Kristy McBain
Eden-Monaro · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“I move: That in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974 , the House approve the following proposal for work in the Parliamentary Zone, which was presented to the House on 22 June 2026, namely: Commemoration of Nangar (Jimmy Clements) and Ooloogan (George John Noble).”
“This piece will be located on the lawns opposite Old Parliament House in a setting purpose-built to suit the sculptures. Works are intended to be completed by May 2027 to align with events to mark the centenary of Old Parliament House. A design and construction team has been selected to deliver the commemoration.”
“These two men, well into their 80s at the time, had walked barefoot from the Brungle Aboriginal mission across the Brindabella Range—a multiday trek of some 150 kilometres—to attend the opening. On arrival, they were nearly evicted for their lack of appropriate attire.”
“I thank the member for Lingiari. She's a fierce advocate for her community, and her community has been severely impacted by floods and cyclones. Thank you for all the time you've spent with me in my office speaking about that.”
“I saw firsthand the impacts on our communities, from Harcourt in Victoria and Dolphin Sands in Tassie to Julia Creek in Queensland and Katherine in the NT—homes and livestock lost, businesses closed and major infrastructure damaged. And, tragically, we lost community members, including first responders.”
“They play a critical and trusted role providing services in our communities, and we know our communities rely on those. The Albanese government has a longstanding commitment to local councils, and our budget reaffirms that.”
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“This piece will be located on the lawns opposite Old Parliament House in a setting purpose-built to suit the sculptures. Works are intended to be completed by May 2027 to align with events to mark the centenary of Old Parliament House. A design and construction team has been selected to deliver the commemoration. Regal Innovations will lead the team, with sculptor Julie Squires to deliver the sculptural elements. A hundred years ago, Billy King and Marvellous were seen as uninvited interlopers on their own land. Today we welcome them with a permanent place of honour here at the seat of our democracy. Theirs is a remarkable story, and this piece will help ensure their legacy is seen, understood and carried forward by generations of Australians to come. I commend the motion to the House. Question agreed to.”
“These two men, well into their 80s at the time, had walked barefoot from the Brungle Aboriginal mission across the Brindabella Range—a multiday trek of some 150 kilometres—to attend the opening. On arrival, they were nearly evicted for their lack of appropriate attire. But bystanders intervened, saying that no-one had more right to be there. They took a place of prominence and even spoke to the future monarch. Billy King later stated that he was there to demonstrate his 'sovereign rights to the federal territory'. Today this act is seen as the first instance of Aboriginal protest at the parliament. To commemorate this event, the National Capital Authority has made plans to construct a life-size figurative sculpture of the men and their two dogs.”
“I move: That in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974 , the House approve the following proposal for work in the Parliamentary Zone, which was presented to the House on 22 June 2026, namely: Commemoration of Nangar (Jimmy Clements) and Ooloogan (George John Noble). When the Duke of York officially opened Old Parliament House in 1927, the event was billed as a pageant of empire. There were around 15,000 people in attendance—politicians, military officials, dignitaries and Canberrans. But, at a time when Indigenous Australians were not even counted on the census, no invitation to any representative of our First Nations community was extended. Despite that, there were two Wiradjuri elders among the throng: Nangar, known as Jimmy Clements or Billy King; and Ooloogan, known as George John noble or sometimes simply as Marvellous.”
“I saw firsthand the impacts on our communities, from Harcourt in Victoria and Dolphin Sands in Tassie to Julia Creek in Queensland and Katherine in the NT—homes and livestock lost, businesses closed and major infrastructure damaged. And, tragically, we lost community members, including first responders. Our government has made substantial investments in emergency management, from establishing the National Emergency Management Agency to create a single nationally coordinated—”
“I thank the member for Lingiari. She's a fierce advocate for her community, and her community has been severely impacted by floods and cyclones. Thank you for all the time you've spent with me in my office speaking about that. We know Australia's experiencing increasingly frequent, severe and complex natural disasters, and it requires a coordinated response from all levels of government. And that's why the Albanese government supports all Australian communities to prepare for and respond to disaster. In just the last high-risk weather season alone, we saw 60 severe weather events, impacting more than 190 local government areas.”
“In the budget, we've committed $2 billion through our Local Infrastructure Fund, and that's on top of the $1.5 billion from the Housing Support Program in the last term—things that fund footpaths, cycleways, lighting, bridges, culverts, stormwater, drainage works, water and wastewater infrastructure. We've doubled Roads to Recovery to $1 billion a year to support every local council to build, maintain and upgrade roads.”
“They play a critical and trusted role providing services in our communities, and we know our communities rely on those. The Albanese government has a longstanding commitment to local councils, and our budget reaffirms that. We've committed over $3.6 billion through financial assistance grants, and that's an increase of over five per cent from last year. How does that compare with other options? Well, I heard the member for Parkes say it's not enough. He might want to remember that when those opposite were in government they froze indexation on financial assistance grants, ripping $1 billion out of a sector that provides services and infrastructure in communities that our members rely on. We want to help communities who have got cash-flow pressures now, which is why we've advanced financial assistance grants.”
“I thank the member for Barton, someone who has served her community as a member of the Georges River Council and a strong advocate for local council as well. Can I shout out all of the mayors and councillors who have been in Canberra this week for the national general assembly. There are some mayors from the Eyre Peninsula up there behind us. I know there was the mayor and councillors from Cocos (Keeling) Islands behind us too, which I know the member for Lingiari was keen on. It was a real honour to stand with local governments on Monday night at the national awards, talking about the incredible work that they're doing in their local communities, and I've had the pleasure of meeting many local councils across the country this week.”
“She gives her time, energy and her kindness to the Cooma Car Club every week without asking for any recognition or reward. While many know Pat for her delicious homemade scones—and I can confirm they are delicious—she provides something far greater to our community: it's the warmth, the generosity and a sense of belonging for anyone who comes through those car club doors. Pat's contributions may seem simple on the surface, but she is an irreplaceable member of the car club family. This is a big shout-out to all those volunteers across Eden-Monaro. Thank you for the work that you do. We don't often get to acknowledge it, but when we do, we want to say thank you.”
“On Anzac Day, it was a privilege to recognise lifelong Bredbo resident Ken Bowerman, named the Cooma-Monaro RSL sub-branch Anzac of the Year. Ken's decades of dedication to the Snowy Monaro community are truly inspiring. His volunteer contributions span the Rural Fire Service, the local cemetery committee, the P&C, the progress association and a host of other organisations as well. Ken was also a finalist for the Snowy Monaro Senior Citizen of the Year this year. Thank you so much for everything you do in our community, Ken. I have a shout-out for Cooma legend Pat Thompson, who regularly makes scones and sweet treats for events at the Cooma Car Club. This is a simple but powerful reflection of the spirit of community volunteering. Pat is the kind of volunteer every community dreams of.”
“Lorraine's friends and colleagues describe her as 'a quiet achiever who just comes along, joins in and gets things done'. Lorraine, your contribution to the Marulan community is truly valued. I also had the pleasure of meeting Sonja Simmons, who was nominated for her tireless efforts with the Lions Club of Bungendore & Districts and Bungendore Seniors Association. Sonia is a volunteer powerhouse. She volunteers for the Lions Club through weekly school breakfast clubs, organising events such as Paws Around the Pond and working on the Lions' barbecue. She volunteers as a committee member for the Bungendore Seniors Association, where they appreciate her smile and generous nature. I saw this firsthand when I visited for a bootscoot morning in Bungendore recently. We are incredibly lucky to have Sonja in our community.”
“In Eden-Monaro, 19.3 per cent of people volunteer through a local organisation—that is much higher than the national average of 14.1 per cent. Today I rise to acknowledge and to thank them. As part of Volunteer Week this year, I presented over 100 certificates of appreciation to volunteers who had been nominated by their peers. I'd like to table the list of this year's nominees from every corner of the mighty Eden-Monaro. I'd also like to take this opportunity to mention a few of them here today. It was a delight to meet Marulan local Lorraine Lorkovic, along with members of the Marulan and District Historical Society and the Marulan Football Club. Born and bred in Marulan, Lorraine has been supporting the community for as long as anyone can remember.”
“I thank you for your question. Whilst emergency management takes into account rapid-onset events, it doesn't actually take into account drought events, so I will hand over to the minister responsible for water in the House to answer the question.”
“by leave—I move: That: (1) Ms Aldred and Ms Price be appointed members of the Select Committee on Cyber Security for Small to Medium Sized Businesses and Organisations; and (2) Dr Freelander be discharged from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and that, in his place, Mr Gregg be appointed a member of the committee. Question agreed to.”
“When it comes to it, none of them know how to run small businesses. That's what this side of the house do, and we'll continue to back them.”
“We're cutting red tape, we're simplifying rules, we're lowering compliance costs, we're supporting the uptake of digital technologies and we're making it easier for small business to access workers with the right skills. And we're doing all of this because our story—the Australian story—is a story of a nation building, of aspiration and of giving back. They say we're hurting farmers and small businesses. They say we're taxing farms. None of that is true. Our government is delivering tax cuts, helping more Australians realise the dream of homeownership, supporting investment and innovation through the most significant tax reforms in more than a quarter of a century. I know it's radical, but where I live people support small businesses, and we are going to continue to do that. Those opposite talk a big game, but do you know what?”
“These small businesses employ 5.2 million people and contribute around $600 billion to our nation's economy every single year. We're focused on continuing to back them, to start to grow and to build resilience, and we're doing this through a range of measures: making that instant asset write-off permanent; making the two-year-loss carry back permanent; introducing loss refundability for start-ups; having tax cuts for sole traders; and having the new $250 working Australians tax offset. We're supporting small-business owners with additional funding through mental health and wellbeing support and targeted temporary relief for fuel pressures on small businesses. We're making it easier for start-ups to access funding and we're incentivising research and development investments.”
“Our government will not stop backing farmers and producers, and this budget demonstrates that once again. We're delivering for small businesses too, because, as I said, we know that they're the heart of so many of our regional communities. They're even the heart of our metropolitan communities. From Sydney to Perth and Bundy to Bega, Australian small businesses create jobs. They support families and they help shape our regions and our cities. That's why our government is backing it with a record-high 2.7 million small businesses who are now off the ground and thriving around the country. Even with global challenges in recent years, Australian small businesses continue to show strength and resilience, with more than 180,000 additional small businesses in operation since July 2022.”
“We know each of these challenges has an impact on farmers and producers, which is why it is so important to do something. We've taken steps to shield our farmers and producers from the impact of challenges from the conflict in the Middle East, and the budget will help farmers and producers through our $7.5 billion establishment of the Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility and $3 billion to establish a government owned fuel security reserve of around a billion litres. We're making the instant asset write-off permanent. We're permanently introducing a two-year loss carry back for businesses with up to $1 billion in turnover, we're funding the CSIRO and the Australian centre for disease protection, which supports important biosecurity testing capability.”
“We've boosted biosecurity frontline workers because we need to be able to engage swiftly with new and emerging threats. We've expanded opportunities for farmers and producers to export world-class products on the international stage. We've delivered practical investments to ensure our farmers and producers can confidently face the changing climate we have. Forecasts show our farm gate production value remains on track to exceed $100 billion this financial year, which is four years ahead of the industry's 2030 target. When we combine that with fisheries and forestry, the value is forecast to reach $110 billion in the 2025-26 year. We've been upfront that this year's budget would have a focus on addressing inflation, productivity and global uncertainty.”
“Since we came to government, we've delivered record investments in ag, and we are continuing to back people who produce our food while making our tax system fairer and more sustainable. Since July 2022, we've invested over $1.3 billion in rural support and resilience funding, with $980 million spent to directly support producers, underscoring our government's commitment to supporting farmers, particularly as they face challenges. This is year-round support to help farmers who face hardship, including concessional loans. We've added $1 billion to the Regional Investment Corporation. Earlier this year, our government opened the new drought hardship loan for farmers impacted by prolonged drought. Australian ag has achieved record results under our government—more jobs and more are happening across regional economies in the country.”
“The government has proved time and time again that we are the party that supports farmers and small businesses and, not only that, but that listens. We understand and we will make the changes necessary to make sure our policy is right. We're delivering tax cuts for 13 million Australians. We're delivering a simpler system, a fairer system, that is pro worker, pro aspiration, pro investment. We want to look after our Australians who take that risk every single day and back them and their ingenuity. Our farmers, as I said, are the backbone of our country. They're resilient. They're productive. They are absolutely world class. Under this government, agriculture is going from strength to strength.”
“If those opposite were serious about talking with small businesses, they would know that there are already four very generous existing CGT exemptions because we want small businesses to thrive. They exist in our current tax legislation because we want to see more people getting into small businesses. We're maintaining those exemptions. We're supporting small businesses while still making the necessary reforms to rebalance our housing markets. We want to see the next generation enjoy the same dream of homeownership that many generations before them experienced. Those opposite would have farmers believe that we are coming after their trusts. In reality, our government has already recognised the importance of that and clearly exempted them from this policy. Farm income earned by trust is an exemption under this legislation.”
“If those opposite really cared they would stop with scare campaigns and focus on the facts here: the fact that CGT changes start from 1 July 2027 and apply only to gains made after that date, not historic gains; the fact that there are existing generous exemptions for small businesses and farms in our CGT legislation; and the fact that our ABS data shows that nine out of 10 businesses in ag, forestry, fishing and across our small business sector will not be impacted by any of the changes in our CGT legislation. These concessions now mean that the capital gain from selling an eligible small business or farm can be further reduced by half or even disregarded altogether, because there are four very generous existing small-business CGT exemptions.”
“We want young Australians in particular to grow up in the regions, to stay in the regions they grew up with, to raise their own families in the regions they grew up with and to actually get tertiary education, whether through TAFE or universities, in the regional communities they know and love. That's what we on this side of the House are delivering.”
“I know that each and every day we sit here we think about how we can support small businesses, how we can do that with our own dollars and how we can do that with policy as well. On this side of the House we're not just about announcements. We want to see what the outcomes are. We're not about the headlines. We want to know what the delivery is, and that's exactly what we're doing. We're delivering for businesses, for farmers, for regional Australia, because we want our small businesses and our farms to thrive. We want to help with cost-of-living challenges. We want young Australians to be able to own their own home.”
“My husband and I run a small trade business, and we service our local community, like the member for Macquarie, the member for Paterson, the member for Parramatta and many more across this caucus who have all run their own small businesses. I am a representative of a regional electorate, and I get out and I talk to my small businesses. I've just attended four small business awards nights, recognising small businesses across my large regional communities. All of them are innovative. They do amazing things in our local communities, and the most important thing they do is employ local people and back community groups and events, each and every single day. I know how important farming is to our regional communities.”
“I rise today because I am proud to speak about the Albanese Labor government and I'm proud to speak about the work that our small businesses and our farmers do across this country. I know the member for Gippsland well. Our electorates border each other. We both live in coastal communities. And I understand his reference to jellyfish. But perhaps those opposite need to have a think about what their analogy looks like. For me, it's sunfish: no, drive, no direction and completely dense—no idea, because so many of them don't actually come from small business backgrounds. My parents run a main street business.”
“Just last month, I announced $48 million for 12 new projects across regional, rural and remote Australia, like Wynyard in Tassie, where more than $9.5 million is transforming Big hART artisan precinct into a hub featuring workshops, a greenhouse, cultural spaces and purpose built infrastructure to support regional enterprise growth. Producer Dudley Billing said: 'This funding gives our community a chance to lean into its strengths. The trades that build our region can carry it forward, hand built, handmade, ultralocal and built to last. That's the artisan precinct.' These projects show what is possible when governments partner with local communities. But our grants programs are assessed based on merit and transparency. And how does this compare to other approaches?”
“And she said: 'This is going to breathe new life into Mission Beach. It's already happening. We've got people constructing new accommodation around the village green, and I've spoken to business owners, and they tell me that this is just what this place needed, and we must thank the Australian government and the Queensland government, because without their support this would not have happened.' Through our budget, we're investing a further $750 million for future rounds of Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs community infrastructure programs, and that's on top of the projects we're already supporting across the country through our $400 million Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program. They're practical, community driven projects that create jobs, grow local economies and strengthen regional resilience.”
“I want to thank the member for Gilmore. As my electorate neighbour, I know how fierce she is when it comes to advocating for her local communities. The Albanese Labor government is delivering real outcomes for regional Australia, investing in the infrastructure that our communities need to prosper and delivering it through transparent grant programs—transparency that is not colour coded. But more on that later. Our Growing Regions Fund is already delivering real results on the ground for regional communities all over the country, thanks to almost $600 million in funding. And I was pleased to recently hear Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Teresa Millwood talk about the revitalisation of the Mission Beach town centre in Queensland, made possible by $8 million in Growing Regions funding.”
“I want to thank the member for Leichhardt. Not only is he a great advocate for regional Australia, but he's a passionate Queenslander. Chin up, big fella, there are still two more games to go. It's also good to see the member for Kennedy return to the bandwagon.”
“I've seen the pictures of the upgraded North Sydney pool, and it is absolutely beautiful—right there under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. But is it regional? I mean, hardly. Will it strengthen regional sustainability, capacity and diversity? I highly doubt it. This was a project funded with no guidelines, no tender process and no application form. Those opposite used colour coded spreadsheets to decide which regional communities got funding. When it didn't suit them, they channelled money promised to regional communities to the North Sydney pool. We're building the Roma pool; you gave money to the North— (Time expired)”
“In this budget, there was a further $750 million for future rounds of Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs, and I can't wait to back in more of those worthy projects across the country. That is a very different approach to that of those opposite. I read with interest in the Sydney Morning Herald today that the North Sydney 'regional pool' will open to the public in just a couple of months, only five years after it closed, only blowing out to $122 million—a project proudly sponsored by Senator Bridget McKenzie in the other place when she was minister for regional services, funded under a grant meant to support regional women's sporting facilities, a grant with the stated objective of 'strengthening regional sustainability, capacity and diversity'.”
“This budget delivers for regional Australia, and it does so in partnership with local government—a billion dollars a year across the country through Roads to Recovery, $200 million a year under our Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, $150 million a year under our road black spot funding. And our Growing Regions Program is already delivering almost $600 million in funding for community infrastructure across communities across our country. From Tamworth to the Kimberley, Growing Regions money is flowing to applicants, sods are being turned and foundations are being laid for legacy-building community infrastructure—projects like the now completed town centre revitalisation in Mission Beach, Queensland, supported by $8 million in the Growing Regions fund.”
“I thank the member for Bendigo for her question. She is an incredible advocate for regional communities, and I've seen that first-hand during my visits to her electorate. The Albanese Labor government supports a strong and sustainable local government sector because we know the important role that local government plays in helping communities to thrive. That's why, in this budget, we have committed over $3.6 billion for local government through the Financial Assistance Grant. That's an increase of over five per cent from the 2025-26 budget, where the amount was $3.4 billion. How does that compare to other approaches? Those opposite froze indexation on financial assistance grants when they were in government, ripping nearly $1 billion away from councils.”
“Now she manages, and is the sole oyster shucker at, 42 Degrees in Dunalley and is represented by the fantastic member for Lyons, Rebecca White. Self-taught and already a multiple Tasmanian title holder, Zoe topped an outstanding field of 17 competitors. She shucked 30 oysters in two minutes and 53 seconds, including penalties. Not only was she unbeaten in the women's final; she also beat all the men. She is now headed to the world championships in Galway on 26 September. A big shout-out to the Narooma Oyster Festival for the work they do. Question agreed to. Federation Chamber adjourned at 13 : 30”
“Her career is a powerful reminder that world-class creative work can be made right here in Eden-Monaro. The Narooma Oyster Festival is another success story. From 1 to 3 May this year, Narooma hosted growers, chefs, shuckers and oyster lovers from all around Australia, celebrating local oysters. The festival is famous for its ultimate oyster experiences, including shucking classes, live music and world-class seafood. It also hosts the Australian Oyster Shucking Championships, and this year Tasmania Zoe Jacobson was crowned the 2026 Australian Oyster Shucking Champion—the first woman to win the title. She joined the oyster industry at a factory in Sorell. There was no room for females on the shucking room floor, so she practised removing the shells secretly after her work as an oyster packer.”
“A seven-time Sulman Prize finalist, Lucy draws deep inspiration from the landscapes, seasons and everyday life of our high country. Lucy won this year with a portrait of Toolah, one of seven greyhounds among her nine rescue dogs who share her home at Bibbenluke. The work depicts Toolah settled in her favourite chair in Lucy's studio. In the background sits one of the large Monaro grass paintings Lucy was working on at the time, bringing the textures and colours of the region into a quiet domestic scene. This year's Sulman win is fitting recognition of a distinguished career. Lucy's work is held in major public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Australian Parliament House collection, and she's a familiar name in Australia's major art prizes. A big congratulations to Lucy on winning this prize.”
“Also from Jindabyne High School, Emelia Greville has been named the district winner of the Lions Youth of the Year and has also been selected to represent Eden-Monaro at this year's National Youth Parliament. Jindabyne shows us exactly what regional Australia does best. It punches above its weight, it supports its own and it quietly produces excellence in business, sport, creativity and education. I'm proud to represent Jindabyne, and all those people who make it a great place to live, in parliament. I also want to acknowledge the work of a leading Australian visual artist who lives at Bibbenluke on Ngarigo country in the Snowy Mountains. Lucy Culliton is the winner of the 2026 Sir John Sulman Prize, awarded by the Art Gallery of New South Wales alongside the Archibald and Wynne prizes.”
“What an extraordinary achievement by these athletes and a powerful reminder of the world-class talent coming out of the Snowy Mountains. Speaking of talent, the town is also making itself seen and heard in the performing arts scene. Jindabyne local Kesha Oyada captured the nation's attention earlier this year as the winner of Australian Idol, proving that creativity thrives well beyond capital cities. In education, Jindabyne High School student Blake Wigger achieved an outstanding 99.6 on his ATAR in the 2025 HSC—an extraordinary result that speaks volumes about our local schools, our teachers and the commitment of families in the Snowy Mountains.”
“Jindabyne is also producing world-class talent on the global sporting stage. Josie Baff, a proud local, has become a household name in snowboarding, as a 2026 Winter Olympian and women's snowboard cross gold medallist, inspiring young athletes across Australia. Jindabyne sisters Charlotte and Abbey Wilson made their Olympic debuts at Milano Cortina: Charlotte in the women's moguls and Abbey on the snowboard cross. Then we've got Adam Lambert, who flew the flag at Milano Cortina competing in the mixed team snowboard cross. A shout-out to Jakara Anthony, who trains in Jindabyne at the National Snowsports Training Centre. By winning the dual moguls at Milano Cortina, Jakara cemented her place in history as Australia's greatest winter athlete—the only Australian to ever win two gold medals.”
“Today I rise to talk about one of the most beautiful towns not just in Eden-Monaro but in all of Australia: Jindabyne. It's located in the Snowy Mountains, the rooftop of Australia, where you can see Mother Nature at her breathtaking best. Jindabyne has postcard-perfect scenery, but it's so much more than that. It's a community shaped by determination, resilience, innovation and pride. It's the residents and the small businesses that give this town its heart. Take Wildbrumby Distillery, a standout local business quietly achieving international recognition with gold medals at the Melbourne International Spirits Competition and the Australian Distilled Spirits Award. That's a remarkable achievement for a regional distillery and a testament to Snowy Mountains craftsmanship.”
“Our government is getting on with the job of delivering for regional Australia, which is in stark contrast to those opposite, who paid to hold our fuel reserves in Texas. Last time I checked, that wasn't in the country. It reminds me of a saying—all sizzle and no steak. That's what they have opposite—all statement, no substance. That's why regional Australia relies on this side of the House and a Labor government.”
“We're supporting more GP practices bulk-billing, unlike those opposite, who stood by as GP practices closed in regional Australia under their watch. This government is committed to addressing the housing challenges faced by regional Australians. That's why $500 million has been dedicated to local enabling infrastructure in regional Australia—the power, the roads, the drains that are needed for new housing. On top of that, our tax changes make sure that 75,000 Australians achieve the dream of homeownership. I want to highlight our commitment of an additional $750 million for further rounds of our flagship programs, the Growing Regions Program and the Thriving Suburbs Program, bringing our total investment since 2022 to $1.7 billion.”
“That's why our comprehensive $14.8 billion plan to secure more fuel, to strengthen our supply chains, to build resilience and to take the sting out of prices is so incredibly important to regional communities. Speaking of stings and bites, our Medicare urgent care clinics are the place to be if you need treatment, which is why this government's nearly $580 million investment to keep them open and free matters most, particularly for Australians living in regional and rural communities. There are 137 clinics providing accessible urgent care services across the country, and 47 of those are supporting communities in regional, rural and remote Australia. Then there's our $25 million investment to establish six new bulk-billing clinics across the Central Coast, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter. That's right.”
“I want to thank the member for Paterson for her passionate representation of her community in Paterson. I'm thrilled to once again rise and speak in this place about how the Albanese government is delivering for regional Australians, because that is what we're continuing to do. We are delivering. We're delivering on the cost of living, on health and in housing because your postcode should never be a barrier to opportunity, particularly in regional Australia. When it comes to the cost of living in regional Australia, not much bites us harder than the cost of fuel, and there's no doubt regional Australia has been hit hardest by the impacts of the global fuel shortage.”
“I'll continue to support victims-survivors and advocate on behalf of our community, and I am really proud that this parliament will come together over this bill. I proudly commend the legislation to the House.”
“It is important to remember the voices that we do not hear. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, only a third of sexual assaults are reported to police. Making sure our legislation remains fit for purpose and meets the expectations of community is critical, which is why reviewing this measure after its implementation is also essential. This will ensure that parliament does not simply pass legislation and move on but remains engaged with how those reforms are working in practice. It provides an opportunity to assess whether victims and survivors are benefiting and whether additional changes are required. This reform is about righting wrongs, restoring fairness and ensuring accountability in our legal system. I am proud to be part of a government that has delivered this reform.”
“I also would like to thank local media, with particular reference to Bega District News , Power FM, ABC South East NSW, A Current Affair and Region Media Group for continuing to shine a light on this issue and ensuring it did not leave the agenda of government. As a parliament, we must recognise that the impacts of child sexual abuse are enduring, complex and profound and that our response must be equally serious, sustained and centred on those who have been harmed. For too many survivors, a court ruling in their favour has not translated into real-world outcomes. They have endured the trauma of legal proceedings, only to face further distress when compensation orders go unpaid, compounding the harm. When survivors tell us that the system still falls short, it is our responsibility to listen.”