Henry Pike
Bowman · Liberal National Party · Australia
“One of the things I hear most often from people across my Redlands community is that the aged-care system simply isn't working the way it should—not in theory and not on paper but in the real day-to-day lives of the people who rely on it.”
“She arranged an assessment, secured a package and followed the process, but, when her mother needed simple aids, like a safe kettle or easy-grip kitchen tools, she was told to wait months for approval pending assessments.”
“I heard from an 82-year-old man who is living alone after suffering a stroke. He has a level 2 home-care package, but it is completely inadequate for his needs. He cannot stand without a walker and he fears falling when he showers, when he shaves and even when he gets into bed.”
“I also heard from a 76-year-old woman who hasn't even tried to access support, and this is becoming a common story in my electorate. She told me it feels that there is nowhere to go for advice, and she's not alone. The sense is that it's all too complicated. These aren't isolated cases.”
“We know the Prime Minister has a challenging relationship with the truth. When he comes to this dispatch box, he tries his best to persuade Australians that what they're experiencing isn't really happening. The problem is that the Australian people aren't buying it.”
“But I think all members here, if they were honest with themselves, would appreciate that probably this is the first generation—certainly in my view—where we can't actually make that promise to our children. The aspiration of homeownership is beyond the reach of too many Australians.”
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“I want to speak today about the realities facing families, retirees and small businesses in my community. Recently, I released the findings of my January 2026 Redland Business Survey, and I want to thank every local business who took the time to respond. Their feedback was incredibly insightful and deeply concerning. Almost 89 per cent of the businesses responding in my electorate expect their input costs to increase or significantly increase over the next 12 months. At the same time, 13 per cent anticipate reducing staff levels, up from just 10 per cent six months ago. Nearly half, 48 per cent, believe the economy will contract in the year ahead, while only 20 per cent expect growth.”
“The fact is Australia is a diesel economy, and without diesel we will come to a standstill. When last in government, the coalition legislated the Petroleum and Other Fuels Reporting Act 2017, established the domestic fuel reserve through a minimum stockholding obligation and legislated the Fuel Security Act 2021. The issue today is not whether the government has the tools to deal with this crisis. The question is whether they have the judgement to use them. The buck stops with the energy minister. The buck stops with the Prime Minister. Australians deserve a real explanation—not a 'she'll be right, mate' sort of attitude—on the government's strategy to maintain adequate fuel supplies in this country.”
“I spoke to locals in my electorate over the course of the weekend, and there were two issues that they raised consistently with me. The first was the cost of fuel at the bowser, and the second was concerns about what fuel supply constraints or disruptions will mean for the economy. The reason why locals were concerned about this is that they simply can't take another shock. They are already working harder than they ever have, they've already witnessed the largest fall in living standards across the OECD and they've already seen inflation higher than any other advanced economy. Today, we heard from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy declaring that he's convening a roundtable this afternoon and that there's nothing to worry about on energy security. To me, that's not good enough.”
“I trust that we'll have some commonsense changes that will allow my community to be prepared the next time a tropical cyclone makes its way as far down as South-East Queensland. It seems like a rare event, but it has happened, and it's going to continue to happen.”
“I'm very concerned that that hasn't been progressed as quickly as it should have been. The major concern that my community had was in relation to telecommunications; we basically lost all telecommunications and all power. I've written to the minister about the need to change the rules around the Mobile Network Hardening Program. Thankfully, the minister has committed to have the department investigate what options are available to expand that so we can use that for infrastructure that's further upstream. It's great to use it for the island infrastructure, but we need the mainland networks to work when we get into these sort of disasters, so they can actually feed the signal from the islands. I've written again to the minister. I trust it will be dealt with.”
“I'm very concerned about the risk, particularly to our Indigenous community on North Stradbroke Island, of the proliferation of these dwellings. There are more of them every month, and we've got to have a coordinated effort to ensure that proper construction is happening on the islands. The other concern I have is the failure of the national messaging system. I understand the government's now saying that this will come into place later in the year. I also understand that the original estimate of $10 million has blown out to $130 million. But that would have made a significant difference to the capacity of all of South-East Queensland to be prepared for that disaster and to ensure that they had the messages that they needed. We were told it was supposed to be ready by 2024—now we're in 2026 and we may go out to 2027.”
“They're families, retirees, small-business owners and Australians that deserve the same level of infrastructure protection as anyone on the mainland. They need stronger infrastructure, yet 12 months on there has been no meaningful progress in trying to get some of the funding or some of the federal commitments that they need to try to improve their resilience and their capacity to deal with the next cyclone when it inevitably comes. One of the major concerns that I have on the islands is the amount of makeshift housing that exists, particularly on North Stradbroke Island. We're talking about people living in uninsured structures that were never designed to withstand severe weather events on land known to flood, without proper safeguards and without any serious plan to address the risk.”
“I acknowledge the work of the minister opposite, who, as the former aged-care minister, contacted me at different stages throughout, particularly when we had evacuations of areas within my electorate. In the spirit of bipartisanship, I'd like to also thank Senator McAllister in the other place for her work as the former emergency services minister. We worked closely in getting the Australian Army out to the Redlands to assist in the clean-up. It was greatly appreciated. But there have been things that haven't happened, which should have happened, since those 12 months. One of my major concerns is island resilience. After Alfred, my state colleagues and I called for serious long-term investment in resilience for our island communities, which were some of the hardest hit. They're growing communities.”
“I want to reflect on the journey that my community has been through since that cyclone and make a few comments about the preparedness that we will have for the next likely event and on some of the lessons that have been learnt and some that haven't. In the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, I was pleased to see disaster recovery and hardship support made available. These payments mattered. They helped families keep food on the table. They paid for urgent repairs and for people to steady themselves in the most uncertain of days. The Redlands was very much overrepresented in the number of locals who were accessing those payments. My electorate was one of the hardest hit, particularly the communities on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and Stradbroke Island.”
“It is a pleasure to have my first opportunity to speak from the dispatch box. I am pleased that I have the opportunity to be up front here because the topics I want to cover tonight are matters of incredible importance. You wouldn't believe it, but it's actually been 12 months since Tropical Cyclone Alfred made its way to South-East Queensland. It's interesting that we've got three members representing South-East Queensland electorates in the House right now, which is good representation to hear this message. It's quite unbelievable to think that it has been 12 months, given how much has happened inside and outside this building over that period of time. In some ways, it feels about 10 years ago.”
“Imagine what that money could achieve in my electorate, across the Redlands. With just half a day's interest payments, we could green-seal every remaining unsealed road on the southern Moreton Bay Islands. With a single day's interest payments, we could fund stages 2 and 3 of the duplication of Wellington Street in Cleveland, a project of which stage 1 was funded under the former coalition government. With just a couple of weeks of interest payments, we could deliver a much-needed expansion of Redland Hospital. This is the cost of waste, and this is the cost that my community is paying for this Labor government.”
“Labor's spendathon is costing the people of my electorate dearly. Commonwealth spending has blown out from around 24 per cent to 27 per cent of GDP. It's the highest level outside of a recession in nearly four decades. Debt is now projected to climb to $1.2 trillion by the next election, and local families in my electorate are paying the price. They are paying through higher inflation driven by out-of-control government spending. They are paying again through higher interest rates, with more pressure likely to be piled on in 2026. Every mortgage holder in my electorate feels it and every small business feels it. But the opportunity cost of Labor's reckless spending is just as staggering. The federal Labor government is now paying around $50,000 every single minute just to service interest on the national debt.”
“Since arriving on Russell Island, he has fought to break local monopolies, provide greater consumer choice and establish vital employment opportunities for locals. One of his most significant legacy projects was commissioning the SMBI economic development strategy. This comprehensive research provides a clear snapshot of the challenges facing the islands and a vision for attracting strategic investment. Under Dan's guidance, the chamber has flourished, fostering strong partnerships between small businesses and all levels of government. On behalf of the Redlands community, I want to thank Dan for his tireless dedication. He leaves the Southern Moreton Bay Islands chamber stronger than ever, having done exactly what the community requires of him and demonstrated visionary leadership.”
“I rise to pay tribute to a formidable advocate for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, Dan Golin, who recently stepped down as the President of the SMBI Chamber of Commerce after two years of outstanding leadership. Dan's tenure will be best remembered for his heroic efforts in the face of Cyclone Alfred in 2025. As the islands copped the brunt of the storm, Dan acted as a true community champion. Before ferry and barge operations could safely resume, Dan led a dedicated group of local business volunteers, utilising their chainsaws and heavy machinery to clear the way. This selfless work was essential, allowing Energex teams to reach critical damage sites and begin the urgent task of restoring power to residents of the islands. Beyond his crisis leadership, Dan has been instrumental in reshaping the island economy.”
“Through his leadership with Rotary, STAR Community Services and Mangrove Housing, Col has championed literacy, inclusion, aged-care services and affordable housing for some of our most vulnerable residents. He also did a wonderful job last year helping to organise our Victory in the Pacific celebrations, which hold very large local significance for the Redlands as the place where the first messages of Japanese surrender came to Australia and were passed on to Allied headquarters. Australia Day in the Redlands is about celebrating service and belonging, and this year, once again, Redlanders showed exactly that.”
“Young Citizen of the Year Malakai Keen is an outstanding example of the next generation of community leaders coming through. With more than 1,500 hours of service in the Redlands SES, Malakai has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to service, responsibility and community safety well beyond his years. Community organisations acknowledged include Redlands Coast Museum, the Rotary clubs of Capalaba and Wellington Point, Play It Forward and the Mt Cotton Riders Alliance. They each, in their own way, strengthen our community and reflect the values we celebrate on Australia Day. Finally, I want to pay tribute to the Redlands Citizen of the Year, Col Sutcliffe OAM. Col's service spans decades and touches almost every part of community life in the Redlands.”
“It was Redlands on Australia Day, unmistakably. But Australia Day is also a time to recognise service. Redland City Council did exactly that through the 2026 Redlands Coast Australia Day Awards, which honoured locals who give freely of their time, energy and expertise to make our community even stronger. Sixteen individuals and organisations were recognised across eight categories. Together, they represent the very best of my community. Senior Citizen of the Year Tony Christinson has been instrumental in the growth and success of the Donald Simpson Centre in Cleveland over many years. Tony has given countless volunteer hours as a board member and former chair, strengthening governance, improving facilities and expanding programs that combat social isolation amongst older Redlanders.”
“Australia Day holds a special place in the heart of the people of my electorate. In the Redlands, we celebrate our national day unashamedly and with immense pride. This year was no exception. Across the Redlands, families came together to mark what it means to live in the greatest country on earth. In Cleveland I had the privilege of being part of a wonderful citizenship ceremony where around 150 new Australians formally joined our national family. At Raby Bay I hosted a massive community barbecue. We had so many turn out that we had to send out multiple times for more sausages, and we couldn't keep up with the demand from local patriots celebrating with family and friends. It was Australian flags everywhere along the bayside beaches and kids running around in green and gold. It was relaxed and joyful.”
“Most Australians still hold these values quietly, instinctively and firmly. We saw that in the courage of bystanders, in the professionalism of police and emergency workers and in the collective grief of an outraged nation in the days and weeks that followed. That instinct must now be matched by resolve. May the victims rest in peace, may their families find comfort, and may this nation have the moral courage to learn, to act and to rededicate itself to the protection of the Australian people and Australian values.”
“Naming it is not an attack on peaceful Muslim Australians, the overwhelming majority of whom live decent lives and reject violence. It is a necessary distinction, because an ideology that glorifies murder does not shrink when it is ignored; it grows. To be antisemitic is to be anti-Australian. It must be removed deliberately, not tolerated quietly. It must be challenged in our institutions, confronted in our schools and universities and denied any refuge in our public life and in all our communities. This is not a new standard we are inventing. This is the oldest standard that we have. Australia is a country built on the belief that every human life has equal worth, that the innocent are not collateral, that disagreement never justifies violence and that faith is never an excuse for murder.”
“It's a shame. It's a national shame. To attack Jewish Australians is to attack Australia itself. What happened at Bondi was not random. It was not detached from ideas. These were not deaths from some natural disaster or a road accident. These killings carry a far darker moral responsibility. They were the product of belief, intention and choice. Violence like this does not come from nowhere. It grows where hatred is excused, where extremism is indulged and where antisemitism is tolerated rather than being recognised for what it is: a poison. Bondi is the terrible endpoint of that moral failure. We owe it to the victims not to sanitise this reality. Radical Islam is a real and present driver of extremist violence across the world.”
“They worked, they served, they sacrificed and they contributed to Australia's civic, commercial, cultural and military life at every stage of our history. The greatest Australian this country has ever produced was a Jewish Australian. Sir John Monash was not only a brilliant general; he was a nation builder and a defender of our institutions who helped shape the Australia we inherit. In the course of the last parliamentary term, the member for Macnamara and I respectively chaired and co-chaired the inquiry by the human rights committee into antisemitism on campus, and one thing that I was shocked by was that the University of Melbourne, a university that John Monash attended and was the vice-chancellor of, is a place where Jewish students now feel harassed and feel unsafe. I think that 100 years have passed and we've gone backwards.”
“Violence against the innocent is not merely a crime; it is an assault on that image, the denial of human dignity at its most basic level and an affront to God himself. That is what Australians felt when they watched the events of Bondi unfold: shock, grief, and the quiet, unmistakable realisation that something precious had been violated. Today this parliament gathers to mourn, to honour the lives that were lost, but also to speak with honesty about the evil that was done, because remembrance without truth is not remembrance at all. Let me start by making this point: Jewish Australians are not guests in this country. They are part of its very foundation. There were Jewish Australians, of course, on the First Fleet. Jewish families helped build this nation from its earliest days.”
“There are moments in the life of a nation that divide time into before and after—moments that lodge themselves in our collective memory not just because we choose to remember them but because we cannot forget them. Tragically, 14 December 2025 will be one of those dates. In a place where so many millions of Australians and tourists have gathered so often without fear, violence arrived without warning. In an instant, that normality was shattered, families were torn apart and a community that had done nothing to invite harm was changed forever. The Hebrew scriptures begin with a radical claim: that every human being is made in the image of God. That idea is a foundation of Jewish moral thought and of Western civilisation itself.”
“Financial implications of these amended regulations also remain unclear. While not technically mandating new contributions, the practical expectation would be for Australia to increase funding and expand domestic capabilities. Most alarming is the requirement for countries to address so-called misinformation and disinformation, without clear definitions. This opens the door to potential restrictions on freedom of expression in this country. Australia's pandemic response must be improved, not outsourced. Any future agreement must protect our sovereign decision-making, ensure parliamentary oversight and guarantee full transparency. We strongly support international cooperation, but it must never come at the cost of sovereignty, accountability, fiscal responsibility or Australia's fundamental and inherent freedoms.”
“The committee received a significant number of public submissions expressing doubts about the performance, independence and governance culture of the World Health Organization. Coalition members note recent incidents which provide grounds for concern, including the removal of the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific in 2023 over serious misconduct, the removal of the WHO Syria representative in 2022 for corruption and fraud and the decision by the current WHO director-general to admit former Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe as a WHO goodwill ambassador. Coalition members recognise the value of multilateral institutions but remain troubled by the lack of clear mechanisms to ensure that WHO leadership, internal politics or external influences do not colour decisions that Australia would be expected to follow.”
“by leave—I echo the comments of the member for Bendigo thanking the amazing committee secretariat for the work they've done this year. Like the member for Bendigo, I served on the committee across both terms, and they do a fantastic job—not least of which on Report 230: amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) , which saw a phenomenal amount of public interest. I rise to make some additional comments on behalf of coalition members on this report. Australia has a strong record of constructive engagement in global health cooperation, and coordinated action in genuine emergencies has clear value. While temporary recommendations from the World Health Organization are described as non-binding, we know that any refusal would bring intense international and political pressure.”
“It is unacceptable and not the way for a friend to treat the people of a nation that has stood beside them in war, in peace and in partnership. These Australians deserve far better. My heart goes out to many British people who are mourning their cricket team's loss earlier this week, but can we say this simply is not cricket It is not fair and it is not a way to treat a loyal and longstanding friend.”
“He was given 45 pounds a week at the age of 65, and that is exactly what he's on today at the age of 80. This is not only unfair for the individuals who earned these pensions; it's also costly to Australia. As their frozen pensions fail to keep pace with living expenses, many of these retirees must rely more heavily on our own social support systems. Our government estimates that Britain's frozen pension policy costs Australian taxpayers over $100 million every year. For these reasons, this issue is something that the federal government should be taking up directly with the United Kingdom government at every opportunity. I certainly took the opportunity recently, when a UK parliamentary delegation was here, to raise some of these issues with them. It is discrimination, plain and simple.”
“In real terms, many retirees have seen the value of their pensions cut in half. What makes this even more unjust is that this policy is not applied universally. Pensioners living in the United States, across Europe and in six other Commonwealth countries have their payments automatically indexed every year. But Australians, who are among Britain's most loyal, longstanding and dependable partners, are singled out for inferior treatment by having their pensions frozen. Bernie from Alexandra Hills wrote to my office about this. He left home at the age of 16 to serve in the British army, where he served for 11 years before emigrating to Australia. He went on to serve for 20 years in the Queensland Police Service. When he turned 65, he claimed a part British pension.”
“More than 200,000 Australians, many living within my electorate in the Redlands, spent part of their working lives in the United Kingdom. They contributed to the system, they paid their national insurance contributions and they earned the British state pension. Unlike the Australian age pension, the British state pension functions more like a superannuation scheme. It is an entitlement purchased through years of compulsory contributions made by workers and their employers. Yet, for those who choose to retire in Australia, that entitlement is frozen at the moment that they receive it. There is no annual increase, no inflation adjustment and no recognition of rising living costs—nothing. A pension that might start at 155 pounds a week in 2016 stays at 155 pounds forever. Over time, it's not just inconvenient—it's devastating.”
“Our communities deserve better, our healthcare workers deserve better and, above all, older Australians deserve the dignity, certainty and appropriate care that they deserve.”
“One local Redlands resident—Michael, from Birkdale—wrote to me about the severe delays in receiving his approved level 2 home-care package. He described the government as 'incompetent and heartless'. Sadly, his experience echoes what many older Australians are facing. Victoria from Capalaba contacted my office questioning: What happens to the forgotten ones who need help but cannot access it? Matt from Cleveland wrote to me about the My Aged Care system, advocating on behalf of his parents. He wrote, 'It's absolutely disgraceful it has taken over 12 months to get to the stage where my parents were approved for a level 2 and now at least a further six months for the government to release the funds.' It's time to call it out again.”
“It was months of secrecy, broken promises and a waiting list that had blown out to more than 108,000, which is a 400 per cent increase in just two years. Their explanation? That the sector wasn't ready. But that claim simply wasn't true. Providers, peak bodies and advocacy organisations all made it clear that they were ready and willing to deliver care. After days of sustained questioning, the coalition forced Labor to back down and release 20,000 long-delayed home-care packages immediately, with a commitment to release the full 83,000 by the end of the financial year. It was only after the coalition exposed the inaction of the government that they finally began releasing the in-home care packages that Australian seniors desperately needed.”
“Yet every one of these occupied beds has consequences. It places additional strain on nurses, doctors and allied health professionals who are already working under enormous pressure. It adds to the growing queues of families waiting for their loved ones to receive essential surgery. It affects every person who dials triple 0 only to find ambulances ramped outside hospitals with no available beds. The Albanese Labor government are failing older Redlanders and older Australians across our entire country. Earlier this year, the coalition had to shame the government into releasing 83,000 additional home-care places that they promised and that should have been available from 1 July—yet by September not a single extra place had been delivered.”
“According to the GEN Aged Care report from March 2025, Australia has around 223,000 residential aged-care places spread across 2,600 facilities. On top of that, we have more than 299,000 Australians receiving a home-care package, but Senate estimates in October revealed that over 120,000 people are still waiting for the level of care they have already been approved for. National Seniors Australia reports that the longest delays are for those needing level 3 and level 4 high-care packages. Australians needing the most help are waiting 12 to 15 months, sometimes longer, for support that has already been assessed as essential. When an elderly person can't get a home-care package, when a bed in a residential aged-care facility isn't available, when a provider can't staff the beds they have, there is nowhere else to stay but the hospital.”
“These people should be in dedicated facilities where they can receive proper support. Instead, they are confined to acute hospital wards for no reason other than a system that has failed to provide them an alternative. Warwick, from Victoria Point, wrote to me recently to share the story of his wife. His wife was admitted to Redland Hospital in early September and remains there today—not because she needs hospital-level care but because no aged-care placements are available. Despite completing the entire My Aged Care application process and meeting all the requirements, Warwick has been confronted with an impossible choice—selling the family home to have a chance of securing a place for his wife. Right now, it appears his wife will be forced to stay in hospital indefinitely. Let me be clear about the scale of this issue.”
“Our hospitals are caring for many people who should not be there—not because they're unwell, not because they require acute medical treatment, but because they have nowhere else for them to go. In my community of the Redlands, 60 elderly men and women are stuck in hospital beds they simply do not need. They are medically fit for discharge and their treatment is complete, but they remain in acute wards designed for the critically unwell because there are no aged-care beds available to take them. This is being repeated in hospitals across Queensland and right across the country. These Australians are stranded because of a shortage of aged-care and disability placement beds—a shortage that sits squarely within the responsibility of the federal Labor government.”
“And a young family from Russell Island who I met recently told me they're now forced to travel deep into Logan, quite a distance from Russell Island, just to find a bulk-billing clinic. These are the real stories of real Australians being failed by this government and its promises to strengthen Medicare. Unfortunately, it's only become harder and more expensive to see a doctor. Australians deserve a government that delivers solutions, not spin. The Prime Minister must stop using Medicare as a political slogan and start addressing the real pressures facing patients and GPs. They deserve a health system that rewards doctors for time and care. It's time for Labor to listen to the families, clinics and communities crying out for support. Australians deserve more than just broken promises and political slogans.”
“The bulk-billing scheme does not give GPs the ability to take the longer consultations they need to understand increasingly complex health issues. This is encouraging shortcuts and a preference for quantity over quality when it comes to receiving health care. When you or your child gets sick, you shouldn't have to check your bank balance before seeing a doctor. But that's exactly what more and more families in my electorate and right across Australia are having to do. I've heard from a single mother in Wellington Point forced to choose between petrol and a check-up. A retiree in Victoria Point recently contacted me, outlining that she's delaying an appointment because she simply can't afford it.”
“The Queensland president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Nick Yim, said in October: We all know across the country expenses are increasing. That includes mortgages, electricity, staff wages, insurances. And obviously, when we see these rebates, if they're not keeping in touch with the cost of living expenses, it just means that we cannot bulk bill everyone. … … … we also know that our population is getting older, diseases are increasing, becoming more complex, and we do want to incentivise those longer consultations for those increased complexity as well. We want to incentivise taking the time, seeing the patients and for those long consultations. It is clear that Labor's cost-of-living crisis is largely to blame for the inability of many GPs to sign up to the bulk-billing scheme.”
“One GP clinic in Cleveland, within my electorate, recently emailed its patients to tell them exactly why they could not afford to join Labor's new plan. Their email reads: While we support initiatives that aim to improve access to healthcare, the new program does not provide the level of funding required to cover the true cost of providing high-quality, comprehensive GP medical care. The Medicare rebates, even with the new incentives, continue to fall well short of the cost of delivering the time, expertise, equipment, and staff support involved in your care. Signing up, they told patients, would mean shorter appointments, rushed consultations and compromised care. So, instead, they've chosen to remain with private billing to protect the quality and time their patients deserve.”
“Under Labor, more and more Australians are finding that they also need their credit card because GP costs are at record highs. Since the coalition left office, Labor's mismanagement of Medicare has seen bulk-billing collapse across the country, including in my electorate within the Redlands, where it has fallen from 84.7 per cent under the coalition to just 71 per cent today. Only 1,051 of Australia's 6,940 GP practices have joined Labor's new incentive scheme. Why? Because, like many small businesses, local clinics are struggling under Labor's cost-of-doing-business crisis, with sky-rocketing energy, higher rents and insufficient rebates that simply don't cover the real cost of providing quality care.”
“Families across Australia are paying the price for the Albanese Labor government's broken promises on Medicare. Labor's new bulk-billing policy is already unravelling. Figures released by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing reveal that just 13 per cent of metropolitan GP clinics have signed up to Labor's new bulk-billing program. That means the vast majority of Australian will still face out-of-pocket costs when visiting their local doctor, costs which health department officials admit now average almost $50 per visit and are expected to continue to rise. When the Prime Minister stood before Australians and promised that all you'd need to see your doctor was your Medicare card, he gave a commitment of affordability and access. The reality has proven very different.”
“I move: That this House notes that: (1) families across Australia are paying the price for the Government's broken promises on Medicare, with out of pocket general practitioner (GP) costs now almost $50 on average; (2) the former Government left office with bulk billing rates at almost 90 per cent and lower GP out of pocket costs; (3) the Prime Minister has broken his promise that Australians would only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, with costs continuing to rise and bulk billing continuing to plummet in 32 electoral divisions; (4) only 13 per cent of metropolitan clinics have signed up to the Government's bulk billing program, with local GP practices struggling under the Government's rising cost of doing business crisis, including skyrocketing energy bills and rent; and (5) the Government is using Medicare as a political football while ignoring the real pressures facing patients and GPs, leaving families in Australia saying it has never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor.”
“We have gotten to the bottom of it now but it took me about two years to find out a clear answer from the state government. I fear the changes these laws will implement will provide that same labyrinth, that same level of complexity, to federal FOI requests as well. I This bill also rewards delays and dysfunction. We already see agencies that breach FOI timeframes all the time. In fact, I had one last year where an agency requested more time to be able to meet their FOI request and were unable to make it.”
“I have worked for a number of industry associations over the years where I have had to make FOI requests, and, being a member of parliament, I have made a number of freedom of information requests not only to the federal government but also to the Queensland state government as well. It has been interesting to draw a parallel between the different systems. It has always been a benefit of the federal government systems that they have always been cheaper, more transparent and clearer than what the state government offers. I recall one particularly bad incident when I was requesting a rather simple bit of information from the Queensland government in relation to a helipad which had been closed and was being utilised to withdraw patients from Stradbroke Island in my electorate. It had been closed under unusual circumstances.”
“It is critical we do allow those anonymous requests because people do at times require the protection of an anonymity to be able to make these requests and get to the bottom of things, and I will touch on that a bit later. The bill also expands secrecy around cabinet advice. New clauses will allow agencies to block access to any document that describes or refers to cabinet material and to classify factual briefs as deliberative to keep them hidden. Anyone who has had anything to do with making freedom of information requests before will understand that inherent grey area between what is cabinet material and what is not. I have certainly had quite a bit of experience in lodging freedom of information requests.”
“Unfortunately, it also creates a truth tax, and we see a lot of opposition to that from not just civil society groups but also from those whose job it is to also hold the government to account—that is, our media. By imposing application fees and processing caps, Australians will have to pay for access to information that already belongs to them. We are also seeing a lot of criticism of this bill, that it will silence whistleblowers and it will prevent vulnerable applicants from being able to access information. It bans anonymous requests, which strips away protections for those who fear retaliation. That is an area I will focus on a bit later in my remarks as well.”
“What we are seeing in this bill is something that weakens the transparency measures around government processes, it entrenches secrecy and it reduces accountability, and that is something we certainly cannot support. Unfortunately, we are seeing the government rush this bill, and the antics of seeing it go back and forth between our debating chambers is indicative of that. The government have rushed this bill through. They are ignoring the 2023 Senate FOI inquiry and without advancing credible national security measures. We have also seen this bill introduced without consultation. Unfortunately, it undermines transparency and democratic accountability. It moves FOI from a presumption of openness to a presumption of control. Australians will see only the announcements and never the debates that lead to them.”