Andrew Willcox
Dawson · Liberal National Party · Australia
“I recently was honoured to visit the wonderful Domenica in the Burdekin, who celebrated her 100th birthday. To hear her deeply moving story of her arrival in Australia as a nine-year-old was amazing.”
“We all know Whitehaven, the best beach in the world, was completely robbed, but we'll let them off the hook this time with a cheeky warning. If you head further down south in Dawson to Yalboroo in the Mackay region, you can find Hold It Flats, which took out a well-deserved second place for the best camping and four-wheel-drive spot.”
“In our local businesses where you can get warmed up, Mal's Pies and Pastries in Oonoonba took out silver, fuelling an army of tradies for 30 years with beaut pies while also backing our community.”
“As a former tomato farmer, I know firsthand that the agricultural sector would be completely lost without the visas that allow international workers to fill critical gaps. Without them, crops would literally rot on the ground.”
“Giving a family a $5 weekly tax cut when their mortgage has skyrocketed by thousands of dollars is like tossing a glass of water onto a roaring bushfire. By continually fuelling government spending, the Albanese Labor government continues to stoke the inflation fire. Let's be real; $5 in this economy doesn't even cover a cup of coffee.”
“Under the Albanese Labor government, this delicate balance has collapsed into chaos. Labor's migration numbers have been far too high, and the entry standards have been far too low. The government allows unmanageable numbers to flood our capital cities, putting immense pressure on housing and infrastructure.”
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“This year, at the age of 82, Ann Barry finally became an Australian citizen, and it was far from easy. For 18 months she battled paperwork and bureaucracy, tracking down her original voyage on the SS Iberia , retrieving records from the National Archives and proving six decades of contribution to her community and to this country. It took patience, perseverance and a lifetime of proof—the very qualities that define the best of our citizens—and, when Ann finally took her citizenship oath, she didn't see it as a formality; she saw it as the fulfilment of a dream. For Ann, citizenship was not just a piece of paper. It was a promise kept, something that she'd earned and something to be cherished. This is what Australian citizenship should mean. It should be valued by those who seek it and respected by those who hold it.”
“I rise today to share a story of an extraordinary lady from my electorate, Ann Barry. Ann was born in 1943 in south Wales in the United Kingdom. In 1964, at just 21 years of age, she boarded the SS Iberia with nothing more than a chest of belongings and a determination to build a new life. It was a month-long voyage across the seas to a country she had never seen but one she believed in deeply—a land of opportunity, fairness and freedom. When Ann arrived, she had no family, no safety net and no guarantees. But what she did have was grit, courage and a willingness to contribute. Within a week, she had found work. Years later, she and her late husband, a proud World War II veteran, made Mackay their home. Together, they built a life of service, hard work and community.”
“Gas remains over $10 a gigajoule. We've got plenty of gas in Australia. Why don't we drill for more, explore more and actually increase gas supply? Everybody knows, when you increase supply, the price can go down. The next thing that manufacturers talk to me about is labour shortages. We need to bring in some skilled workers. This should touch a nerve with those on the other side—”
“But what's happened? Household budgets have ended up $1,300 worse off. And manufacturing and the industry have been much worse off. Blue River Ice, in my electorate—their bill has gone up by more than $10,000 a month. It is unaffordable for heavy industry. Heavy industry is very capital intensive, so they need to operate 24 hours a day. For those opposite, something that needs to operate 24 hours a day needs baseload power that is actually produced 24 hours a day, not a reckless race to renewables, which is what they are backing, that produce power only when the sun shines or the wind blows. How much sun shines at night? None at all. Battery storage—a great question from those opposite, and I take the interjection. How does heavy industry run on batteries? Ba-bow! It doesn't. That's how simple it is—it doesn't. What about gas?”
“We've seen more than $3 billion needed for bailouts: $2.4 billion in Whyalla, $135 million for Nyrstar and now, just recently, a $600 million bailout for Glencore. That will hopefully save 600 jobs. Now, I'm supportive of the jobs, but that is $1 million per person. And probably the biggest indictment on those opposite is that Alcoa, in the resources minister's electorate, is closing down. If you can't even save one of your own, in your own electorate—it's closing down. When I speak to industry and manufacturers, the No. 1 issue that they have is energy. Energy prices are going through the roof. They're skyrocketing. This is after, in 2022—everyone can remember this—the Prime Minister stood up and said, 'You will be $275 better off if you vote for me.' That wasn't a slip of the tongue; it was a promise repeated 97 times.”
“Labor is destroying industry and manufacturing in this country. While I welcome the intervention into Glencore, it is like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound: you are doing nothing to fix the fundamentals of helping industry within this country. Back in July, this side of the House called for a Senate inquiry into the health of the metal manufacturing industry within Australia, because we knew they were facing some headwinds. But what happened? Those opposite teamed up with their mates the Greens—that old holy alliance—and voted it down. Who in their right mind would not want to work out—or actually listen to industry, speak to industry about—what they need to make sure they have a strong future? Since then, what have we seen?”
“Given the news today on the Glencore bailout, when will the minister commit to an inquiry into the health of the metals manufacturing industry in Australia? We've asked for a Senate inquiry in the past, and that was voted down when Labor teamed up with the Greens. We need this to happen. (Time expired)”
“In 2023 the Labor government stripped more than $1.2 billion from the space industry. This government has abandoned the programs that would have built Australian satellites, created advanced manufacturing jobs and strengthened our national security. That's not just short-term thinking; it's a reckless gamble with our nation's future. In Dawson we're already showing what's possible. In Bowen, Gilmour Space Technologies have launched their first rocket, the first launch ever from Australian soil. It's proof that we can design, build and launch right here at home. It's proof that we can lead in the most advanced industries in the world. But imagine what we could do if the government backed this industry. When will the government restore the vital funding it stripped from our space industry and seized the opportunities to secure the future?”
“It is the backbone of our regional economy and a critical link for manufacturing, freight and sovereign capability right across the state. Yet it remains one of the most dangerous and unreliable transport corridors in the country, especially in my electorate of Dawson, where we see flooding, accidents and closures. These events bring industry and supply chains to a grinding halt. They leave communities stranded and businesses counting the cost. This government made a promise of $7.2 billion for the Bruce Highway, but, as Senate estimates have revealed—we've learnt the truth—only $432 million is actually on the table over the next three years. So I ask the minister: will you commit to a clear, transparent timeline for the delivery of the $7.2 billion for the Bruce? Our sovereign capability is being neglected.”
“It is clear that they are either asleep at the wheel or wilfully allowing our industrial and economic base to go offshore. The minister for climate change and the minister for industry must explain why their policy decisions, supported by their cabinet colleagues, have come at the cost of Australian jobs, investment and prosperity. Minister, how many more Australian jobs will be lost before you take action? How many more industries will collapse before you update our Critical Minerals Strategy? When will the price of Australian gas be lower than $12 a gigajoule? Will you guarantee no gas blackouts on the east coast? Can our allies and trading partners like Korea and Japan continue to rely on Australia to deliver our crucial coal and gas supplies? The Bruce Highway is more than just a road.”
“In the last three years, we've seen Australia's nickel industry collapse, industrial smelters and refineries pushed to the verge of collapse, gas prices skyrocketing, energy costs going through the roof and coalmines closing their doors. And Labor fails on securing future supply chains for our critical minerals. Nickel West, Nightstar, Mount Isa Mines, BMA, Bowen Coking Coal—these are just some of the crucial resources companies that have suffered under Labor's anti-mining agenda. In fact, just last week, Alcoa shut their alumina refinery in the resources minister's own backyard—a damning indictment of her government, which is killing Australian industry. This is costing thousands of Australian jobs. We should be, rightly, concerned about the current approach from the Albanese Labor government.”
“Australia's strength is in the resources sector, in which 1.1 million Australians work directly or indirectly. Labor have presided over three years of resources projects, manufacturing hubs and industrial capacity closing down, thanks to their anti-investment, anti-jobs resources policy and their reckless race-to-renewables energy policy. The safeguard mechanism has only weakened Australia's ability to compete, and companies are now making conscious decisions to cease investing in Australia and, even worse, to close their doors. Alongside this, Labor's reckless race to a renewables-only policy is driving mining and manufacturing projects offshore.”
“Wreaths were laid as symbols of respect and remembrance—quiet reminders of lives given in service and of the families, friends and colleagues left behind. Their legacy lives on, written in the safety of our streets and in the strength of our communities. We give thanks to those who continue to serve, standing the line every day to keep our communities safe, often in the face of great danger and uncertainty. With honour they served; with honour they continue to serve.”
“Every day when a police officer answers a call, they never truly know what they're going to find out behind that door. Yet they go, without hesitation, to protect us. The badge they wear is more than metal. It carries the weight of every promise made to protect. Last week I was honoured to attend two services in remembrance of fallen officers: the candlelight vigil in Mackay and the National Police Remembrance Day service in Bowen. Together with members of our community, we paused to remember and to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Since 1861, 151 Queensland police officers have lost their lives while serving their communities. Their courage, dedication and commitment to protect will never be forgotten.”
“The other thing the Albanese Labor government changed is that it has always been, over a long history, 80 per cent funded by the federal government and 20 per cent funded by the state government. Unfortunately, the Albanese Labor government changed that to a fifty-fifty arrangement. But I'm really pleased that with the $7.2 billion, although it's not there, they did promise to bring back the 80-20 arrangement. So, providing that money comes back, let's see how that goes. I think it's time that this government stopped giving us potholes in policy and started paving the way to progress. The Bruce Highway shouldn't be a road to ruin; it should be a road to results. Please, Mr Albanese—you are the Prime Minister. Make good on your promise—at least make good on this one. Put the money back into the Bruce, because lives depend on it.”
“I've invited the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, the Hon. Brent Mickelberg, joined by Minister Amanda Camm, from the Crisafulli government, to come to my electorate, which they did. I'm really happy that they did. I showed them the Farleigh Habana Road intersection with the Bruce Highway. This is a problem. There have been accidents there. Now, with the increasing traffic from the quarry and the cement works, there are a lot of heavy vehicle movements around there. I've called on them to please prioritise that and move that intersection forward. They've said that they will take that on board, so I'm really hoping that the state will then convince the Albanese Labor government to come up with this money and make that intersection a little safer.”
“We're used to the Prime Minister telling a few porky pies, such as the '$275 better off on the power bill'. That didn't happen. But we really need this money for the Bruce Highway. We need centre line separation. The pavement—we have a conga line of potholes, one after the other, and we've got a wet season approaching. The fog lines are too narrow. Because of the centre line separation, if we have a car travelling north at 100 kilometres an hour and then a car travelling south at 100 kilometres an hour and they have a head-on collision, that's like a 200 kilometre an hour running straight into a brick wall, and, unfortunately, people are losing their lives. In my electorate of Dawson, which runs from Mackay through to Townsville, it's rated as the worst section in the whole of the Bruce Highway. It's not acceptable.”
“But, unfortunately, less than two days after that, the Minister for Finance, Katy Gallagher, said, 'There's not any money available.' The Prime Minister rechecked that and said, 'Yes, there's money available.' The finance minister said, 'No, there's not.' Then we had the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government say, 'Well, no, the money is available.' So, at this point, we were very confused. Is the money available? Is the money not available? Then we had Senate estimates. Senate estimates revealed that there is only $432 million available over the next three years. Now, $7.2 billion is $7,200 million, and there's only $432 million available over the next three years. There's a lot of drinking silver between those two numbers. How is that going to work?”
“I rise today to speak about the Bruce Highway. Mr Speaker, you would understand about the Bruce Highway, being from Queensland. It's the main highway that connects Brisbane to Cairns, circa 1,600 kilometres of stretch. This vital piece of infrastructure, this vital highway, is how our farmers get their produce to market. It's how we get our supplies up from the city. It's how our families drive around. It's how our families deliver children to school. But, unfortunately, this has been neglected by the Albanese Labor government. There's been no new money in the first term. It's simply not acceptable. Yet I was really pleased that before the election the Prime Minister made an election commitment of $7.2 billion to go towards the highway. I thought this was really good, and I'm on the record of actually thanking the Prime Minister.”
“We really need to take this on board, and I urge you to vote against this when you think about it, because the taxing of unrealised capital gains is an absolute nonsense. In summing up, I urge the Albanese Labor government to rethink what they've done to the fishing industry, rethink what they've done to the live sheep trade, rethink the biosecurity—because no-one else in the world does that. It's an absolute disgrace to make our farmers pay for their overseas competitors—absolutely ridiculous. Get the PALM scheme back on track and the ag visa back on track, look after our infrastructure and look after the farmers, because without farmers, you'll all be starving, naked and sober. Debate adjourned.”
“That's very important to Australia, and we need to get behind these industries. We talk about a manufacturing plan to have more things made in Australia—which we should have, we should be sufficient. It should not be used by name alone; it should actually have something done about it. Talking about farmers at risk, you need to listen to this one. Farmers are at risk because this is what your government is about to do. It's going to tax unrealised capital gains on the family farm. I'll explain to you how that works. When you've got a farm and you've got that in your super fund, and a valuer comes along and says, 'That's worth $2 million more,' that farmer might not have that in cash—you might have a really bad season—but you have to pay the tax bill on that, so where do they get the money?”
“I'm agnostic to it. What I'm against is when you put solar panels all over good-quality agricultural land. They should be on rooftops, they should be on top of parking lots at Coles and Woolworths, and on top of those buildings—not on good-quality agricultural land. Certainly, the transmission lines for 28,000 kilometres are absolutely ridiculous. This is pitting mate against mate and family members against family members within the area—not good enough. In other industries, the Mount Isa copper smelter is almost at the point of closing. We've called the government and asked for a Senate inquiry about metal manufacturing in Australia. Why is this so important agriculture? The gas from that smelter is the byproduct used for making MAP and DAP, the sources for soluble phosphate.”
“There was an announcement at the election for $7.2 billion, and we welcomed that. Thank you very much for that. But, again, the little secret behind that is there's only $336 million available. The rest of it has been kicked out to the never-never. That was never really told. When we talk about renewables and transmission lines, this reckless race to renewables is taking up so much good quality agricultural land to put solar panels and wind turbines on it. And let's not forget the 28,000 kilometres of poles and wires. That's going through agricultural land, land that should be used for growing the food and the fibre for this nation. I'm not against renewables in the right spot. I think we need an energy mix. We need to make sure we can have the electron deliver to the farm, to the household and to the business as cheaply as possible.”
“But this Albanese Labor government's reckless race to renewables has seen the energy costs go through the roof. I've got canefarmers in my area that can't irrigate their cane, because they simply can't afford the energy cost. This is crazy when you think about it. If you had cheaper energy costs, they could pump more water and grow more crops—crops that photosynthesise, that pull carbon dioxide out of the air and turn it into oxygen. Why wouldn't you want to do that? If you're interested in saving the planet, that to me sounds like a very, very good idea. Where else has this government let the agriculture sector down? The supply chains. In the last season alone, the Bruce Highway in my electorate, the electorate of Dawson, was cut in six places. In one spot, it was cut four times.”
“What's even worse is, if the farmers haven't got a workforce that they know is going to be there to harvest their crop, they won't plant as much. They scale their business back. So this is bad for productivity and bad for the farm, but it's also bad for the consumer because you pay more at the check-out. Every time people go to the check-out now to buy their fruit and veggies and see how much extra these will cost them, they should see Prime Minister Albanese's face on that receipt. They're just paying too much. Energy costs under this government have gone through the roof, and farmers use a lot of energy. Farmers use a lot of electricity. I'm a farmer myself, so I'd know. When you pick the crop and cool it down, that takes a lot of energy.”
“The biosecurity measures now are making our Australian farmers pay for the biosecurity risks of their competitors. It's absolutely disgraceful and unheard of. Let's look at labour, because you can't run a farm without a labour force. We had a PALM scheme with our Polynesian neighbours that was working exceptionally well, but Labor came in and they had to change it. Where I come from, if it's not broke, you don't try to fix it. We had the ag visa. We're calling on the Albanese Labor government to bring back the ag visa. When farmers don't have enough workforce, the fruit and veggies fall on the ground. What does that mean for you at home? That means your produce will be more expensive in the supermarket. It's that simple—supply and demand.”
“I've been over and had a look, as part of the inquiry into live sheep trade, and there were less than one per cent mortality rates. When the sheep are travelling across on the boat, they are actually better looked after than they are in the paddock. There's a higher mortality rate in the paddock. I've seen fourth and fifth-generation farmers in tears about potentially losing their farms—all for this absolute nonsense. I've been on the boat. I've seen the ventilation. I've seen the food and water supplies. There are vets on board. There are people walking around monitoring the sheep on the ships. It's a world-class industry and it's been shut down for no good reason. Let's have a look at biosecurity. The Albanese Labor government has brought in biosecurity measures that have never been seen before.”
“The fine fishermen and women are actually monitored. They have cameras on them. They have to log in when they go fishing, and they have to log out. It's a fully licensed and fully sustainable wild-caught industry—but, no, it's totally shut down. So then what happens? The chandlery shops, the boat builders, the outboard mechanics and the ice-makers all go to the wall as well. It's just an absolute disgrace. Let's have a look at the live sheep trade. They shut down the live sheep trade last year. And why did they do that? It was done to keep their mates the Greens happy and to make sure that all those little preferences came sneaking through—a little belly tickle to make sure everything was going alright there. This wasn't done because of science. The only science involved in this was political science.”
“I welcome the contingent from the Queensland parliament. It's nice to see you folks here. This is about the agriculture statement, but what it should be about is how Labor has failed the agricultural sector in this country. In my neck of the woods, lets start with the fishing industry. In the last term of parliament, the then environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, decided to shut down the fishing industry, the gillnet fishing industry within my electorate, where fisherman for many decades have been catching barramundi, salmon and flathead. This is all about supposedly looking after the Great Barrier Reef. Let me tell you that a gillnet goes nowhere near the Great Barrier Reef. They're more than 60 miles away from the Great Barrier Reef. They're used in inshore fisheries. They were shut down.”
“Over the past 160 years, Bowen State School has undergone quite a few changes. It has grown in size, adapted to new technologies and evolved to meet the changing needs of education. But its core mission remains unchanged: to provide a safe, supportive and inspiring place for young people to learn and grow. I congratulate Principal Christian Payne, Deputy Principal Karen Weekes, staff, parents and volunteers for organising such a spectacular event to mark this very special milestone. Bowen State School is a place of learning. It is the cornerstone of the community of Bowen. May it continue to thrive for many generations to come. Thank you so much to everybody who attended. They came from near and far to attend this very special day, and everyone who attended enjoyed themselves. Well done.”
“I believe that this demonstrates the deep connection that so many have maintained with the school throughout their lives. I was pleased to see quite a few of my teachers, and I hope they were equally pleased to see me. You wouldn't know it, but I was a bit of a smart alec as a kid. I probably tested a few of their skills in patience. G'day to Mrs Torkington, Mrs Pilcher, Mrs Discher and Mr Hunt, who always took time to play paddle tennis with us kids. I also got to see the principal's office, where, I must admit, I had to spend a bit of time. These teachers provided education, and it shaped me to be the man I am today, and I thank them for it. Perhaps the most touching moment of this celebration came when Mrs Rogers, the oldest former student, joined the youngest current student to cut the official birthday cake.”
“I rise today to speak about a remarkable celebration in my electorate of Dawson, the 160th anniversary of my old primary school, Bowen State School. Walking back into the school grounds brought back a flood of memories for hundreds of locals who came together to join in the day's celebrations. In part of these celebrations, it was my honour and privilege to conduct the official roll call, beginning with the decade of the 1930s through to the present day. It was a truly moving experience to see past and present students stand proudly as their decade was called. Among them was Mrs Rogers, who is now in her 90s and is a shining example of the school enduring impact. The only student present from the 1930s decade, Mrs Rogers, later returned to the school as a teacher, giving many years of service in education.”
“I fully support this motion to criminalise the destruction or desecration of the Australian national flag, and I thank the member for Herbert, the honourable Phil Thompson, a returned serviceman himself, for bringing this very important motion. Australia salutes you, sir.”
“To burn our flag is to fuel hate of our country and incite future attacks. If those who carry out these acts of violence are not Australian citizens, they must be removed from our shores. They must be sent back to their country. If they are dual citizens, strip them of their Australian citizenship and deport them, too. If they're Aussies, how can they call themselves Aussies or Australian if they're part of this campaign? That is completely beyond my comprehension. Lock them up, throw them in jail and throw away the key. No-one has the right to desecrate a flag, let alone our national flag. We must honour our soldiers who fought and died under our flag. Our Australian flag is a symbol of what it is to be Australian.”
“No more!' Yesterday, there were peaceful rallies right across our nation, where thousands came together to say, 'We are proud to be Australians and we are proud to fly our flag.' Sadly, at the very same time, there was more burning of our flag by extremists. Recently, at one of those extremist rallies, a lone man emerged with an Australian flag, holding it up with pride against the wave of angry voices. The result was the man was swarmed by protesters and punched in the side of the head before being escorted away by police. Honestly, how is it that someone adorned in a national flag is carted away by the cops, yet our prime minister and government turn a blind eye to our national flag being burnt? This is an absolute disgrace. I honestly cannot believe what I've been witnessing.”
“Sadly, in recent times, our national flag has come under attack, and with it there's been an attack on our country and what it means to be Australian. More and more frequently, the streets of our major cities have been overrun by extremists' flags and hate filled chants, while the burning of our national flag has been cheered. Despite what we are being told, these are not peaceful protests. These are demonstrations of division and contempt and are worryingly disdainful of the values we hold as Australians. I find this deeply disturbing. Under this Albanese Labor government, it seems we have become a country that's too afraid to be proud of our flag and who we are. Is it any wonder when we have a prime minister who doesn't proudly fly the flag but hides it? As a country, we must be strong, stand up to this behaviour and say: 'Enough!”
“Our veterans fought for the rights of Australians to freely express themselves, but they did not fight to enable protesters to defile our Australian national flag. As the federal member for Dawson, I make a point to include a supply of flags in my budget, and one of my favourite tasks is presenting an upstanding community member with an Australian flag. It makes me so happy to see, in that moment of handover, genuine pride smiling back at me. Just last week, I had the privilege of attending my primary school's 160th birthday celebration. This brought back memories of each student parade and how we would say, 'I love my country and I honour the flag.' This is a state school. This should be compulsory in all schools.”
“I proudly support this motion put forward by my friend the member for Herbert to criminalise the burning and/or desecration of the Australian flag. I was keen for the opportunity to speak to this motion because this act can only be seen as one thing: a disgraceful and abhorrent criminal act. Our Australian flag is not just a piece of fabric; it's an enduring symbol of who we are. It represents our shared history, our sacrifices and the freedoms earned through generations of courage and service. Our ADF wear our flag on their shoulders. They have fought under the blanket of our flag, and its draped on the coffins of the dead. To desecrate our flag is deplorable and to dishonour service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. It's disgraceful.”
“Promotion of proactive, evidence informed action is also empowering us. I recommend this motion to the House and encourage all members to support it. Let's work towards the goal of zero deaths from prostate cancer.”
“As one member of our community put it, 'I urge men to be invested and get tested, knowing that early detection saves lives.' The high-profile case of the Brisbane city councillor Ryan Murphy, diagnosed earlier this year at age 36, is a call to arms for men, underscoring the fact that this disease can strike younger men, backing up community calls for risk based national screening levels. I ask myself what we can do as parliamentarians and as a nation to encourage men over 50 and especially those with family histories to consult their GPs about their individual risk and the option of PSA testing. Each year, thousands of Australian men receive a prostate cancer diagnosis. Many go on to live long, fulfilling lives—but only because they are diagnosed early and supported well. Talking about men's health should never feel taboo.”
“It collaborates across sectors to reduce the impact of prostate cancer on men, their partners and their families. Over the last two years, PCFA has been working with experts around the country to develop new clinical guidelines for early detection of prostate cancer, ensuring clinicians are armed with evidence in the fight against diagnosis and certain death. In fact, the new draft guidelines could see a global standard in early detection, positioning Australia to lead the world in eliminating avoidable deaths. Meanwhile, inspiring stories, including individuals who have championed awareness in their communities, are powerful.”
“Yet, not all Australians benefit equally. As the member for Hunter correctly stated, men in rural and regional communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and men with a family history of disease face a higher risks and significant barriers to timely screening, diagnosis and care, whether due to geography, access constraints or awareness gaps. Studies of PSA testing patterns across the country reveal rural and remote areas report lower screening rates. This highlights the disparity we must address. That's why the motion rightly emphasises support for all men, regardless of their location or their background. Here's where our community leadership shines. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, PCFA, founded in 1996, stands at the forefront of research, awareness, support, education and advocacy.”
“To break that down, that's roughly 72 men diagnosed each day and about 4,000 deaths annually. Lifetime risk is profound: one in five Australian men will be diagnosed by the age of 85. Despite these sobering facts, there's hope thanks to early detection and better treatment. The five-year relative survival rate is now 96 per cent, and 91 per cent of men survive their diagnosis for at least 10 years. Going back to 1982, the five-year relative survival rate was only 60 per cent. These numbers underscore both the urgency and the opportunity before us, highlighting the fact that early diagnosis saves lives. In fact, much of our progress over recent decades has been thanks to the update of the PSA testing and the advent of new imaging technologies that enable more accurate diagnosis, including MRI, PSMA, and PET and CT scans.”
“I rise today as Co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer Awareness group, alongside the member for Hunter. I thank the member the Hunter, the government Special Envoy for Men's Health, the honourable Dan Repacholi MP, for bringing forward this important motion. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and a vital opportunity for us to draw attention to the realities of this disease. Prostate cancer is now the most diagnosed cancer in Australia. It's not just a statistic; it's fathers, brothers, colleagues, friends and communities that are affected each and every day. Let me offer some context. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, some 26,000 Australian men are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, surpassing even breast cancer cases.”
“We need to create an environment where people can, once again, aspire to homeownership. We need to get the supply and demand right, get the houses built and get a home for all Australians. Labor are playing with fire, and, when the government play with fire, there's a real chance the house will get burnt to the ground and all Australians will get burnt.”
“Labor is choking builders with paperwork and regulation instead of giving them the freedom to build. And now Labor want to be mortgage brokers too. It's reckless and will end up hurting everyday Australians. What we need to see is the value of houses rising steadily, not rapidly, so one can buy. We also don't want to see a situation where property values fall. We need a strategy and a policy that ensure that the ratio of what someone owns and what they need to buy a home keeps advancing at the same rate. Under this government, the housing market's supply and demand are way out of whack. The government's solutions are only good for one thing—warm and fuzzy headlines. The construction of new homes needs policy that will encourage. We need to cut the red tape for all government, and they need to get out of the road.”
“Those with their big bright dreams—gone. By the way, the Australian taxpayer will be on the hook for any defaults, and more debt means either cuts to services or the creation of new taxes—probably both at the rate this government is going. I'm glad to see the government has finally decided to put a freeze on the National Construction Code until 2029—a coalition policy that Labor rubbished at the election only a few months ago. Master Builders has also been calling for a freeze to take the handbrake off approvals and delays. The government has finally listened, albeit they did so kicking and screaming. They've had to hear from the economic roundtable before giving it the green light. But we can't just freeze it. We need to cut the mountain of paperwork that has found its way into every build under this government.”
“The houses we need are not being built, and the fund value is shrinking. The money, along with the pipedream of 1.2 million homes in five years, is just disappearing. What a joke—an absolute joke. Let's not forget inflation. The year to July CPI figures, which came out just last week, hit 2.8 per cent—a sharp rise of one per cent over the last month and the steepest increase since last year. My concern is, if inflation is rising again—because, let's be honest, the government does not have the economy under control—then the rate cuts that we're all hoping for won't materialise. So, if you already have a mortgage, look out. With inflation demand on the rise, it won't be long before interest rates jump up again. Where will that leave those new first home buyers who have just bought with only a five per cent deposit?”
“I suggest the minister's next move might be into climate change and energy, because that's a right mess too. What we see under Labor are immigration numbers soaring and promises being broken while housing supply stalls. They're piling up on demand without fixing supply. Labor's Housing Australia Future Fund is one of the biggest failures in the country's history at $10 billion of taxpayer's money. For how many houses? Nobody actually knows. Senators Wong and Gallagher have said they've acquired 2,000 homes. The government has purchased 2,000 homes. That's not helping supply but fuelling even more demand. Worse still, this isn't even an investment fund; it's a Ponzi scheme. Honestly, we'd get better returns at the track betting on No. 7. The money has gone in, and the country has paid the interest—for what return?”
“When the coalition was last in office, there were around 200,000 houses being built per year—almost entirely through private investment, mind you—and we were contending with much lower immigration figures. Under Labor, the number of private builds has fallen to around 170,000 per year, and it is still falling, not growing. It is not even coming close to keeping pace with population growth. To adjust supply and demand in housing it's simple—balance the number of people coming into the country with the pace at which accommodation can be built. But we have a new housing minister, who was the previous home affairs minister, working alongside the immigration minister, who is no longer the immigration minister—they allowed the floodgates to open and in they came. What a mess!”