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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“Obviously—relative to the experience of the majority of defence service personnel—it was a limited prism through which I looked at the defence forces. But, through that experience, and also through my parliamentary participation on the defence programs, I'm determined to ensure I stay connected to the issues that matter to our current serving personnel but to those of our veterans as well, because 'lest we forget' applies to the living as well as the fallen. I commend the government's work and the ongoing reform of veteran affairs to this House.”
“To the veterans and RSL communities of Hasluck, I say this: your service is valued; your voices are heard; and here, with this legislation and the other reforms that have already commenced, we are delivering. For my part, in Hasluck, I will continue to advocate strongly for the interests of those who have served. In the north of my electorate, I will look for ways to support the Ellenbrook RSL in finding their own permanent space—a safe space for local veterans to meet and seek support. I will continue to support the Eastern Regional RSL in Bassendean as they plan for their future. Regardless of the nature of service and missions, I will ensure that, wherever people have served, they are appropriately acknowledged for that service. I served in the Army Reserve.”
“No government, obviously, can undo decades of systemic issues overnight, but what we are doing is changing the direction. We've moved from denial to acknowledgement, from delay to action and from mere defensiveness to engagement. Many of us here attended the last post ceremony at the War Memorial this week. Veterans and their families deserve more than gratitude expressed once or twice a year at formal ceremonies. They deserve a system that works, every day, quietly, competently and with respect. In Minister Keogh they have a minister who understands the weight of that responsibility, and in the Albanese government they have a government committed to doing the work, legislatively, administratively and culturally.”
“And that message is filtering through. While there is more work to do, it represents a meaningful shift—one that veterans and their families deserve. Another initiative that underscores the collaborative nature of the government's approach is the decision by Minister Keogh to form a Veterans' Affairs Ministerial Advisory Council. There are currently notices across media calling for expressions of interest to serve on this council which will inform the minister in relation to the operation of the sector and particularly in relation to the compensation framework. The notice calls for applications from persons with expertise in one of the areas of health, including mental health; rehabilitation; aged care; financial supports and compensation; and, importantly, lived experience.”
“2) Bill is part of the government's ongoing effort to ensure that veterans legislation is clearer and fairer and is better aligned. The amendments encompassed by the bill include measures dealing with compensation for dependants of deceased veterans, funeral compensation, injuries arising from treatment, access to education and appropriate notice, as well as other matters. I really do want to acknowledge the cultural change that is being driven through the veterans system. But we know policy reform is not enough. Veterans have told us that how they are treated, whether they are believed, whether they are listened to and whether they are treated with dignity matters just as much as the outcome of any claim. Minister Keogh has made it clear that empathy, accountability and transparency are not optional extras; they are core expectations.”
“Often when they're away for extended periods of time—this could be six months or a year—and they come back, it's that adjustment back to being within a family, where discussions are not about direction. It's about collaboration; it's about consensus. Suddenly having teenagers say 'no' is a challenge. It's a challenge in any house, but it's a challenge when you're in a workplace where it's about following orders, and then suddenly you're in an environment where you might get some pushback. Even just something like how to make sure the family network is solid and resilient is so critical too. The Albanese government's expanding hubs nationally reflects that simple truth: that early, local and holistic support really does save lives. And, further, the Veteran Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No.”
“Some were not necessarily getting the support that they needed, where perhaps their partner had their employment within Defence severed on health grounds and suddenly it was on them to be able to provide that full wraparound service for issues they may not have a full line of sight to. That was quite concerning. I've been continuing to work with the minister to ensure that area is prioritised for support as part of family wellbeing. If I might—and I'm running down the clock—I have just one other example from our discussions at that roundtable. It's providing support to serving defence service personnel and then veterans on their return to home.”
“I had the real privilege of being able to participate in a roundtable last year with the families of veterans. To be fair, I know that it's not in all cases, but in many cases they are women who are there supporting the serving defence person. The stories that they shared were really quite something. They were very impressive in being able to give really succinct stories that covered quite different spectrums. There were situations where their own career was stymied as a consequence of the nature of the defence personnel's role, as they need to move around the country and sometimes internationally.”
“Local RSL advocates in Hasluck have told me that, while challenges do still remain, they are actually seeing progress. They're seeing their claims move more quickly, they're seeing better communication, and they're seeing a minister who is prepared to engage with them and with the sector directly. And that matters. Another area of genuine reform has been the expansion of the Veterans' and Families' Hubs. The hubs recognised something veterans have always known: that wellbeing is not just about compensation but about connection, purpose and access to the right help at the right time. By providing a single entry point for mental health services, employment assistance, advocacy and social support, these hubs reduce fragmentation. They remove barriers. They also acknowledge that families are central to veteran wellbeing, not an afterthought.”
“Indeed, we did not wait for its final report to begin making those changes, because, for too long, veterans experienced the Department of Veterans' Affairs not as a support system but as an obstacle course. Long delays, repeated reassessments and complex legislative frameworks left many feeling disbelieved and worn down. But, under Minister Keogh's leadership, I'm happy to say that we've seen really systemic and cultural changes in veterans' affairs. The government has invested in hundreds of additional staff at DVA. They've improved the training, modernised systems to reduce the claims backlogs and improved the decision-making timeframes. They're not cosmetic changes; they're practical reforms that mean veterans can receive support when they need it and not years later and maybe never.”
“They have been clear to me about what matters most, which is the veterans that they support. They want a system that listens. They want decisions made in reasonable timeframes, and they want dignity, clarity and fairness. That was what was lacking when we came to office, and it's precisely what this government has set out to deliver and, frankly, is now delivering. One of the most important differences under the Albanese government has been a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, particularly in relation to veteran mental health and suicide. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide existed because families, advocates and veterans demanded honesty and accountability. Minister Keogh made clear that this government is committed to responding fully and meaningfully to the findings of the royal commission.”
“I want to place on the record my sincere thanks to and gratitude for the volunteers, the advocates and the committee members of those RSLs. Their work often goes unseen, and it's essential. They are helping veterans navigate complex systems, supporting families in distress and ensuring that no-one is forgotten. I know, from my meetings with them, that the toll of being able to maintain records, the systems and obligations that come with any committee—be it a sporting club, a not-for-profit or an RSL sub-branch—is increasingly felt by people who don't feel necessarily fully equipped with the computer skills required. That bit of stress, even on that level, is something that we're working to take away because their focus, rightly, is on supporting veterans to navigate more complex issues than doing the paperwork.”
“He has full respect for the lived experience of people like the member for Herbert as well as the current serving personnel and really understands what is needed and what the commitment to reform should look like. In my electorate of Hasluck, veteran issues are not abstract; they are personal, they're local and they're enduring. Across Hasluck, we have a number of RSL sub-branches, including those that serve communities from Ellenbrook to Bassendean, as well as the surrounding suburbs. They play a vital role not just in commemoration but in the day-to-day support of veterans and also of those who continue to serve. They are places where veterans find camaraderie, advocacy and a sense of belonging long after their formal service has ended.”
“We lean on and call on our Defence service personnel for a lot more than they ever thought that they were signing up for. The enormous work that they do in communities around the world in building beautiful relationships and trust, in order to avoid conflict in the first place, is something I think is quite immeasurable. I want to acknowledge that the work of Albanese Labor government is very much going to ensuring that we all take the work of our veterans as well as our Defence personnel seriously. This is being led by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Hon. Matt Keogh, and has been done with absolute seriousness of purpose.”
“Before I begin, I would like to thank the member for Herbert for his speech, for his words and sincerity and for looking to ensure our veterans are fully supported. I also thank him for his act of service. I too rise to speak on the matter that indeed goes to the heart of our national character: how we honour, support and stand beside those who have served Australia in uniform and how we support their families as well, who serve alongside them. We heard just before from the member for Herbert about the different kinds of service that I think are all very familiar to people who head off to different missions around the world in conflicts. But there are also peacekeeping missions. There's the seemingly never-ending requirement to support our affected communities domestically on the back of bushfires, floods and cyclones.”
“The government I am part of is committed to combating antisemitism and to addressing the underlying cause in the rise of racism. As the Prime Minister has said, this is not now a time for division. It's a time for unity, for coming together and for encouraging fairness, respect and kindness across all society. Let the respect we all show be the bedrock upon which we move together from this tragedy. As the Hanukkah celebration teaches, the light will overcome the darkness.”
“I am shocked and I'm deeply saddened for our Jewish Australians to live in a constant state of fear in our neighbourhoods. Racism, antisemitism and intolerance have no place in Australia, nor in any democratic society. Every major religion preaches peace. When violent extremists attack unknown innocents in the pursuit of their own twisted political or ideological beliefs it is more than just a crime; it is an attack on the underlying principles of Australia as a whole. As was put to me recently at a roundtable I attended with our Jewish leaders in Perth, this horrific act—this hateful act of terrorism—our collective response and the actions that follow will be marked in history and studied and judged for decades to come.”
“My local Jewish leaders told me that, when the attack at Bondi was happening, Hanukkahs were being held concurrently across New South Wales and around the country and, as messages were being sent out about the shooters, there was confusion as to whether they were also under attack. No-one, of course, could know whether this was a lone attack or part of a wider attack. The Jewish leaders told me of the panic and the fear that was felt at every Hanukkah, and earlier we heard our member for Macnamara sharing his own experience and his fear for his daughter's safety. This brings home just how vulnerable and how unsafe our Jewish community feels. Heavy and visible security presence, CCTV, high walls—these fortifications and layers of security have become normalised. It is not normal.”
“Each of them feeds not only many in its own community, on a regular basis, but also the many families in need in Hasluck and beyond, regardless of faith or ethnicity, particularly at times of natural disasters. In any given week, there is a proud and open celebration of faith in my electorate of Hasluck, as it should be. Recently I was invited, and readily accepted the invitation, to attend the Hanukkah prayers for the fallen and the lighting of the menorah, and I attended a service for the sabbath and a wedding, with the traditional calling of the groom to the Torah. Our Jewish community, like any other, has the right to expect to be able to observe their faith and carry out their lives in peace and without anxiety, and yet they cannot.”
“We meet here now to do something tangible: to guard against this tragedy being repeated and, as my friend the member for Macarthur said earlier, to root out the underlying causes of the rise in hatred and antisemitism. My electorate of Hasluck is rich in cultural diversity and rich in religious diversity. Over the last four years, I've been a regular visitor to the many churches, temples, mosques, schools and religious institutions around Hasluck, and one thing that has always struck me is the goodwill that exists between them and the active demonstration of the pluralistic Australian values within our community at large. The Shree Swaminarayan Temple and the Sikh gurdwara in Bennett Springs are fine examples of this.”
“Matilda; Edith Brutman; Dan Elkayam; Boris and Sofia Gurman; Alexander Kleytman; Rabbi Yaakov Levitan; Peter Meagher; Reuven Morrison; Marika Pogany; Rabbi Eli Schlanger; Adam Smyth; Boris Tetleroyd; Tania Tretiak; Tibor Weitzen—15 Australians for whom today should be, as the Prime Minister said, just another Monday morning. It is not, nor is it the same for those left behind, for the close family and friends of those so brutally taken away—people like six-year-old Summer, who now lives with the trauma of seeing her big sister murdered—for the extraordinary people who were present and who survived, for those who ran to danger and for those like Amy Booth who responded to it.”
“If companies want to profit from Australian creators, they have to pay. If companies want to enjoy the benefits of an Australian market, they must follow our rules. 'Make Amazon Pay' isn't a slogan; it's a line in the sand. If they don't bargain, if they don't respect democracy, if they don't protect privacy, if they don't play fair, then they don't get rewarded; it's that simple. If Amazon can afford to rocket billionaires into space, they can pay workers back here on Earth their fair share. It's time to tell Amazon and companies like them that they don't get to run on algorithms and arrogance. (Time expired)”
“Every government wants business to succeed. Every employee wants the business they work for to succeed. But around the world there are companies like Amazon who act like they are too big to follow the rules, too big to bargain with workers, too big to answer to parliaments, too big to respect privacy and too big to play fair. Well, here's the truth: no corporation is bigger than a democracy. Amazon has closed warehouses in Quebec to avoid workers unionising. It has dragged workers through endless litigation on Staten Island. It has silenced staff in Australia and spied on workers in France. At every turn and on a global scale, Amazon has demonstrated a pattern of digital surveillance of workers and a refusal to negotiate with unions. If companies want public contracts, they should meet public standards.”
“Guy was a musician, a teacher, a mentor, a leader and a beloved figure within our school community and the broader music community. To Gina Williams and his wider family: on behalf of us all, I offer my heartfelt sympathy. Your grief is shared by all who heard his guitar, who felt his passion and who saw his commitment and his kindness. His legacy will carry on in every primary school as they sing the words of 'Wanjoo'. Let us remember the transformative power of art. These men expressed themselves in very different musical traditions, but they both brought people together. They challenged us, inspired us and left a mark that will not fade. Their art lives on.”
“I rise to pay tribute to two remarkable musicians. James Baker was a true pioneer of the Aussie rock and punk scene. To quote the Rockpit: With a CV that reads like a who's who of Australian rock'n'roll greatness—in addition to the Victims, Hoodoo Gurus and Beasts of Bourbon, James co-founded the Scientists, the Dubrovniks, the Painkillers and more—James was also a genuine tastemaker and style influencer. James Baker was a local Bassendean legend and a long-time supporter of his good friend and state member Dave Kelly. His passing has been felt heavily by Bassendean Labor. My condolences to Cath Rogers, his wife, and his daughters, Lorna and Faye. Vale, James Baker. I also acknowledge the passing of Guy Ghouse AM.”
“Mr James Robinson, First Assistant Secretary, Strategic Policy, said: Oversight by the IGIS and the committee would enable the implementation of a consistent best-practice approach for managing proportionality, propriety and governance across our intelligence functions. There is such a contrast between that statement and the statement of the Liberal member for Menzies back in 1986, the Hon. Neil Brown, who said: … the very notion of having an Inspector-General to second guess an intelligence agency is utterly absurd and it is a severe restriction on its effectiveness. Times and attitudes have changed, and the Office of the IGIS is broadly viewed and accepted as an integral part of our security architecture, as are the committee and the INSLM. This bill will make their functions more effective still, and I commend it to the House.”
“The bill also brings a greater focus on security clearances for committee staff and underlines more explicitly the independence of the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, or INSLM. I have studied the work of INSLM's present and past and appreciate the frank and clear advice that they have provided. It's important for us to bolster and protect the independence of that office in whatever way we can. The bill also broadens the scope of the legislation that the INSLM may consider and review. The PJCIS inquired into the bill, and its report has been taken into account. In the hearing for the inquiry, the Department of Home Affairs welcomed the bill.”
“The bill provides for expanded oversight by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, and I note that the government has budgeted $1.3 million over four years from 2023-24 and $0.3 million on going to support that expansion. The committee's expanded powers include greater capacity to review functions of the ACIC, the AFP, AUSTRAC and Home Affairs; the capacity to request an inquiry by the AGIS, which the AGIS, being independent, will consider, but it will not be compelled to inquire; and a greater scope for the requesting of briefings to the committee from relevant agencies, with heads of many agencies named and the list of agencies explicitly non-exhaustive. From my experience on that committee, these expanded powers will be helpful in providing for greater assurance.”
“The bill before us does a number of useful things and is the result of deliberations, reviews and committee inquiry over the past decade. As the Attorney-General stated in her second reading speech, the security threat environment is evolving and requires the intelligence community, which involves 10 agencies, to be increasingly interconnected in this work. Our oversight, therefore, needs to evolve likewise in order to ensure that both the parliament and the public have sufficient assurance that the work of the intelligence agencies proceeds appropriately and according to law. The bill expands the role of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, particularly in relation to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the intelligence functions of the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Home Affairs.”
“It was a James Bond-ish view of intelligence and security that perhaps we, as a society, have grown out of. About 15 years ago, I was a principal policy adviser to WA Labor Premiers Gallop and Carpenter and Liberal Premier Barnett. I advised on security and emergency management. As part of my role I advised the premiers on WA's response to terrorism. I worked with my national counterparts and provided input to the COAG processes and decision-making with respect to the same. The fundamental importance of checks and balances and the role of oversight mechanisms such as IGIS was instilled in me then, and I have regard to this knowledge whenever I'm called to consider, debate and legislate on extraordinary powers that are largely carried out in secret.”
“ASIO was established by the Chifley government, by executive action, in 1949. In 1974, the Whitlam government established the Hope royal commission, the Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security. That commission reported in 1977. In 1986 the Hawke government enacted the legislation for an inspector-general of intelligence and security, which had been a recommendation of the Hope royal commission. We passed legislation in 2023 to update and improve the Office of the IGIS, and it's fair to say that, today, that body has broad support across the parliament. In 1986, when the Office of the IGIS was established by the Hawke government, it was not supported by the coalition. There was a view that the intelligence agencies should not have their work disturbed by oversight.”
“That committee, once constituted, will act to enable this parliament to, in an appropriate way, more effectively monitor the Department of Defence and defence supply ecosystem. We've seen in recent days how necessary such oversight is. All of these examples and more are part of an underlying attitude on the part of the Albanese government that our institutions must be strong and that part of this strength is a formidable system of effective oversight that allows the parliament and the people to have sufficient knowledge that will engender trust in those institutions and in our democratic system as a whole. Support for effective democratic oversight is, as I have said, a hallmark of the Albanese Labor government. I can say further that it is a significant feature of Labor governments generally.”
“I was a member of the Joint Select Committee on National Anti-Corruption Commission Legislation. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is an important part of our system of effective oversight and was already long overdue at the federal level when we passed the legislation in 2022. In 2024, I spoke on the Administrative Review Tribunal Bill. We inherited an AAT that was simply not working, beset with delay and inappropriate appointments. Without a solid system of administrative review there can be no public confidence in government. I'm pleased to see the government's reforms in this area are coming into effect—a legacy that the former attorney-general can be proud of. The Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill is before the Senate—and not for the first time.”
“I am pleased to speak to the Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025. It does not stand alone; rather, it is one of a series of steps the government has taken over the last 3½ years to create a more democratic system of effective oversight across the executive government. When I spoke in this place on the Ministers of State Amendment Bill in 2023, I said that our system of government requires transparency, disclosures, checks and balances. On that occasion, we passed legislation to ensure that no future Australian Prime Minister would be able to take on ministries in secret. Prior to that time, no parliament conceived that such legislation would be necessary. Events proved otherwise, and the Albanese government took action.”
“As my fashionable gen Z intern informed me, not only is 909 the moniker of a very crucial part of DJ history and culture but it's also the number of cheaper home batteries that we have so far made available in Hasluck. It maintains our commitment to affordable renewable energy, just as—I hope I say this in the right way—the TR-909 is committed to advancing techno music and my intern is committed to playing it out loud in my office.”
“Six months ago today, or thereabouts, the people of Hasluck asked me once again to represent them, and I carry their trust and aspirations with me. Today is the final placement day for Maya Weiss, a student from the Australian National University who's been on internship with me. Maya is a keen student of linguistics and has prepared a research project on the use of explicit reading and writing instruction in primary schools in Hasluck and other electorates, for comparison, including the Speaker's electorate. I'm pleased to have been able to host Maya in my office, and I hope to use her findings to further my understanding and support educational outcomes in my electorate.”
“What's the definition of courage? It's the ability to do something that frightens you. I see it in Jeanene Williams, in my electorate of Hasluck, who brought our community together for the first Pride in Swan festival. Jeanene stands up proudly for equality and inclusion, even while facing vile attacks from extremists emboldened by those opposite. I see it at the Stirling Arms in Guildford, where the staff acted without hesitation when a Neo-Nazi white Australia group infiltrated their venue. Owners Jesse Casserly and Dave Elder showed courage and moral fortitude when they stood up to the very Neo-Nazis that those opposite fail to condemn when they march in our streets. What is it to have the courage of conviction?”
“The people of Hasluck and the people across Australia demand consistency, clarity and commitment, not this flip-flopping that leaves our economy, our communities and our environment in limbo. So, while the coalition is in a perpetual state of confusion and indecision, on this side of the House we remain clear—net zero by 2050, backed by real action—because our communities are relying on us to deliver a stable and prosperous future.”
“And just this week, Nick Carter, CEO of Akaysha Energy, was named in T IME magazine's 100 most influential climate leaders. Akaysha is building the Waratah Super Battery, the world 's most powerful battery, on the former Munmorah coal-fired power station site in New South Wales. This will be acting as a shock absorber for the power network across New South Wales. CEO Carter says: This issue is too big and critical not to have a bipartisan stance … … … … Everyone needs to get aligned … Stop fighting and get aligned for the common good. That's the message from industry to the opposition. Let's get on with it. Our nation, our climate, our future will not wait for members opposite to find a political backbone.”
“They are putting money into R&D to drive innovation in the way we make things and the way in which we deliver our services for a green energy future. In Western Australia, in the member for O'Connor's electorate, one of our newest goldmines, the Bellevue project, is aiming to run on up to 90 per cent renewables. Already they have had times where they're operating on 100 per cent renewables. Their motivation is not just to save on the substantial cost of diesel. Bellevue say some gold buyers are now seeking to buy sustainably mined gold. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Western Australia, where road transport distances are no joke, companies like EPCA, Janus, Kempower and Chargefox are working to convert our trucking fleets to electric.”
“Where is the sensible centre that the opposition leader claims to occupy? Just a short time ago, the coalition told us that they accepted the science, the economics and the opportunity of a net zero future. The leader of the coalition said that it was her strong belief that rural and regional Australia has lots to benefit from in the move to net zero. 'This opportunity is huge,' she said. 'I think that net zero by 2050 aim is perfect.' Now, it's being used as a bargaining chip to save the opposition leader's political skin. I've heard from young people, local vineyards, small business owners, big business. They are planning for a net zero future. They are investing in solar and batteries on their homes. They are moving their vehicle fleets over to electric.”
“But Gough Whitlam's legacy and that of the 28th and 29th parliaments and caucus is one that continues to live on, and continues to provide lessons and inspiration as a touchstone for our own deliberations in this parliament today.”
“We have provided fee-free TAFE and a renewed focus of upskilling a young and not-so-young people for the jobs of the future. Whitlam's government emphasised open government accountability and reform of institutions such as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. One of the tasks we were set on coming to office three years ago was to establish a national anticorruption commission and to renew the administrative appeals process, which the coalition unfortunately had allowed to fall into disarray. In 1974, Whitlam commissioned the Hope royal commission on intelligence and security and established a new accountability framework, and we have legislation before the House right now for the consolidation of that oversight. The Whitlam government was indeed short lived and was not by any means perfect.”
“He said, 'A government which truly serves the people must also serve the land on which the people live.' I have no doubt if Gough Whitlam was in the parliament today he'd be scathing of those members obstructing the next generation of progress in protecting the environment. Whitlam was the first to develop a recognition of Aboriginal land rights. He established a separate ministry of Aboriginal affairs, and passed legislation to outlaw discrimination on race and sex. In 1973 Whitlam said, 'The basic principle of our government is equality—equality of opportunity, equality before the law, equality in the community.' Protection of rights, everyone's rights, is a fundamental purpose of government in a democracy. Whitlam instituted the national employment and training scheme, and wanted jobs for all citizens.”
“This is something I've been advocating for strongly because I see the success of it. Whitlam's government invested in regional development infrastructure and affordable housing. My own parents were beneficiaries of the rent-to-buy home policy. Our lives would be very difficult if that hadn't existed. In the last parliament, we created the HAFF and more recently provided for five per cent deposits for new homebuyers. There will be tens of thousands of families whose lives will be now changed for the better, as mine was, by Labor policy. Whitlam established the Australian heritage commission, the environment department and federal environmental impact assessments.”
“In 1972, Whitlam said they would establish universal health insurance so that every Australian could have access to Medicare without fear of cost, and they did. The Whitlam government introduced the first universal health insurance scheme in Medibank. Unfortunately, that sank into the swamp under Fraser, but we built it again as Medicare under Hawke. The Albanese government has since then invested more in Medicare, more than any other. We aim to see bulk billing restored so that the only card you need to see the doctor is your Medicare card. Already, the fully bulk-billed Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have had over two million presentations. In Hasluck, in addition to the centres we opened in Midland and in Morley, we will be adding a new one in Ellenbrook.”
“Poverty is a national waste as well as an individual waste. We are all diminished when any of us are denied proper education. The nation is the poorer—a poorer economy, a poorer civilisation, because of this human and national waste. The Whitlam government abolished university fees and expanded access to tertiary education. They established the Australian Schools Commission to allocate funding on the basis of need. Whitlam changed the face of education in Australia. How many of us simply would not be here in this place now but for the changes then? Today, we have reduced student debt and have come to agreement with the states and territories for public schools to be funded to 100 per cent of the schooling resource standard. I know what a great difference this will make to the many primary and high schools in Hasluck.”
“I thank the member for Werriwa for bringing this motion before the parliament. On 11 November my mind's focus will be on Remembrance Day. I'll also, as many of us do on that date, be considering the events of 1975, now 50 years ago. Almost all of us were children at that time. I'm not going to be able to do justice to the matters of the constitutional crisis in a couple of minutes, so I, too, recommend that those interested read Professor Hocking's article in Pearls and Irritations . There has been so much written about the rights and the wrongs and the what-might-have-beens, so I will focus on the legacy of the Whitlam government and what it means for me and the people of Hasluck today in 2025. Prior to his election, Whitlam said: We are all diminished as citizens when any of us are poor.”
“Between the reshuffles and the resignations, it's hard to keep up with which coalition spokesperson is breaking rank today. Case in point: while Labor has delivered a record investment in women's health care, in the rare instance the coalition does speak about women it's to undermine its own leader or, worse, to lecture women on choices about their bodies while actively trying to restrict them. It's not all doom and gloom though, as the coalition has set their own record, too. Polling has their primary vote at a record low. So to Hasluck, I say thank you for your support and your confidence. I will continue fighting for you while those opposite fight themselves.”
“Six months into our second term, and Labor is getting on with delivering for all Australians. For students, we have cut every university and TAFE debt by 20 per cent. For first home buyers, we have delivered five per cent home deposits with no mortgage insurance. For households, we've made batteries cheaper. For apprenticeships, we've kicked off our $10,000 incentive to get more homes built. For workers, we've secured a 3½ per cent minimum pay rise. And for every Australian, we've just delivered a record boost in Medicare, so everyone can see a GP for free. Meanwhile, the Liberals have spent the last six months in a toxic situationship with the Nationals: breaking up; getting back together; breaking up again; factions fracturing.”