Angie Bell
Moncrieff · Liberal National Party · Australia
“Twice the Prime Minister was directly asked whether he could guarantee that house prices wouldn't tank as a result of his government's housing policies; twice he refused to answer.”
“At the same time, the government's own budget papers show rents are set to rise. Do those opposite realise that cheaper house prices mean nothing when the cost of living makes it impossible to save for a deposit? We already see young Australians locked out of independence, forced to live at home longer as rental stress worsens.”
“Over 2½ thousand people experience homelessness on the Gold Coast on any given night, and the money raised from this event will go directly to supporting those locals getting back on their feet. I want to thank everyone who donated so generously to the CEO Sleepout.”
“Back to the bill in front of us, this is a bill that changes a process, to give more power to a minister—the same minister who had to pay back the debt—and a bill that nobody has asked for. The government has not justified the need for a change in process.”
“Labor is more interested in their bottom line than supporting grassroots sport and the communities—like the communities of everybody in this place—who rely on it. At a time when families are tightening their belts, affordable community sport has never been more important.”
“I want to start by talking about sport, the inspiration that is sport and what it can do for young lives. I was inspired, as the federal member for Moncrieff, just a few weeks ago when I attended the Benowa State School, where there was a boccia tournament for three primary schools across my electorate.”
The complete record
Every one of 431 lines we hold for Angie Bell, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 9.
“Didn't prominent South Australian scientists first raise the alarm and request funding for monitoring with then Minister Plibersek two years ago, and again when Minister Watt entered the portfolio? But Senator Watt wasn't formally briefed on the issue until two months later. The waters off the South Australian coast may be murky, but this timeline that the department and the minister were working on is even murkier, so let's look back at the events of March and clear up that murky timeline. Surfers started to report falling ill after visiting an affected beach in mid-March. Towards the end of March, numerous reports surfaced of dead fish washing up on beaches. It was devastating for the locals. South Australia's Environment Protection Authority confirmed the bloom and that Karenia mikimotoi had been detected.”
“Australians have lost trust in this government. That's absolutely the truth, because actually only one in three Australians voted for Labor at the last election. And why is that? Well, uncertainty, lack of accountability, soaring inflation, record government spending, foreign-policy failings and inaction on the environment—inaction that can be seen firsthand, as the harmful algal bloom in South Australia continues to ravage coastal communities. Department officials told the Senate inquiry last month that they were not aware of the impact of this devastating bloom until the end of May. But wasn't the first detection back in March? That's quite a few months.”
“There was disturbing graffiti celebrating Hamas in Melbourne, as Jewish Australians marked the atrocities of October 7. There were 1,200 Israelis killed by those terrorists on that day. To do anything but condemn their atrocities is an absolute disgrace. We must never import the bitterness of overseas conflicts into our communities here at home. The Prime Minister cannot continue to let this spiral out of control. He must step up now and show some real leadership. Jewish Australians and all Australians deserve better than the scraps they're being thrown by this government and by this prime minister.”
“Australia's way of life is built on the values of fairness, of tolerance and of respect. But, unfortunately, our strength and unity are being tested during times of civil unrest never before seen in our great country. The fact is that social cohesion is on a knife's edge, and Australians are rightly disappointed in the Prime Minister's lack of leadership. There have been multiple failures of government to keep our community safe and united. Crime is spiralling out of control in several states. Synagogues have been firebombed, with our Jewish community under siege. The Prime Minister has turned a blind eye to hate, to discrimination and to crime in this country. There are pro-terrorist rallies taking place across the country, including at our iconic Sydney Opera House and across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.”
“With fees continuing to skyrocket and accessibility even more scarce, how does this government plan to deliver cost-of-living relief to families accessing early childhood education? What plans do you have to increase access for these families across Australia who are stuck on waiting lists? What about families in regional, rural and remote communities struggling to pay their bills? What's your plan to ensure the safety of our littlest learners when they're in care? You've killed the Australian dream of owning a home. You've crushed small business. You're draining our regions dry, and you continue to provide no certainty to families. Australians deserve better than this half-baked and underwhelming Albanese Labor government.”
“It's no surprise that these suburbs are deemed regional, rural or remote, because Labor does not care about those communities. The government love to talk about no Australian being worse off under them, no child being left behind and how important access to early learning is for children and their parents, but what they conveniently forget to tell you is that those statements don't apply to those who live in regional, rural or remote areas. We know that, in many cases, children living in our regional areas are more likely to start developmentally behind when compared to children living in our major cities, yet this government has no plans to support children and their families in regional areas.”
“How will the minister ensure each measure is implemented to ensure consistency across all states and territories? And who will be footing the bill? Something needs to be done now to protect our littlest learners, our most precious assets, and ensure they have a safe environment in which to thrive. Families are not just waiting for this government to ensure their own children's safety. They are still waiting for this government to provide some relief by bringing down the increasing cost of early childhood education and care, which has continued to rise and rise and rise under this government. In June, the Daily Telegraph reported that nearly 20 suburbs in New South Wales alone were spending more than 40 per cent of their household income on child care.”
“I will put on the record, however, that I do acknowledge the work of the minister and recognise the bipartisanship that has been demonstrated over recent months. While the minister may have met with his state and territory counterparts to agree on a plan, it's concerning to see the level to which these poor examples of child safety have been allowed to spiral out of control before the government acknowledged that there was a problem and that a solution was needed. We simply cannot have a weak system where bad and evil people can find vulnerabilities to cause irreparable harm to children. Parents have lost faith in this government. Whilst the coalition does support the government's approach to these child safety reforms, some big questions remain.”
“But power prices continue to skyrocket, housing is more unaffordable than ever, out-of-pocket costs—well, they're normal now, and new taxes are on the table. So it's no wonder Australians feel disappointed in their prime minister, and rightly so. Australians expect better from their prime minister. They expect more, and they have every single right to feel let down. Like many Australians, I'm deeply concerned about quality and about safety in our early learning centres. It seems like every night we turn on the news there's a fresh example of alleged abuse or safety failures in our early learning centres. Just last week a centre in Sydney's south-west was shut down amid alleged safety concerns.”
“During my 2024 consideration-in-detail speech as shadow minister for early childhood education and care, my opening line was this: 'It's been two years, three budgets and I haven't met a single Australian who is better off under Labor.' Here we are in the same position, on the same downhill spiral under this government, and the question is: are Australians safer and are they more secure than they were when Labor took office? The answer is a categorical no, because the reality is Australians always suffer under Labor. They can see through the thinly veiled lies and the carefully crafted messages from Labor's best spin doctors. Labor promised cheaper power, more homes, free visits to the doctor and lower taxes.”
“We have an average score of 94.5 points, which is up on the previous best of 87.2 points, way back in season 2, in 2013. We have an average score against of 75.7, which, on an adjusted basis, is better than the 64.6 recorded in the short games of the 2020 COVID season. These are absolutely unreal states. And I have no doubt that they'll be all gas and no brakes when they play Freo on Saturday night. The whole of the Gold Coast is absolutely 100 per cent behind you. Up the Suns! Go the Suns! We are the Suns!”
“Raw heart, passion and emotion in the heart of the Gold Coast—three things we're not short of on the Goldie. That translates when our Suns take to the field. It also translates to our membership, which is evident in the all-time membership record that reached new heights on Monday—30,107 members! We certainly hold our own with a membership figure of that size. It's a well-deserved additional feather in the cap for this historic year. This marks six years in a row of membership records for the club. Our Suns keep going from strength to strength both on and off the field. Let me run through a few more club records. We have a 15-to-9 win-loss ratio, which is four wins up on the club's previous best last year. We have a percentage of 124.9, which is up 22.1 per cent on the previous best in 2022.”
“On 2 April 2011, the Gold Coast Suns played their first AFL game against Carlton at the Gabba. Their first true home game, at the then Metricon Stadium in Moncrieff, came over a month later, on 28 May, where 155 players have since been and gone. The club has seen six coaches, slotted 3,576 goals and played 327 games at 22 different grounds in every state and territory. The club also played two games in China against Port in 2017 and 2018. The grind has been well and truly worth it. Now we're finals-bound! It's a journey that started when the AFL issued the Gold Coast Football Club a licence on 31 March 2009. That was 5,993 days ago. I'm full of status this morning! It may have taken us a little longer than our brothers at the Titans to secure a finals birth, but we did it!”
“We don't want it to continue the way it has been under the Albanese Labor government in the last three years. We need to get productivity moving, and we must attract investment; create jobs; and conserve, preserve and look after our environment for future generations. I stand ready to work with the Albanese government on EPBC reform; I cannot be clearer. My door is open. It is very important to fix these loopholes in the EPBC board management bill, but it's even more important for the government to do its job and deliver on its environmental responsibilities.”
“The overwhelming majority of stakeholders are calling for us to work on this together to ensure that approval powers remain with the federal minister and that duplication with the states or other federal legislation be mitigated or removed altogether. On the other hand, there are two outcomes on EPBC reform that would be devastating for our nation. The first would be if Labor were to do a deal with the Greens. This would thwart economic activity and have significant consequences for investment in our country. It would cost Australians their jobs and it would reduce productivity. The Western Australian premier knows it, which is why he made a dash to Canberra last week to speak with the minister. The second devastating outcome would be more EPBC paralysis. We need to get approval processes moving more efficiently.”
“They are passionate; they want to be active in this reform agenda. Industry and environmentalists understand the desperate need, the urgent need, for reform that is well overdue, and they understand that we need to strike the right balance for the environment and for business. There is a clear pathway ahead between the government and the coalition. Stakeholders are united on reform taking place to reduce the timeframes for application outcomes, to reduce costs and to deliver certainty. We need a bipartisan approach to this legislation. Having the major parties of government come to the table on EPBC reform would produce the best outcome for our nation.”
“Let's face it; this is the statement. Environmental reform is too important to get wrong for our future generations. Getting it right is critical for the environment, and it's important for businesses and for jobs. The coalition stands ready to work with Minister Watt and the Albanese government to achieve the sensible reform that Australians want to see and that stakeholders want to see. My door is open, and I welcome the opportunity for engagement on delivering the right reform. I have extended the same offer to the Premier of Western Australia. My door is open to not only parliamentarians on this matter but also stakeholders—the dozens and dozens of stakeholders that I have been engaging with. I've been meeting with them across industry but also across states and territories.”
“Labor are completely divided on whether they support the jobs and wealth created for our nation by the resources sector. They put off a decision on the North West Shelf until after the election. Now, the new minister has provided a preliminary approval for the project. Whilst we welcome the extension, negotiations on the applications of environmental conditions have taken way too long. Three years seems to be the common theme, because it also took them three years to approve the 100 wind turbine projects on Robbins Island in Tasmania, placing a whopping 88 environmental conditions on that project, including potentially stopping the wind farm from operating for certain periods of the year. It shouldn't take three years to get a decision. The list of delays and missed opportunities keeps growing under this government.”
“Businesses putting in applications for environmental approvals under the EPBC Act are happy to do so. They are all very proud and accepting of doing their bit for the environment. They want to contribute, but what they need is certainty. They need to know what the rules are. However, the challenges and roadblocks they face are with the time, the cost and the duplication, along with uncertainty associated with the approvals process. It's important to have an effective process that conserves our environment—which is degrading; we need to conserve our environment—and one that looks after the economy with a sensible balance front of mind. Under Labor, the average time to have an application processed is—wait for it, drum roll!—more than three years! The North West Shelf final application is still pending.”
“Nobody would agree, to the point where the Prime Minister had to step in and stop all reforms prior to the election for fear of losing out when Western Australians hit the ballot box—because, of course, the election was imminent. What we are left with is a long approval process full of red and green tape, resulting in Australia becoming a much less attractive nation for investment, and now we are dropping in the ranks for countries to invest in under this government's watch. We are losing out on jobs, industries and economic activity, and former treasury secretary Ken Henry recently said Australia's environment protection laws 'have both failed to stop the degradation of Australia's natural environment and held back economic growth, and they are undermining productivity'.”
“It was the coalition that commissioned the Graeme Samuel review, under the Leader of the Opposition, who was then the environment minister. It was the coalition that introduced legislation to reform the EPBC Act, under the Leader of the Opposition, then the environment minister. There was also legislation commissioned by the Leader of the Opposition that Labor blocked in the Senate. For the last three years, Labor has failed to deliver any environmental reform. During the last term, then environment minister, the member for Sydney, proved completely unable to deliver Labor's promise to overhaul the EPBC Act. She promised multiple times that this overhaul would be finalised by the end of 2023, but we saw deferral after deferral. Her agenda and her proposals were labelled as friendless. The stakeholders didn't agree.”
“Whilst blaming broken and outdated EPBC laws, they failed to address the last term as the reason why they're behind on their housing targets. They promised you'd only need your Medicare card to see a doctor. Australians know there's a co-payment. They know they will be out of pocket; they need two cards. You're still paying, and you're still waiting. It's no wonder that Labor have had to bring forward the EPBC board management bill, because they are now forecasting their own failure on managing the environment and the management of our Commonwealth reserves. Labor also has a track record of failure when it comes to environment legislation. It's true. When the coalition was in government, we began the reform of the EPBC Act, under the Leader of the Opposition, who was then the minister.”
“The ongoing pressure on South Australians and their businesses, industry, tourism, beaches, communities, local caravan parks, fish-and-chip shops—you name it. They are all under pressure, and it is heartbreaking. The Albanese government has let this algal bloom blow out of control. There's no way to sugarcoat that. International scientists have now weighed in, and they declare it's one of the worst algal blooms they've ever seen. So buyer beware, because South Australians were ignored when they were asking this government for help. They were failed by this government. This Albanese Labor government continues to fail. They promised to reduce your power bills; they failed. They promised to build more homes; they failed.”
“If there were a bushfire, or if there were a cyclone or a flood, there's no doubt that the government would have been tripping over themselves to get there and to support those communities. In June, the Marine death toll was at 14,000. It's heartbreaking to now report that that number is at 34,000. It has more than doubled in three months. This number will continue to climb, and there's no end in sight. They now think that the algal bloom may go into spring and then on into summer, which is devastating for the local communities. I'm very concerned about how many more thousands—if not tens of thousands—of animals will die and more marine creatures will wash up dead by Christmas. The impact on our precious Great Southern River ecosystem is indeed devastating.”
“He spoke and advocated for his community, and what did he get? He got the shadow minister for the environment there, he got senators involved, and he got a visit from the Leader of the Opposition. Two weeks before—or, let's say, a week before—the Prime Minister arrived in South Australia. The funding that was outlined was absolutely welcome, but, as the fishers told us during our two roundtables with them, it's too hard to apply for, it's too little, and it's too late. Those scientists and businesses—and the Red Cross, I might add—are still asking for assistance and still asking for funding from this government. If it were happening on the Great Barrier Reef, if it were happening in Bondi, Freo or Geelong, there would be an outcry, an uproar.”
“They denied those scientists funding under two ministers—first under Minister Plibersek and now under Minister Watt. I want to say to Australians that this government speaks big on its environmental credentials and loves to harp on about the science. This time they ignored the science. They were late, because they ignored the science again in March when the dead marine animals were washing up on the beaches. They ignored the scientists again when scientists and businesses asked for assistance. They were denied twice. Only after the repeated calls and the pressure applied by those on this side of the House—I've already listed them. The member for Grey was instrumental in that. The new member for Grey is doing a fantastic job speaking up for his community, who were being ignored by this government in South Australia.”
“They were late to the party. They were the last to the party. The Prime Minister had a very quick dash down to Kangaroo Island—he didn't tell the press he was going—and announced a very small amount of extra funding, $5 million, to assist. It's not good enough. The scientists that I talked about wrote to the government almost two years ago. What was the government's response to their requests for support to monitor the algal bloom so that they could understand when the bloom was going to pop up, how big it could become and where it would move to and so that they could have and understand baseline data in order to compare it with new data that they could have collected to see what the bloom would do? The government's response to the requests from those scientists almost two years ago was complete and utter rejection.”
“We walked on the jetty at Ardrossan; I myself walked the jetty twice with the member for Grey. The Leader of the Opposition walked the jetty at Ardrossan, but what we didn't see was this Labor government turn up and walk the jetty in Ardrossan. Instead, there was a dash down to South Australia to have a press conference to announce a modest amount of funding. Now there are fresh health concerns for asthmatics. There are members of the community walking their dogs on the beach who have to wear a mask and whose eyes are getting puffy because of the algal bloom. When it's windy, the bloom comes off the ocean and affects their health. My point is that this has become an environmental event that deserves national attention, and it deserves stronger leadership. The Albanese government were very flat footed on this issue.”
“I met with fishers and members of the community during the two trips. On the first one, I went down to Flinders University and spoke with the scientists there. I also went to the Yorke Peninsula and spoke with the fishers. I also met with heads of industry from Port Lincoln during the first trip, who told me all of their concerns—the fishers who haven't been able to make any income over the period but also the fact that they are devastated. They are devastated for their ecosystems and how long it's going to take them to come back. On the second trip, the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Grey—for a second time—and Senators Ruston and McLachlan, senators for South Australia, accompanied me to see the bloom again and to engage for a long period of time.”
“We need look no further than the harmful algal bloom in South Australia, which I've been talking about in this place for some months now. These coastal communities have been completely and utterly let down by this government. It failed to act early and it failed to contain the bloom. Now the bloom is double the size of the Australian Capital Territory, and it can be seen on satellite images from space. Walking on Australian beaches year round is a luxury many of us enjoy; I think 85 per cent of Australians live on the coastline in our great country. But, for South Australians, this luxury has not existed for months and months. The beaches are closed, and warnings are in place to stay clear, with big signs that I've seen for myself on the two visits that I've made to South Australia. The community has been devastated.”
“So it does beg the question: why has it taken this government so long? They've been in office, of course, for three years, as Australians are fully aware, and they have overseen the failure of not one but two new board management plans, so the government knew that this was coming. They had three years notice to deliver these new plans. Again, the question is: what have they been doing? To what extent is this legislation just a bandaid solution? It's a bandaid on the incompetence of the Albanese Labor government, some would say, but I would say that you'd need a very large bandaid—I'd go so far as to say that you'd probably need a bandage—to cover up the gaping wounds of Labor's failure to deliver. This isn't the first example of the government's failure to deliver when it comes to the environment.”
“I rise on the matter of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Bill 2025. The bill adjusts the EPBC Act, specifically in relation to our Commonwealth national parks, including the iconic and deeply loved Kakadu National Park, the alluring Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the beautiful Booderee National Park. The board management plans for two of these three national parks are due to expire—one later this year, in November, and one early next year, in February—with no new management plans yet approved or implemented prior to the expiries. What that means is that the respective boards will be unable to make any decisions from that period. I'd like to remind the House that these board management plans have, in fact, a 10-year life span.”
“Australians don't want to see tragic scenes of division and unrest on their TV screens or social feeds every night. We should be uplifting our migrant and Indigenous communities and supporting all Australians, supporting all communities, not pitting them against each other. Thanks to Labor, there has never been a more precarious time of civil unrest in this country. Australia is fractured, and social cohesion is on a knife's edge. Those opposite only have themselves to blame. They should reflect on their weak leadership. They only have themselves to blame.”
“I am an Australian and I'm proud to be an Australian and I'm proud of our Australian flag. Do those opposite feel as proud of our nation as we do on this side of the House; are they as proud of our national flag as we are—because, if they were proud of our nation, our multiculturalism and our rich Indigenous history, they would not be sitting idly by as our flag is set alight in the streets, and they certainly wouldn't be tolerating the pro-terrorism chants we saw on the weekend. This government and prime minister are weak. Their leadership is weak, and, as a result, they are dividing our nation. That is all this government has to show for itself after three years. It all started with the failed and divisive Voice referendum that cost taxpayers $450 million.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. How has the government managed to find so many millions of dollars in taxpayer money to fund inner-city cycleways, including bike lanes in Sydney and Grayndler, but so much less to support South Australia's response to the once-in-a-generation ecological event, the devastating algal bloom. Why do countless communities and small businesses in South Australia, many of whom are here today, Prime Minister, have to pay for the cost of Labor's inaction?”
“We took the time to pause and reflect upon the sacrifices made during the Vietnam War and the Battle of Long Tan, a conflict that saw more than 60,000 Australians serve, 523 of whom were, sadly, killed. Of those 60,000 that served, there are around 35,000 surviving Aussie Vietnam vets. Their service and sacrifice will never be in vain. We must continue to elevate veterans' voices and ensure their legacy lives on. We will remember them. Lest we forget.”
“It would be remiss of me not to mention and pay tribute, of course, to the fuzzy wuzzy angels, who were seminal in the conflict. They bravely aided our wounded troops alongside the Papuan infantry battalion, who fought valiantly. It's so very important to continue elevating and shining a light on our country's military history. We must never, ever forget the contributions of our diggers and the perils, the losses, the grievances and the grieving of war. Just last week I joined the Nerang RSL sub-branch and the Gold Coast sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association for their Vietnam Veterans' Day commemorative service. This service was held in an equally beautiful location, in the veterans garden at the beautiful Nerang RSL and Memorial Club. It was my pleasure to be there alongside our incredible service personnel.”
“I condemn those people for what they have done, and I hope the police bring the full force of the law down on those people who have done that over the last few days. It's very upsetting for the veterans. At this year's service, we were joined by veterans, community leaders and, of course, special guest Nova Peris OAM OLY. Nova's connection to Papua New Guinea is deeply personal. Her great-grandfather Jack Knox fought in the Kokoda campaign during the Second World War, and together we commemorated the courage, sacrifice and bravery of all who served during that conflict. It was a solemn service where we reflected on the pivotal role this campaign played in Australia's military history, and we honoured the unique bond forged between Australian and Papua New Guinean forces.”
“I recently had the great privilege of joining my community for the annual Kokoda Day and Vietnam Veterans' Day commemorations. This year marked the 83rd Kokoda Day commemoration and, as I do each year, I joined the Rotary Club of Broadwater Southport and the Surfers Paradise RSL Sub-Branch for their service. It was a beautiful service held at the Rotary Kokoda Memorial Wall in Cascade Gardens in Broadbeach. This memorial is a wonderful, dedicated space that's also used outside of the official commemorations. Before I go on in this positive tone, I want to condemn those who have absolutely desecrated Cascade Gardens. I've just heard from my office that some vandalism has occurred there.”
“I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the Government's environment credentials are all washed up; (b) after refusing to even meet with scientists regarding the spread of toxic algal bloom in South Australia for over 18 months, the Minister for the Environment and Water has made a last minute dash in a desperate attempt to avoid scrutiny over the Government's lack of leadership on the matter; and (c) from recycling to Indigenous cultural heritage and environment protection and biodiversity conservation, the Government has failed to deliver on any of its major promises; and (2) calls on the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water to attend the chamber to explain the Government's failures on the environment.”
“He dashed down to Adelaide to get the obligatory social media content on the beach with those dead sea creatures and announced a minuscule funding package three days later. This government is on the go-slow when it comes to the environment and environmental policies. They know it. They've admitted it. Australians should be deeply disappointed about how this government ignored scientists and local businesses. To those opposite: shame on you.”
“Last Friday, we heard an extraordinary admission from those opposite in relation to South Australia's algal bloom crisis. The member for Adelaide and its beaches said that he accepted criticism that this has been a bit slow, and that the best time to have done this would have been some weeks ago, maybe even a few months ago. So why didn't they act sooner? Why did those opposite ignore the advice from scientists for 18 months? Why didn't they act when marine creatures started washing up dead on beaches four months ago? The scientists warned those opposite. Now, 14,000 marine creatures have died, and seafood and tourism industries have been decimated. The Minister for the Environment and Water was on the record claiming that it was a state issue, only to then backflip on his comment. Talk about a wet fish situation!”
“But what a privilege it was to sit in the church and remember him with so many from the surf lifesaving fraternity of Mermaid Beach Surf Club, which, of course, is my own surf club where I did my surf bronze. Vale, David Alexander Zemek—22 August 1954 to 10 July 2025.”
“I rise to remember a titan of the surf lifesaving movement, a member of my community who, sadly, passed after almost a decade in a wheelchair. Dave Zemek was an absolute giant. Unfortunately, some years ago, he dived into the water at Mermaid Beach Surf Club, hit the sandbank or a piece of flotsam in the water and snapped his spinal cord. Just a few days ago, I joined 400 of my community members at the Calvary Catholic Church, just around the corner from where I live in Miami, where members of the community and Dave's family and friends gathered to speak about his contribution to our community. In the face of adversity, Dave Zemek wrung the life out of what he had left. He was a man of great positivity. He played tennis almost up until the end. However, he did suffer two strokes, which slowed him down significantly.”
“We also have our program partners, Southern Cross University, Walsh Accountants, Cronin Miller, Experience Gold Coast and TAFE Queensland. I'm very proud to be the shadow minister for youth and I'll continue to elevate the voices of young people across the nation—and to learn how to do great selfies! Young people have taught me that over the last three years and I'm now known in the community as the best selfie taker! I've now overtaken the member for Surfers Paradise, John-Paul Langbroek.”
“I thank the Sea World Foundation for their sponsorship of 230 young people for each of the three years that the impact summit has been delivered. I thank them for any support that they put on the table in the future to change the lives of young Gold Coasters, because it is meaningful and it is life-changing and it's an event that brings together young people from all cultures. I thank Volunteering Gold Coast, Serving Our People, ELC, Vinnies, the Gold Coast Eisteddfod—these community organisations—and also those who sponsor, like Village Roadshow Theme Parks, the Sea World Foundation, Griffith University, KnG Group, Homecorp and Hutchies. These are all sponsors of these young people in my community to give them better opportunities and better experiences.”
“I have now delivered three of these events that extend opportunities for my community on the Gold Coast, like young Cannon, who is a Miami high-school student and also an award-winning Miami surf lifesaving club member. Cannon has been supported by our community through some difficulties, and he is now well on the path to development and to success as a young man in my community. Peyton, a young woman who pays the saxophone—something we have in common—has had some new opportunities through the Gold Coast Youth Impact Summit. My neighbour Tilly is in a wheelchair and she suffers from cerebral palsy. Tilly has had some magnificent opportunities through the Gold Coast Youth Impact Summit, and I'm hoping Tilly will be a guest speaker in the coming years. The event is a unique two-day TEDx-style event that my community supports.”
“Our young people represent the future, and they deserve our attention, our guidance and, of course, our support. It's a great privilege to be going into my second term as the shadow minister for youth, and I want to highlight that the new Opposition Leader, Sussan Ley, opted to elevate youth into the shadow cabinet so that young people have a louder voice when it comes to coalition policy. We have a commitment to deliver real and meaningful opportunities for young Australians, as we did under the Safer Communities Initiative when we were in government. That's why I'm continuing my commitment to the young people in my community on the Gold Coast with the Gold Coast Youth Impact Summit.”
“So I encourage the Albanese government to listen to the scientists and to provide funding with certainty for the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and the sanctuary, and I encourage all Australians to come and visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the hospital and let them know that their local members are fighting for them and for the koalas on the Gold Coast.”
“Their work includes looking after more than 380 sick koalas admitted to their hospital; operating the vaccine development for chlamydia, koala retrovirus, microbiome and genetics; and the vaccination of more than 350 koalas. The vaccination program, through the recapture and monitoring of the vaccinated koalas, shows great promise, and the relatively low disease rate amongst the vaccinated koalas and the relatively high fertility rate suggests the vaccine is providing a level of protection. There is deep concern over federal funding drying up, and, although the hospital is currently receiving $1.5 million over three years, there is deep uncertainty for ongoing operations, with the final payment ending in June 2026. There is no commitment from the Albanese government regarding further funding despite many requests.”