Tania Lawrence
Hasluck · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“There are no wild brumbies in Hasluck. We do, however, have a really fine equestrian community, including being home to the State Equestrian Centre, Yarrada Farm Riding School and Magic Millions. I grew up in York surrounded by animals, including horses, which I deeply love.”
“These programs use a vaccine known as PZP that is delivered to the mares, often by remote darting, and works by preventing fertilisation without affecting the animal's natural hormones or behaviour. It doesn't remove the horses from the landscape, and it doesn't break up the herds.”
“Every person in Hasluck who's ever been to one of our three fabulous urgent care clinics, in Morley, Ellenbrook and Midland, knows they have already demonstrated their value and worth—and just to give you a sense of the numbers, 38,000 have already visited the clinic in Morley, 32,000 in Midland, and just over 6,000 our recently opened cl…”
“Alpine peatlands, waterways and native species habitats are being degraded. These are places that simply cannot withstand that level of pressure. So, yes, action is required. Doing nothing is not an option, but how we act matters just as much as whether we act at all.”
“West of here is Hasluck, and what matters to my community in Hasluck is making sure that we deliver. I'm absolutely proud, under the Albanese Labor government, to be their representative and to deliver on what they need.”
“There are also ground based culling approaches that, where necessary, can be conducted under stricter welfare conditions and oversight, significantly reducing the distress associated with aerial methods. This is a complex challenge. It does require coordination.”
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“I commend Jon Blurton, Sharon Gough and the Indigo Junction team for supporting this initiative. AES Equipment Solutions operates a major workshop facility in Hazelmere. They service mining and industrial equipment needs across the state. It's a familiar space for the member for Hunter, who visited there in his capacity as Special Envoy for Men's Health. The member for Hunter addressed the workshop floor and called out the reality that men are often disciplined about maintaining and servicing their equipment and vehicles, for a 5,000- or 10,000-kilometre check, but they're much less disciplined about looking after themselves. He spoke about the importance of breaking the taboo on speaking about men's health within the workplace.”
“We talked about difficult subject areas, and the member for Hunter acknowledged that the rates of suicide for Indigenous men are higher in Australia than for any other demographic. He underlined the importance of community groups—just like Moorditj Maaman—building connection and belonging, to address the social isolation that can lead to suicidal ideation. Group members spoke about the profound effect the Moorditj Maaman Men's Group has had on their lives and the connections it's created—through the leadership of Jon Blurton, in particular, but all of the longstanding friendships that have been forged through the group were clearly evident. They spoke about Jon's kindness and his dedication to community. Providing a sense of belonging and community, the Moorditj Maaman Men's Group has helped so many to forge a better path.”
“It was an absolute privilege to introduce the member for Hunter, as the Special Envoy for Men's Health, to the Moorditj Maaman Men's Group. Moorditj Maaman provides a culturally appropriate space for supporting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal men and families in the Midland area. Programs focus on cultural connection, mentoring, community participation and holistic wellbeing. They also are very well regarded—and getting quite a fabulous reputation—for singing and teaching lullabies in Noongar, ensuring that connection to our youngest generation is created. Uncle Frank spoke to us about respect, relationships, reflection and responsibility, and, together, the whole group discussed how connection is the opposite to addiction.”
“People, no matter where they come from, don't even actually need a referral or a Medicare card to access the Midland Medicare mental health support service, and the issues that they're dealing with can simply be relationship issues within the home or within the workplace. Examples that we heard were around anxiety issues, gambling and drinking. These things can be treated, and support is there for everybody to access. Men too often have an 'It'll be right' attitude, which the member for Hunter, when he visited the service there, committed to challenging. The ability to walk in and receive help without an appointment—without a Medicare card, even—absolutely demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to the care that they need when they need it.”
“From the moment you arrive, you're greeted by a wonderful person at the front desk who will simply ask what type of support you might be looking for and then will direct you to the right area, and it's all very private. In fact, you can even walk in without even providing your name. You volunteer as much information as you're in a position to share and willing to share. From that point on, whether you need a counsellor, art therapy, group therapy or perhaps some more serious assessment and support with psychology, it is all available, and the hours are fantastic––from early in the morning till late in the evening, seven days a week.”
“For those who missed the session, the member for Hunter challenged the Bassendean Men's Shed members to book yearly check-ups with their doctors and undertake prostate cancer screening, which now is only a finger-prick blood test. He also asked each member to have the same conversation with their brothers, their sons and their sons-in-law. As the member for Hunter said, with his typical frankness and clarity, 'If we can create a culture where boys go with their dads to the GP in the same way girls go with their mums, we might start to shift the culture around self-care for men's health too.' The most striking thing about the new Midland Medicare Mental Health Centre is the way that it provides a free, accessible mental health support service. It's a walk-in model, and it's designed to reduce barriers to care.”
“The Bassendean Men's Shed provides community spaces where men can work on practical objects, share skills and maintain social connections. The men there are masters at creating the most beautiful wooden bird boxes and community bench buddy seats. They repair people's loved homewares, and of course this is complementary to the peer support they provide each other. The men's sheds I've visited across my electorate all promote wellbeing amongst their members and are always fascinating places to visit and have a yarn. Sadly, men die younger than their female counterparts in Australia, but this does not have to be the case in 2026.”
“It was absolutely a privilege to host the member for Hunter in Hasluck in his role as Special Envoy for Men's Health. He brings his rich background as a tradesman, small business operator and Olympian, and he approaches men's health with a practical focus on access, prevention and engagement in a colourful way in which only a man of that background possibly can. Over the course of a very busy day, we visited Bassendean Men's Shed, had a little detour to the Last Crumb cafe and had lunch by the river. Then we visited the Midland Medicare Mental Health Centre, Moorditj Maaman Men's Group in Midland and the local business AES Equipment Solutions in Hazelmere, and then we were off to the Swan Districts Football Club and then community venues at Alfred's Kitchen and the Stirling Arms Hotel in Guildford.”
“To end on President Prabowo's words, he said it well when he stated that good neighbours will help each other in times of difficulties, and I look forward to supporting the government in furthering that relationship.”
“President Prabowo described the agreement as a reflection of the commitment of both countries to safeguard national security while making real contributions to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. He spoke of the principle of good neighbourliness and of two nations destined by geography to live side by side, building relations on mutual trust and good faith. That approach can stand at times in stark contrast to the way that relationship has been managed in the past, where it has been at times sporadic and reactive. For now, we're building on three decades of defence cooperation. This represents a significant extension of that partnership. It reflects growing strategic trust and ambition between our nations.”
“That said, as we heard from our previous speakers, there's much more we can be doing to ensure that that's reciprocated with Australian students embarking on studying Indonesian. Any increase in the uptake of that will be well received, I'm sure, because those cultural ties underpin the strength of our economic, political and military cooperation as well. Importantly, the treaty reaffirms respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and a commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes and a support for a rules based regional architecture grounded in international law and ASEAN centrality. It does emphasise dialogue, transparency and responsible conduct to reduce the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation.”
“Again, if I can just turn to the treaty, I was impressed that it also includes a very practical measure to have a memorandum of understanding between the Australian government and the Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara. This intention is to increase the cooperation and information sharing between Australian agencies and Indonesia's newest sovereign wealth fund, and that will also then help for two-way investment between our nations. With over 100,000 Indonesian born people living in Australia, it's actually quite a small diaspora, but there are over 23,000 Indonesian students here, and it is a top destination for Indonesian students, particularly in higher ed and vocational studies.”
“It will be the development of joint defence training facilities and education exchanges between our militaries to build relationships and increase our understanding about the next generation of military leaders. In a world that has become less stable than the international order, which is decidedly less predictable, we also need to be proactive in encouragement of a sturdy and lasting relationship with our nearest big neighbour. In fact, Indonesia is South-East Asia's largest economy, ranking seventh in the world for purchasing power parity, and is the world's fourth-most populous nation, with a median age of just 30.7 years compared to 38.4 in Australia. And it has an annual growth rate of over five per cent.”
“This treaty reflects a close friendship, partnership and deep trust between our nations, and recognition that the best way to secure peace and stability in our region is by acting together. The agreement itself gives practical expression to that principle. It commits our countries to regular consultation at a leader and ministerial level on matters affecting our common security. It provides that, in the face of adverse challenges, Australia and Indonesia will consult on and consider measures that may be taken individually or jointly. It promotes mutually beneficial cooperation in the security field consistent with each nation's policies and priorities. By way of example, this will include establishing a new embedded position for a senior Indonesian officer in the Australian Defence Force—a clear example of the trust between our nations.”
“I thank the member for Solomon for raising this important matter. The Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, the Jakarta treaty, reflects serious regional leadership and a clear understanding of Australia's place in the world. At its heart, this agreement recognises a fundamental truth: Australia's security does not stop at our shoreline. It is shaped by the strength of our relationships with our neighbours, and none is more important than our relationship with Indonesia. As the Prime Minister said at the signing in Jakarta, no country is more important to Australia or to the prosperity, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific than Indonesia.”
“We strongly asked the Town of Bassendean to listen to the community and to defer the decision of the special council meeting on 31 March to allow further options to be explored. The community representatives there—people like Sarah Quinton—were very clear that they're open to looking for ways forward, be it selling it to a not-for-profit provider or having a community board set up that actually allows them to look at the governance and compliance. This is a centre which exceeds the standards and a threshold that is met by only 28 to 31 per cent of not-for-profits, and by only 13 to 16 per cent of for-profits. The community want to keep this as a community service, ideally. If it has to be sold, at least give consideration to other options being put by the community.”
“Mole reflected: But it was good to think he had this to come back to, this place which was all his own, these things which were so glad to see him again and could always be counted upon for the same simple welcome. Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows is a children's story loved by generations. At Wind in the Willows Early Childhood Education in Bassendean and Ashfield, however, there is unrest. The Town of Bassendean, in the face of great community opposition, wishes to sell the service to a not for profit provider. I attended a community meeting held to protest this decision just last Friday, together with my state colleague, MLA Dave Kelly, who is also a champion of this centre.”
“It equips ASIO to do its vital work, while ensuring that the exercise of power remains subject to law, oversight and democratic control. I commend the bill to the House.”
“Similarly, during debate in 2024 on domestic and family violence measures, I spoke about community safety as something that is strengthened, not weakened, when people trust the institutions designed to protect them. That same principle applies here. Intelligence powers are most effective when the public is confident that they are used judiciously, independently and as a last resort. Finally, this legislation is a reminder of parliament's ongoing responsibility. National security laws are never set-and-forget. They require constant attention, regular review and a willingness to adapt as circumstances change. By modernising ASIO's questioning powers, expanding their scope to meet contemporary threats and reinforcing the safeguards that govern their use, this bill meets that responsibility.”
“It is earned through transparency, restraint and accountability. This bill reflects that balance. It recognises that security and rights are not competing values but complementary ones. A system that protects rights strengthens security, because it maintains the legitimacy on which our institutions depend. I've spoken previously in this House about the importance of pairing security with humanity and restraint. In August 2025, when speaking on a motion commemorating Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I reflected on the long shadow cast when states pursue security without sufficient regard to human consequences. That contribution was not about history alone. It was about the enduring lesson that power, once normalised, must always be bounded by conscience and law.”
“But they are equally clear that our response must reflect the democratic values that brought many of them to this country in the first place. This is why, for me, safeguards, independence and proportionality are not theoretical concepts. They inevitably shape whether people trust our institutions, cooperate with authorities and have confidence that the government's power is exercised judiciously and fairly. In previous contributions to this House I have spoken about the importance of proportionality—the idea that strong laws are legitimate only when they are accompanied by strong protections. Australians understand the need for security agencies to operate effectively. But they also expect, rightly, that extraordinary powers will be used sparingly and lawfully and will be subject to rigorous oversight. Public trust is not automatic.”
“In addition, the enhanced reporting requirements to the Attorney-General, including mandatory reporting of any noncompliance or contravention of warrant conditions, reinforce transparency and accountability. These are not procedural niceties; they are core democratic safeguards. In Hasluck, I represent communities that are richly diverse, outward looking and deeply connected to the world beyond our shores. As well, many of my constituents work in defence-adjacent industries—logistics, resources and advanced manufacturing. Others come from communities with direct lived experience of conflict, authoritarianism and state overreach. When they talk to me about national security, they do not frame it as an abstract debate; they want Australia to be resilient in the face of foreign interference and emerging threats.”
“I want to focus on what I regard as the most important aspect of this legislation: the strengthening of safeguards. The bill tightens the eligibility requirements for prescribed authorities, expanding disqualifying factors to ensure clear independence from the executive, parliament and prosecutorial roles. And that matters. When individuals are compelled to answer questions under warrant, public confidence depends on the independence and impartiality of the authority overseeing that process. The bill also clarifies and strengthens arrangements for post-charge questioning, ensuring that, where criminal proceedings are underway or imminent, questioning occurs only before appropriately qualified prescribed authorities. This process protects the integrity of the criminal justice process and the fundamental right to a fair trial.”
“One of the most significant changes in this bill is the removal of the sunset clause on compulsory questioning powers. Sunsets have played an important role. They have forced governments to justify the continued use of extraordinary powers and have required parliament to take stock of how those powers operate in practice. The fact that these provisions have been reviewed multiple times by parliamentary committees and independent reviewers should give the House confidence that they have not drifted beyond their original intent. Removing the sunset does not mean removing scrutiny, though. On the contrary: this bill embeds further statutory review by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security three years after commencement. The PJCIS is a committee of which I am proud to be a member.”
“As the Director-General of Security has made clear in ASIO's most recent threat assessment, Australia faces a more complex, more diffuse and more interconnected set of risks than at any time in recent history. Espionage, foreign interference, sabotage, attacks on defence systems, the promotion of communal violence and threats to border integrity are no longer discrete risks operating in isolation. They overlap and reinforce one another and evolve quickly. The bill responds to that reality by extending adult questioning warrants to additional heads of security. This is not about expanding powers for its own sake. It is about ensuring that the tools available to ASIO match the threats it is tasked with countering. But with expanded remit must come strengthened restraint.”
“As Minister Burke stated earlier in this debate, there are amendments here to ensure the independence and impartiality of the prescribed authorities, further safeguards around questioning powers, and additional reporting requirements to the office of the Attorney-General. ASIO's compulsory questioning powers are among the most serious authorities available to the Commonwealth. They are powers that the parliament has revisited repeatedly over the past two decades, not because we doubt their necessity but because we understand the gravity of granting them. Each review, each sunset extension and each added safeguard reflects a consistent parliamentary instinct: vigilance. This bill acknowledges a changed security environment while reinforcing that instinct.”
“I rise to speak in support of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025. The central responsibility of this parliament is to keep Australians safe, in their homes and in their communities. The terrible events across the country recently have stressed that duty, and the parliament has responded. We also have a parallel duty to ensure that the powers that we confer upon the government and its security agencies are exercised lawfully, with proportionality and with proper oversight. These objectives are not in conflict. Proper oversight provides a strengthening of our systems of security.”
“At the peak of some projects, Hanssen Construction has employed more than 90 former prisoners, providing them with work and training. Apart from the expectation that this will assist the ex-prisoners, it is also quite arguable that it strengthens our workforce, our local economy and our community. Being able to provide employment to people who have experienced hardship in the past gives them dignity and gives them security. It gives them a way forward that reduces the risk of recidivism, which costs us around $120,000 per person annually. I congratulate Gerry Hanssen on this initiative and his leadership in this area, where he's undoubtably changing lives for the better.”
“I thank the AES leadership for encouraging men and women to explore career paths with them and in the broader field and giving them the recognition they deserve for the extraordinary work they perform in the workplace. A big shout-out to general manager Alex Cooper and the team of AES Equipment Solutions for their work. Last year I was lucky enough to go on a Transforming Lives Through Employment tour at Hanssen Constructions in Hazelmere. Gerry Hanssen, who has been active in the Swan Chamber of Commerce over many years, has made his organisation available to take on people who have served time and to give them the start they need to get organised, skill up, get working and start the second chapter of their lives.”
“In December I was honoured as a guest of the end-of-year function for AES Equipment Solutions, which operates in Hazelmere, in the industrial area of Hasluck. AES designs, manufactures and maintains vehicles and equipment for the mining industry, and they are well placed to take advantage of the changes in our mining and energy economy in the years ahead. This is possible because they have a first-rate employee culture, starting with apprenticeship programs. They are connecting with high schools and the Swan Chamber of Commerce, providing people from all walks of life with opportunities, both the young and those looking to reskill and upskill.”
“I'm continually amazed at the spirit of innovation on display amongst businesses and community organisations in my electorate. Cyclowest is a radiopharmaceutical manufacturer in Bayswater. General Manager Angela Whittington contacted me for support in relation to a skilled worker they were looking to sponsor through the Skills in Demand (Core Skills) pathway. I also had a tour of their incredible facility. Cyclowest develops, manufactures and supplies radiopharmaceuticals of the highest quality, supporting precise cancer diagnosis and treatment. It is also at the cutting edge of nuclear industry, in Hasluck, and that is shaping the future of our health care. It's also enabling support for defence, giving a safe space for people to understand and learn how to safely handle radiological materials.”
“Our support acknowledges the dedication of teachers, leaders and support staff; the trust of families; and a shared belief that every child deserves a fair go. When I visit schools—from Cyril Jackson, looking at their intensive English language centre; or Woodbridge Primary School and their extraordinary art exhibitions and dance programs; Guildford Grammar School, with their absolutely magnificent cohort of students that are moving particularly into pathways around academia; to our Australian Islamic College at Henley Brook—I see we have got a variety and diversity of schools to support students' needs and their aspirations for the future.”
“Of course, this is an issue that families and educators take seriously, and it's part of the reason we introduced the social media ban for under-16s. Many Hasluck schools already invest heavily in wellbeing teams, pastoral-care programs and inclusive school cultures, working hand in hand with parents and the community more broadly. The national coordination strengthens this work and ensures our schools are getting the support they need to keep students safe. As the 2026 year unfolds, public schools across Hasluck will continue to nurture curiosity, resilience and ambition in our young people, right alongside those private educational institutions that are very much part of our fabric.”
“Of course, funding alone doesn't educate students; teachers do. That is why this motion rightly acknowledges the vital role of teachers and the national effort underway to address workforce shortages. Teachers in Hasluck give of themselves every day. They are educators, mentors, role models and trusted adults for young people navigating an increasingly complex world. It's encouraging to see more Australians choosing to study teaching, supported by measures such as our paid teaching practicums, teaching scholarships and our stronger initial teacher education. These initiatives help ensure that more people can enter the profession, complete their training and stay, benefiting students and school communities alike. The motion also recognises the importance of preventing and responding to bullying in schools.”
“At the primary level, especially, at schools such as Midvale Primary School and Brabham Primary School, their focus on early literacy and numeracy and student wellbeing and community engagement lays the foundation for lifelong learning and for really upstanding citizens. This is the context in which the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement matters so deeply. This agreement represents the largest Commonwealth investment in public schools by any Australian government, and it is tied to reforms that focus squarely on lifting student outcomes. It recognises that fairness in education means funding schools according to need and giving them the certainty to plan, invest and innovate for the long term. The agreement lifts the funding to 100 per cent of the schooling resource standard. It becomes another proud Labor legacy.”
“Schools such as Ellenbrook Secondary College and Aveley Secondary College are supporting students in rapidly-growing areas, offering academic pathways, alongside vocational education and training that helps our students prepare for work and further study and apprenticeships. In Ellenbrook, too, we now have a university study hub to help bridge the gap for students living far from universities. I have to say that, on visiting, it is always full, as students are loving that collegiate atmosphere and being able to study when they're not on campus. Schools like Governor Stirling Senior High School, Moorditj Noongar Community College and Hampton Senior High School offer specialist focus areas in the arts and sports, helping students thrive through creativity and teamwork and discipline, right from tiny tots all the way through to year 12.”
“At the outset, I want to acknowledge the start of the 2026 school year for students and their families and for the teachers and school staff right across Australia and especially back home in Hasluck. The beginning of the school year is always a time of energy and optimism—from new students nervously holding their parents' hands, to year 12s starting to think about life beyond school. Public schools sit at the heart of Hasluck. They serve families in fast-growing suburbs such as Ellenbrook, Brabham and Aveley, as well as our long-established communities around Noranda, Bassendean, Ashfield and Midland. They reflect the diversity of our electorate culturally, socially and economically. And they do so with professionalism, pride and care in all that they do.”
“We are absolutely on track towards our goal that by 2030 nine in 10 GP visits will be bulk-billed, and I really am pleased with the undertakings by the GP clinics in my electorate of Hasluck to work through the processes to enable those clinics also to be bulk-billing so we can see a similar uplift to what we've seen from the previous speakers, where they've got some 32-odd. I look forward to seeing a similar number in mine. Medicines are cheaper too. Since 1 January, patients are no longer paying any more than $25 for a script. In Hasluck, that saving has translated to around 1.7 million scripts. In Hasluck that has meant a saving of around $13.7 million. That is back into the pockets of constituents in my electorate.”
“I count myself amongst them, having received treatment at the fabulous Morley urgent care clinic and most recently having visited, with my own mother, Midland Urgent Care Clinic, where she received fantastic care that would have saved her many, many hours of sitting waiting for the same outcome at a hospital. We're very grateful for that quick and efficient service and treatment by the staff. We are also driving the largest investment in bulk-billing in Medicare's history—an $8½ billion package that is already delivering results. More than 3,300 practices are now fully bulk-billing, including around 1,250 that were previously charging mixed fees.”
“As communities like mine grow, as medical needs evolve and as people live longer with more complex conditions, Medicare must keep evolving too. We have delivered more doctors, more bulk-billing and cheaper medicines, and opened 87 Medicare urgent care clinics in our first term, and we've committed to another 50—and 122 clinics are now open nationwide. These clinics are doing exactly what they were designed to do. Since late 2022, 2½ million Australians have walked into an urgent care clinic and received treatment with their Medicare card not their credit card.”
“The Ellenbrook clinic is taking the load off our St John of God Midland hospital, and it's giving families a safe, local, alternative. But what struck me most was how the Prime Minister connected this moment back to Medicare's history. He reminded us that Labor built Medicare and that each generation of Labor governments has had to renew it, defend it and strengthen it. Medicare has always required stewardship. It has always needed champions willing to expand access, modernise the care, reinforce the principle of universality and, of course, mend the years of coalition neglect, and that is exactly what this government is doing. In the early 1980s, Medicare was a bold idea. Today it's a national treasure but a treasure that cannot be taken for granted.”
“We were shown the new facilities by Dr Tun, Dr Sharma, Dr Guest and, of course, their amazing staff. Seriously, Hasluck is in really great hands. Our urgent care clinics are a modern embodiment of Medicare's founding principles: universal, accessible, high-quality care delivered close to home. As we walked through that clinic together, the Prime Minister spoke about how critical it is in a country as vast as ours that every community, including fast-growing outer suburbs like those in my electorate, can rely on strong primary care. He spoke about the importance of easing pressure on families and ensuring families aren't forced to navigate emergency departments for minor injuries or fevers. We saw firsthand that this model works.”
“Medicare was built on a simple belief: that access to health care should never depend on your bank balance. It is a system that has been based on our social compact for more than 40 years, ensuring that every Australian, no matter their circumstances, can receive care when they need it, and it's a reflection of who we are as a nation: fair and decent and compassionate. That belief was on full display when the Prime Minister stood with our community in Ellenbrook in Hasluck very recently, on the weekend, at the Ellenbrook Medicare Urgent Care Clinic—already, in fact, one of the busiest in Western Australia, with over 2,000 presentations since opening just in December. The Prime Minister and I met with the doctors, the nurses and the other staff and with families that were seeking care with their Medicare card, not their credit card.”
“Rather, his words echo the hostility that is behind the Australia Day attack. The events of 26 January were an attack on our community and on all Australians, and I stand—as we all must—against this kind of hatred.”
“I'd also like to call attention to the online forums that are promoting hate speech, creating racial vilification and fuelling the type of behaviour that we saw carried out on 26 January. This issue extends to public-facing figures who continue to promote racial vilification for their own advancement—even members of this parliament. The member for New England, earlier this morning, said in this place: 'Antisemitic policy—we will back it 100 per cent. We'll be at the forefront. But we've got to be focused on antisemitic issues from radical—from fundamentalist Islamic terrorists against Jewish people and not draw this net of other things.' So, for the member of New England, racism against other minority groups is just a 'net of other things'. The words do not promote unity.”
“I thank the member for Curtin for introducing the motion to the House. As she said, it was just luck that this did not become a mass casualty event. I stand with my community in their outrage and disbelief, and I am so glad that I'm not standing here reading a condolence motion. Many of the attendees at the rally were in fact my constituents—from Lockridge, Midland and further afield. I thank the WA police, for working with the Noongar representatives, and leaders, like Minister McCarthy and Senator Dorinda Cox, for their commitment to keeping this matter exactly where it should be: at the forefront of our minds when dealing with policy directed at preventing this from happening again. The matter is, of course, under investigation, but it's under investigation as a potential terrorist attack.”
“'They can do whatever they want, but they'll never stop the voices of our people, because we are warriors.' These are the measured words of Uncle Herbert Bropho following the direct attack on First Nations people at Forrest Place in Boorloo, in Perth, on 26 January. Forrest Place is a historic meeting place. Protests occur there every month. Whitlam spoke there; Menzies spoke there. The attack, which was unsuccessful but potentially deadly, was an attack on people engaged in their democratic right of protest. As Minister Gorman said, an attack on our people is an attack on our democracy. Mainstream media have not given enough attention to this or the attention it deserves. Where's the outrage? It was an attempt to kill innocent people—children, grandchildren, parents and people in wheelchairs.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government backing our defence forces by making sure that they have access to the investment assets and infrastructure that they need to keep Australians safe? And what approaches has the government rejected?”
“The women are supported at the end of their sentences through a carefully staged release process, and this includes receiving a second-hand phone upon release with important numbers for them to engage with continuing support. The ability to communicate with others is incredibly important for everyone, but for domestic violence survivors who already face isolation, particularly in remote communities, it can be the thing that saves their lives. I have already initiated the DV Safe Phone program in my Hasluck office, which is now a busy drop-off point for phones, and I encourage my colleagues across all sides of parliament to become that drop-off zone for DV Safe Phone.”
“I come from a place of incredible privilege. Like many here, I have been afforded an education, a roof over my head and a life free from violence. I recently visited Bandyup Women's Prison in West Swan in Hasluck. The majority of women there have suffered family and domestic violence, and sadly those experiences form part of the reason why many of them are there. Prisons are difficult places. I was so pleasantly surprised to see the great, dedicated and caring support by the correctional officers and the rehabilitation practices being implemented that help fill the very gaps that have occurred in their lives, including in education and health care. About 50 per cent of the inmates at Bandyup are Indigenous, underscoring the continuing need for us to work to close the gap across this and other measures.”