taliban's attempts to interfere with humanitarian assistance, our UN partners continue to reach those in need, including Hazara communities. We're working closely with international partners to ensure our support remains principled, effective and grounded in human rights. The department is currently considering what more we can do to strengthen our response and demonstrate our commitment to the people in Afghanistan who face persecution and violence.”
“The Albanese Labor government is taking strong and coordinated action to hold the Taliban to account for its abuses of the human rights of Afghan people, especially the targeting of minority groups and the sustained and systematic exclusion of women from public life. We know—the Albanese Labor government knows—just how important it is for women to hold public office, to make decisions in government about the matters that affect them. This is not occurring in Afghanistan under the Taliban. It's part of the reason why Australia, alongside Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, is holding Afghanistan to account under international law for violations of the human rights of women and girls as enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.”
“Minorities in Afghanistan have faced targeted violence, particularly women. We know that no part of Afghan society has been immune from violence or persecution. Of course, this is particularly true for ethnic religious minorities, including the Hazara community. Our government, the Albanese Labor government, will always stand up for women facing persecution and violence. Australia has consistently condemned the Taliban's treatment of minorities, particularly the Hazara community, and of women and girls, including at the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution put at the United Nations called on Afghanistan to uphold human rights, adhere to international law and take decisive action against terrorism.”
“In the gallery today are 30 members of the Hazara community from across the country, brought together by the Hazara Legal Network. I thank the network for its tireless advocacy and thank each of you for being here in Canberra today. Your community is made up of tradespeople, nurses, childcare workers, lawyers and doctors—people who contribute so much to our communities, including in my electorate of Corangamite and in the Deputy Prime Minister's neighbouring electorate of Corio in Victoria. I know that the Deputy Prime Minister has built a strong and enduring relationship with the Hazara community in Geelong. Both he and I have listened to your stories. We are here to support you. Since the Taliban seized control in 2021 it has been a challenge for the Hazara people. We have listened to your stories and we support you.”
“I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges with deep concern the ongoing persecution and discrimination faced by the Hazara people and other ethnic religious minorities under the Taliban; (2) calls for the protection of all minorities in Afghanistan, as well as women and girls, noting no part of Afghanistan or Afghan society has been immune from violence or persecution; and (3) recognises the valuable contributions of Hazara Australians to the cultural, social and civic life of our nation, and acknowledges that these contributions extend well beyond their own community. I am proud to move this motion today. It is a motion that recognises and makes clear that the persecution of the Hazara community in Afghanistan is not only deeply concerning; it is abhorrent.”
“The NDIA continues to change lives for the better, but this report shows there is still work to do to make sure it delivers fairly and consistently for every Australian, no matter where they live. I know the government recognises this, and the NDIS ministers are acting. On behalf of the committee, I again thank everyone who contributed to this inquiry—participants, families, advocates, providers and community organisations. Your experience, your insights and your honesty have helped shape this report and its recommendations. I also thank committee members from the last parliament who contributed to this report. The committee commends the report to the House in the hope it will support the government's ongoing improvements to the NDIS so that it truly works for every Australian, wherever they call home.”
“We call for enhanced training and cultural awareness programs for NDIA staff and providers to ensure people are treated with understanding and respect. We also recommend that the NDIA collaborate with the medical profession, providers and local stakeholders to improve access to health and disability services and to explore practical solutions to better support local workforces in regional and remote communities. Recognising that travel costs can be a major barrier for people in remote areas, the committee also recommends greater flexibility in funding and support for travel under the NDIS to these communities. The report also calls for continued investment in training and for greater use of First Nations community controlled organisations as preferred providers in delivering NDIS supports.”
“During our inquiry, we received over 100 submissions and held five hearings across the country, from Western Australia to Tasmania, from the Northern Territory to Victoria. We heard from participants, families, advocates, providers and government services. The committee thanks every person and organisation who contributed to this important work. While the NDIS is available to people wherever they live, accessibility can be challenging. In response, the report makes 10 recommendations to improve the experience of NDIS participants and applicants. We recommend options be explored to simplify the NDIS application process and to develop accessible, plain-language guidance materials tailored for rural, regional and remote communities.”
“On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, I present a committee report, incorporating additional comments, entitled NDIS participant experience in rural, regional and remote Australia . Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—I'm proud to table this report on behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This report, NDIS participant experience in rural, regional and remote Australia , explores how the scheme is working for people with disability in these communities. Listening to people with disability, learning from them and acting on their experiences to enhance the scheme is what our committee is all about, and that commitment is reflected in this report.”
“Nearly one million households are benefiting from the 50 per cent increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance. Half a million homes have been built since we came to office, and 28,000 social and affordable homes are in planning or construction, because the only real long-term solution is to build, and that's exactly what the Albanese government is doing. Finally, can I thank every young person who made a contribution to Raise Our Voice. To my electorate and across the country, your voice matters. Our government hears you. Together we can build a better future where every Australian has a safe place to call home.”
“Young people are begging for a safe place to call home, and youth homelessness is on the rise, we need to act now because housing is a basic human right that everyone deserves. Jessie's word speak to a reality of many young Australians. Australia is in the middle of a housing crisis 40 years in the making. For four decades, our country hasn't built enough homes or done enough for first home buyers. The Albanese government recognises this and is acting. We're tackling the crisis from every angle, with the boldest housing agenda since the postwar period. We are delivering our $43 billion housing package focused on three pillars: building more homes, a better deal for renters and helping more Australians into homeownership. Already, more than 180,000 Australians have bought their first home with government support.”
“The Raise Our Voice in Parliament competition has once again proven to be a resounding success. In my electorate of Corangamite, we received outstanding submissions from young people across the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Geelong region—young people with strong, clear views on the most consequential issues facing Australians. Today I am proud to share one of those voices. Jessie is 20 years old. I've met them several times, and I know how deeply they care about people who need a safe place to call home. Jessie wrote: In the last 2 years I have moved 7 times. I have spent time on the streets, in motels and in share houses that nearly cost me my life. Building houses, apartments, townhouses or modular housing, and having the right supports around people could help save multiple lives, but we need your help.”
“Under these laws, serious environmental harm will carry serious consequences, and those who profit from destruction will be held to account. These bills are not just about law reform. They are about restoring trust in the laws that protect our environment. They balance protection with progress, and they are built on many years of consultation. In closing, I'd like to recognise our Minister for the Environment and Water, and the former minister, the member for Sydney, for all the work they have done to deliver these groundbreaking reforms. It's now vital that these bills pass and that, together, we leave a legacy that protects what we all hold dear: our nation's amazing coastlines, rivers, bushland and cultural heritage. I commend these bills to the House. (Quorum formed)”
“It was Labor that saved the Franklin River from destruction. Labor protected Kakadu, the Daintree and countless other sites of ecological, cultural and historic significance. We have built the largest network of marine parks in the world. We have championed initiatives that address the urgent threats of biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and the broader impacts of environmental change. We have done this while balancing the needs of communities and the economy. This bill is the next step in that legacy. So I say to the Greens and the opposition: will you stand in the way? At the last election, the people cast their vote, and the message was clear. They want a system that works for the environment, for communities and for business. They want a national EPA that has teeth.”
“They will help protect threatened species, such as the eastern curlew, the Leadbeater's possum and the hooded plover. They will safeguard forests, rivers, wetlands and grasslands. They will ensure scope 1 and scope 2 emissions are reported by proponents. The safeguard mechanism will provide the necessary guardrails to achieve emissions reduction targets for our biggest emitters. These are the environmental protection laws Australians have been waiting for, and they continue a proud Labor tradition. Labor has always acted to protect our environment. We have delivered landmark reforms throughout our history. Programs such as Landcare have empowered communities to restore and care for their local landscapes, from the smallest waterways to the largest forests, engaging volunteers, schools and local groups in the hands-on work of regeneration.”
“For too long, environmental information in this country has been fragmented, inconsistent and hard to access. EIA will collect, consolidate and publish data about the state of our environment, improving decision-making for government and business. It will make it easier to identify emerging threats to our natural world. The reforms also enshrine First Nations engagement in the system, ensuring that decisions affecting land, water and heritage are informed by those who have cared for these places for generations. First Nations perspectives will guide the protection of country, and their expertise will be recognised in decision-making processes, from species conservation to bioregional planning. These bills will deliver tangible and lasting benefits.”
“The reforms also modernise reconsideration provisions, setting clear timeframes and improving certainty for business, while maintaining environmental safeguards. The third pillar focuses on greater accountability and transparency in environmental decision-making. To achieve this, the Albanese government is establishing the National Environmental Protection Agency, Australia's first national, and formidable, independent environmental regulator. The EPA will oversee compliance; enforce the law; hold serious offenders to account; provide guidance and education to business; and monitor, audit and report, giving communities confidence that the law is being applied, enforced and taken seriously. Alongside the EPA, Environment Information Australia will consolidate environmental data into a single authoritative source.”
“It will enable a coordinated, strategic approach across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring environmental gains contribute to a healthier, more connected landscape over the longer term. That is the essence of the first pillar of this reform: stronger environmental protection and restoration. The second pillar relates to greater robust decision-making to tackle duplication and delays. The bills will streamline assessment pathways, reducing statutory timeframes for compliant proposals by up to 20 days. A new national interest pathway will also be created, allowing projects that are critical to Australia's future to proceed, under strict transparency rules, while still maintaining high environmental standards.”
“To the Landcare volunteers whom I have worked with over many years, to the schoolchildren who ask me questions about the future of our planet, and to the surfers I met this morning who care so deeply about our ocean—this bill is for you. I know just how much they care, and they want our laws to work better for the environment and for future generations. They want environmental laws to work better to achieve responsible development and protection of flora and fauna. The bills also introduce bioregional planning, mapping conservation zones and development zones in advance so that proposed projects can be assessed against bioregional plans and, where appropriate, can proceed while ensuring high-value areas are robustly protected. Bioregional planning will be a game changer.”
“Restoration contributions can be pooled strategically to achieve maximum environmental benefit, giving nature the chance to recover, regenerate and become more resilient. These bills are about reversing decades of decline, and they're also about ensuring that when a species is listed as threatened, or when a habitat is identified as endangered, the law is equipped to protect it effectively. They are about ensuring that when development occurs it does so responsibly, and in a way that genuinely contributes to restoring the environment. I know how important this is for my communities in Corangamite. They are passionate. They care deeply about improving our unique environments across the Bellarine and Surf Coast.”
“The Albanese government recognises this, and through these bills we're charting a different course. These bills introduce a new net gain framework which means projects are required to not only avoid and minimise impacts but also actively contribute to the improvement of our environment. The principle of net gain will ensure projects leave the environment in a better state than they found it. This can be achieved through direct offsets such as replanting degraded habitats, restoring wetlands or funding species-recovery programs. It can also be achieved through contributions to a central restoration fund which can then be strategically deployed to areas of greatest ecological benefit.”
“This will set clear and upfront criteria for impacts that cannot be approved, and provide a safeguard against impacts that cause the irreversible loss of Australia's biodiversity and heritage. The proposed reforms will clearly define what types of environmental harm must be avoided and cannot be offset. The bills also introduce protection statements for threatened species, providing clarity for decision-makers and proponents. Moreover, the bills strengthen compliance and enforcement powers, making it clear that serious breaches will no longer be treated as just the cost of doing business. Importantly, they introduce the principle of net gain for environmental offsets. The reality is, the current offset regime doesn't work. It does not work for our environment and it facilitates irresponsible development.”
“Today we champion these groundbreaking environmental reforms and we urge both the Greens and the coalition to be more constructive this time around and back in these bills. The bills establish clear national environmental standards that must be adhered to. Whether you're mining in a culturally significant area or working to build new much-needed housing, the bills will give clarity and certainty while delivering better protections. These standards are not aspirational. They will be clear rules grounded in science and law. Most importantly, they cannot be weakened over time. The bill makes this crystal clear. The reforms also include a new definition of 'unacceptable impact' specific to each protected matter.”
“This reform package is long overdue and, importantly, it responds to all the Samuel review recommendations handed down to the coalition government. In our last term in government the Albanese government made it a priority to: respond to this review; fix our environment laws; provide clear, nationally consistent guidelines; and establish enforceable penalties through a historic national environment protection agency. But on this journey the Albanese government has faced considerable roadblocks. When push came to shove, in the last term of government the coalition and the Greens teamed up to block reforms that would have delivered clarity for business and stronger protections for the environment. Despite this, the Albanese government was not deterred. We've pushed ahead, and now we draw a line in the sand.”
“Our environment is under pressure. Our laws to protect it are broken, and for too long those laws have not kept pace with the challenges we face. Whether it be safeguarding our iconic landscapes, protecting our threatened species or nurturing our unique ecosystems, our current laws are not working for our environment. Australians are concerned, and rightly so. That's why the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 and the others in this package are being introduced by the Albanese government. They are practical, evidence based reforms that deliver real, enforceable and meaningful protections for our environment. They ensure that development is handled responsibly while safeguarding our unique ecosystems. And they make decision-making faster, more predictable and more accountable.”
“Our reforms will make it easier for them, with simpler systems and peace of mind that workers are getting what they're owed. This reform makes sure every worker gets what they've earned in full and on time. On top of this, we've added super to paid parental leave because nobody should be penalised for taking time to raise a family. Labor built super, and under this government we're strengthening it so Australians can work, save and retire with confidence.”
“When you get paid, your super should too, but right now employers only need to pay super every three months. That means your super isn't growing as fast as it should. The Albanese government is fixing this with our payday super reforms. From next July, our reforms will ensure workers get their super paid on payday—not once a quarter, not when it's convenient, but every time they get paid. This is a simple change with a big impact. For a 25-year-old worker on an average wage, it means around $6,000 more at retirement. So the need for this reform is clear and compelling. It'll help more Australians retire with dignity, including working women and people in casual and part-time jobs. We know most employers do the right thing.”
“Supporting organisations like HeartKids, investing in standards of care and ensuring families have access to the services they need is so important. So I urge all Australians to get involved—to walk, to support, to raise awareness—because no family should face childhood heart disease alone.”
“I'm so proud that we have one of these clinics in Belmont and we're just around the corner from delivering another in Torquay. We're also rolling out Medicare mental ill health prevention hubs, with one set for Torquay, and of course our changes to bulk-billing will come in from 1 November. Together, these initiatives show what's possible when Australians have a government that puts health care front and centre. Events like the HeartKids walk and the Health Festival of Geelong show what's possible when communities, healthcare providers and governments work together. I'd like to take a brief moment to congratulate the organisers from the health festival, including Dr Jenny Huang from Banksia Medical Centre in Torquay. Well done on such a successful event.”
“The federal government recognises the critical importance of supporting families facing childhood heart disease. The Australian National Standards of Care for Childhood-onset Heart Disease, released this year, are the culmination of over a decade of advocacy from HeartKids, patients, families, carers and healthcare providers. The federal government's investment in making these standards a reality has been vital, but there's always much more to be done. This is the kind of work that makes a real difference in people's lives, and it aligns with our broader focus on health in the community. Another local event on the weekend was the Health Festival of Geelong, an event celebrating health, wellness and preventive care, including initiatives like our government's Medicare urgent care clinics.”
“At 36 weeks gestation, doctors discovered Xavier had several serious health conditions. Born at 37 weeks via emergency C-section, he was immediately rushed to the Royal Children's Hospital. At only four days old, he required temporary pacing wires. By 11 days, open heart surgery had inserted a shunt and pacemaker. With a blocked shunt, two rounds of ECMO and cardiac arrest, Xavier's brief life was marked by unimaginable challenges. His passing was sudden and devastating. Yet, through the heartbreak, his parents, Angie and Daniel, found support from HeartKids: food and fuel vouchers during hospital stays, ongoing counselling and a community to help navigate life after loss. Their courage in sharing Xavier's story ensures his memory lives on and helps other families walking the same journey.”
“Just last Saturday, I had the privilege of joining Hannah Pearl, her family and her incredible HeartKids team in Connewarre in my electorate for the Two Feet & A Heartbeat Walk. Despite torrential rain, families still turned out in numbers to support this amazing cause. Many of the families have experienced loss or have children who are currently undergoing treatment for a heart condition. Many tears were shed, including mine. I have a nephew who was born with a heart condition which required immediate intensive care. He's doing well now, but it was an extremely difficult period for our family. Across October and November, thousands of Australians are walking side by side as a reminder of why this cause matters. Families like Xavier's know this too well. We heard this story before the walk on Saturday.”
“Good health is something too often taken for granted, but, for thousands of Australian children and their families, every heartbeat is precious, and every step we take to support them matters. Every day, more than eight children are born with heart disease. That's more than 3,000 children every year, or roughly one child every three hours. Across Australia, it's estimated that 32,000 children are living with childhood heart disease. These are not just numbers. Behind every statistic is a family, a community and a young person with hopes and potential. The HeartKids foundation is making a real difference in this space, and in my electorate of Corangamite their impact is being felt on the ground.”
“Yet, for over a decade, the former coalition government sidelined skills and left students and apprentices stranded. In contrast, the Albanese government is investing in TAFE and apprenticeships. From the $10,000 incentive for construction apprentices to free TAFE, we're giving Australians better access to training, nursing, trades, care work and clean energy. It's this investment that helps Australians like Charlotte and Arnold to reach their potential.”
“A TAFE course or an apprenticeship can be the ticket to a great career, higher wages, new skills and a better future. At the WorldSkills Australia National Championships, Victorians showed the nation just how strong our skills are. This week, I met two outstanding gold medallists from my electorate—both products of the Gordon TAFE. Arnold Shanahan won gold in mechatronics, and Charlotte Follett, an apprentice florist, also took up gold. Charlotte said of her experience: The competition was out of my comfort zone and pushed me to a new level with my skills. I'm proud to represent Geelong and Victoria on a national stage. Her words capture what WorldSkills is about—dedication to excellence, skills growth and pride in community. Charlotte and Arnold's achievements remind us that skills change lives.”
“It is a budget rooted in responsibility and driven by optimism—optimism that working Australians can see their wages grow; optimism that families can afford the essentials; optimism that every child, no matter where they are born, has access to education and opportunity; and optimism that, in a world of uncertainty, Australia will be a stronger, fairer and more secure place. This is our plan to build a stronger economy, a fairer society and a future every Australian can be proud of. This is our government's approach—to invest in people, to invest in communities and to invest in the future where we are lifting living standards. This budget is a statement of values—that we value hard work, that we nurture aspiration, that we protect families and that we plan responsibly for a hopeful tomorrow.”
“It strengthens the economy for tomorrow. It does all of this while repairing the budget itself. Since coming into government, we have delivered the first back-to-back surpluses in nearly two decades. Gross debt is $177 billion lower than forecast. We have found $94 billion in savings—no small amount—banked most of the revenue upgrades and ensured payments are growing at less than half the rate of our predecessors. That is what responsible management looks like. Most importantly, this budget is about responsible nation building. It is about ensuring Australians not only survive the turbulence of today but thrive in the opportunities of tomorrow. Australia is turning the corner. This budget helps us in the fight against inflation, it helps rebuild living standards, and it helps maximise our national advantages in a changing world.”
“These outcomes have not been easy; they have required responsible choices and careful economic management. I would like to take a moment to recognise and thank our treasurer, the member for Rankin, who has driven economic reform and outcomes and passed sound decision-making policies and responsible economic management. Most importantly, these decisions reflect the resilience and determination that we have in partnership with the people of Australia. We know too many families are still doing it tough. This is why our government is delivering real help with the cost of living right now, while at the same time laying down the foundations for a stronger, fairer and more productive economy in the years ahead. This is a responsible budget. It helps with the cost of living today. It invests in health, housing, education and our environment.”
“This is a product of Labor, and it is serving a very important purpose—funding new innovation and backing industries that will make Australia indispensable in the net zero global economy. We're abolishing non-compete clauses for most workers, introducing national licensing for electricians and rewarding states that implement pro-competition reforms. The changes will help boost GDP, reduce inflation and lift wages across the economy. These reforms are in Labor's DNA. We acknowledge the role unions play in advocating for change. This is what building for the future looks like—a stronger Medicare, more homes for more people to have a roof over their head, a better education and hope for the future, and a new generation of industries to power our prosperity. Inflation is coming down. Real wages are rising. Unemployment remains low.”
“As a former teacher in government schools, I can say how proud I am that we have achieved this, and I'd like to thank the Minister for Education for his work in making this happen. Across the next decade, the Commonwealth will also invest $16.5 billion, with states and territories also investing, to better support government schools. Thank you to the states, and let's get on with that. Free TAFE will be made permanent, with 100,000 places locked in each year from 2027. New university reforms will ensure that graduates with less debt have more opportunity. This budget invests more than $3 billion in green metals, clean energy and critical minerals because Labor is committed to emissions reduction and tackling climate change head-on. It also reinvests in the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.”
“We are expanding Help to Buy, increasing incentives for apprentices in construction, cracking down on foreign ownership when it comes to the purchase of established homes and ensuring new developments are connected to the infrastructure they need. This is about giving young families across the Surf Coast, the Bellarine and Geelong, in my electorate alone, the chance to stay in their communities where they grew up, to build their futures and to contribute to local economies. Early education will be made more accessible through a new three-day guarantee, ensuring every family can access at least three days of subsidised early learning. We're investing $5 billion to expand access to child care and lift wages for early educators. Government schools will be fully and fairly funded, finally meeting the Gonski standard after almost 15 years.”
“That matters for the young teacher in Geelong West, the apprentice electrician in Armstrong Creek and the nursing student in Waurn Ponds. It means that they graduate with less debt and more freedom to build their future. Medications will also be cheaper under Labor's PBS, with the maximum price of a PBS script dropping from $31.60 to $25. For pensioners and concession card holders, the cost will remain at just $7.70. We are listing more life-saving medicines on the PBS, some of which would otherwise cost patients hundreds of thousands of dollars. We will provide relief today. We also want to invest in our future. Our $33 billion housing plan will build 1.2 million homes by 2030.”
“This budget funds $2.6 billion in pay rises for aged-care nurses, supports higher wages for early childhood educators and reforms non-compete clauses to help lift wages across the economy. Wage growth is about whether a worker can pay the bills, save for a home or buy a child new school shoes. We're cracking down on supermarket power, scams and unfair surcharges. We're making the Food and Grocery Code mandatory, boosting penalties and giving more teeth to the competition watchdog. On education and skills, this budget delivers real reform. We are cutting 20 per cent off all student loan debts, raising the minimum repayment threshold and reducing repayment rates. Together with earlier reforms, this will wipe out $19 billion in debt for more than three million Australians. That is good news.”