Jerome Laxale
Bennelong · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The interim report makes 13 recommendations in time for the government and the parliament to consider their implementation before the next federal election. The committee has recommended reviewing the thresholds under the significant third party and associated entity framework to capture coordinated involvement in elections at scale.”
“Many describe this assault by third parties identified in submissions to the committee, like the Plymouth Brethren and ADVANCE, as a fundamental disruption to the foundations of our free and fair voting process. This parliament cannot ignore this evidence.”
“On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, I present the committee's interim report incorporating dissenting reports entitled Inquiry into the conduct of the 2025 federal election . Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).”
“These recommendations respond directly to the many accounts of overwhelming, unsafe and intimidatory experiences at polling places during the 2025 federal election in targeted electorates.”
“It is also considering universal voter access and the suitability of authorisation requirements, noting our rapidly changing communication technology. The inquiry is also looking at domestic interference in our electoral processes. There have been 360 submissions to the inquiry to date.”
“In order to protect the electoral process, the committee recommends that the matter of domestic interference be considered and addressed as a priority.”
The complete record
Every one of 480 lines we hold for Jerome Laxale, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 10.
“On 1 October, every first home buyer will need only a five per cent deposit to get into their first home. That means years less saving and thousands of dollars saved on mortgage insurance. It's a real, practical step to help Australians into a home of their own sooner. We know this housing crisis is decades in the making and it won't be fixed overnight, but, unlike those opposite, we actually have a plan for progress. Our $43 billion plan is built on three pillars: making it easier to buy, making it better to rent and building more homes. Some would say, 'Build, baby, build.' Help with housing is one of the reasons I made the switch from local government to federal parliament. I wanted to be a part of a federal government that acts on housing, compared to the Liberal Party, who are in denial about the scale of the crisis.”
“We've made home batteries cheaper and supported renters and apartment dwellers through solar banks and federal funding for solar for apartments. New vehicle efficiency standards are now in effect, and we have rolled out our Rewiring the Nation fund to modernise our grid. Importantly, what we are doing is working. Emissions are now almost 30 per cent below 2005 levels, and renewable energy makes up more than 40 per cent of the generation in our main grids. We are on target to meet our 2030 emissions reductions targets, and we're the only party of government with the ambition and the policy to achieve net zero. Thank you to all of those who participated in this incredible forum. I thank them for their time.”
“This forum reinforced what I've been hearing in Bennelong for years: locals want practical solutions, they want fairness and they want their government to deliver, just as Labor has delivered community batteries across the country, including in Bennelong. Federal Labor has also funded, with the state government, a $115 million bus depot in Macquarie Park—the first electric-only bus depot in New South Wales—and I've been working very closely with the New South Wales state government to deliver new and better public transport routes across our city. The Minns Labor government have improved strata laws, and I will continue to advocate for more so that renters and apartment dwellers can access renewables and electrification.”
“At the end of the process, they presented a report—a thoughtful set of practical ideas about how we can tackle the energy transition in a way that works for our community. Their message was clear: Bennelong supports the shift away from fossil fuels, but people want it done fairly and with equity at its heart. They identified priorities like electrifying homes and transport, improving access to solar batteries and electric vehicles, building community batteries, investing in better public and active transport, lifting building standards, increasing urban greening and creating a trusted local information hub. They also asked for four things from government: trust, integrity, accountability and action.”
“Earlier this year, working with democracyCo, I hosted Bennelong in One Room, a deliberative democracy forum that brought participants from across Bennelong to discuss public policy. They were randomly selected and diverse in background, age and political views. This forum showed us democracy at its best. I must truly thank locals for their participation and their time and Emily Jenke and Emma Fletcher from democracyCo for their expert facilitation. Across the three sessions, participants heard from experts, deliberated respectfully and produced thoughtful, practical ideas. It might seem unbelievable to people in this place, but together they sat around the table and found consensus.”
“We've legislated stronger emissions reduction targets: a 43 per cent cut by 2030 and net zero by 2050. We put those targets into law so no future government can walk them back—”
“That follows on from the Liberals' and Nationals' state divisions across the country—in New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory—all dumping net zero. They can't even agree on that. Sometimes I don't even think they can agree on what day of the week it is, but they can't agree on net zero. They're in here today feigning outrage and saying that we don't have environmental credentials, and we're actually doing something about it. Australians do not trust them on the environment, and that's why they've been rejected at the last two elections. Since coming to office, our government has overturned nearly a decade of denial and delay and put Australia back on track when it comes to taking action on climate change. The results are clear.”
“Australians rejected the Liberals' and Nationals' environmental vandalism at the ballot box not once but twice because they saw a decade of climate denial, division and delay. They axed climate laws. They sabotaged the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. They cut funding to the environment department by 40 per cent. They halved marine parks, ignored Indigenous water commitments and left the Great Barrier Reef on the brink of being listed in danger. That is the coalition's legacy, and it continues. It didn't end at the 2022 election, which you thought it would. It didn't end at the 2025 election, when they were thumped. Just this weekend, the Queensland Liberals voted to dump net zero as their major environmental policy—gone.”
“Sometimes you see a motion from the opposition and you just scratch your head, and that's exactly what happened as I saw this on the Notice Paper a couple of weeks ago. It gives me the opportunity to talk about the government's environmental credentials at a time when the opposition don't even have an environmental policy. They're tearing themselves apart over environmental policy, and here today we've got this motion. This motion lays bare the arrogance and hypocrisy of those opposite who try to call out a government that's actually doing something about the environment when they did nothing to protect it in their nine years in government. As I said, this is all at a time when they're tearing themselves apart over net zero. Let's be very clear.”
“I'm proud of what we've achieved together, but I'm even more determined about what comes next—because I'll keep showing up, I'll keep listening and I'll keep pushing the government to deliver outcomes that matter. Bennelong deserves nothing less, and I'll keep doing everything I can to deliver on that promise.”
“There's arts and culture funding in Lane Cove and continued investment in the roads, schools, community groups, services and public spaces that make Bennelong such a wonderful place to live. Politics needs to serve people, and I do this job because I genuinely like helping people—fixing a problem or making someone's life that little bit better, making things a little bit easier. It's what makes me tick and why I put up with all the rubbish that sometimes comes along with this role. I say this to everyone in Bennelong: you don't have to vote for me to get help from me. You don't have to agree with me for me to stand up for you. If you need my support, I'll always do my best to hear you and help where I can. My job is to represent everyone in Bennelong, and that's what I'll do every day.”
“There's so much to do in this space, particularly for renters and those who live in strata to get access to renewable energy technology. All of those issues are held at the state level, but there's a role for the federal government to play there to get standards across the system so that renters can access renewable energy as well. I'll keep on pushing for strong local voices to be heard on the national environmental reforms so that the work we do here translates into better outcomes in communities on the ground. And I intend to work hard to deliver all of the commitments made to my community during the election and before it. That includes our upgrades to Christie Park—$1.9 million for five synthetic futsal courts—and the wonderful facility upgrades at Boronia Park, with a battery, solar panels, and upgraded electrics and lighting.”
“I'll keep working with my colleagues in government to deliver on our housing agenda, to make it easier to buy and better to rent and to build more homes where they're needed the most. That means more social and affordable housing in our community, and it means national action to lower deposits and mortgages, strengthen renters' rights and unlock housing supply. On climate, it'll be no surprise that I'll continue to be a strong voice for action, pushing our own government to do better, because cutting emissions isn't just good policy; it's good for household budgets too. I'll keep supporting practical measures that make it easier for people to electrify their homes, to access solar, to improve insulation and to switch to clean energy transport.”
“In this term, I'll keep doing what I've always done—listening to the people of Bennelong, taking their concerns seriously and working hard here in this place, publicly and behind the scenes, to deliver for them. I'll be working really hard to deliver our urgent care clinic in Chatswood and our mental health centre in Ryde and to get those up and running as soon as possible. Critical investments in people's wellbeing are vitally needed in our community, particularly in mental health. They'll help take pressure off our hospitals whilst making care easier to access close to home. Housing, of course, is a huge priority for this government, and you heard a lot of that today in this place. Many people in Bennelong are feeling the squeeze. Rents are high, leases are insecure or not long enough, and affordable options are few and far between.”
“We've made child care cheaper, delivered HECS relief and made free TAFE permanent so people can train and retrain, get a better job, earn more money and get ahead, not be left behind. We have backed serious local investment in Bennelong, with more than $330 million delivered in the last term into our electorate for roads, schools, parks, sporting facilities, community groups and really-big-ticket infrastructure—big projects—and the quiet ones: the things people see everyday and the ones that keep our neighbourhood and our community groups running behind the scenes. I'm so proud of what we've achieved together, but I'm even more focused on what comes next.”
“We've introduced 60-day dispensing to halve the trips to pharmacies and doctors for people on long-term medications as well. Our urgent care clinics have been rolling out. There's one in Top Ryde and one on its way in Chatswood. These clinics mean families can get urgent bulk-billed treatment after hours without having to wait hours at an emergency department. We've committed to delivering a Medicare mental health centre right in the heart of my electorate, in Ryde, because access to mental health care should be local, affordable and immediate, not something that people put off or go without. In cost-of-living relief, every household received an energy rebate, and 92,000 local taxpayers will get a tax cut under Labor's top-up tax cuts.”
“In health care, we delivered the single largest investment in Medicare's history to strengthen the system, which will mean more than 1.8 million extra bulk-billed visits in Sydney, including at clinics in Bennelong. It'll mean GP practices are better supported and more accessible, and it'll mean families will spend less to see a doctor. That's a good thing. We've made medicines cheaper, cutting the maximum PBS co-payment from $42.50, and it will go down all the way to $25 from 1 January, the same price it was in 2004. If we had done nothing, that price would be $50 now, but it will be $25 from 1 January, the lowest level in nearly two decades. That's already saved people in Bennelong more than $8.6 million in real savings to the household budget.”
“That work has obviously taken different forms. Sometimes it's been backing in national reforms in this chamber, and sometimes it's been pushing for local priorities back home, even if they're not all within my responsibility. A lot of people just want to talk to a politician to make sure they're heard and to make sure that their voice goes to the right place. Be it a state issue or a local issue, I've always tried to help people, and I've always tried to be their voice. My focus has always stayed the same: getting things done for the people I represent. Over the term, the Albanese Labor government has made real progress, and I've worked hard to make sure Bennelong sees the benefit of that work.”
“I've now seen from an even closer perspective how national decisions land in real households. I've seen the cracks people fall through, and I've seen how good representation—compassionate, accountable and community focused—can make a real difference. That's the kind of representation I've worked really hard to deliver—visible, practical and grounded in community, whether it's here in the chamber or out on the streets chatting to people who just turn up to have their say. I've tried to make sure that people in Bennelong feel seen, heard and supported. Over this past term—and now into this one—I've carried that approach into everything I've done. It's shaped how I advocate to the government and within it, and I'm proud that that's led to real outcomes and tangible improvements in people's lives.”
“Whether it's attending cultural festivals in Macquarie Park, eating out in Rowe Street, Eastwood, visiting schools in Lane Cove, or talking about housing and skills with students in Meadowbank, I make it my job to listen first and then act, because being present and listening is how you build trust. It's how you understand what's actually happening in people's lives. Representation doesn't just happen here in Canberra; it happens in these everyday conversations we have on doorsteps, in classrooms, on main streets, at the shopping centre—like when I get pulled up and asked a few questions in Coles—and at community centres as well. That's where you hear what's really going on, and that's where the work really starts. That local-first mindset has only grown stronger in my time as a federal MP.”
“As councillor, I turned up; as mayor, I delivered; and now, as the member for Bennelong, I'll continue to do both. This is the type of representation that every community deserves. Granted, we all do it a bit differently. The minister there at the front desk runs marathons. It's not something I'm proposing to do, but it's about turning up and connecting with your community. I'm determined to continue to do that and deliver for Bennelong. It's not just a job but a relationship that we have with our community built on trust, visibility and real connection.”
“They and plenty of others—too many to name—helped me run a campaign smoothly and professionally and get the results. Every one of us in this chamber knows that we don't do this alone. I come to this place shaped by my community, my home and by the role I played in it. Before federal politics, I served as a councillor and the mayor of Ryde for a decade. That time taught me something simple but powerful: the best politics start close to home. It's not about shouting the loudest or promising the world; it's about solving day-to-day problems, listening, showing up and making people's lives a little bit easier, fairer and more secure. People don't always have to agree with you, but they want to know that you care and that you're accessible. That's the approach I've taken my entire career.”
“To my campaign team and electorate staff—Michael, Maddy, Oliver, Daniel, James, Karma, Angela, Bailey, Katie, Callan, Enzo, Garth and Pauline—and to the local Labor branches of Gladesville, Lane Cove, Ryde, Eastwood, Hunters Hill, Willoughby-Castlecrag, Epping and Macquarie Park: a huge thank you. Some of those branches have a Labor member representing them for the first time in history. In fact, Hunters Hill, a foundation branch of the Labor Party, way back in the late 1890s, has a Labor MP for the first time. I'm particularly excited that I'm back in this place. There were so many volunteers and champions that got us over the line. In particular, a huge thank you to Racheal, Linda, Lyndal, Cathy and Ethan. These people, in particular, helped us coordinate our volunteers to walk the streets, knock on the doors and listen to locals.”
“It was a vote of confidence in the kind of politics that puts communities at the centre of the decision-making process. I want to thank my family: my kids—Harry, Madeline and Amelie—and, of course, my wonderful partner, Jo, and her kids, Will and Alfie. They put up with the odd hours, the time away and the fact that everyone in Bennelong owns a little bit of me. It's a job that truly belongs to the people of Bennelong. I'm incredibly lucky to have my family in this corner. To my parents: thank you for teaching me the values that brought me to this place—fairness, hard work and compassion.”
“I rise today with gratitude as the re-elected member for Bennelong. Of course, I would like to start by saying thank you to all those who live in Bennelong for putting their trust in me, some for the first time and some for multiple times. I've had a few goes around in local government, I ran for state government once, and now I'm re-elected as the federal member. So a big thank you to the people who re-elected me. I don't take this win for granted. It's an absolute honour to be re-elected to represent my home in this place, and I'll keep working every day to make that trust count. This election marks something historic: for the first time, a Labor member was re-elected in Bennelong. That's not just a personal milestone; I think it's a reflection of something bigger.”
“It's important for residents to have their say. I'd encourage anyone with an interest to take the time to look at these documents and to make a submission, because, if this proposal is approved, it'll have lasting impacts on our harbour, our environment and our shared public spaces. I'd like to acknowledge the many locals who've stayed engaged and contacted me in my office throughout this process, particularly the Save Our Shores group and the Hunters Hill Trust, whose advocacy has been clear, constructive and community minded from the start. They've worked to raise awareness of this proposal and worked with many like-minded local councillors like Marc Lane and Ross Williams. I'd encourage those who are interested to have their say.”
“Woolwich is a special part of Sydney and a very special part of Bennelong. It's where the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers meet and home to Cockatoo Island. It's a place of environmental heritage and recreational significance, and home to Kellys Bush—the site of Australia's first successful green ban. Last year, a proposal was lodged to turn the small existing local marina into a large-scale commercial facility with berths for nearly 80 vessels, including very, very large superyachts. The development was unanimously rejected by Sydney North Planning Panel, echoing strong opposition from local residents, environmental experts, heritage groups and the local sailing club. However, new documents were lodged last week by the applicant, meaning the proposal is once again on public exhibition, until 22 August.”
“We're investing in the scientific understanding of AI systems, not just how they work but how they fail. We want to know where the risks lie and how we can mitigate harm before it happens, and we're engaging globally. We've signed onto the Bletchley declaration, the Seoul declaration and the Hiroshima AI process. We're active participants in an international network of AI safety institutes. You'll see from that list—and I could go on, but I'm running out of time—a very different characterisation of what this government is doing in the AI space. It's very different to that presented by the member for Casey in moving his motion. I'm sure we'll have a bit of back and forth here, but this is a really crucial piece of public policy that we need to undertake, and it's the Albanese government that will do it.”
“He understands the inevitability of AI in his workplace and our workplace, but not at the expense of his personal intellectual property. AI unchecked can mimic Simon's voice with only three seconds of audio. Simon's voice is his and should not be used without his consent. Ethics in AI is so important, which is why we're embedding it into everything we do on AI. Australia was one of the first countries to develop a set of national AI ethics principles. These guide responsible development and ensure that our approach aligns with community standards. We're also making sure that existing laws apply to AI—privacy protections, consumer laws, antidiscrimination legislation, online safety regulations and the list goes on. These frameworks already provide critical safeguards, and we're ensuring that they keep pace with technology.”
“We're also backing start-ups and researchers to scale their work and push the boundaries to see what's possible. All of this adds up to a serious and sustained commitment not just to using AI but to leading in its development and application right here in Australia for the world. But capability without trust gets us nowhere. At last count, 50 per cent of Australians use AI regularly but only 36 per cent say they trust it. This is a serious gap, and, if we don't close it, we risk losing the social licence to use these tools at scale. A huge shout out to Simon Kennedy—no, not the member for Cook, who's here—who lives in Lane Cove. He's head of the Australian Association of Voice Actors. Simon is a local comedian and a voice actor.”
“That's why we've allocated a billion dollars through the National Reconstruction Fund to support critical technologies like AI, backing sovereign capability and helping turn great Australian research into commercial products and services. We've also committed $17 million to set up AI Adopt centres across the country so that small and medium businesses can access the tools and advice they need to adopt AI safely and effectively. At the same time, we're investing in the workforce that will power this future, with $47 million going into the Next Generation Graduates Program to train job-ready talent in AI and emerging technologies. It's being done through programs like the Industry Growth Program and the R&D tax incentive which supported nearly $1½ billion in AI related projects last year.”
“In fact some modelling tells us that AI could contribute up to $200 billion a year to Australia's GDP by 2030 and create an extra 150,000 jobs. But those outcomes don't just happen by default; they require deliberate action, they require investment, they require guardrails and, importantly, they require public trust. That's exactly what our government is seeking to do. We're taking a clear-eyed, proactive and strategic approach to the opportunities and the risks of artificial intelligence. Our vision is for Australia to be more than just a consumer of AI; we want to be developers, deployers, adaptors and trusted users. And we're building that capability from the ground up.”
“I welcome this motion from the opposition and particularly from my good friend the member for Casey, although I might not agree with some of his editorial comments. It's not every day that we get a moment of consensus in this place, but, when it comes to artificial intelligence, we all know that the stakes are high and that the opportunity is enormous. AI has the potential to transform our economy, to lift productivity, to solve complex national challenges and to make everyday life easier for Australians. Whether it's improving health care, boosting productivity, helping small businesses with day-to-day operations or helping individuals navigate complex data, the impact is already being felt right across Australia.”
“We're working every day to make it easier to run a business, to hire skilled staff and to invest in businesses with confidence by reducing red tape, including through planning and zoning reforms, backed by our $900 million national productivity fund. We're backing apprenticeships. We're backing industry growth and mental health support for small businesses, because we understand that resilience isn't just financial. And of course there are those tax cuts, which the members opposite voted against, helping 1.5 million sole traders from 1 July next year. The difference is this: we don't just say we support small business; we actually show it.”
“Small business retains its seat in cabinet, and regular small business ministerial meetings give owners a direct line to government decision-making. I know so many MPs on this side of the House who regularly engage with their small-business community and bring their ideas and their feedback straight back to this place. It's what I did when we ran a really successful digital payments campaign to reduce the cost of surcharges on small businesses. They were telling me—and I knew this myself—surcharges were hitting small businesses hard. The government took that feedback seriously. We are now in the middle of decade-overdue reform. We look forward to receiving that final advice from the RBA and industry as the government responds to it. This is how we do things on this side of the House. We listen, act and stay engaged.”
“We have extended that great Labor policy, the instant asset write-off, started under Kevin Rudd, by another year. That's up to $20,000 for instant asset write-off. We are also investing in digital and cyber support for small businesses, something we know they need to be across to remain competitive in a modern economy. We are strengthening the franchising code, cracking down on unfair trading practices and extending protections to small businesses dealing with the big players. It's not just about dollars and grants; it's about how the government engage with small businesses and how we expect others to do the same. That's why we had our first National Small Business Strategy, bringing all levels of government together to reduce duplication and make support simpler to access.”
“In my time as councillor, mayor and, now, MP, I've spent countless hours in our town centres talking to small-business owners about what's working, what 's not and what needs to change. I have listened and I have brought their voices back here. I'm not the only one. This government has taken that feedback seriously. We are showing up to small businesses with real, practical support. There's been $2 billion in targeted support since coming to office in 2022. We've helped with energy rebates, which, of course, were opposed by the member for Casey and all those opposite. We have supported small businesses to reduce their emissions and power costs with grants of up to $25,000 for energy upgrades. We are now supporting small businesses by making them eligible for our Cheaper Home Batteries Program.”
“I challenge that, because fee-free TAFE helped small businesses find skilled staff, accessible and affordable child care helped small businesses retain staff, and our tax cuts, which the Liberals and the member for Casey voted against, will help 1.5 million sole traders. That tax cut will help small businesses across the country. Small businesses employ over five million Australians and contribute $600 billion to our economy. They give our town centres life. They sponsor our local sports teams. They back themselves again and again, in good times and bad. In Bennelong, they're the beating heart of our community, from Ryde to Lane Cove, from Gladesville to Eastwood.”
“Before I became a member in this place, I ran a small family owned business, the one my dad started out the back of the van in 1987. He employed me, my mum and dozens of locals. It paid for my education and it put my food on our table. My whole life has been shaped by small business. I understand the pressures that comes with keeping the doors open, and I know the hours, the risks and, of course, the rewards. So when small businesses say they need support I understand them, and so does this government. We know that there's no single fix, but we also know what makes a difference—practical support, clear policy and economy-wide reform. The member for Casey said there that was only one bill to help small business in the last term.”
“I know ERNA have shared it and are doing a fantastic job. This needs to be funded properly. When we invest in sports, we invest in communities.”
“That's why this facility was built in the first place, and it's something they have been fighting for, for over a decade. Unless all 29 courts are sealed this facility won't meet our local needs or competition standards. That's why, working hand in glove with my good friend and counsellor Lyndal Howison and, of course ERNA, I've launched a petition calling on the New South Wales government to fund these final four courts and finish the job properly. Time is of the essence here. This facility is under construction right now—four amazing indoor courts and 29 outdoor courts but only enough funding to seal 25 of those courts. We need those extra four courts to be sealed and we've launched that petition. So I would encourage all netball parents and all those who play to sign this petition and share it.”
“But just down the road there's one project that needs a bit of love, and that's the outdoor netball courts at the West Ryde Multi-Sports Facility, which is currently under construction—thankfully, funded by the New South Wales government. It's set to become the home for netball in our area, with over $30 million in public investment. It's a project that has been years in the making, driven by the passion and persistence of our growing and thriving local netball community. But, as I said, the funding is a little bit short. Eastwood Ryde Netball Association, ERNA, have been informed that only 25 of the 29 outdoor courts are currently funded to be sealed, leaving four as grass-only courts. That might sound minor, but it means the difference between them being able to host state championships at the site or not.”
“It has already transformed the experience of players and families, and now, thanks to the Albanese Labor government, we'll be able to build on that success. My $800,000 commitment to the council will upgrade the community centre's electrics, deliver a lighting package that will install new energy efficient LED lighting on ovals, add solar panels to the facility and deliver a big beautiful battery onsite to soak up all that excess power. It will help the facility to be more sustainable, it will reduce emissions and it will cut running costs to the club. They spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on electricity to light those fields. It will cut those running costs and futureproof the precinct for generations to come.”
“These all-weather fields will support juniors taking their first kick, volunteers running the programs and local clubs building the next generation of sporting talent, because when we invest in facilities like this we're not just building fields; we're building communities. Then we get to Boronia Park in Hunters Hill. It's one of Hunters Hill's most loved and used open spaces, and it's been home to generations of local clubs and community groups. The recent opening of the community sports centre was the result of years of work by local volunteers, players and leaders—people who rolled up their sleeves, rallied support, co-funded the construction of this facility and brought it to life.”
“When I was the mayor of Ryde I backed the Christie Park master plan because I knew then that our community needed better football facilities. Since then we've seen not one but two synthetic fields at the park, and it has grown into a key sporting hub. But there's more to be done. I identified, fought for and will deliver $1.9 million to the City of Ryde Council so that they can construct stage 2(a) of the Christie Park masterplan—that is, five new small-sided synthetic fields purpose-built for futsal and multisport use, particularly for training. It will mean more game time for locals, more training space and more opportunities for sports to thrive in rain, hail or shine. In a fast-growing area like Macquarie Park, we need infrastructure that keeps pace.”
“Every weekend, from West Ryde to Hunters Hill and Gladesville to Lane Cove, you'll find thousands of locals pulling on their team colours, coaching from the sidelines and cheering from the stands. Whether it's netball, football, cricket, rugby, frolf or badminton, sport brings our community together. It builds friendships, keeps people active and gives kids the confidence and connection they carry for life. In Bennelong, it's our local clubs and volunteers who make it all happen. That's why I'm proud to have secured major funding commitments to improve two key sporting facilities in our community: Christie Park and Boronia Park. That's why I'm also standing with our local netballers, calling for a basic fix from the New South Wales government to fund a project that's currently falling short. Let me start with Christie Park.”
“Today we introduced a bill to help young people, a bill to help rebalance the scales of intergenerational equity. Today we introduced a bill to take 20 per cent off student debt. It'll help over 23,000 people in Bennelong and more than three million people across the country. It'll save them on average $5½ thousand, and it'll make repayments fairer. But let's never forget that, if it were up to the Liberals and Nationals, today would not have happened. They call this reform unfair. They attacked it before the election, and they still belittle it to this day, questioning our motives for doing it. We're doing it because Labor knows it's tough to be in your 20s and 30s, and we'll always stand up for our young people.”
“It's for the people who don't have the hours to sit on the phone on hold and fight long battles with telecommunication companies who sometimes don't do the best by their consumers. It's for people who just want a fair deal and decent service. This is another step in putting consumers at the heart of regulation that we do, and I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned.”
“I pay credit to the minister, who has done an extraordinary amount of work in one term to reform these really important parts of her portfolio. We don't just talk about putting consumers first or at the forefront of our reforms; we legislate it too. This legislation is for every Australian that is connected by their phone or tablet. It's for a single mum in Gladesville trying to contact Centrelink or a small-business owner in Lane Cove who needs to be online all the time. It's for the elderly couple in Eastwood who need to use telehealth for their care. It's for every worker, parent and grandparent who relies on their phone or internet connection to stay informed, stay connected and engage in modern society. It's for people who cannot afford for the system to break down or can't afford for their complaints not to be dealt with.”
“It's about weeding out the worst offenders, incentivising compliance across the sector and building a telecommunications environment that works for all Australians, both in the city and in the bush. It builds on the growing legacy of telco reform from this government. We've implemented new rules to support customers experiencing financial hardship. We've directed the ACMA to create new protections for those experiencing domestic, sexual and family violence, because your safety should never depend on your phone plan. Now we're delivering a comprehensive package to reform how we enforce consumer protections and hold providers to account. This is the culmination of a very careful review of active stakeholder engagement and of decisive leadership.”