Aaron Violi
Casey · Liberal Party · Australia
“I think it's really important when we have this discussion, that we separate the intent versus the outcome. Now, it's clear the intent is to make sure all those under 16 do not have access to social media.”
“CFA volunteers give back so much to our community, and today I want to pay tribute to a good friend of mine, someone I've known for 20 years: Tim Mitchelson, better known to all of us as Loaf. He's stepping back from the BMT at the Wandin Fire Brigade, but he has served our community with distinction.”
“We see time and time again that the backbench has to follow orders. They can't get what they want on gambling reform. They have to take the sandwich from those. They have to follow the Prime Minister's lead on a bad budget, and they have to continue to follow the minister that is failing when it comes to social media.”
“You spend a lot of time rushing legislation through this House for political means, but doing your job is getting the legislation right. This legislation is not working. Young— A government member: How? How is it not working? I will explain to you if you stop interjecting and listen. Young children are still on social media.”
“The coalition is saying, 'Let's take the time to have an inquiry, to do the work, to understand why it has failed and why we can get it right the second time.' As the member for Berowra said, we don't want to be back here in six months' time having to amend it again. The detail was wrong the first time.”
“They weren't prepared to look at the detail and understand. Let's look at history. This legislation was introduced on Monday this week. This government wants to ram it through the house on Thursday. But let's look at December when the first legislation was brought in.”
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“The coalition are supporting this bill because something is better than nothing, but let's be up-front here. This is partial. It's inadequate. It is not going to make a significant difference to the illicit-tobacco crime crisis that we face. In fact, astonishingly, in the explanatory memorandum, the government's own words confirm that this is a wet lettuce. They say: The Bill does not introduce substantial new powers, rather seeks to clarify, streamline or strengthen existing information-gathering and confiscation mechanisms, to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement outcomes. So at a time when crime is out of control in Victoria and is being fuelled by the profits from illicit tobacco, and when the current system is not working, the government, in their own words, bring in a bill that is not going to make a difference.”
“It was causing hardship and stress for them, as the owners, and for the team of locals that they employ, their families and the wider community. It was great to be there when they opened up again and to see them now continuing to thrive. They survived that tough 10 months, but they were impacted through no fault of their own. Their business copped the damage of the criminality. This is just one story I share, but we know there are hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands, of stories across the community of small businesses and people impacted by these firebombings, by this crime. There is no doubt that the impact is profound, and that's why it is so important that more is done to stamp this out. Like so many government bills, it has an impressive-sounding name—Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill. Of course we want to combat illicit tobacco.”
“I want to pay tribute to Seville CFA, Wandin CFA, Hillcrest CFA and many other CFAs across the upper Yarra and the Yarra Valley that were quick to turn out to get that blaze under control in the dead of the night. But, despite their work, the impact was profound. The much loved restaurant and family business next door, Branded Burgers and Bar, as well as the local dentist and medical centre—they were all impacted by substantial smoke, heat and water damage. In fact, Branded Burgers and Bar had only just changed hands. The new owners, Lyshea and her partner Chris, were in the early days of opening the business at the time. The business had to close for 10 months as they dealt with insurance and the renovations. I worked with them in this time to support them as much as I could.”
“There is such a disparity now in the price of illicit tobacco and illicit alcohol versus legal tobacco and legal alcohol, because of the excise, that it is fuelling this crime crisis. Combined with a complete lack of consequence for those who break the law, it is lower risk for organised crime to import a shipping container of illicit tobacco and make more profit than if they are looking to import illicit drugs. That is the reality. That is the mathematical reality for organised crime. And we need to do more, because it's not just criminals who are impacted. It is every community, it is innocent shop owners, it is those looking to do the right thing. Let me share a story from my community about the impact of the crime wave linked to illicit tobacco. On 11 February 2024, a tobacconist in Seville was firebombed.”
“The Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026 is an important bill to speak on. As a Victorian, I know, and every Victorian knows, firsthand the challenges that we face with the crime crisis in Victoria. Many states are dealing with illicit tobacco, but what cannot be denied is that a lot of the crime crisis is being fuelled by the profits gained by organised crime from illicit tobacco. As Victorians, we are now seeing this move into illicit alcohol as well. Organised crime is pushing into the hospitality industry and we are seeing venues being firebombed. And let's not beat around the bush, these things are linked. The illicit tobacco crisis, the illicit alcohol crisis and the crimes that they are fuelling are linked. They are bankrolling organised crime.”
“A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 11:47 to 11:58 I recently had the privilege of joining the Our Hills Our Future forum in Belgrave, alongside many community members, local residents, families, industry experts and local businesses. Thank you to Elliot Bell from Bell Real Estate, whose vision brought our community together for this important event, and to all those who supported the forum and attended, including fellow panel members Paul from Mountain Men, Belinda from Mums of the Hills and Yarra Ranges councillor Peter Mcilwain. It was a great opportunity to talk about not only our community today but also how we can work together to build a better community into the future.”
“John, Sue and the Bleumink family established the business in 1990 as a backyard workshop, and have seen it grow into one of Australia's finest steelworks businesses. Bluegum Metal Workers and Co were selected for their craftsmanship, adaptability and commitment to our community. They give back to our community by sponsoring the Healesville Soccer Club, storing all of the Healesville Christmas decorations for Rotary at no charge, helping with the Yarra Valley Railway volunteer program and providing aid to local elderly people. It's a perfect example of the contributions small businesses make to our community, and it's an honour to Ron Goding, who treated his daily work not just as a way to make a living but as a way to serve our community and society.”
“But it is, and we thank you for that. I also want to thank Nola Sharp, who I was lucky enough to nominate, because she gives so much back to the Wandin community, including the Wandin Toastmasters, Wandin Rotary and raising money for the Biggest Morning Tea. She's also the emcee of the event and does a wonderful job recognising all of the volunteers. So thank you for everything you do, volunteers. I'm glad we could recognise you on the weekend. I recently had the chance to join Healesville Rotary for a presentation of the Ron Goding Business Excellence Award. This award honours the late Ron Goding, a charter member and past president of Healesville Rotary Club. Congratulations to Healesville based family business Bluegum Metal Workers and Co on receiving the award this year.”
“It was an honour to hold the Casey Community Awards this weekend just gone and recognise 52 hardworking and dedicated volunteers in my electorate. I seek leave to present a table of the represented community groups, and to have the list incorporated into Hansard . Leave granted. The document read as follows— I thank the government for that. It's so important that we recognise volunteers. They give so much back to our community. They don't do it for thanks—they do it because they love the community—but they deserve thanks. So thank you to all those volunteers who give their time to support our community. Thank you to their families and friends who support them so that they can support the community. Thank you to everyone who nominated a volunteer, because sometimes our volunteers can feel like their work is not seen and not appreciated.”
“It is an opportunity to signal to the sector—small business and the cyber industry—that it has bipartisan support and parties of government want to work together to deliver better outcomes for industry.”
“I move: That paragraph (7)(b) of the motion be amended to read: "(b) Opposition member as its deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee;" I commend the minister. This is an important committee. It's a good committee, particularly when we look at cybersecurity and the challenges that all businesses face—but we do know small businesses in particular are really vulnerable to cyberattack and they don't have the resources to protect themselves and invest. So it's important that the government and this committee, in a bipartisan way, look at how we can protect small businesses and work with them. That's why we believe as an opposition that the deputy chair should be a member of the opposition, in particular given the fact that this committee is going to 2027.”
“This is a bad budget that is going to hurt the Australian people, and it is going to cost this government because they have been dishonest with every Australian. (Time expired)”
“This Prime Minister and this Treasurer are playing political games, rushing this legislation through when it doesn't come into effect until 2027. They want to hide from scrutiny. We've heard again and again over the past three days, and we're going to hear it again tomorrow, government backbenchers regurgitating talking points without understanding the detail of what they are voting for. They are not allowed to have their own thoughts on the government side. The reality is that if it stood up to scrutiny, they wouldn't have misled the Australian people at the last election. They would be proud of their changes. They would be happy to have a House economics committee review it. They would be happy to have more than two days of scrutiny in the Senate.”
“The Minister for Housing doesn't understand the detail of how this legislation will impact housing and the Australian people. This government want to hide from scrutiny. They do not understand the basic facts. We saw a protection racket today when the Manager of Government Business had to protect the Minister for Sport from answering a question about how this budget will impact sporting clubs in my community and in every community across the country. The Minister for Sport does not understand the detail of how these changes will impact the Australian people, sporting clubs and community groups who are working so hard to support young people. In many cases, sporting clubs are the lifeblood of a community. This government does not understand the changes that they have made. They are continuing to hide from scrutiny.”
“The Treasurer and the member for Chifley are working closely together and have a great relationship, so I cannot imagine why the Treasurer would be scared of scrutiny, other than the fact that he can't defend his changes. That is why he is rushing this legislation through. But that committee referral was important to scrutinise this. As media reports showed on the weekend, one backbencher from the government was quoted as saying, 'I don't understand this legislation.' We literally have a member of the government about to vote on legislation that they admitted, in their own words, they don't understand, so what hope does a business owner have of understanding it? We saw the pathetic efforts in question time yesterday where the Minister for Housing, when asked about new builds, couldn't answer the question in a five-second answer.”
“We know this budget is so bad that this Treasurer is doing everything possible to avoid scrutiny. Today in the House there was an opportunity for the Treasurer and for the government to be proud of their work, proud of their budget and support this work going to the House economics committee for review. We wanted to make sure that there were no unintended consequences; to make sure small businesses, young people and the Australian people were not impacted. But this government hid from scrutiny. Those opposite all went in and voted against referring this to a committee that they control. I don't know why the Treasurer would not want the member for Chifley, of all people, scrutinising this legislation.”
“The Australian people know that and young people know that because, when they try to get a house, it's harder than ever. Those opposite will talk about how this budget is about housing, but if it's about housing why are they increasing taxes on stocks, on small businesses, on ETFs and on those young people that leave a corporate job and join a startup and take stock options? How is collecting $77 billion of increased taxes helping young people get into housing? The answer is that it's not, because this budget is not about helping young people get into housing. It is about taking more from the Australian people so that the government can spend it as they see fit. However, we know that this government continues to fail when it comes to spending money on behalf of the Australian people.”
“The first question is one that all the Australian people want to know. Why did this treasurer and this government mislead and deceive the Australian people at the last election? Suddenly, 12 months later, they've realised that housing is an issue. It's been an issue for a long time, and their position has changed. So the real question then is: has the Minister for Housing failed? Is it about time that the housing minister gets reshuffled out of another portfolio that they have failed in—the minister who failed in Home Affairs and has gone to housing and has failed? That answer can be given by the RBA. There was a secret document released that the government didn't want out. The RBA didn't want it out. It showed that this government has failed when it comes to housing in their first term.”
“Well done to those successful businesses. They're not the ones that need government help, but they are getting it from this government because this government, as we have seen through the minister for industry, the Prime Minister and the Treasurer, does not understand the challenges that people face. They do not understand industry, and in the long-term, our country will suffer. Products like cochlear and so many other ideas that have been generated in Australia will have less capital, and without capital these ideas cannot go from an idea in a factory or a laboratory into the mainstream and actually commercialise and solve those problems.”
“The better use of that $20,000 is to put it into the share market, into companies like Woolworths or Coles or the big four banks, big established businesses that are not relying on their value through asset growth. They are providing dividends back to you every quarter or every six months or every year. You want that revenue coming back to you through a dividend, and, if you manage your numbers right, you won't be taxed at that higher rate. That is the perverse impact of these capital gains tax changes by this government. It will drive less innovation. It will support fewer Australian businesses. It will hurt science. It will hurt technology. It will hurt those that want to get ahead, and it will encourage people to give more money to the big four banks, to Woolworths, to Coles, to those successful businesses.”
“The worst part about these changes, in addition to breaking faith with the Australian people and the Prime Minister destroying any legacy he might have had, is that these changes will punish start ups and small businesses and will provide an incentive to investors to invest in large organisations that are already established. Let's say you have $20,000 that you want to invest. If you invest that into a start up who delivers a return on capital increases—they start at zero and build a business, and part of the plan is an exit strategy to sell that business—that means that your capital will go up significantly and you will now be taxed at 47 per cent under this government. So why would you want to put that $20,000 into that business where your exit strategy will be taxed at 47 per cent?”
“The sad part about this division and the sad part about having a prime minister that's never worked a day in the private sector, a Treasurer that's never worked a day in the private sector and a finance minister that's never worked a day in the private sector—and they refuse to consult with industry—is that it results in policies that are damaging small businesses, damaging tech start-ups and damaging those who create innovation and solve the challenges that the Australian people face. The tech sector want to get ahead and want to solve challenges that we face as a nation, and they're being kneecapped by this government. It's either ideology or ignorance that is leading to it, but the reality is it's both because they don't understand industry.”
“The reality is there is a cold war going on within the Labor Party at the moment, and it's been shown by the member for Parramatta, the member for Bennelong and the member for Chifley speaking out publicly. It's not surprising that the minister, who sits in the left faction, and the assistant minister, who sits in the right faction, are not talking, because there's a little bit underway there, a bit of pressure. You know that there's real pressure opposite when the Prime Minister starts talking about 'unity' and 'order in the caucus' to break their word to the community. The Prime Minister protests a little bit too much.”
“My first question is a pretty straightforward question for the Minister for Industry and Innovation: why have you not engaged with industry about the budget changes, particularly the changes to capital gains tax and trusts? The second question is another very simple one for this minister: Why are you not talking to the Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy at all about the tax changes? Why is the assistant minister running roundtables that you have no idea about, as the minister confirmed in Senate estimates? Why is the assistant minister running roundtables without the department there to take notes? Why has the Department of Industry, Science and Resources not engaged with any stakeholders or been to any roundtables since the announcement of these disastrous budget tax changes that blindsided industry?”
“It will stain the legacy of all those opposite that blatantly misled their communities at the last election and have blatantly walked into their caucus and sat quietly and followed orders from the Prime Minister and the Treasurer. They've betrayed themselves. They've betrayed their communities. They've betrayed the Australian people. And, just like Icarus, when hubris catches you, you pay the price.”
“'Where appropriate'—there's a fair chance that, after they rush this through, the Treasurer is not going to think any changes are appropriate and he's been misleading the business community, startups and his own backbench. But, even then, can we really trust this treasurer? Can we trust this prime minister, a prime minister that said, 'My word is my bond'? He said that he wouldn't break faith with the Australian people. He has continued again and again, time after time, to break faith with the Australian people. The hubris, the arrogance and the disrespect to the Australian people are staggering. It will stain his legacy as a prime minister.”
“But look at the hide of this person! In the same speech, he contradicted himself. He said: As outlined in the budget papers, the government is consulting with stakeholders on the treatment of capital gains of small and startup businesses … Treasurer, you can't have it both ways. Either you're either having no distortions or you're consulting. Again, this treasurer either does not understand his own policy, his own economic plans, or is misleading the Australian people and small businesses and startups in this country. But we see it again in the fine print. In the same speech by this treasurer, he said: Where appropriate, these details will be finalised in subsequent legislation following consultation.”
“The member for Parramatta, the member for Bennelong and the member for Chifley have all spoken out against these changes. They've forced the Prime Minister to admit that he's going to consult. However, we know that this is going to be a sham consultation, because the Treasurer himself confirmed it in his own speech where he literally contradicted himself when he gave his speech introducing the bill. Let me explain to those business owners and small business owners that are hoping this government might listen—they're not listening. I'm going to quote the Treasurer: Returning to indexation across all asset classes ensures investments are treated in a neutral way and that we don't create a new distortion. There it is. The Treasurer confirmed that he does not want to make any changes. He does not want to create a new distortion.”
“That's probably why they don't understand that it's going to make it worse—35,000 fewer houses will be built because of the changes to negative gearing and capital gains. As I said, these are the Treasury's own words. They're actually going to make this situation worse. As a coalition, we know that supply is a key part of the housing challenge, and that's why we're investing and committing $5 billion to build that critical infrastructure that will get more houses into the system. It will get more houses built. It will actually make it easier for young people to get into a house. We have a lot of spin from this government. One of the lines they like to use is that they're consulting. We've had Premier Minns and Premier Cook, both Labor premiers, say that this budget needs to change and is wrong.”
“They are approaching the task like the student politicians they once were. That sums up very well from former Treasury official John Kehoe, the economics editor—we also saw, last week in the Australian , that government backbenchers were confirming that they didn't understand the changes that were happening. They themselves do not understand the tax changes that are happening. They're taking the word of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer. Good luck with that. What chance do business owners have? What chance do small businesses have to understand these changes, if government backbenchers are going to vote for them sight unseen, unknown? In their own words, they don't understand it.”
“This government are rushing this through, and they are going to try and play a political game here this week. The backbench are going to wave it through, because they're not allowed to have their own opinion. Otherwise, they get kicked out, like Senator Payman. But it's the Australian people and it's the community that really pay the price. I want to quote from John Kehoe, the economics editor at the AFR and a former Treasury official, about this process and about this prime minister. He said: Costello and Keating were interested in the principles of good tax policy. Chalmers and Anthony Albanese don't seem to care. It appears to be all about politics. They don't have the political skills, technical understanding or policy interest to explain complicated tax policies to voters like Costello and Keating did.”
“It already has made it harder, because founders are talking about young people rescinding offers and saying, 'No, I can't come and join you, because of the uncertainty of these capital gains tax changes.' That is impacting small businesses and the tech sector today. But there are also young people that took the risk five or six years ago. They started at a tech startup. They've been there for four or five years. They've built options. They are literally on the verge of listing and going public, and their hard work is about to pay off so they can get a deposit for their house. These changes have undermined all that hard work, because suddenly the tax has been changed for them. We also know that we need to continue to support people. The process of how we do these complicated tax changes is important.”
“They are looking to increase significantly, and these tax changes will decimate founders and tech startups and small businesses. But it's not just the owners that will pay the price. Those young people that are working at a large corporate organisation or who straight out of university that don't want to start a business but want to work in a small business or a startup or take stock options—it's something I did when I left Mars and a corporate career to go to a tech startup. Stock options mean you're taking generally less salary, but you're taking a part of that business, hoping that that business will continue to grow and be successful. But, under these changes, young people will be punished for joining startups and taking stock options. It's going to make it harder for founders to recruit talent.”
“We also know that backing small business is so crucial, because small business is the engine room of the economy. Small business creates jobs. It helps families. It helps communities. I spend a lot of time at sporting clubs in my community. There are a lot of sponsorship signs on the sides of those grounds. They're small businesses, family businesses, in my community—not big businesses. That's why we will have the instant asset write-off increased to $50,000 and put in permanently so business has that certainty to invest, driving productivity and economic growth. But when it comes to these capital gains taxes, it will cruel small businesses that want to get ahead, particularly start-ups. For start-ups, one of their ideas is that they want to sell. They want to get bought out.”
“Yet we have the Prime Minister and the Treasurer, the housing minister and the member for Blair saying—and those following will say the same thing—that it's all about supply. Well, these changes will make it worse. We saw this week the RBA confirm, through a paper found through FOI that the government wanted hidden, that migration is a key part of housing prices. It also showed that in the first four years of this government they have failed the Australian people when it comes to housing. It's what we already know. It's what every Australian already knows. The question for the Minister for Housing is, what's next? The minister was shuffled out of Home Affairs because the minister failed, and is now in housing but clearly failed. So let's see where the minister is shuffled to next.”
“This Treasurer's books have looked better only because of bracket creep and commodity prices that he's had nothing to do with. And he's wasted it all. This will put fiscal discipline back into the budget. But we will also make sure that we tie migration to housing, because housing is about supply and demand. The worst part about this legislation—and the member for Blair, who has now left the chamber, talked about the budget papers—is that the budget papers confirm that these tax changes will deliver 35,000 fewer houses for the Australian people. The government's own papers confirm that their changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax will deliver fewer houses for the Australian people.”
“The coalition has said that, with our future generations fund, if there is an increase in the tax take because of commodity prices, 80 per cent, as a minimum, will be locked away to pay off debt to support the future generations of this country and to invest in nation-building infrastructure that will actually drive productivity and economic growth in this country. And of that investment in infrastructure, 25 per cent will go to the regions, because they represent 25 per cent of our country. They deserve their fair share. They also deliver so many benefits. They feed our country. They are a huge exporter in this country. So it's right that regional Australians get looked after. That also will instil discipline in governments. They will not be able to just spend those revenue upgrades that they had nothing to do with.”
“It will force governments to either spend responsibly or, if they want to increase taxes, go to the Australian people and explain to them why they are increasing their taxes. No more smoke and mirrors from this government. In addition, we'll have a future generations fund, which will make sure that, again, governments are held accountable and are honest. The trick this Treasurer likes to play when it comes to revenue is to set a price for commodities—and yes, rightly, it should be conservative—and then, when the price comes in higher and they collect more revenue, this Treasurer spends it all on his vanity projects, not in the best interests of the Australian people.”
“Well, there's a test coming for those opposite, because an amendment to this legislation will put that tax-back guarantee to the vote this week, and every member opposite will have a choice. They talk about supporting workers. Well, if you want to support workers, you sustainably and systematically support them by indexing the tax brackets. Will they vote for lower taxes, or will they vote for higher taxes? We're about to find out from this government. That will make tangible differences, every time you get a pay rise—not waiting 12 months, begging the Treasurer, 'Please, Sir, I want some more; please give me a tax cut.' You'll get it no matter what. And it will force governments to be honest.”
“That's more taxes on the Australian people—on mums and dads, on single parents, on families, on small-business owners, on community members doing their best, on 19- and 20-year-olds trying to get ahead. More taxes are coming for you under this government. But, as a coalition, we want you to keep more of your money when you work hard and you get a pay increase or you work overtime. As you get paid more, you have to pay more tax through bracket creep. But the coalition has committed to indexing the tax rate to make sure that bracket creep does not happen. So every time you get a pay rise you will automatically get a tax cut. There have been lots of questions and lots of talk about tests this week.”
“And that's the reality that they have to live with. It's interesting that they've decided, at a time where there is distrust in the political system, that the best way to earn trust is to break trust. But that, again, is a decision that they will all have to live with because the reality is these changes aren't actually about making housing easier. They are not about intergenerational equity or fairness. As I said, they will actually make the situation worse for young people. The Treasury secretary, Jenny Wilkinson, let the cat out of the bag by accident, I assume, last week when she said, 'Revenue needs to be raised from somewhere.' And that is the reality of this broken promise by this government. It's about raising more revenue for their spending program. This government is taking $77 billion in increased revenue—that's taxes.”
“There's a lot to talk about in this bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026, and the related bill. I'll go through why and how this bill is actually not going to help young people get into housing, the failures in the bill and also the plans that the coalition are putting forward. But let's be very clear to start with. This legislation is built on broken promises. The Prime Minister, the Treasurer and every member opposite promised their communities repeatedly that they would not change capital gains tax and they would not change negative gearing. They've all broken faith with their communities. It means that, going forward, it doesn't matter what they say. It's irrelevant, because no-one can trust any word that comes out of the mouth of any government minister or any backbencher.”
“That doesn't help you today. The reason he pushes it out for 12 months is you're paying for that yourself. Through earning more money, you're paying more tax. Inflation will mean you pay higher taxes. You'll pay more than $250 in extra tax through inflation under this government in the next 12 months. They'll give you a little bit back and then they'll pat you on the back. Watch them this week. Watch them talk about the tax cut that you'll get on 1 July. That was promised last year. This is what they do. They drip it out and drag it out. They're not giving the money back to you. They're taking more of your money and giving you a little bit back less.”
“This is a tricky government that says one thing and does another. It might talk about lower taxes, but the reality is this budget is delivering $77 billion in higher taxes for the Australian people. They also talk about tax cuts, but they don't talk about when they let the low- and middle-income tax offset lapse, costing the Australian people $1,500. They took that $1,500 back from you. They then also wait for your wages to go up as you work harder, as you earn more money and as you pay more tax through bracket creep, and then they will give you a sprinkle of that back. You'll notice it with this announcement from the Treasurer. It follows his standard playbook. He announced that you'll get $250 back. He talked about it for the last two weeks. You'll receive that money in 12 months time. He'll keep talking about it for the next few weeks.”
“But there's a reason that these changes were not proposed last year by the Prime Minister and by the Treasurer. The first reason that they didn't want to change it was that it will not actually help young people. It will deliver less housing for the Australian people. The tax changes in this budget will deliver less housing for the Australian people. Don't take my word for it, look at the budget papers that say it will deliver 35,000 less houses. These tax changes in the budget paper will deliver 35,000 less houses. It's in the budget paper.”
“I tell you what, it was quite amazing this week and last week that there was a big conversion from those opposite. They're talking about housing like, suddenly, in the last 12 months, housing became an issue for young people. If you believe the logic of those opposite, it wasn't an issue at the last election because they didn't want to change the tax settings when it comes to housing in the last election. That is a circle that they cannot square. None of them could explain how they went to their communities 12 months ago and said, 'Nope, we're not going to change the tax system. It's all working fine,' and then suddenly, today, everything is tough. Of course everything is tough, but have the courage to talk about it and change it 12 months ago, if you were going to do that.”
“This competition pays tribute to the late Don Parsons, the late president of the Lilydale RSL, who made a significant contribution to our community. The hundreds of entries were so well received, and it was heartening to see so many local school students pay tribute to our Anzacs through their writing. It was wonderful to visit these schools to meet the winners and the finalists of the competition, who were selected by the local RSL presidents. Congratulations again to the winner, Matilda, and finalist Jonathan, both from Rolling Hills Primary School; finalist Tahlee, from Wandin North Primary School; and finalists Lara and Kyla, from Montrose Primary School. Thank you to all the students who participated in the competition.”
“Thank you to Lilydale Memorial Park and our local schools—Belgrave South Primary School, Lilydale Primary School, Bimbadeen Heights Primary School, Yering Primary School and the Upper Yarra schools service, which includes Wesburn Primary School, Millwarra Primary School, Woori Yallock Primary School, Warburton Primary School, Upper Yarra Secondary College, Seville Primary School, Don Valley Primary School, Yarra Junction Primary School, St Joseph's Primary School and Launching Place Primary School. Thank you for the invitation to join you and pay our respects. Each year, in the lead-up to Anzac Day, it is an honour to hold the Don Parsons Memorial Anzac Creative Writing Prize for all grade 5 and 6 students across the Casey electorate.”
“Thank you to the Dandenong Ranges, Healesville, Lilydale, Monbulk, Mount Evelyn, Upper Yarra, Upwey Belgrave, Warburton and Yarra Glen RSLs for their services. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Wandin, the Seville War Memorial Committee, the Millgrove Residents Action Group, the Mooroolbark Umbrella Group, Peter Adams and the Kalorama committee, Max Lamb, Mooroolbark Football Club, the Seville Football Netball Club, the Upwey-Tecoma Football Netball Club, the Olinda Ferny Creek Football Netball Club and the Yarra Junction Football Club for their continued dedication to remembering those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It was also a privilege to attend many Anzac commemorative services held by local schools, community organisations and football clubs in the lead-up to and after Anzac Day.”
“Anzac Day is an important date each year when the country stops to honour and reflect on the sacrifices and bravery of those who fought for our freedoms. We thank those who continue to serve to protect the Australian way of life, our democracy and our freedoms today. It was heartwarming to see commemorative services held on Anzac Day in each and every corner of my community, with thousands of local residents attending to pay their respects. I was honoured to attend and commemorate with our local Anzacs at the Lilydale dawn service, the Mt Evelyn Gunfire Breakfast and the Wandin, Montrose and Mooroolbark services before heading to the local football at Mooroolbark and then finishing the day at Seville.”