Zali Steggall
Warringah · Independent · Australia
“These amendments don't prevent the government from reforming the NDIS. They don't prevent the government from managing costs and they don't prevent the government from improving sustainability, but they do ensure that participants can seek reassessment when their plan no longer meets their needs.”
“The NDIS was built on a simple promise that Australians with disability would have access to the reasonable and necessary supports they needed to live with dignity, participate in the community and exercise choice and control over their own lives. The NDIS must be sustainable. It must be well governed.”
“If a decision has a practical effect of cutting a participant's support, then it should be treated as it is: a decision that affects that participant. Put simply, if your funding is significantly cut, you should have review rights. The third amendment deals with the review rights where funding is significantly reduced.”
“I rise to recognise the incredible work of some incredibly passionate women at the Arise Foundation and to call for greater investment in recovery and healing for women leaving violence. For too many women, the crisis does not end when they leave.”
“Reform must not mean that people are pushed away from work, study or volunteering because the supports that make participation possible have been overlooked by a system that has become more and more automated. The first amendment deals with plan reassessment.”
“by leave—I move amendments (1) to (4) as circulated in my name together: (1) Schedule 1, item 21, page 9 (line 22), at the end of subsection 48A(1), add: ; and (e) alternatively to paragraphs (a) to(d), the participant demonstrates that: (i) the supports are no longer available; or (ii) the plan is insufficient to meet the participant's r…”
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“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have long been overrepresented in youth and adult justice systems in Australia. In 2023-24 First Nations young people aged 10 to 17 were about 20 times more likely than non-Indigenous young people to be under youth justice supervision on any given day. This is despite outcome 11 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap—that First Nations must not be overrepresented in the criminal justice system. A target to reduce the number of children in detention by 30 per cent by 2030-31 is woefully out of reach at the moment. These figures are underscored by a broader overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the justice system among the adult population, accounting for roughly 37 per cent of people in custody, nationally.”
“The problems the commission will address are structural and inter-generational, and they cannot be solved on a short timeframe, so I hope that that appropriate funding will continue in a meaningful way. The commission will hold genuine statutory independence. This is important. It will be given powers of inquiry, legal protection for actions taken in good faith and the ability to table documents in parliament and to co-ordinate across government on issues impacting the rights and wellbeing of young Indigenous Australians. I welcome this. The commissioner may also provide formal advice to the Commonwealth on policies, programs and services affecting those children and young people, including the commission of research.”
“I rise to speak on the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026. Firstly, I want to acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, and I pay respect to their elders past, present and emerging and the same to those of the Warringah region. This bill converts the existing national commission into a statutory agency and makes the national commissioner a statutory officer with legislated functions and powers to advance the rights, interests, safety, development and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. The bill is supported by a real financial commitment from the government—$33 million over the forward estimates and nearly $10 million ongoing.”
“For the member for Kennedy to then imply the assimilation aspect of his MPI is deeply, deeply concerning, because what that really implies is that we should be lose our multidimensional aspect, and I— (Time expired )”
“We know that, in periods of economic uncertainty, we often see the rise of antimigrant rhetoric. As sure as night follows day, that is what we're seeing in this place. We're seeing it in the other place, with other members of the parliament, and we've seen it today again with the member for Kennedy. We know from social research that such narratives are incredibly harmful. They distort public understanding of our immigration system, and they weaken our social cohesion. Migration intake must be complemented with adjacent planning and infrastructure investments such as road transport projects, child care and public spaces. No-one is denying that. But to lay the blame of structural policy failures on migration is simply wrong.”
“We have to call out misinformation where systemic policy failures have led to poor infrastructure, housing issues and crises that are then blamed on migration. Blame it on the others, because that's the easiest thing to do. We know projected net overseas migration has now come back to levels that are reasonably consistent with pre-COVID levels. It's really important that we don't let those false facts take on a narrative, which is simply not true, that somehow the problems we have fundamentally and structurally within our community and our economy are the cause of others. We know we have complex challenges in housing affordability, infrastructure pressures and urban congestion, but they stem from planning and policy decisions. They cannot be blamed on migration or immigration.”
“There are a lot of false facts and false information to suit a populist narrative around migration and immigration. The census data shows that, in fact, we do not have record levels of immigration. We do not have a problem that is out of control. And we know in so many aspects of our economy and our services, we desperately rely on immigration to bring skilled visas and people that come and deliver services, start businesses and do incredible service to the Australian community. When I meet with chambers of commerce and small businesses, they consistently highlight that accessible and efficient migration pathways are critical for keeping businesses open, sustaining regional communities and supporting local job creation.”
“It reads: I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey. That includes freedom of religion. It includes respecting people's rights to have differences of opinion, differences of faith, and different cultures and traditions. It means respecting those rights and liberties. Yet, in the very tone of this MPI today, he calls for no migration without assimilation. That is directly contradictory to that very pledge we ask new Australians to make to the Australian people. As a fifth-generation Australian, I find it deeply offensive. It is important that we come and speak out. It is so important that we call out when this kind of rhetoric and language is simply wrong.”
“I want to start by apologising to the many multicultural, multifaith people in Australia for the revolting diatribe we've heard today from the member for Kennedy. I think it is absolutely disgraceful that on the floor of this place, the House for the representatives of all Australians, we have heard comments that, in my opinion, are so deeply racist and so incredibly wrong. The irony of what is often thrown at migrants, who come here to make Australia bigger, better and greater, is that many people born here have failed to actually look at the pledge they take to become Australian citizens and the commitment they make to Australia. I would invite the member for Kennedy to have a think about the pledge for people to become Australian citizens.”
“I know what a privilege it is to represent Australia on the world stage, so I'm excited to watch their amazing performances. Good luck, Aussies!”
“Even more proudly, six of those athletes will come from the Warringah community: from Manly, alpine skier Madison Hoffman brings skills, focus and determination to the slopes; Lara Hamilton has taken an extraordinary journey from trail running to elite ski mountaineering, reflecting adaptability and courage; Ellen Sohol Lie is contributing to Australia's growing strength and depth in cross-country skiing; at just 18, halfpipe snowboarder Amelie Haskell shows what focus and dedication can achieve in a short space of time; from Manly, mogul skier George Murphy embodies the values of sport, commitment, resilience and belief; and, finally, 18-year-old Daisy Thomas, who, despite injury, is still hoping to compete in the freestyle big air, showing the perseverance that defines elite athletes.”
“The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games are well underway, and it's an exciting moment for Australia. I want to wish the very best of luck to the whole Australian team and all the athletes competing on the world stage, especially those proudly representing Warringah. Australia has sent some 53 athletes to these games, the second-largest Winter Olympics team in our history, with women making up 62 per cent of the team and many being first-timers. That is a remarkable achievement for a warm-climate country and a reminder of what is possible when we invest in our athletes and in opportunity.”
“It stigmatises communities and risks repeating exclusionary chapters of Australia's past. A strong democracy requires respectful, evidence based debates on migration policy, including program size, skills mix and infrastructure readiness without rhetoric that undermines the dignity and contribution of migrant Australians. Well-managed migration will remain essential to economic prosperity, demographic sustainability in an aging society, thriving small businesses and a cohesive multicultural nation.”
“Complex challenges such as housing affordability, infrastructure pressure and urban congestion stem primarily from planning and policy decisions over the long term and should not be blamed on migration or immigration. Claims that migration is out of control are inconsistent with clear evidence showing net overseas migration moderating from post-pandemic highs and remaining within expected volumes. Periods of economic uncertainty often see a rise of antimigrant rhetoric. It's populist and it's easy, but it is false. Social research shows such narratives can distort public understanding of our immigration system and weaken our social cohesion. It's particularly dangerous when far-right political actors falsely blame migrants for government policy failures and planning shortcomings.”
“Migrants are also significant small-business founders and operators, strengthening regional economies, expanding markets and contributing directly to employment growth and community stability. Net overseas migration was 306,000 in 2024-25, down from its high after COVID. The largest group of migrant arrivals was temporary students—some 157,000 people—and the most nominated occupations for employer-sponsored permanent skilled visas are nurses, chefs and software programmers. It's important, when we have the damaging rhetoric from too many on the right side of politics, that we have firmly in mind the facts about what is actually happening when it comes to migration and immigration.”
“Feedback from chambers of commerce and small businesses consistently highlights that accessible and efficient migration pathways are critical to keeping businesses open, sustaining regional communities and supporting local job creation. Australia's reliance on migration is most visible in the skilled visa program, which is designed to fill genuine shortages in health care, aged care, construction, engineering, IT, education and agriculture, where domestic workforce pipelines cannot meet the demand in the short to medium term. Skilled migrants overwhelmingly complement Australian workers, rather than replacing them, enabling businesses to expand, maintain their services and generate additional employment across local economies.”
“One of the best parts of being a member of parliament is attending citizenship ceremonies, where we get to welcome people becoming Australian citizens. They have often been here for a long period of time. They've paid taxes and volunteered in our communities, and they're now taking that extra step of responsibility by becoming citizens, adding their voice and their vote to what we become as a nation. It's highly damaging when right-wing, fringe parties like One Nation—and the opposition too, I suspect—have policies that, instead of looking at problems rationally, seek to blame migration or immigration for long-term structural failures. The latest census data shows Warringah has a substantial migrant presence—37.4 per cent of Warringah residents were born overseas, and 56.6 per cent have at least one parent that was born overseas.”
“Around 30 per cent of Australia's population was born overseas. This is one of the highest shares in the developed world, and it's clear evidence that migration is a defining structural feature of the country's economy and society. For those who get confused—migration is the movement of people between countries, including people here temporarily on a visa. Migration delivers a measurable net economic benefit. It's estimated that every additional 1,000 migrants contributes roughly $124 million in annual economic value through labour supply, taxation, entrepreneurship, innovation and consumer demand. By contrast, immigration is the movement of persons into a new country, with the intent to reside there permanently, including people who choose to stay after migrating here on temporary visas.”
“I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) immigration has been, and continues to be, a fundamental contributor to Australia's economic strength, social fabric, and national resilience; and (b) migrants play a vital role in sustaining small businesses across Australia, including by filling skills and labour shortages, starting new enterprises, supporting regional economies and contributing to local employment growth; and (2) calls on all Members of the House to engage in respectful, evidence-based debate on migration policy, and to reject rhetoric that inflames division or undermines the dignity and contribution of migrant communities. Australia has been a nation shaped by migration since the post World War II era, with immigration driving population growth, workforce expansion, cultural diversity and long-term economic resilience.”
“Developers move on—have made their profits—builders go into liquidation or build substandard buildings, and those left to pay for the rectifications to ensure they even have something liveable are the owners, who are left in the situation where the property they've purchased could be hundreds of thousands of dollars less in value—quite stark. They are left with hundreds of thousands of dollars of rectification costs. They are unable to sell, they're unable to live in it and they are unable to move. It was quite dire. The level of stress and anxiety was huge. So I urge the government to start focusing on the question of more equitable arrangements so that people living in strata situations have a fairer system.”
“It also means supporting existing buildings, not just future ones, with fair insurance practices and access to low-cost finance for rectification of building defects when developers and builders are not available to take responsibility. Strata residents are not asking for special treatment. They're just asking for a fair system that works for them and recognises the very difficult situation they are all too often in compared to single-dwelling homeowners. I attended a workshop and roundtable in the North Sydney local government area, where so many were absolutely despairing at the financial circumstances they faced. They found themselves in the situation where the legal responsibility passed with them upon contract exchange.”
“We need national consistency, transparent developer and builder ratings, stronger certification and a national recall scheme to support owners when developers dodge responsibility or go into liquidation. Too often, the property developer has moved on, the builders go into liquidation and it is the owners who are left carrying the debt and the serious consequences. So that means aligning federal leadership with state systems, fixing incentives and ensuring strata communities can access the many different programs, including energy programs—for example, the home batteries one that we hear about so often in this place.”
“They want to cut their power bills, install batteries and enable EV charging, but they are blocked by complex governance, outdated strata regulation, high upfront costs and inconsistent government pathways, including local government pathways. For example, the New South Wales government's bond scheme to address building defects has also fallen short, shifting the burden onto owners with few tools for recourse. Australia is now racing to build 1.2 million homes. Many of those will be in strata and in medium-to-high density. Experts are warning that, without stronger standards and accountability, up to half of new apartments could have serious defects. We need to be focusing more on the quality of what is being built, not just on the nice-to-announce numbers when it comes to what is being approved or built.”
“Yet years later they are still fighting developers, paying special levies, facing rising insurance premiums and living with stress, mould and uncertainty. They cannot sell. Some cannot safely stay, and they cannot compel accountability. And governments are abandoning them—are failing to be there for them. Strata residents are also being left behind in the clean energy transition. While around 30 per cent of standalone homes in Warringah now have solar, only three to four per cent of apartments do, and renters are almost entirely excluded. Unfortunately, we see time and time again that government policies are designed in a way that excludes strata. People want to electrify their homes whether they live in single dwellings or in strata.”
“Strata living is now a defining feature of Australia's housing system. Yet too often strata owners and renters are being asked to carry risks they did not create and cannot control. Almost half of households in the electorate of Warringah live in strata. Apartments are central to how we meet our housing needs, manage density and support diverse communities, but strata residents are often locked out of opportunity to access clean energy rebates while being loaded with responsibilities and rising costs. In Warringah, I recently met with residents on a single street where five apartment buildings are all battling serious water ingress issues. These are families who bought homes in good faith.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. In recent times, federal governments have called royal commissions into veteran suicide, aged care, antisemitism and social cohesion. Last year, the Prime Minister said Australia faced a domestic violence crisis, with one woman being killed every four days. Will the government elevate the safety of women and children to the same level of urgency and attention by calling a royal commission into femicide and domestic violence?”
“My amendment seeks to include that, where a minister seeks to cancel a visa based on speculation about what a person might do, they should at least make clear there must be demonstrable and reasonable risk. That is not an objective test. It invites arbitrary decision-making and broad discrimination. The amendment seeks to make clear a defensible standard—one that respects the rule of law while maintaining public safety.”
“With this change, the risk of unintended consequences—and, I would say, a constitutional challenge that would be an embarrassment for this government—is important. Finally, I come to the visa cancellation threshold. This bill changes the legislation in relation to the discretionary power of the minister to cancel a visa on the basis of a concern that someone 'would' commit an offence to 'might'. That dramatically lowers the threshold for cancelling a visa and for consideration—'might' is entirely speculative. On a balance of probability, you could say that, on the basis of a chance of one out of a 100, that is a might. 'Would' requires already slightly higher consideration.”
“There is no justification for excluding those other communities. I know they are quite distressed at the moment at hearing the debate in this place and hearing that the government does not care about the hate that they face. Narrowing the definition of secular pastoral leadership—as drafted, the bill criminalises conduct by anyone providing religious or secular pastoral care. Secular pastoral care is not defined. That term has no clear legal meaning and no settled boundaries. I have consulted with academics and legal experts in relation to this. The amendment removes the concept of so-called secular pastoral care leader entirely and limits the offence to genuine religious officials or members of prohibited hate groups.”
“The bill continues to define hate crimes narrowly, focusing on race, nationality and ethnic origin. I certainly welcome that, but it is clear that we have hate crimes that are done on the basis of faith, sexuality, gender, sexual orientation and disability. Why these are not included in the definition of hate crime for the purpose of prohibited groups I do not understand. I know that for many in Australia, in such a multi- faith country, that why hate crimes done on the basis of at least religion are not included is really quite astounding. So one amendment seeks to broaden the definition of hate crime—to expand it to include targeted people on the basis of religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status or disability. We know that hate does not stop at race or ethnicity.”
“In seeking to act quickly, this bill grants the minister broad discretion with inadequate safeguards, weakens procedural fairness and sets a dangerous precedent that future governments could exploit. My concerns and amendments address three areas: the breadth of ministerial power, the lowering of visa cancellation thresholds and the narrowing complete definition of hate crime and consequently the prohibited groups to which it applies. As drafted, it enables a significant overreach of ministerial power, weakens procedural fairness and sets a dangerous precedent that may be exploited. In relation to my amendments, the revised bill circulated just recently is intended to combat antisemitism, hate and extremism, and that is something I would hope we are all united about, but the execution is flawed and unacceptable.”
“_____ SHEET 2 (1) Schedule 1, item 13, page 13 (after line 31), at the end of section 114A.3, add: (7) In this section, a reference to race or national or ethnic origin includes a reference to race, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status or disability. It's impossible to properly scrutinise this legislation when it's provided to members only hours before debate. It makes a mockery of our responsibility to carefully scrutinise laws. Despite this, my serious concerns about the bill and the extremely limited amount of time, I've been able to at least draw out these four amendments to areas that are contentious and incredibly concerning.”
“by leave—I move amendments (1) to (3) on sheet 1 and the amendment on sheet 2 as circulated in my name together: (1) Schedule 1, item 7, page 4 (line 31), omit subparagraph 80.2DA(1)(b)(ii), substitute: (ii) a spiritual leader who provides religious instruction or religious pastoral care; or (iia) a leader of a prohibited hate group (within the meaning of Part 5.3B); or (2) Schedule 1, item 7, page 5 (line 12), omit subparagraph 80.2DA(2)(b)(ii), substitute: (ii) a spiritual leader who provides religious instruction or religious pastoral care; or (iia) a leader of a prohibited hate group (within the meaning of Part 5.3B); or (3) Schedule 2, page 43 (after line 28), after item 2, insert: 2A Paragraph 5C(1)(d) Omit "there is a risk", substitute "there is a reasonable risk".”
“It is not acceptable that dangerous men or women have access to firearms when we have a domestic violence crisis. I do not understand why, if we are bringing legislation forward after the tragedy of the Bondi terrorist attack, we should not also be ensuring all Australians are safe, and that should include women being safe from domestic violence. I commend these amendments to the House to ensure that people should not be able to have access to licensed firearms if they have a violent history, especially in respect of domestic violence.”
“The current bill indicates: … a firearms background check … may only take into account one or more of the following: (a) an assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation of the individual under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979; (b) a criminal intelligence assessment (within the meaning of Part III of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002) … (c) the citizenship status of the individual. The amendments circulated seek to delete the word 'only' and insert an additional provision (d) to indicate that, amidst the domestic violence crisis that we have in Australia, a firearms background check should take into account any interim or final apprehended violence order or domestic violence related events.”
“by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2), as circulated in my name, together: (1) Schedule 2, item 11, page 12 (line 14), omit "only". (2) Schedule 2, item 11, page 12 (line 22), at the end of subsection 8(4A), add: ; (d) any criminal history or proceedings relating to domestic violence or AVOs issued in local courts. In relation to the legislation which sets out firearms background checks, these amendments seek to amend subsection 8(4A), relating to firearms background checks.”
“We know from domestic violence allegations and interim AVOs that these areas should also be considered when it comes to background checks. This is not the USA; this is Australia. We want genuinely strong gun controls. While I will support this legislation, I urge the government to go further and ensure that background checks properly assess the risk and safety of all Australians.”
“For more than a decade, gun lobby groups have sought to weaken our firearms laws. We've seen proposals to normalise expanded firearm use, including attempts to enshrine a so-called 'right to hunt' and to broaden access under land management frameworks. This bill sits within a broader and ongoing responsibility to put public safety ahead of political pressure. While there are strengthened controls at a federal level, particularly around the importation of firearms, we must also confront the growth of domestic firearm manufacturing in Australia. Production accelerated during COVID, largely beyond federal oversight. This is an area that requires stronger regulation by state and territory governments to ensure accountability and safety. We must ensure all Australians are safe from gun violence.”
“We know that we need to act decisively, and I commend the government for doing this, but the process of this legislation is simply unacceptable. There has not been proper consultation, and there has not been time to properly review this legislation and assess whether it's actually strong enough. The people in Warringah, overwhelmingly, want stronger national gun laws. They believe that firearms should not be in dense urban communities and that women escaping domestic violence should not have to fear that their former partners have access to firearms or licences. While we receive assurances constantly from police and government, the system fails when, ultimately, that violence remains. We know we need to act decisively. We need strong changes. I commend some changes, but we absolutely need to do more when it comes to this.”
“What concerns my community is the growing number of firearms held in dense urban areas and the simple question that follows: how many guns are actually in our communities? In 2026 Australia still does not have a national digital firearms register; instead, we rely on a paper based system. That is ludicrous. You have to renew your passport or your drivers licence, but we don't have a digital register of gun ownership. It's outdated, ineffective and, quite frankly, just unacceptable. Without a proper digital system we do not truly know how many guns exist, where they are and who has access to them. At a time of heightened social tension, increasing online radicalisation and a domestic violence crisis, this failure has very real consequences.”
“The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026 comes before the House in the shadow of the Bondi terrorist attack. In the weeks since the tragedy, my office has heard a consistent and deeply troubling question from the community: how did the attackers gain access to firearms? The government repeatedly tells Australians we have some of the strongest gun laws in the world, and many on this side have repeatedly said that, but the laws are only strong if they are maintained, enforced and fit for our modern reality. Since Port Arthur, these laws have been steadily eroded through complacency, inconsistency and a failure to keep pace with technology. Australians can own firearms for legitimate recreational and occupational purposes, but ownership must always be matched with strong modern safety provisions.”
“Whether it is checking on a neighbour, volunteering, supporting survivors or standing visibly against hate, if we all stand together, and be visible, we can actually make a difference and make sure that Jewish Australians, like all Australians, feel safe in Australia.”
“I want to acknowledge the incredible courage of so many, on that horrible day and continuing, and those who were injured, as were so many, through their courage—in particular, Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, just 22 years old. Finally, I would like to ask everybody: in the Jewish tradition, there's a big call for a mitzvah—an act of responsibility, an act of kindness. There's a campaign for everyone to do one mitzvah. I've been asked by Rabbi Mendel to remind all members of the House to keep urging so many members in our communities to collectively do these acts. They are powerful.”
“I have attended previous Hanukkah events and other Jewish events at the Cremorne Synagogue on a number of occasions, and it's impossible not to notice the intense security presence outside. We, as Australians, must ask ourselves: 'When did this become normal in a multicultural, multifaith society like ours?' If we allow antisemitism to grow unchecked, we fail not only Jewish Australians but all of the democratic values that define us as a nation. If we are serious about standing with Jewish Australians, we must make sure our commitment extends beyond words. We must include long-term support for survivors, for families who are grieving and for frontline healthcare workers who continue this care every day.”
“I've spoken to members of the Jewish community and have heard heartbreaking stories of deeply traumatised witnesses, including children who cannot sleep at night and who keep reliving the moment of horror in their heads and parents who are stuck with how they help their children. This event has devastated families and shaken the confidence of Australians, especially Jewish Australians, to gather in public spaces and practice their religion freely and safely. The rise of antisemitism in recent years has led many Australians in the Jewish community to feel unsafe. It's common for Jewish Australians to report feelings of fear and insecurity when simply going about their daily life, such as dropping children off at school in the morning or attending public events.”
“I'd also like to acknowledge Rabbi Mendel from the Cremorne Synagogue, who has been a steady and compassionate presence for our community and who spoke to me about the importance of continuing to support those still in hospital and recovering with their families, because in addition to those killed, dozens more were injured and 42 people were taken to hospital across Sydney. These victims have not only physical wounds but deep psychological trauma. While this condolence motion has focused heavily on those who paid the greatest price and made the greatest sacrifice, we must keep present in our minds all those that are continuing to live with the trauma and the consequences of very severe injuries.”
“I also attended a very moving memorial ceremony at Bondi held by the National Council of Jewish Women Australia alongside the Governor-General, fellow parliamentarians, community leaders and women from many backgrounds. I want to acknowledge the work and incredible support of Lynda Ben-Menashe and the National Council of Jewish Women Australia for their leadership and care in bringing people together at a time of deep grief and their advocacy for an Australian society that is safe, equitable and inclusive for all women and girls.”
“Bondi, Manly and Warringah are beautiful, iconic Sydney beaches, and the communities surrounding them share a similar way of life and values. After the attack my electorate expressed its deep solidarity with the people of Bondi and the Jewish community. A condolence book was organised by a constituent, Rodin Genoff, outside of St Matthew's church in Manly and later presented to the Jewish community. On 21 December the community came together again for a vigil on Manly Beach, standing in unity to honour the victims, support the injured and affirm that hatred will not define us. This vigil was organised by Northern Beaches local Paul Casper, and I thank him.”
“Today we grieve with the families of those murdered at Bondi Beach, we stand with those still fighting to recover from their injuries and we state clearly and unequivocally that antisemitism and terrorism have no place in Australia. Just over a month ago, on the first night of Hanukkah, a festival of light, resilience and hope, our nation was shaken by an act of antisemitic terror at Bondi Beach. Fifteen innocent people were murdered. They were Adam Smyth, 10-year-old Matilda, Boris Tetleroyd, Boris and Sofia Gurman, Reuven Morrison, Edith Brutman, Marika Pogany, Dan Elkayam, Eli Schlanger, Yaakov Levitan, Peter Meagher, Alexander Kleytman, Tibor Weitzen and Tania Tretiak. Each name represents a life cut short, a family devastated and a community grieving. In the days that followed the attack our community came together.”
“It just makes no sense that, when we have shortages, the people who are willing and able to continue contributing by taking on those extra shifts go backwards because as soon as they go over that threshold, the tax bill they get hit with is in the thousands, which they simply can't meet because of the cost of living and everything else being tight. I urge the government; I hope the minister will respond and meet with me to discuss this very urgent issue.”