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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“The Albanese government has assessed our situation, has seen what is needed and has backed in Australian industry. Together with people like our minister for resources, Madeleine King, and the Foreign minister, we are yet again proving ourselves on the world stage.”
“The Business Council of Australia stated that a well-designed CMPTI can provide the foundation for Australia to be a competitive destination for critical minerals processing and refining. The union movement, too, is strongly supportive of the government's Future Made Australia plan and the critical minerals tax incentive, with unions including the AMWU, the AWU, the ETU and the MUA all engaging positively on the consultation. A number of mining and tech industries also participated in the consultation, including Western Australian companies Ardea Resources, Chalice, Liontown, Hazer Group and Pilbara Minerals. The government's policies and agreements, like the framework signed by the Prime Minister in Washington this month, will act to drive both investment and jobs growth in regional areas of Western Australia and across the country.”
“The Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive has received broad support from stakeholders. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies stated that it was just in time. The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia welcomed the announcement of the policy, which it had advocated for prior to the budget. The Smart Energy Council noted that a tax credit for critical minerals will help to ensure a stable and secure supply of these vital resources while also supporting the growth of a clean energy industry. Tesla commended the government for seizing the opportunity by supporting industry to take minerals as far down the value chain as possible.”
“It will include national offtake agreements whereby the government will acquire agreed volumes of critical minerals from commercial projects or establish an option to purchase at a given price, holding security over these assets as part of a strategic reserve, as well as selective stockpiling. This is in addition to the $7 billion for the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive, which is designed to kickstart the processing and refining of these commodities. Recipients of that incentive will receive a refundable tax offset of 10 per cent of eligible costs of processing critical minerals in Australia. The offset will be available between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2040, with a 10-year maximum for each project. This gives that long-term planning surety that industry needs.”
“There will be a mining, minerals and metals investment ministerial within the first six months of the signing and the establishment a US-Australia critical minerals supply security response group, which will identify vulnerabilities and coordinate appropriate responses. In April this year the government committed to establishing a critical minerals strategic reserve. This will act to protect Australia's strategic interests in relation to the predictable supply of these commodities. A total of $1.2 billion has been allocated to establish this reserve in the 2025-26 federal budget, and it is expected to be operational from the second half of 2026.”
“The need for greater self-sufficiency and firmer supply chains in critical minerals is palpable. When Prime Minister Albanese met with US president Trump in October, he was able to have a meaningful discussion around the challenges that both face in relation to the need to have a dependable supply chain of critical minerals and rare earths. This resulted in the two leaders signing the United States-Australia Framework for Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths. This framework involves significant investment by both countries in forms such as guarantees, loans, equity, offtake agreements, insurance and regulatory facilitation.”
“I thank the member for Spence for this motion, which is directly relevant to the projects, the prospects and the livelihoods of the many people in his state of South Australia and in mine of Western Australia. Australia, of course, has some of the best deposits of critical minerals in the world. However, China currently controls up to 70 per cent of the global supply of critical minerals, around 85 per cent of the refining capacity and about 90 per cent of rare earths and magnet production. It announced export restrictions on rare earths and processing technologies early in October but then suspended that action, thankfully, after the summit between Presidents Xi and Trump this week. We learnt through COVID the importance of having dependable supply chains and how quickly and easily they can be disrupted.”
“Our experts have long recommended it. Our times demand it. I hope that, at last, this parliament, with this bill, will finally deliver it. I commend the bill to the House.”
“Each does valuable work, but, as Defence itself acknowledges, the oversight is dispersed. No single committee holds the mandate, the expertise or the continuity to examine a whole system of strategy, capability, procurement, expenditure and operational readiness. That means parliament's focus can be episodic and reactive, not strategic and sustained. Defence planning and investment operate on decades-long timelines, and billions are committed before the first hull is laid or the first system commissioned. A single, dedicated committee, armed with security clearances, cross-chamber membership and a clear statutory remit, will provide the continuity and depth that are missed today. We know that committees of this nature exist around the world, particularly with our partners and allies. Our allies have this oversight.”
“Given all of this—the shifting strategic environment, the technological leaps, the build-up of regional tension—now is not the time for half measures. Oversight reforms, like the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence, become even more essential. Without them, we risk having capability upgrades which are unseen, unexamined and unaccountable. Our democracy deserves better, and our Defence Force will be better off for the scrutiny. One of the most compelling reasons for this reform is that our present system of scrutiny is, frankly, fragmented. The Department of Defence's own annual report lists an extraordinary array of committees that review one or another aspect of Defence: public accounts and audit; foreign affairs, defence and trade; treaties; intelligence and security; and the various estimates hearings across a dozen portfolios.”
“In the 2025-26 budget, the consolidated defence budget was approximately $59 billion, an increase reflecting the government's response to the deteriorating strategic environment. The Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston, has reinforced that we must be ready for the possibility of launching combat operations from our own soil—a paradigm shift from our traditional posture. Australia is accelerating moves in key capability areas. The government has committed to domestic production of guided missiles, long-range strike systems and enhanced undersea maritime and space capabilities. In my own state, a $12 billion investment into the Henderson Defence Precinct has been announced, directed towards ongoing naval shipbuilding and submarine support.”
“Integration means that war is no longer just the province of the military; it touches every domain, and so greater scrutiny is needed. Today that need is greater than ever. Since the original review and strategy were set out, our strategic environment has continued to intensify. The national strategic review remains the cornerstone. It affirms that Australia faces its most challenging strategic environment since the Second World War. The government 's 2025-29 Defence Corporate Plan underscores the transformation of the ADF into an integrated, focused force, across maritime, land, air, space and cyber domains, and this new committee will have a role in seeing that those aims are met.”
“You are failing the Australian community, failing the defence community and failing your duty in this place. It's true that real oversight is sometimes uncomfortable—that it shines light in places and at times that may be inconvenient. This is precisely why we need it. The Liberals cannot posture about patriotism—something that the member for Canning bangs on about all the time—and yet then vote against transparency. You cannot talk about defending Australia while refusing to defend accountability. There is no point talking a big game on defence and security, and then delaying important reforms like this one. The coalition might want to choose better where it plays its politics. I refer to the 2024 strategy: shifting to an integrated, focused force; acknowledging that conflict is now more complex than ever.”
“He failed to support the very thing he demanded; so did the member for Hume, their current spokesperson, and other members opposite. That is the difference between conviction and convenience, between leadership and lip-service. The then shadow minister for defence stood at podiums and spoke of transparency and accountability, yet, when the time came to cast a vote, he sided with the same obstruction that had kept this reform shelved since 2018—even after his own colleagues, including Senator Molan, had called it sensible and critical reform. So let's be clear. This isn't about partisanship; it's about integrity. If you stand before the Australian people and declare that defence needs stronger oversight and then you vote against it, you are not defending the national interest.”
“The coalition failed to do so when their own committee recommended it in 2018. They then failed to support our bill in 2024. These are years—six years—over which time such a committee could have been doing extremely useful work. The member for Canning, when he was the opposition's defence spokesperson was bullish in his public support for this very reform. He told the Australian Defence Magazine in 2024: There is no independent Joint Defence Committee where tough questions can be asked in a classified, protected space. He was right. He said that such a committee would bring 'rigorous parliamentary oversight' to defence policies and the ADF. Too true. But, when the opportunity came to make these words a reality, when the bill came before the House in 2024, what did he do? He voted against it.”
“It was disappointing, in the previous parliament, to hear their late opposition and their misdirected amendments targeting a particular political party or Independents. A democracy cannot embed party labels in legislation about oversight nor are parties recognised under the Constitution. The safeguards in this bill mirror those of the intelligence and security committee and are robust, and this is a committee of which I'm a member. I can see how the process works so optimally. The member for Canning knew this in the last term and the member for Hume appears to know better now, and they should have treated the former identical bill, and the safeguards we place around the defence of our nation, with the seriousness it demanded. It is in fact a travesty that Australians have had to wait so long for this committee to be created.”
“This includes the way in which we care for defence personnel and veterans' families. I was deeply privileged today to attend the veteran family support event—and listen to the stories of, particularly, women experiencing life as they support defence personnel. The truth of the matter is families are part of the service. I think the more we can think in that frame to ensure that they get the support that they need to support their partners in service is vital—both during and post service, might I add. We have a responsibility for this. Under subclause (g) the committee may examine reports of any relevant royal commission, and it's all appropriate. Given all this, the bill does deserve passage. It was initially, as I said, supported by the coalition members of the committee.”
“I've spoken previously in this place of the Battle of Rabaul in 1942 and more than once, and why? Because it is a largely forgotten defeat, yet a necessary precursor to the attack on Darwin. The lessons from Rabaul should shape the way we think about our forward posture today. Our interests extend beyond our borders and mingle with those of our neighbours. Preparedness for conflict is built on cooperation and with care, well north of Australia. The new defence committee will help ensure that we better understand these long-term imperatives. The bill also provides functions in relation to personnel and veterans, because our preparedness always depends on our people. Our enlisted personnel must have the best support to fulfil their duty and love their career. Including veterans in the remit is vital.”
“Defence contracts are large, high value and often span years in duration. They are, by their nature, high risk. Parliamentary oversight must match that reality. The committee will contribute to a more robust process and better public confidence. When the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit reported on defence major projects from 2021 to 2023, including the Hunter Class Frigate Project, its recommendations emphasised the need for greater scrutiny and timely reporting. But that committee lacks the special access to classified information that this new defence focused committee will have. The proposed committee would have been a useful body to have in place when the coalition were trying and failing to make proper acquisition decisions during their decade in office.”
“But this committee provides enhanced scrutiny, a mechanism by which this parliament can examine the decisions of the day, ask the hard questions and further ensure public confidence. Members will note that the commitment of Australian forces to Afghanistan in 2001 and to Iraq in 2003 were contested decisions. Scrutiny might have produced better decisions in retrospect. This is not about second-guessing. It's about transparency and accountability in a democratic society. The committee will have other important functions: reviewing defence agencies and their budgets, scrutinising strategy documents and capability developments and acquisitions. On acquisitions, the defence minister has noted that defence contracting is the space where the government has the greatest private sector exposure.”
“This bill sits within that framework as does the excellent work done by the Prime Minister in his recent trip to the US and the generational treaty signed with Papua New Guinea earlier this month. Looking at the bill before us, proposed clause 110ABB sets out the functions of this new defence committee. These are broader than the mandate of the current Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee; for example, proposed subparagraph 110ABB(1)(e) authorises the committee 'to examine and be appraised of war or warlike operations, including ongoing conflicts'. Decisions to commit our ADF to conflict will not shift from the government to a parliamentary committee—that remains a Constitutional prerogative of the executive.”
“I understand that the coalition will now support the bill, and I thank them for that, notwithstanding that their support is years late in an area of policy where delay, as the member for Hume suggested in his speech, is ill-advised. This bill complements the government's overarching work in defence, which finds its basis in the 2023 Defence Strategic Review by Professor Stephen Smith and Air Chief Marshall (Ret'd) Sir Angus Houston. From that flowed the 2024 National Defence Strategy, which directs that the Australian Defence Force shift from a balanced force to a focused force—more capable, more lethal, more integrated. It aligns with a denial framework for defence, to defend Australia and our region—to deter by denial—to protect our trade and economic lifelines, to invest in regional relationships, and to uphold the rules based order.”
“In its report, the committee—then chaired by my friend the member for Bruce—recommended, in recommendation 6, that we establish a dedicated statutory committee focused on defence, to be called the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence, encapsulated by this bill and the virtually identical bill that lapsed in the last parliament. The coalition members of that committee in the last parliament supported that recommendation then but failed to support the bill—failed, notwithstanding that the same suggestion was made back in 2018 by the committee, then chaired by the late senator Jim Molan, who called it 'a sensible and critically important reform'. I concur.”
“In terms of the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025, early in our first term the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade was asked to inquire into how Australia makes decisions to send our service personnel and their families abroad and, specifically, to send service personnel into armed conflict. That committee also regularly reviews the annual reports of the Department of Defence—although we already have parliamentary oversight via debates and estimates, and the committee's existing remit. That committee concluded, in the course of bringing down that report, that those processes are not sufficient.”
“Security is the priority of government, and defence is at the pointy end of that duty. To this end, I am honoured to have Lieutenant Bijan Shekibi in my office as part of the defence parliamentary program to really get a great sense of appreciation of the type of work, the skills and the capacity that he brings to the defence forces and also to his colleagues, peers and, importantly, their families. The defence parliamentary program is a signature achievement, and I'm very proud to be part of it in terms of hosting defence personnel, and also to be part of the exercise program. Being part of Exercise Pitch Black in Darwin was an extraordinary highlight, so far, of my parliamentary career.”
“We have already seen examples of that today with our attorney-general making clear the protection of copyright laws, so we know we can do it, and we will continue to work in the interests of Australians with AI to support our efforts and endeavours.”
“People, workers and our communities need to be protected by strong AI guidelines. The argument that we have to choose between productivity gains or protections is a false frame. We can have both, and we have achieved both with previous technological advances. Our lawmakers need to put their citizens at the heart of their decision-making.' I want Dwyer's question and his answer to guide our work here as we consider the necessary legislation that will allow us to benefit from AI while avoiding the pitfalls that the application of any new technology can bring. As the Treasurer stated, we want to make Australian workers, businesses and investors beneficiaries, not victims, of that change.”
“I note that Minister Rishworth, who is alive to the skills challenges referred to above, stated in September, in an interview with the Guardian , that it makes commercial sense—if you want to get the job right and if you want to have the best adoption of AI—to consult with the people doing the job. Just this month I heard from Gerard Dwyer, national secretary of the SDA, on this topic, where he addressed the national conference delegation of that union. He foreshadowed the work that is before us and before every government in the world at the same time. He asked, 'Will we build an AI ecosystem that has humans at the centre, or will we just allow one to evolve that has a small number of wealthy tech bros hoodwinking us into believing that their interests are our interests? Those who promote a light touch on AI are actually out of touch.”
“Natasha Banks of Day of AI suggests that in the near future most jobs will be augmented by AI and that there'll be new jobs arising such as an AI engineer, but there'll be many more hybrid occupations where technical expertise is combined with background experience in areas such as health care, education, energy or public policy. She foresees a great need for upskilling across the workforce. Last month the ACTU called for AI agreements, including for guarantees around job security and skills development and retraining. Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell quite rightly stated that we want to see good AI and that it's something not merely efficient but that serves people's real interests. This approach is already being adopted in the European Union under their AI act.”
“The OECD envisages AI transforming whole industries such as with transport and autonomous vehicles—already we can see that at the cutting-edge in Western Australia in the mining sector; with optimisation in agriculture where, again, Western Australia is leading the way with farmers embracing the technology and with its connectivity to space and satellites; with automation in financial services; with enabling better fraud detection; with marketing and advertising; with science and technology; and, of course, with health research.”
“As a result the Albanese Labor government is making AI a national priority by supporting Australian AI companies through the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund—which has $1 billion set aside specifically for critical technologies, which, of course, includes AI; through the $392 million in the Industry Growth Program to support innovative SMEs; through the research and development tax incentive—which supported $980 million in business R&D expenditure on activities associated with AI, machine learning and robotics, which is a 50 per cent increase on the previous year; and through the Medical Research Future Fund, which is a $24.5 billion ongoing fund with 'artificial intelligence and digital health' being one of the funding principles.”
“AI is expected to contribute up to $116 billion a year to Australia's GDP, to create an additional 150,000 jobs by 2030 and to increase annual labour productivity growth by over four per cent across the next decade.”
“I thank the member for Maribyrnong for this timely motion, because the minister for science, technology and the digital economy—Tim Ayres and his assistant minister, Andrew Charlton, will be delivering the government's National AI Capability Plan before the end of this year. The plan will encompass three overarching goals: capturing the economic opportunity of AI, spreading the benefits of AI and keeping Australians safe. Realising the benefits of AI will require a commitment to the common good that I hope will be shared across the parliament. AI is not merely another app or tool that will change work around the edges. Rather it's a revolutionary change.”
“Also it must sit well within our communities, and to this end Henderson and the broader Rockingham region have thoughtful transitional planning to ensure that not just the shipyards are considered but the amenities, housing and environmental concerns are addressed too. I look forward to the ongoing engagement with all the stakeholders across the Henderson defence precinct and many of those beyond it as well.”
“The Defence Industry Pathways Program at the South Metropolitan TAFE is an example of the sort of bridging that's required and is part of the Defence Industry Skills Centre of Excellence, which the state and the Commonwealth governments have established with a joint investment of $14.6 million. The government's budget commitments provide that certainty, obviously, for investors but also for families with skilled workers looking to relocate either to Perth or within WA. I'm lucky in my seat of Hasluck to have many defence sustainment sectors operating within my electorate but also young people who are keen to work within drone technology, sonar and space. All these things are connected to our broader defence picture but critically to the defence infrastructure needed within Western Australia.”
“Civmec's executive chairman, Jim Fitzgerald, said: The sheer scale of the proposed infrastructure investment … is potentially a game changer … for our business. The government's commitments will provide opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses too. This is critical in order to be able to meet demands that are needed for the Defence sector. Encouraging small and medium businesses that may not already be operating in the Defence sector to start to pivot to include that as well is critical. The truth is this is going to be tripling the size of defence manufacturing in Western Australia. It'll be second only to our mining sector, which underpins our national economy. To achieve that now we need to encourage all students to consider manufacturing and Defence where they may not have previously considered such pathways.”
“The strategic review called for state and federal intervention in Henderson to give it the requisite critical mass for shipbuilding, fearing the loss of skilled workers if a pipeline of projects was not maintained. Our government responded by announcing continuous naval shipbuilding in Henderson in October 2024. Beyond the strategic imperative, there are economic consequences. The precinct will diversify WA's economy beyond mining and resources, linking our skills base to high-tech manufacturing, engineering, logistics and global supply chains. The CCIWA noted that many of the skills developed in WA's mining sector are directly transferable to defence manufacturing. Local businesses, such as Birdon and Civmec, have already welcomed the announcement.”
“The Henderson defence precinct will play a critical role in our continuous naval shipbuilding enterprise, from constructing the army landing craft and future general-purpose frigates to sustaining surface vessels and providing contingency docking and depot-level maintenance for our future conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines. It entails, as Alex Luck and Naval News noted in September, a significant expansion and investment into the future. The government's focus on Henderson aligns with the view by the Australian Submarine Agency and the 2023 Defence Strategic Review, which identified Henderson as central to Australia's deterrence posture.”
“In Western Australia the government is committing an initial $12 billion towards the Henderson defence precinct to deliver continuous naval shipbuilding in the west—this means supporting approximately 10,000 direct jobs over the next two decades and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises right across the state and, of course, our country. Industry has welcomed this announcement. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia described the funding boost as 'significant' and said it will bolster WA's economy. In August Darian Macey of DECnet said that, under this plan, Henderson 'will become the beating heart of naval capability on the west coast'.”
“I'm pleased to address the development of the Henderson defence precinct in Western Australia and the broader context of the build-up and the strategic repositioning of Australia's Defence capability under the Albanese government. We are living in a moment of profound strategic change. Australia's security environment is more complex, more contested and more demanding than at any time since the Second World War. This is why our government has put capability, people and funding at the centre of our defence agenda. We have ended the underfunding and have ended the chaos—I've spoken these words before—and we have ended the dysfunction of the coalition through providing stability and continuity. We can now focus on what matters: equipping our Defence Force, supporting local industry and delivering for communities.”
“I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government will make available an initial $12 billion towards the Henderson Defence Precinct to deliver continuous naval shipbuilding and an AUKUS presence in Western Australia, meaning: (a) record investments across shipbuilding and in AUKUS in the west; (b) support for approximately 10,000 direct jobs over the next two decades; (c) opportunities for small and medium sized businesses across the state and Australia; and (d) certainty for industry that will partner on the construction of infrastructure and facilities; and (2) notes that the Government continues to increase defence spending to record levels to deliver the capabilities Australia needs through measures like: (a) the arrival of the first two of 29 Apache attack helicopters; (b) $1.7 billion for a new fleet of autonomous maritime vehicles including Ghost Shark for the navy; (c) selection of the Mogami-class frigate as our new general purpose frigates; (d) boosting Australia's long-range strike capability with the Precision Strike Missiles and $2.12 billion in additional stocks of advanced medium-range missiles to strengthen Australia's air defence and aerial strike capability; and (e) $1.3 billion investment over the next ten years in counter-drone capabilities and technologies.”
“Our educators span across all ages and walks of life. They include the accredited and qualified teachers in our schools, and also people who share their knowledge and experience in many ways—the doctors mentoring young graduates at Midland Hospital, the instructors passing on their wisdom at Smart Martial Arts at Ellenbrook and the older hands at Wally Bates Memorial Boxing Club in Midland, coaching and mentoring their charges. We honour our teachers every year and everyday by delivering for them where we can do so. I'm proud of our government's achievements on this so far.”
“You make a huge difference in our lives.' Last Tuesday, I spoke to the graduating class of Morley Senior High School while presenting an award to an extraordinary student, Amelia, for her leadership demonstrated not just within the school but outside the school as well. And I was also honoured last week to attend Cyril Jackson Senior Campus, where hospitality students welcomed successful alumni back to visit. Earlier that day, I also met with play group teachers and parents in Meerilinga. The Albanese government has come to agreement with every state and territory for raising public school funding to 100 per cent of the school resourcing standard, and I'm happy to be able to say that Western Australia was the first state to strike a deal, and schools across Hasluck are already benefiting from this improvement.”
“It is, as all members know, school graduation season across Australia, and I'm looking forward to visiting many schools upon returning to Hasluck. I have already had the honour of being present at a few celebrations so far. On Friday, I presented flags at Henley Brook Primary School. The students there had a chance to honour their teachers for World Teachers Day. They spoke about how they wanted their teachers to know how much they were appreciated; that they were patient, caring, full of wisdom; and that they helped their students to reach for the stars. One said, 'Thank you for staying up late marking our work, thank you for helping us when we were stuck, and thank you for cheering us on.”
“We can all remember a great teacher. I went to public schools in Lockridge in York and in Northam, and I'm always grateful for the efforts of teachers. I remember my first class in year 5, when Mrs Carmichael at York District High School had us all lie down on the classroom floor. She drew the curtains, she turned out the lights and, on the record player, she played all six minutes of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. This was the first time I had ever heard it and it was an unforgettable experience. That is what good teachers do: they open eyes, ears and minds; they expose their students to aspects of culture and examples of greatness; and they plant seeds that allow us to imagine different futures for ourselves and for our world.”
“My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How are the Albanese Labor government's reforms helping with cost-of-living relief for working Australians? Why is this needed after decade of wages being kept deliberately low?”
“I've been amazed and honestly genuinely grateful for the response from my own constituents who have rallied to this cause and from the many federal members across the political spectrum who have joined in the effort in their own electorates. They are making a difference, and Midlas have reported to me that being able to have phones that they can provide to those who are fleeing domestic violence has been life changing. An investment by government to combat domestic violence, of course, does make a difference. The work of our government is proving its worth. But, Minister, my question is: how will the National Access to Justice Partnership help reform the legal assistance sector, and, by extension, how does it help our community?”
“Domestic violence is a scourge that this government has been active in addressing and one that we must continue to hold in the light so that over time its incidence can be reduced. I'm proud to have initiated the DV Safe Phone program in my electorate office, where we've already received a steady flow of phones from constituents who understand the need and are happy to assist. There are more than 22 million unused phones in people's desks and drawers, and the more that offices of MPs and senators, at both the federal and state level, can be places where people can easily drop off those phones the better. The DV Safe Phone program repurposes used phones so that DV survivors can access communications in situations where they can't use their old phones.”
“I think that preventive effort can't be underestimated in terms of its power in preventing escalation to, ultimately, what we see as violence. To that end, women who have escaped a violent partner can, with assistance, move on with their life safely. This is the kind of scenario that support services like Midlas provide. They also provide support to the older person who is being helped to address abuse from a relative and to the person who is being rehoused after being unfairly evicted. They have supported young people who have sought assistance to address mounting debt from unpaid fines. All of these people would agree that community legal centres are changing lives; they've changed their lives. We know that they're just one part of the legal assistance sector. Domestic violence support services have also received further support.”
“They talk to me about the challenges they face, not just with individual cases but with attracting and retaining staff, and about their caseloads and the importance of what they do to support some of those most vulnerable in our community. Minister, community legal centres help some of our most vulnerable, and there are almost 200 community legal service centres operating across Australia. They provide the legal assistance and other advice to some of the most vulnerable in our community. Importantly, they are at the front line of working on prevention, particularly for those facing financial stress or having concerns about their status within their home where they may be renting as to understanding their legal rights.”