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 am not surprised at all that there is a level of confusion around this Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 and where we are up to in the debate because it has been a bit like a yo-yo going back and forth between this place and the chamber downstairs. I think that is a bit emblematic of the government 's approach to this legislation. Unfortunately, we are seeing a bill here that is, I think, relatively friendless. There is great support, I am sure, from the government and the government backbenchers but very little support from my side of the chamber, the crossbench or even anyone out there in civil society who has made comment on this bill so far.”
“Let us be the generation that corrects this wrong. Let us ensure that every Australian who fought in these wars is known, remembered and honoured.”
“Funding should be made available not just for the physical commemoration of the graves but for the research, verification and administration that underpin it. This would represent a step change in pace and ambition, delivering in next 15 years what the current approach would take many decades to finish. No matter whether they fell in service or not, every Australian who fought to defend our nation deserves to be honoured. Australia's promise to those who served has never been just about medals or parades or ceremonies once or twice a year. It is about remembrance—real, lasting remembrance—written in stone and carried in the national consciousness. These men and women did not hesitate when their country called. The least we can do is ensure that their names are not lost to time or bureaucracy.”
“I'm also calling for the Commonwealth to supercharge the Marking (First World War) Private Graves Grants Program so that we can have all graves commemorated by 2028—the 110th anniversary of the Armistice. We should commit ourselves to a marking Second World War private graves grants program that could see all unmarked veterans graves completed by the centenary of the Second World War in 2039. To achieve this, we must back our words with real support. Volunteer groups across the country are already doing the painstaking work of identifying, researching and restoring forgotten graves, but they're doing it on a shoestring. If we are serious about completing this task by 2039, the Commonwealth must invest properly in these community driven efforts.”
“It should commission a full public report into the practice of grave decommissioning, publish a full register of affected veterans and where possible restore the original commemorations to their proper resting places. These Australians did their duty for this country. It is time their country did its duty for them. This issue is of great concern to many in my community, who believe that preserving veterans' memorials is a matter of national respect and duty. Our veterans deserve better than to be forgotten in unmarked earth. They deserve a nation that remembers their service with pride in life and in death. I also contend that the government needs to go beyond just correcting this historical wrong.”
“Freedom of information requests made by advocates in the veterans' graves space have also failed to uncover the scale or specifics of this practice. I don't blame the minister or the government for this. They haven't provided clear answers, because the information just isn't available. It seems to me that the historic records of this practice, the practice of Australian governments destroying Australian veterans' headstones, have not been maintained over the decades. It leaves us with an inherent challenge. We don't know how many were affected or when or where this occurred. It will take extensive efforts to get to the bottom of it. We cannot undo what has been done, but we can make it right. I'm calling on the Commonwealth to formally acknowledge that this practice was a historical wrong.”
“How many headstones were removed, and how many tin plaques were installed in their place? Can a list of affected graves, including the names and locations, be made available to assist researchers in their commemorative work? The minister's response, while polite, was disappointingly bureaucratic. It confirmed what many have suspected—that the practice did occur, that it was known to successive governments and that it was quietly signed off on by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 1972. What it did not provide was accountability. There was no figure on how many graves were affected, no explanation of the criteria for declaring a grave unmaintainable and no evidence that families were properly consulted and that their consent was ever sought.”
“I contend that this policy failed to treat these veterans with the dignity and respect that they deserved. This is one of those episodes in our national story where we see government decisions made with what were believed to be good intentions only for history to reveal them as mistakes. The maintenance of headstones for the graves of Australian service men and women, people who fought in the service of their country, should never have been reduced to an accounting exercise. I wrote to the veterans affairs minister earlier this year in the interests of transparency and historical accountability and sought answers on this practice. I asked: When did this program begin, and when did it end? What was the policy rationale behind this program? Are there any documents detailing the decision-making processes?”
“The most concerning aspect uncovered by these researchers is not the quantum of unmarked veteran graves or the slow pace of government to resolve the issue. The most concerning aspect uncovered by these researchers is a sanctioned historical government program that deliberately stripped veterans' graves of their official headstones in the name of administrative convenience. Experts in the field have advised me that, halfway through the last century, the former Anzac Office of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission engaged in a program of decommissioning the headstones of Australian veterans to reduce maintenance costs. Under this program, original upright headstones were removed and replaced with simple tin plaques. Some, however, remain completely unmarked.”
“Their first budget reduced the amount to $1.5 million over four years, and it has since been cut again to just $437,000. To put that in perspective, only $18,000 was spent last year to mark 42 graves. While the latest round of funding from the Albanese government delivered $107,000 in funding to mark the graves of 182 First World War veterans, it is too little and far too few. At that rate, it would take the federal government 280 years to finish recognising all the veterans of the First World War who lie in unmarked graves, and that is before we even begin to consider the tens of thousands from the Second World War who also deserve that recognition. This is not the respect that these veterans deserve.”
“It is a shame that it takes the efforts of volunteer researchers to point out to DVA where they have failed to achieve their mission over so many decades. Other groups across the country involved in this work include Forgotten Diggers Inc., the Longreach Archival and Historical Research Group, Friends of Toowong Cemetery, the Waroona Historical Society, the WA 10th Light Horse Organisation, the Friends of Balmoral Cemetery and the Headstone Project. Under the former coalition government, funding was provided to help groups like the Remembrance Army honour these veterans properly. A total of $3.7 million was committed after a successful pilot that placed more than 1,100 markers on unrecognised graves. Before the 2022 election, Labor promised to match that funding, but once in government they walked away from that promise.”
“To give you a sense of the scale of this effort, one veteran buried in the Cleveland Cemetery had no children. The researchers therefore had to trace the lines through 12 of their siblings until a great-great-grand-nephew and a great-great-great-grand-niece were both located living in Canada. It is painstaking work undertaken on a voluntary basis to ensure that these heroes are given the honour that they deserve. Through the research work of the Australian Remembrance Army, they've also uncovered many unmarked graves that should have been commemorated by Veterans' Affairs many years ago through longstanding commitments to provide headstones to any veterans who succumbed to the injuries that they sustained during their war service.”
“These amazing women give their time and energy to restore dignity to those who served. They identify unmarked graves, research their records and ensure that as many veterans as possible are properly recognised for their contribution to this country. In Cleveland Cemetery, within my electorate, their work has uncovered 19 previously unmarked graves of servicemen from the world wars. The discoveries bring the total number of known veterans buried there to 421. It is slow, careful work, but it matters deeply. It builds off the amazing work that they've undertaken at Lutwyche and Brisbane cemeteries, where they have located approximately 1,500 World War I veterans in unmarked graves. To proceed with marking a veteran's grave, permission must be sought from a confirmed descendant.”
“Australia's story has been written by the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who have worn our nation's uniform. They have served in war and peace, at home and abroad, carrying the weight of our flag and our values. Every one of them deserves to be remembered not only for the battles they fought but for the lives that they built after returning home. More than 103,000 Australians gave their lives in service and countless others came back bearing scars that never truly healed. Too often their memory fades over time. Across our cemeteries the resting places of too many veterans are unmarked and forgotten. Their stories and their service risks being lost to history. That is where the Australian Remembrance Army comes in, led by volunteers Katrina Trevethan, an expert genealogist, and Cate Walker, a graduate in cemetery practice.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. Labor's housing policies are failing. Under Labor's $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, just 567 of the promised 40,000 social or affordable homes have been completed, and now it is being audited by the national auditor. The chair of Housing Australia has resigned after bullying allegations, and the government fell short of its construction targeted by 66,000 homes last year. Does the Prime Minister accept that his government is building fewer homes and has made housing affordability worse?”
“We had it this year at the Champions Church at Thornlands, and I want to thank them for hosting the event. As we reflected on the lives and legacies of our fallen officers we renewed our commitment to support those who serve today, to ensure their safety and wellbeing are never taken for granted. We honoured their memory, we thanked their families, and we remain deeply grateful for the courage, dedication and sacrifice of all who wear the blue uniform. With honour they served.”
“During the service in the Redlands, we also acknowledged the men and women currently serving in the Queensland Police Service and in police forces across our region. Their professionalism, their compassion and their dedication keep our communities safe and uphold the proud traditions of those who came before them. I'd like to thank Mark Stiles, the president of the Queensland Retired Police Association Redlands Branch and his committee, as well as Andy Young and other members of the local police command who assisted in organising this powerful commemoration. It has truly become one of the big days in the Redland community calendar. It has become one of the biggest services across Queensland, and I want to thank all involved who made it a tradition.”
“They wore the blue uniform with pride, dedicating themselves to protecting others, often in the face of great risk and uncertainty to themselves. Their courage reminds us of the selflessness at the heart of policing, and their sacrifice reminds us of the true cost of public service. A total of 151 Queensland police officers have fallen in the line of duty since 1861. At the National Police Memorial in Canberra, down the road here, 832 fallen officers from across the country are now honoured. We owe a continuing debt of gratitude to each of them and to their families, who carry their memory with strength and grace. These families remind us that behind every officer is a network of people who also bear the weight of their service with quiet pride and unwavering support.”
“I recently had the honour of attending the National Police Remembrance Day service hosted by the Redlands branch of the Queensland Retired Police Association. Each year on 29 September, we pause to honour and remember the men and women of our police services who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It is always a solemn occasion—a time for reflection, gratitude and deep respect for those who served our communities with courage, integrity and unwavering commitment. Redlands community members came together not only to mourn those we have lost but also to celebrate the lives they lived and the legacies that they leave behind. Those we honoured were more than police officers; they were parents, partners, friends and colleagues. They were people who chose a life of service, guided by a deep sense of duty and compassion.”
“I want to associate myself with the remarks of the member for Canning, the member for New England and the member for Barker, who have all outlined this issue, and with everyone who has spoken in favour of this bill, because I can appreciate the intention here. I can appreciate the passion people have brought to this issue and I strongly support the intention. I thank the House.”
“I have gone back and read the Senate estimates transcripts and seen the correspondence that has been made by the minister on this, and they haven't provided me with the necessary answers I need to satisfy myself that that isn't the case in this bill. I'm providing this contribution to ask the government if they can provide that clarity; can you give me that assurance that this does not apply to a stillbirth that has been caused due to a late-term abortion? I would welcome that, and I think many in the community would welcome that as well. This is a bill that should have support from all corners of Australian society, and if we can achieve that clarity, I think we will get there.”
“The bill makes reference to stillbirths, and it points back to the definition of 'stillbirth' within the Fair Work Act. There have been some concerns raised with me, and there have been concerns raised with the minister in Senate estimates recently, about whether that definition covers a stillbirth caused by a late-term abortion. I hope that isn't the case. I hope that within this bill we are not including that. I don't think that including that is the intention of the government. I strongly support the intention of the government on this matter. I don't think that is the intention, and I want to seek clarity from the government to ensure that isn't the case, because I do not think that is actually what they want to achieve there.”
“The member for Calwell made the very good point that without this clarity that the bill is providing for parents who find themselves in this tragic situation it compounds the grief, and I thought that was a very apt line. We have nothing but admiration for Baby Priya's parents, who have gone above and beyond to advocate for this change and to provide that clarity. So many Australians face this grief silently—an unimaginable grief—but Baby Priya's parents have taken that extra step up to say that we need to change this. I cannot thank them enough for their efforts, and I congratulate the government for bringing this bill forward, pushing this reform and closing this loophole. It is about providing clarity, as the member for Bennelong said. The concern I've got today is in relation to clarity of the use of definitions within the bill.”
“I flag ahead of time that I'm only going to speak for a few minutes on this matter. Firstly, I associate myself with the comments of all those who've spoken in favour of the Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Bill 2025. This is an incredibly important bit of legislation, and I think the intention here from the government is a very noble one. Many speakers have offered really strong, heartfelt contributions on this. I associate myself with them. This is a really welcome reform. But I also want to raise a concern, as some other members have this afternoon, with a feature of this law that has only been brought to my attention today. I want to seek clarity from the government on that through this contribution.”
“Just two weeks later, we saw a commanding performance by the Redlands-Victoria Point Sharks Football Club, winning the QAFL senior premiers title, 95-57, over Surfers Paradise. My commiserations to the Gold Coast member to the left of me. Congratulations to the coach, Phil Carse; to the captain, Mitch Stallard, to Cooper Anderson; and to all the other players. Our local teams keep getting the job done and bringing home the silverware to the Redlands. I could not be prouder to represent my community and the wonderful sporting clubs that represent our wonderful sporting culture.”
“In just a couple of short weeks two of the biggest sporting clubs in my electorate each took home the ultimate prize. On 6 September the Redlands Tigers Cricket Club, of which I'm a proud patron, clinched the 2025 Queensland Cricket KFC T20 Max title. Jimmy Peirson's colossal innings of 102 not out off 50 balls and Marnus Labuschagne's hat-trick sealed the Redlands commanding 41-run win over Valley. My apologies to the member for Brisbane. Congratulations to Jimmy, Marnus, Sam Heazlett, Mac Wright, James Bazley, Lachlan Bangs, Leigh Drennan, Lachlan McClure, Connor O'Riordan, James Pullar, Jack Sinfield, Jack Wildermuth, Charlie Thomas, Benji Floros, Cameron Boyce, Tighe Morris, Tom Hallion, Hugh Weibgen and, of course, their coaches and managers.”
“In order to ensure a fair and equitable outcome, I ask the government to provide equal funding to support both claimants and respondents. Will the Attorney-General continue the ideological obsessions of a predecessor or reconsider the scrapping of the native title respondent funding scheme?”
“Of course, this government has now abolished that funding altogether. Will the Attorney-General appreciate the scale of this imbalance and take the action required to correct it? Unfortunately, there is clearly a sense from within the Labor government that stacking the deck in favour of native title claimants is a compassionate and progressive thing to do. I don't doubt the sincerity of their motives, but I simply can't agree that seeking to precontrive these outcomes is in the best interests of our communities across the country or even in the spirit of the act. This should not be about ideology; this should be about fairness. The government's role should be ensuring that all stakeholders can meet their obligations under the federal act.”
“There is a real risk that the Redlands native title claim will drag out in the courts for years, costing both sides millions and ultimately delivering poor outcomes for both our Indigenous and broader communities. Two weeks of hearings took place last month, and more are due in December. But, as the matter progresses, the legal costs are growing and growing for Redland ratepayers. Figures from the Parliamentary Budget Office reveal that in the last decade there has been a huge funding discrepancy between Commonwealth money given to support claimants and money provided to assist with the legal obligations of defendants. Over the last decade, the federal government has provided $1.028 billion to support native title claimants but only $9.78 million to respondents, such as local governments, farmers and other organisations.”
“It also includes countless nature reserves, playgrounds and other community assets. Understandably, there is a growing level of community consternation about what a change of ownership on these land parcels would mean for how they are maintained, accessed and enjoyed by locals. The mounting costs of Redland City Council as a respondent to the Quandamooka Coast native title claim continues to place unreasonable pressure on planning and land use certainty and on the limited capacity of Redland City ratepayers and services. There are many sporting and community organisations who currently lease land off Redland City Council which now have had their tenure called into question due to this claim.”
“Since the inception of the scheme, support has been provided to 469 pastoralists, 375 local governments, 319 fishers, 91 miners, eight recreational users and many others. In the grand scheme of the federal budget and even within the AG portfolio, this would be a small appropriation, but it is one that would make a significant difference to the community that I represent. Redland City Council in my electorate is seeking clarity from the federal court to determine if native title has been extinguished on 2½ thousand council owned or managed sites within the Quandamooka coast native title claim area. The land in question includes some of my city's most iconic sites, such as the Wellington Point Reserve, the Cleveland Point Reserve, the Cleveland Cemetery, the Redlands Performing Arts Centre and even the council chambers themselves.”
“In the previous coalition government's last budget, you would have found a very modest amount of funding for the Native Title Respondents Scheme, but you won't see that allocation within this appropriation. Why is this? Because of the ideological decision made by this government to abolish Commonwealth funding for respondents in native title claims. This was an ideologically driven decision and an unfair cut to achieve the longstanding pet policy objective of the former attorney-general, the member for Isaacs. It is a decision I implore the new attorney-general, if she's committed to representing all Australians equally, to revisit. The Native Title Respondents Scheme provided grants of financial assistance to respondents in native title claims to help them meet their obligations under the federal act.”
“I start by thanking the Attorney-General for being here today, in stark contrast to some of her colleagues. It is good that she is here because I've got an issue to raise in her portfolio in relation to a matter that is of great importance to my community. When you scan through the appropriation of the Attorney-General's portfolio, you'll see expenditure related to the native title system. You'll see new investments in the Native Title Tribunal and you'll see references to the goal of supporting native title representative bodies and native title service providers and proscribed body corporates within the native title system. But what you won't find is any reference to supporting those entities that find themselves on the receiving end of a native title claim.”
“Alas, we weren't able to achieve that. I will keep fighting to restore fairness in funding for these communities to make sure they get the same opportunities and services as other Australian communities who face the same challenges. The Bay Islands are a vital part of the Redlands, and they deserve a government that recognises their unique challenges and delivers the infrastructure, jobs and services needed to secure their future.”
“These islands have a median family income of less than half the national average, far higher unemployment and greater barriers to accessing services than many mainland areas. We need massive investment just to bring the existing infrastructure of these islands up to standard for the existing population, let alone to cater for this massive growth that we've been experiencing recently and will continue to experience over the next 20 years. In the last three years alone, an average of nearly 270 new homes have been approved every year on the islands. This sort of growth is totally unsustainable without proper investment from all levels of government. This would have been resolved by the coalition's $20 billion Regional Australia Future Fund election commitment, which would have seen the Bay Islands restored to their regional classification.”
“This means a rising demand for health care, for aged care, for transport and for support services at a time when we have a shrinking workforce and far too few jobs. Right now on the islands there's less than one job for every two working residents. These challenges have been compounded by the decisions of this Labor government. In 2017 a successful grassroots campaign secured access for the Bay Islands to federal regional funding through the coalition's Building Better Regions Fund. This was a huge win. But Labor scrapped that program and replaced it with one that uses a blunt greater capital city statistical area approach. The result is that these islands are cut off from regional funding, while places like Noosa and Surfers Paradise are still considered regional. It's not just unfair; it's absurd.”
“The Southern Moreton Bay Islands are one of the most unique communities in Queensland. They are places of incredible natural beauty and vibrant local community life. But these islands are being left behind. Today, nearly 9½ thousand people call these islands home, and, when you account for visitors, holiday homes and daily travel, the population serviced by local infrastructure is close to 11,500. Research from the local chamber of commerce shows that numbers are set to grow to almost 15,000 over the next 20 years. This growth is putting a real strain on housing, services and essential infrastructure. Almost 40 per cent of the residents of these islands are aged over 65, compared to just 17 per cent across the rest of Queensland.”
“Mr Speaker, in accordance with standing order 105(b) I wish to draw your attention to overdue questions in writing: questions Nos 2 and 6. On 23 July, I asked the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and the Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme critical questions of importance to my community. Seventy-six days later, I still have no response from either of them. Mr Speaker, can I ask that you write to the ministers and seek their explanations as to why they have chosen not to answer my questions in writing within 60 days.”
“He was an evangeliser who wanted others to know the joy and freedom that comes from walking with Christ. Alan had a rare gift for seeing the best in people. For those of us striving to make a difference in our community, he was always ready with his time, advice, encouragement and, above all, his prayers. Many, including myself, relied on him as a constant source of encouragement. He was a true believer, a man of conviction, a man with a tremendous generosity of spirit, a man who never wavered in his faith and, to many, a true friend. On behalf of the people of the Redlands, I want to extend my deepest condolences to Alan's wife, Janice, his children and his family. Alan was an inspiration to all who knew him. Vale, Alan Lucas.”
“Tomorrow my community will come together to farewell a great Australian. Alan Lucas was a titan of the local real estate fraternity; a man of faith, conviction and generosity; and one of the Redlands' most beloved sons. He gave his time, his energy and his financial support to countless causes across my city. He was the driving force behind the Redlands Easter Family Festival, which brought tens of thousands together to celebrate. He also founded the Redlands Christian Business Network, a fellowship that united men and women of faith to support one another and share the gospel in the marketplace. Alan also spoke of the Redlands as being 'the great Redlands of the Holy Spirit', and he meant it. His was an inspirational faith. For him, belief was never private or hidden.”
“I challenge the government to put this on the program. Let's have this debate. It's a debate being had outside of this chamber. Why not inside it as well? In closing, I want to say to my colleagues in this parliament—let us recognise Australia Day through this bill and delegate its future to the Australian people. I'm asking members to trust the Australian people. Trust them to get the call right, both now and into the future. Let's entrust Australia Day to the Australian people.”
“Most Australians want to keep 26 January as our national day. That view deserves to be respected—and protected. This bill offers a path forward. It gives our national day security and allows the country to move past the endless debate. By setting a higher bar for change, we lower the temperature. We stop indulging the cycle of outrage and start focusing on the future. This morning I present this bill as a challenge to the Prime Minister and his government: If they are serious about their commitment to keeping Australia Day on 26 January, in line with the comments that were made in the lead-up to the federal election, they should support this bill. If they harbour a desire to change our national day without a mandate from the people at some point in the future, they should leave this bill off future programs.”
“I challenge them to adopt the same principle to legislate that it must be the Australian people who are the arbiters of our national day. It shouldn't be a radical principle that Australians should be asked to decide on areas central to our national identity. In fact, it was through a national plebiscite that Australians made the decision to adopt 'Advance Australia Fair' as our national song in 1977. If it's good enough for the Australian people to have ownership over their own anthem and their own flag, why not over their own national day? I fear the day will come when a future government gives into activist pressures on this issue. I've seen this story play out too many times before—a small, noisy few overriding the quiet conviction of the vast majority. Year after year, the polling remains consistent.”
“Many parliamentarians have come to this place, and achieved high office, while harbouring a desire to change our national flag But these ambitions have been thwarted by the knowledge that changing the flag would require the endorsement of the people. While it might be relatively easy to achieve a majority of the cabinet, or a majority of your fellow travellers in the caucus room, it is an exponentially greater challenge to achieve a majority of the Australian people, as this government discovered in the recent referendum. The Labor Party of the 1990s, of which the now Prime Minister was a new member, acknowledged that it was entirely appropriate for the Australian people to be the arbiters of what should be our national flag then and into the future.”
“Those protections were instituted through an amendment to the Flags Act back in 1998 by the Howard government. I went back and I had a look at the Hansard to see how the then Labor opposition reacted to those amendments. In 1998, the Labor Party supported the introduction of these protections—although I note that many of the Labor speakers spoke about their desire to change the flag. Fast forward a quarter of a century—our national flag still flies proudly above this building, unchanged, and in this chamber. I contend that the protections in the Flags Act that were introduced by the Howard government have contributed to this outcome.”
“This process would be the same prescribed for the Flags Act 1953 for changing the design of Australia's national flag, namely through a national plebiscite. How a national plebiscite on Australia Day would be formed and conducted will be at the discretion of parliament. Just as how in the last parliament we debated the parameters through which the recent referendum was conducted. However, the bill does provide that any alternate proposals must include 26 January as an option that can be selected by voters in any future plebiscite. All those qualified to vote in federal elections will be qualified to vote for any proposal for an alternate date for Australia's national day. These subsections are a reflection of the same protections for Australia's national flag that are contained within the Flags Act 1953.”
“To achieve this, the bill utilises the same provisions used to enshrine Anzac Day as 'a national day of commemoration' through the Anzac Day act 1983. This would mean that the date of Australia Day would be formally established as 26 January in federal law. This legislative protection ensures that Australia Day must remain as a national day and cannot be abolished by the actions of this or any future government. While we can't guarantee that any future parliament won't repeal this protection, it would be a brave government indeed who tries to pass a law to repeal the celebration of our national day. The remainder of the bill provides an avenue through which the date of Australia Day could be changed.”
“And it was yet another day of immense suffering for those souls aboard those ships. But from that harsh beginning, and through the many difficult chapters that followed, we've built something remarkable—a free, fair, and thriving nation. And that's something worth recognising. Australians are capable of both commemorating and celebrating on the same day. We don't need to erase our past to face the future. Trying to downplay or delegitimise our nation's origins won't help us grow stronger. It only divides us. The voyage of the First Fleet was a monumental act of endurance. So was Bennelong's journey of diplomacy. So was Pemulwuy's resistance. Modern Australia is the sum of all these stories—and our national day should reflect that. This bill will enshrine Australia's national day in federal law.”
“In fact, celebrations on 26 January predate the use of the word 'Australia' by a few years. For most Australians, it's a day to reflect on our shared history, to celebrate how far we've come, and to honour the people who've built and shaped this nation. It's also a day where thousands of new citizens are formally welcomed into the Australian family. It was on 26 January 1949—Australia Day—that our first citizenship laws came into force. It was the day Australian citizenship officially began. Every year we hear arguments against the date. Some believe 26 January should be a day of mourning. Nobody disputes that Australia's story includes hardship, injustice and tragedy. The arrival of the First Fleet would have been a moment of deep uncertainty for the Eora people.”
“The bill seeks to ensure that no politician, no political party and no special interest group can change our national day without the approval of the majority of Australians voting in a national plebiscite. Currently, Australia Day is marked as a public holiday on 26 January in every state and territory. While it's widely accepted as our national day, oddly, it has never been formally recognised as such by this parliament. Of course, it commemorates the landing of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in 1788, a moment that set the course for the development of our modern nation. Records show celebrations on this date began as early as 1808. New South Wales made it a public holiday in 1818. Australia Day is older than any national symbol we hold. It predates our national flag by nearly a century.”