Dai Le
Fowler · Independent · Australia
“Sometimes it is measured in language, in cultural unfamiliarity and in the absence of services that actually reflect the community they are supposed to serve. My second amendment embeds a requirement that appropriate treatment must be linguistically and culturally accessible at the person's geographical location.”
“The language a person speaks at home is one of the most important factors in how they express their needs, understand their rights and advocate for themselves or their loved ones. Language forms the bridge between all of us socially, culturally and emotionally.”
“by leave—I move amendments (1) to (3) circulated in my name together: (1) Schedule 1, item 4, page 4 (line 23), after "circumstances", insert "(other than the person's linguistic environment)".”
“Australians living with disability deserve a scheme that is trusted, well managed and sustainable. But sustainability and financial viability cannot come at the cost of fairness, and they certainly should not be achieved by pushing the most vulnerable participants into greater uncertainty or into a system of bureaucracy that is harder to…”
“The system must be able to respond to the lived experience of people on the ground, not just assumptions built into centrally designed guidelines. Taken together, these amendments rest on one principle: the NDIS must be as diverse as the people it serves.”
“They are an attempt to make it work for the people who will be hurt most if we get this wrong. I have moved these amendments not to stop reform but to make sure reform is fair, inclusive, practical and safe for people living with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people from low socioeconomic background…”
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“It was a lasting shift. They have seen how an independent voice can better represent their concerns, free from party politics. They have someone who listens, lives among them and puts community above party. Since my election in 2022, my team has assisted over 8,000 families. We brought our mobile office into the streets of Fowler with our Bring Your Bill Day forum. We helped people navigate the NDIS, reconnect with loved ones overseas, secure emergency accommodation and access food hampers. We did all of this with empathy and urgency, because that is what representing Fowler means to me. When I made my maiden speech in 2022, my mother sat in the public gallery alongside members of my community. She may not be here physically today, but I know her spirit is with me. I will never forget where I came from.”
“It is humbling to stand here again, returned by the people of Fowler for a second term as their Independent representative. In a sea of red, the people of Fowler stood firm. Despite the resources, the machinery and the odds, they sent me back to this place to continue doing what I have always done—to speak for them, fight for them and ensure they are not forgotten. That speaks volumes about my community. For decades, Fowler was considered one of the safest seats in the country. It is a seat once held by former prime minister Gough Whitlam, a seat built by working families and shaped by wave after wave of migrants and refugees who, like me, came here in search of freedom and stayed to build a life. In 2022, everything changed. They chose an independent voice. This year, the people of Fowler showed that choice wasn't one-off or an accident.”
“Students in Western Sydney and electorates like mine want to study subjects that inspire them; they deserve an education system that supports those dreams fairly. I have said it before, and I will say it again: the JRG promotes inequity and punishes young Australians pursuing degrees vital to the intellectual and cultural fabric of this nation. Reforming this policy is not about fair fees—it's about protecting the diversity of skills and knowledge this country so desperately needs. That's why I am passionate about bringing this bill back to parliament—to shine a light on this injustice and demand change. When we lift barriers and create an education system that values every field of study, we invest not just in individuals but in the future of Australia itself.”
“The Universities Accord's interim report in July 2023 reinforced this truth—calling the current fee structure damaging and urging an urgent redesign. But despite these clear warnings, the government's response has been slow and insufficient. Students and universities are left waiting—with little clarity, no relief, and continued uncertainty about their financial future. As members of this parliament, our role is to make life better for Australians, not harder. We're here to fix policies that hold people back, deepen inequality, or force young people to make impossible choices about their education and futures. This bill is about doing exactly that—correcting a deeply flawed system that disproportionately punishes students from disadvantaged communities.”
“In particular, as we work towards reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the education provided by arts, humanities and social sciences is crucial. These subjects help us understand our shared history, respect cultural identities and build a future founded on truth and mutual respect. Moreover, arts and humanities graduates contribute significantly to sectors that shape our society—education, public service, social justice, the creative industries, media and beyond. They are the thinkers, creators and leaders who enrich our national life. The mistaken stigma that arts degrees don't lead to meaningful careers is outdated, harmful and perpetuated by policies like the JRG. I am a beneficiary of an arts degree focusing on political science and creatives as well.”
“Many students continue to choose arts and humanities despite the heavy financial cost—with no government support or relief. The result? Too many young Australians are now entering the workforce burdened by crushing debts directly tied to choices they made out of love for their field, a desire to contribute culturally and intellectually or a commitment to addressing complex social issues. We know that Australia cannot thrive on STEM alone. Our society, culture, economy and democracy require a broad and diverse knowledge base. Fields like history, literature, anthropology, politics and philosophy provide essential lenses to understand who we are as a nation and where we need to go.”
“So I ask again—how is it fair that these students are punished simply for wanting to study subjects they love and are passionate about? How is it fair that aspiring archaeologists, historians, artists, anthropologists and social scientists are told their ambitions come with a far greater price tag than their peers studying engineering or computer science? I believe this is fundamentally unfair, and I know many members in this House will agree. The JRG policy rested on a flawed assumption: that by hiking fees for certain degrees, students would automatically choose to study 'more job-ready' STEM fields instead. But humans are not that simple. Passions, talents and interests drive students as much as financial realities.”
“It's students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, Indigenous students, women and those from non-English-speaking backgrounds—the people I represent in electorates like Fowler, where communities are vibrant and diverse but face economic hardship every day. I hear from countless young people just trying to get an education, just trying to build a better future. And it's not just the soaring fees—they tell me it's also the day-to-day struggles: the costs of travel to and from campus, often on a patchy and unreliable public transport system; the costs of textbooks and learning materials; the expenses of food and basic living while they study. These costs add up long before they even begin to think about the HECS debt waiting for them after graduation.”
“We all acknowledge that Australia needs more scientists, engineers, technologists and innovators to compete in a global economy and solve complex problems ahead. But what we cannot accept is a system that places a higher monetary value on some degrees over others, effectively creating a two-tiered university system. The JRG is, in effect, using financial deterrence to push students away from arts and humanities degrees. Arts students are being asked to pay significantly more, and the message is clear: your chosen field is less valuable to this country. But this policy hasn't worked the way it was intended. Students are not abandoning arts degrees en masse. They continue to pursue their passion, but they're now saddled with debts that are much heavier and more burdensome than before. Who feels this impact the most?”
“The real problem we face stems from a policy introduced some years ago—the Job-ready Graduates scheme, or JRG for short. This policy was meant to reshape university fees to better align with job market needs—particularly to encourage more students into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. But here's the problem: the JRG has caused real harm. Despite its good intentions—and it started with very good intentions, but all roads to hell are made with good intention—it has led to drastic fee increases for students studying arts and humanities, fees that are now more than three times higher than they were before, while fees for STEM, education, and agriculture degrees have remained comparatively stable. Let me be very clear here—I am not questioning the importance of STEM.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. As I begin my second term in this House, I want to restate something very important: this bill remains at the very top of my agenda. It's not just another piece of legislation that will come and go. It is a call for justice, fairness, and equity in our education system—a system that should be an engine of opportunity for all young Australians, no matter their background or postcode. We all know the government has made some meaningful moves recently. The reduction of HECS debt by 20 per cent is welcome news for many students struggling under the weight of years of accumulated higher education costs. But, frankly, it's a temporary fix—a sugar hit that masks a far bigger wound in our higher education system.”
“Housing is about community, stability and fairness, and in Fowler we have the land, the talent and the will to lead housing innovation—if only governments stopped talking and started building.”
“Let's start with coordinating funding across federal, state and local governments so infrastructure arrives before homes, not years later; workforce investments through apprenticeships, faster recognition of overseas qualifications and more pathways into trades for women and multicultural communities; smarter incentives, like targeted tax reforms to encourage timely construction, and discouraging land banking; and unlocking public land, especially near transport and services, for homes and community facilities. These are not extreme ideas. These are reasonable, achievable steps that any government serious about solving this crisis should be considering.”
“If we continue increasing our population without proper planning for housing, services and infrastructure, we risk worsening inequality and weakening the social cohesion that holds this country together. The government can talk about targets, Help to Buy or housing accords, but, unless we get the infrastructure and workforce right, we will continue to fall short. The national housing council has made it clear: labour shortages, rising costs of materials and low planning approvals are strangling supply. These aren't new problems, but they remain unsolved. That's why we need serious, practical solutions.”
“Fairfield City Council has approved land in Cecil Park and Horsley Park for more than 20,000 homes, but that means nothing without government stepping in to fund the East West Rail Link to connect Western Sydney airport to Parramatta and beyond. It's not just about trains. Without proper investment in roads, drainage, schools, hospitals and utilities, we are not building homes; we are building hardship. I understand that, at a federal level, we don't build homes, but we do set policies, and we do hold the purse strings. That means the Commonwealth must take the lead in ensuring states and local governments are supported to deliver the infrastructure that unlocks housing supply, and that must happen in coordination, not confusion. We also cannot ignore the impact of migration. Migration enriches our nation, but it must be planned.”
“I'll be watching that space because it's our role here, in the federal parliament, to facilitate those community groups, those industries and those individuals and to try and make their lives easier. The Priced out report by Everybody's Home, a coalition of housing and social services groups, shows that renters earning $100,000 are now in housing stress. In Sydney, renters are paying 48 per cent of their income on rent. As I mentioned, in Fowler I hear from residents and families constantly about how they're forced to live in overcrowded homes, and seniors are also struggling, as well as renters being squeezed out.”
“I think that sometimes the solution is right there in front of our face, but we're not looking at it, and we are spending so much time in the Canberra bubble, creating policies that are, at times, more of a barrier and a hindrance, rather than unblocking the housing crisis. I brought community housing together with organisations like the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council. From my understanding, their CEO, Melissa Williams, was grateful because last year the Gandangara land council, through that housing forum that I organised, managed to speak with a community housing group. I believe there is a memorandum of understanding in place, currently, whereby housing could be built for the Indigenous community in Fowler on land owned by the Gandangara land council.”
“I'd also like to thank the member for Bradfield for bringing this matter of public importance to the House. I would also like to congratulate her on her election to represent her community here in the 48th Parliament. Since my election in May 2022, I have spoken in this House many times about the housing crisis and the devastating impact it's having on communities like mine in Fowler, where incomes are low and populations continue to grow—and, of course, so too do our culturally diverse community's needs. Like the member for Curtin, I, too, in my first term, organised a housing forum, where I brought together local, state and federal bodies to look at how we can address this housing issue, look at the mechanisms in place—or not in place—and try to bring people together to work together.”
“Prime Minister, your government's 20 per cent student debt reduction will be welcome by some, but many more will miss out. Last term I introduced my bill, Higher Education Support Amendment (Fair Study and Opportunity) Bill 2024, to reverse the Morrison government's punitive fee hikes for arts students, which saw costs double from around $20,000 to $50,000, hitting students in Fowler the hardest. Your one-off reduction doesn't fix this. Will you support my bill when I reintroduce it or allow this 80 per cent increase to unfairly burden many students?”
“I also spent time with the Chipping Norton Chargers Football Club, a grassroots club working hard to give young people, especially girls, access to sport. But they need support. I call on both state and federal governments to invest in proper change facilities, to help grow female participation in Fowler and beyond. Our community speaks over 100 languages, and we all want the same thing: opportunity, dignity and a fair go. Our community shows up every day. We do the work and we support each other, and I'll keep doing everything I can in this place to ensure Fowler is not left behind.”
“It's humbling to be returned for a second term as the Independent member for Fowler, to continue giving voice to one of the most diverse and hardworking electorates in the country. Over the past few weeks, I've been back on the ground—not that I had left it!—from visiting ASSIDA, in Liverpool, where Theophile Elongo and his team are supporting newly arrived migrants and refugees, to seeing the dedication of our local St Vinnies in Mount Pritchard—the top revenue-earning store in the country, believe it or not, with all proceeds going back into local services. I joined the Liverpool night van team to provide food and sleeping bags to people sleeping rough—a reminder of the growing need in our community.”
“In the spirit of transparency, I won't say exactly how much generative AI helped write my speech, but let's just say it did have a hand in it.”
“Mandala Partners projects that nearly half of Australia's workforce—over 7 million people—will be impacted by generative AI, many positively. Studies have shown that lower skilled workers see the greatest productivity boost when supported by these tools. This is not just about technology; it's about trust. It's about ensuring that people are not passive bystanders in this transformation but active and empowered participants. Let Australia lead, not just in adoption but in ethical innovation, in inclusive growth and in ensuring that no community, including Fowler, is left behind. Let us ensure that AI works with people, not instead of them, and that we build a future where innovation is balanced with fairness and foresight.”
“What frameworks are being put in place to ensure: one—AI systems are transparent, unbiased and secure, particularly in sensitive sectors like finance and health; two—there is support for vocational educators, industry trainers and entrepreneurs to lead the AI skills innovation, not just rely on centralised institutions; three—there is funding for real retraining pathways for workers whose jobs are at risk of automation; and four—there is help for migrant-run small businesses to adopt AI responsibly and competitively? We know that 75 per cent of Australian workers are worried about losing their jobs to AI, and many feel overwhelmed by the speed of change. But we also know that, when managed well, generative AI can elevate jobs, improve outcomes and boost national resilience.”
“An OpenAI CEO has predicted that up to 50 per cent of entry-level white-collar jobs could vanish in just five years. Even Australian firms like WiseTech are cutting jobs to drive AI based efficiency—a reminder that disruption is real and workplaces are changing fast. We can't simply follow trend. We need leadership, we need a plan, and we need safeguards to keep people at the centre of change. So I ask the government: how are you protecting workers, consumers and small businesses, especially in multicultural communities like Fowler, from being left behind?”
“From Telstra to NAB and Bunnings, companies are using AI tools to streamline operations and free up staff to focus on high-value work. CEOs say this is unlocking efficiencies and supporting innovation. Salesforce found that 53 per cent of Australian professionals are already using or experimenting with generative AI at work, and 79 per cent report productivity improvements. But with great change comes great responsibility. As we embrace the opportunities of AI, we must ensure consumer protections, workforce support and public trust. Otherwise, economic gains can mask deepening inequality, and communities like mine in Fowler could be left behind. Industry analysts warn that over 25 per cent of Australia's economy—almost $600 billion in activity—faces disruption from generative AI.”
“I thank the member for Casey for bringing this motion forward and highlighting the growing importance of generative AI in our economy. In Fowler, our Western Sydney University is codesigning AI research and ethical curriculum frameworks across its campuses. We also have our Ingham Institute, home to the new centre for robotics and health technology research, which is leading work in AI, digital health, telehealth robotics and diagnostic innovation. Some great innovative AI work is happening in Fowler in Western Sydney. Generative AI has the power to unlock extraordinary growth. By 2030, it could contribute up to $115 billion annually to Australia's economy through better productivity and entirely new industries. Businesses across Australia are already riding that wave.”
“If we're serious about strengthening Medicare, then we must look beyond national averages and focus on communities like mine, where the gap between need and access is growing wider every day. Let's not leave places like Fowler behind.”
“So I say let's replicate this model in urban areas like Fowler where healthcare access is just as urgent, because the needs in Fairfield and Liverpool are vastly different to those in Fairlight or Lindfield, and our policies must reflect that reality. Finally, we need a multicultural healthcare centre in Fowler—a one-stop shop with bilingual staff and interpreters and culturally tailored mental health care—because in many CALD communities mental health is understood very differently from the mainstream, and we need outreach programs that genuinely connect with people's lived experience. This is not just about better health; it's about equity, dignity and inclusion.”
“Our local hospital is chronically underfunded and overstretched. A one-off injection of $80 million is helpful, but it doesn't reflect the level of need in one of the most disadvantaged regions in the country. Secondly, invest in recruiting and retaining GPs in south-western and Western Sydney. Here, we don't need to reinvent the wheel. The government already uses the Modified Monash Model, or MMM, to classify and support rural and remote communities. Through the Workforce Incentive Program, doctors and practices in MM 3 to MM 7 areas receive location based payments, rural loadings and support for hiring nurses, midwives and allied health staff. These programs have been successful in improving health access in regional areas.”
“The median income in Fowler is 35 per cent lower than the national average, and nearly 80 per cent of residents speak a language other than English at home. That diversity is our strength, but it also creates barriers in health access. Language differences can lead to misdiagnosis and delays. Cultural misunderstandings can discourage people from seeking help, especially for mental health, and many of our residents have come from backgrounds of trauma, displacement and upheaval. They carry not just physical illness but deep emotional burdens that require culturally informed care. So, when we talk about strengthening Medicare, I say that that must mean meeting people where they are. That's why I call on the government to go further. Firstly, match the New South Wales Labor government's $550 million commitment to Fairfield Hospital.”
“Families in Fowler are telling me they can't find a bulk-billing clinic and, when they can, appointments are booked out for weeks. Many are forced to pay an average of $42 out of pocket per visit—a cost they simply cannot afford. We have some of the lowest GP-to-population ratios in the country. Practices are struggling to recruit doctors, and many GPs currently serving our community are nearing retirement with not enough younger doctors coming in to replace them. Medical professionals are choosing to work in other parts of Sydney where they can charge more and sustain their practices more easily. Meanwhile, our population continues to grow rapidly. These aren't just statistics; these are everyday struggles for people in my community. For many families in Fowler, the choice is between seeing a doctor and putting food on the table.”
“I'd like to thank the member for Lalor's motion to strengthen Medicare. I welcome the investment being made. I want to make sure that my community's voice is heard and not left behind. Yes, Medicare is being strengthened. Yes, we've seen commitment to bulk-billing, urgent care clinics, hospital funding and improvements in women's health and diagnostics. I thank the government for listening to my community's advocacy and for committing $80 million to Fairfield Hospital during the recent May election. It's much-needed help, and help that I know the opposition also wanted to match. But, for my community, these efforts are only beginning. On the ground in south-west Sydney, Medicare is not working as it should, and my electorate of Fowler is one of the hardest hit.”
“Mr Speaker, congratulations for your election to speakership and also, to the Prime Minister and your government, for a strong result in May. The red wave certainly rolled through. My question is to the Prime Minister. Your government says all public schools are on the path to full and fair funding and that no-one will be left behind. In Fowler, Bonnyrigg high has over 40 demountables and almost double the students it was built for. With 2,000 new homes under construction nearby in New Leaf, the local P&C have asked me about why their Commonwealth infrastructure funding was rejected. What federal funding will the Labor government commit to fixing critical infrastructure in disadvantaged schools like Bonnyrigg?”
“Governments keep placing people in our suburbs without building the support around them. They make decisions about us, not with us, yet my community will welcome any bill relief—they're doing it tough. But, let's be honest, a rebate is not a plan; it's a sugar hit to distract from the decades of neglect. My office has handled over 7,000 cases. We've launched a mobile outreach program, including Bring Your Bill Day, because my community deserves visibility, respect and action. This election isn't about parties. It's about who listens, who shows up and who delivers. I'll keep fighting for my community in Fowler. They will not be ignored, not again.”
“We're about to hear another budget. I could be wrong, but I sense there won't be much in it for the people of Fowler or south-west Sydney. Last year the government had a surplus—a rare opportunity to invest in our communities—but they didn't. Now with a forecast deficit, what can they promise us? More importantly, what will they actually deliver? We've heard the big announcements. There's $1 billion to buy land in Campbelltown for a train line that won't be built for decades, if ever—not in our lifetime—and Metrowest is delayed again. There are billions spent elsewhere while south-west Sydney is once again forgotten. Our community has helped settle thousands of migrants and refugees, yet we're still waiting for new train lines, proper health services and real infrastructure.”
“Protecting nature safeguards our health, jobs, food security and, ultimately, the affordability of life in this country. This parliament must put aside political differences and commit to policies that recognise a deep link between our environment and our economy. By investing in our natural capital, we are investing in our people, ensuring that families, especially those in Fowler, can have not only a thriving environment but also a real chance at a better future.”
“These efforts are to ensure that constituents can continue to enjoy the green landscape and nature's benefits for many years to come. These natural spaces should not be viewed as luxuries. They are lifelines, particularly in times of economic hardship. I encourage the Commonwealth government to play a much more important role in investing in and preserving this limited but natural environment, especially in communities in Western Sydney. While my community's immediate certain is making ends meet, I understand that we can't ignore the bigger picture. If the government is serious about addressing the cost-of-living crisis then it must see protecting Australia's nature and biodiversity as an investment in economic stability, not an afterthought. We cannot afford to be short-sighted.”
“I have walked in my local parks and seen how these parks play such an important role for families in Fowler. My local councils have invested a lot of money to develop these parks, because in suburbs big families live in small units and they don't have the room and space to have recreational space. Therefore, it's important to provide recreational spaces. I acknowledge both Fairfield City Council and Liverpool City Council for investing in these recreational facilities for our community. Fairfield city's biodiversity strategy has also set targets for 30 per cent of the city to have tree canopy cover, a 60 per cent reduction of priority weeds, that 30 per cent of both sides of the creek banks will be rehabilitated to a naturalised condition, and to give away 4,000 Indigenous trees, shrubs and ground covers each year to our local community.”
“Access to nature improves mental and physical health, reducing healthcare costs. Healthy individuals mean a more productive workforce, fewer sick days and lower public health expenditures—real economic savings for our nation. Biodiversity is a critical asset for current and future generations living in Australia. Healthy ecosystems act as natural buffers against extreme climate impacts, such as floods and droughts. Within the Fowler electorate, biodiversity plays a significant role in producing clean oxygen and the improvement of health, with the benefit of green spaces and minimising urban heat. As we know, in Western Sydney, during the summer, we feel extreme heat. There are an abundance of parks, reserves, wetlands and critical ecosystems such as Chipping Norton Lake, Cabramatta Creek and Bossley Park reserves.”
“I thank the member for North Sydney for bringing this matter of public importance to the House. Right now, families in electorates like mine are making the impossible choice between paying rent and putting food on the table. In these circumstances, when people are struggling to afford the basics, it is difficult to talk about biodiversity. However, let me be clear: protecting Australia's environment is not just an environmental issue; it is an economic one. The government must not treat biodiversity and the cost of living as separate challenges. They are interconnected, and neglecting one will only deepen the crisis in the other. Our parks, green spaces and bushlands are not just picturesque landscapes; they're essential to our wellbeing and economic resilience.”
“My community, often when there are bills debated in here, do not really engage that much. But, for keeping cash in the economy, I was inundated with people emailing me, contacting me, messaging me, saying, 'This is such an important bill,' and, 'Please fight to ensure that cash is still kept in our economy.' I will ensure that I will fight alongside the member for Calare and those members in the House who realise—who have to realise—that, I'm sure, people in their electorate are still finding that cash is a currency that needs to be retained and not everything has to be digital. We are definitely going to exclude people if we just move everything over to digital. So I urge all members to support this in the interests of freedom, security and inclusion for every Australian.”
“Excluding cash from transactions risks isolating vulnerable groups—the elderly, people with disabilities and those in difficult financial or personal circumstances. We must ensure that no-one is forced into a system they do not trust or understand. In Fowler, we are a community built on diversity, resilience and mutual support. The Keeping Cash Transactions in Australia Bill 2024 is about protecting the right of all Australians, regardless of background, age or financial situation, to participate fully in our economy without fear of exclusion. I think the bill is about choice, it's about fairness and it's about ensuring that our economy works for everyone. I remember when the member for Calare introduced the bill last year and I supported that and spoke on it.”
“This bill does not force businesses to accept cash for every transaction; it simply ensures that cash remains a valid option for purchases up to $10,000. Businesses remain free to set their own policies for larger transactions. This is a reasonable, balanced approach that acknowledges both consumer rights and business realities. As it's called, the bill is about respect—respect for diverse communities, different traditions and the right to privacy. Cash payments provide anonymity, allowing Australians to donation to charities, support small businesses and make personal purchases without unnecessary tracking or oversight. As we move further into a digital age, we must not leave behind those who are not part of the online economy.”
“Not everyone has access to digital banking and not everyone is comfortable using it. Whether they are seniors who have used cash all their lives, small-business owners managing their costs or families sending money overseas, cash plays a crucial role in their daily lives. The importance of cash extends beyond convenience. It is also a matter of safety, privacy and financial inclusion. Consider those escaping domestic violence. For them, cash can be a lifeline, allowing them to purchase essentials without fear of financial surveillance by their abuser. Carers of individuals with intellectual disabilities have also shared with me their struggles when their loved ones cannot navigate online banking. For these families, cash is the only way to ensure independence and dignity in managing their finances.”
“I second the motion. I'd like to thank the member for Calare for introducing the Keeping Cash Transactions in Australia Bill 2024 which we know highlights the fundamental right that many take for granted, and that's the right to choose how we pay for goods and services. I represent one of the most multicultural electorates in the country in the electorate of Fowler. It's home to hardworking families, small businesses and elderly residents who rely on cash for their daily transactions. Walk into any grocery store or restaurant in my area and you'll see signs saying 'cash only'. Cash isn't just a convenience; it's essential to our local economy. While I understand the shift towards digital payments, we cannot ignore the fact that many in our community still depend on cash.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, since my election in May 2022 I have repeatedly raised concerns about the rising cost of living. As your government's term ends, what real reforms will you introduce now to fix the electricity market and bring down energy prices for families, small businesses and councils? Councils are now paying double just to keep the streetlights on, with those costs passed down to ratepayers. Australia needs more than just a one-off $300 bandaid rebate.”
“I don't want to hear another story about a mother who can't afford to take her child to the doctor. I don't want to hear about another GP closing their doors because they can't afford to stay open. And I certainly don't want to hear about another government spending money on plans instead of fixing real problems. We need action now because no-one should suffer just because they can't afford a doctor.”
“How do they cope with the rising cost of living and higher healthcare costs? I call on the Albanese government to take real action. Increase Medicare rebates for GPs. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has called for 20 per cent rebate increase for longer consultations. Incentivise doctors to work in communities like Fowler. Just like regional doctors receive extra support, we need a similar tier for GPs in lower socio-economic areas; this will help retain doctors so families don't have to travel or wait for care. Invest in preventative care. Medicare should cover remote monitoring and community health programs, keeping people healthier and reducing hospital strain, because health care should not be a privilege; it should be a priority.”
“For many families in Fowler, $42.44 could contribute to their groceries—the cost of which, we know, has increased dramatically. Many are prepared to skip a doctor's visit. They wait until it's too late and then they end up in emergency, putting even more pressure on our already overwhelmed hospitals. Dr Kean-Seng Lim, a Western Sydney GP, has started using remote monitoring to keep patients out of hospitals. It's innovative, it's effective and yet Medicare doesn't cover it. Why? Why are we forcing families to choose between their health and their next meal? Why are we ignoring solutions that could prevent hospital overcrowding? The government talks about increasing Medicare rebates, but let's be clear: those increases only apply to children under 16 and those who are healthcare cardholders. What about middle Australians?”