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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“The average out-of-pocket fee is now about $42.44. And 37 per cent of doctors are charging over $90 for a 20-minute consultation. But there's something we don't talk enough about. A doctor's consultation isn't always 10 minutes. Medical science has advanced. We now understand complex diseases that take time to diagnose. In a community like Fowler, a doctor's visit isn't just about symptoms; it's about trust. Patients don't walk in and immediately list their symptoms; they talk about family, mental health struggles, gambling addiction and financial stresses because that's how they build their trust with their doctors. Yet, under the current Medicare system, doctors are forced to rush through consultations and are financially penalised if they spend more than 10 minutes with a patient. This is the cost of inaction.”
“And our hand clinic—one of the only ones serving not just Western Sydney but the entire Pacific region—is operating in a demountable. A temporary structure is being used for critical healthcare service. The New South Wales Labor government promised $500 million for Fairfield Hospital in 2023. But, instead of funding urgently needed improvements, most of that money is going towards yet another master plan. Our community don't need a master plan; we need action. Then there's Medicare. When Medicare was introduced in the 1980s, it was groundbreaking. It meant Australians could see a doctor without worrying about costs. But, today, it's broken. Doctors are struggling to keep their clinics open. Patients are struggling to afford a visit. Here's the reality: bulk-billing rates in New South Wales have dropped to 37.2 per cent.”
“I still remember visiting Fairfield Hospital back in 2019. I was really shocked to learn that the hospital's doctors and nurses were still using clipboards and writing patients' details by hand. Why? The answer was that they had no wi-fi and no electronic records. The hospital didn't have enough electricity capacity or load to support it. I couldn't believe it. In modern Australia, our frontline health workers were relying on pen and paper. I fought for change, and today Fairfield Hospital is better, with upgraded technology that helps doctors and nurses care for patients more efficiently. But the truth is that we still have a long way to go. Fairfield Hospital still doesn't have an MRI machine. Patients are still being sent to Liverpool Hospital, which is already overcrowded.”
“Let's not wait for another billion dollars to be stolen before we take real action. Let's fix this properly, because every Australian deserves to feel safe online.”
“We need real support for small businesses so they can protect their customers without going under. In my electorate of Fowler and in many others in the Western Sydney area, lots of migrant families run their small businesses. We really need to do an outreach program to ensure that they're also protected. In that way, they can actually contribute to helping us prevent scams. We also need urgent privacy law reforms to stop scammers at the source. We owe it to Australians to make real changes, not just more bureaucracy. Scams don't just steal money; they steal trust. They leave people fearful of technology, worried about security and disillusioned with the system. We must act now, before more Australians lose their savings, their security and their confidence in our financial system.”
“Reset Australia, a leading digital rights group, has warned that our privacy laws are too weak. So I ask the Anthony Albanese Labor government: When will we see real reforms to stop companies from selling our data? When will we strengthen privacy protections to keep Australians safe? We cannot fight scams effectively if our own laws make us vulnerable. This bill is a step forward, but it must be more than just a box-ticking exercise. We need stronger education campaigns in multiple languages. I hear that we've got a scam campaign going on, which is fantastic. We need it in multiple languages. We need better victim support services so people aren't left helpless. Again, I can speak for my multicultural community. We really need victim support services to also be in languages.”
“Many of our small businesses are already drowning in red tape. Now, with the push for net zero emissions, they're also dealing with green tape—more compliance costs, more paperwork and more hoops to jump through. If we expect them to invest in scam prevention, we must also ensure they have the resources to do so. That means clear guidelines on compliance, government support for cybersecurity upgrades and no unnecessary regulatory burden that forces them to close their doors. We need a balanced approach, one that protects consumers without crushing small businesses. As we know, small business is the backbone of our economy. Why are scammers so successful in Australia? It's because our Privacy Act is outdated. Scammers thrive because they can buy, sell and trade our data too easily.”
“It follows on for not just months but years. Many victims, especially seniors and non-English speakers don't know where to turn. They feel embarrassed, ashamed and helpless. We need a dedicated scam-victim support service, easier reporting processes so people don't have to jump through bureaucratic hoops and more funding for agencies like AFCA, the Australian Financial Complaint Authority, which helps Australians recover lost funds. My office has worked closely with AFCA, and I thank them for their commitment. But I know that they need more resources to help more people. I support holding businesses accountable for scam prevention, but we must acknowledge the challenges faced by small businesses, especially those already struggling with rising energy costs, increased insurance premiums and regulatory burdens.”
“A simple government pamphlet like The Little Black Book of Scams from the ACCC is a great step forward, and we're very grateful that, in working with the ACCC, they have been able to provide my office with this Little Black Book o f Scams in languages, and I have them available in Vietnamese, in Chinese and in Arabic. They're the top three languages in my electorate of Fowler. We definitely need multicultural education campaigns. We need easy-to-access materials. We need community workshops that teach people how to recognise, report and prevent scams. I urge the Albanese Labor government to invest properly in outreach efforts. Education saves lives. In this case, it saves bank accounts, savings and financial futures. Getting scammed is not just about losing money. It's about the mental, emotional and financial stress that follows.”
“When telcos allow scam calls and messages to flood our phones, scammers win. This bill sends a clear message. It is no longer enough to say, 'It's not our responsibility.' Businesses must be part of the solution. But is this bill enough? No. Consumer education must be a priority. The best defence against scams is awareness. Right now, most scam prevention resources are in English, and that's simply not good enough. I'm glad for Scamwatch and that—as the member for Newcastle said—there is a big education campaign being held to educate our community regarding the number of scams that are impacting them. In an area like Fowler, we have a diverse, multicultural community, many of whom speak a language other than English at home. Yet when they receive a scam message, where can they turn?”
“In 2023 alone, Australians lost $2.7 billion in scams. That's $2.7 billion that could have been used for mortgages, groceries, education or medical bills. That's why we need stronger protections—not just words and not just promises, but real action. The Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2024 is a good step forward. It places clear responsibilities on businesses, banks, telcos and digital platforms to detect, prevent and report scams. It introduces civil penalties of up to $50 million for companies that fail to protect their customers. This is important, because we know that the private sector plays a huge role in preventing scams. When financial institutions fail to detect fraud, scammers win. When social media platforms fail to shut down fake accounts, scammers win.”
“What about those with limited English or people who aren't familiar with digital scams? They wouldn't know what to do.' He's right to be concerned. My office has helped countless constituents who have been scammed through text messages, emails and fake social media messages. Some have lost thousands—hundreds of thousands—of dollars. Others have had their personal data stolen, leading to identity fraud and long-term financial distress. Let's be clear: these scams target everyday Australians. The pensioner who gets a fake Telstra call and hands over his or her bank details, the small-business owner tricked into transferring their money to what looks like a supplier—these aren't just numbers; these are real people in our communities who are losing their savings, their security and their trust in our financial and digital systems.”
“As we've just heard from the member for Newcastle on the Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2024, I think we're just so inundated with scam messages daily on our phones, on our emails and even on social media as well. You get messages such as, 'Click this link to track your parcel,' pretending to be from Australia Post, or, 'Check your tax return status,' from a so-called ATO email that actually ends in gov.faithweb.com. For those who are tech savvy, these scams are pretty obvious. We delete them, block them and then move on, or also report them. But what about those who don't recognise the scam? A gentleman called my office recently after receiving one of these fake ATO messages. He wasn't fooled, but he was worried, not for himself but for those who might fall for it. He told me: 'What about older Australians?”
“Since my election I have repeatedly asked the government what it plans to do to bring down electricity prices and create certainty for consumers. I asked the government in August last year what fundamental changes it would make to the energy pricing mechanism and the broken electricity market. I'm glad to see they have now announced an energy expert panel to study the situation and recommend reforms, but we need actions now. I hope that, in setting this independent body up, working Australians will see their energy prices decrease. Debate adjourned. Sitting suspended from 16:52 to 17:04”
“Why not prioritise giving to consumers, houses and small businesses to adopt, host, trial et cetera new clean energy technology? Everyone wants lower bills. They are struggling at this very moment, as we speak. People are telling me that their energy bills have increased dramatically—not only that but insurance bills, rent bills, grocery bills. Everybody is telling me that, especially in Fowler—I don't know about other electorates—and in Western Sydney. We need to get things right. The nice thing about clean energy technology is that the stuff that is proven to work—solar, batteries, cars, heat pumps—can be spread out, and it makes coal and gas mines less profitable and, hence, less likely to proceed.”
“On Monday the price might be low, by Wednesday afternoon it's sky-high and by Thursday lunchtime it's in the negatives. This unpredictability is not just inefficient; it's unsustainable. How can families and small businesses budget and how can manufacturers plan when our energy market operates in such chaos? The lack of stability is costing Australians dearly. The government has so far announced $50 billion to get clean energy technologies into the market, but, for the most part, it can't get them out the door. There are all these announcements, big headline announcements, that the government has made, and this ignores whatever portion of the $230 billion Future Fund will go into renewables. I'm sure I'm missing other funding announcements as well.”
“That's more than two times as high—crazy! Regulation is a matter of utmost importance to the people of Fowler and all Australians due to its impact on efficient energy markets and the urgent need to tackle rising energy costs. This issue cuts across every household and business in our country, and the current chaotic system demands immediate action. As the minister stated, the intention of this bill is to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to separate the Australian Energy Regulator from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and establish it as a non-corporate Commonwealth entity with operational control over its staff, resources and governance arrangements. Right now, energy pricing feels like a lottery.”
“In particular, how are they going to make AEMO, the networks and the big retailers—Origin, AGL and EnergyAustralia—better deliver the National Energy Objectives? This is where the big money is going, with every dollar of it from consumers. Politically, the networks are ascendant right now. Their industry organisation, Energy Networks Australia, has lobbied the government very hard and is getting away with more and more consumer dollars through government policy—Rewiring the Nation, community batteries, ring-fencing waivers and the current AER consideration of gifting the DNSPs money to install behind-the-meter batteries, which I'm happy to present information on—and also through their regulated return processes. AEMO is also running amok, with their budget ballooning from $310 million pre COVID to $740 million now.”
“It has said that to many people for a long time, so maybe this extra resourcing will fix that—maybe. It depends on what the AER does with this extra money. The AER will be given $100 million, up from $6 million, and an increase in staffing numbers from 15 to 400 employees. That's a lot of money and a lot of people. So what is the plan to be a better enforcer of rules and a better promoter of the National Energy Objectives? Does the plan pass the sniff test? Will the government explain why they think an increase in funding and staffing can help lower electricity prices? Will the plan work? Who is keeping them accountable for the implementation of the plan? How is the effectiveness being measured? When will we see results?”
“In particular, the ANAO determined that: Performance reporting arrangements have not enabled the AER to demonstrate it is meeting its purposes, such as promoting the efficient operation of energy services for the long-term interests of energy consumers with respect to price, quality, reliability and security. These words are special because they directly reference the National Electricity Objective, the NEO, which is the most important text in the electricity system. The National Energy Objectives are meant to guide all regulation. The AER is supposed to make decisions and take action to make the NEO happen. It doesn't, for lots of reasons. The enforcer of the rules has not been enforcing the rules, so the NEO isn't being delivered and prices keep going up more than they should. Maybe one of the reasons is that it is underresourced.”
“Once again, I stand up in this House to speak out about energy. As we know, it's not money that makes the world go round; it's energy. Energy is a critical resource to our society and economy. Without it, we are doomed. It has been explained to me by industry experts that, in the energy system—electricity and gas—the Australian Energy Regulator is supposed to be the cop. The AEMC, the Australian Energy Market Commission, makes the rules; the AEMO, the Australian Energy Market Operator, and the electricity networks are supposed to implement the rules; and the AER is supposed to use its powers to enforce the rules. So it's a very complex network of organisations, institutions and agencies that manage our energy market. The AER was called a 'partially effective regulator' by the National Audit Office in 2020.”