Cassandra Fernando
Holt · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Labor was elected with a clear promise: to back working families with real cost-of-living relief. From 1 July, we are delivering. Whether it's a young worker stacking shelves at Woolies while studying or new parents welcoming their first child, Labor is making life a little easier.”
“It is practical, it is targeted and it is exactly the kind of work that growing communities like Holt need. This investment is part of our broader $47 billion Homes for Australia plan. We are making it easier to buy and better to rent, and we are building more homes.”
“But we also have to confront the parts of the system that have made it harder for first home buyers. For too long, the tax system has given investors an advantage over young Australians trying to buy their first home.”
“More homes mean more choice, more affordability and more Australians getting the chance to live near work, family, school and community. But housing does not get built by words alone. It needs roads. It needs water. It needs drainage, utilities and local infrastructure.”
“Housing is one of the great challenges facing our country. It is a challenge I hear about every week in Holt. I hear it from young people who are working hard and saving carefully but still feel the dream of owning a home is moving further away. I hear it from families who want security, stability and a place to put down their roots.”
“They invested just $123 million in housing-enabling infrastructure. They said no to the Housing Australia Future Fund. They said no to Help to Buy. They said no to Build to Rent. They said no to Labor's five per cent deposit scheme. In government they even said no to having a housing minister.”
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“They are vital to improving quality of life, ensuring fairness and allowing residents to access services they would otherwise be completely locked out of. Access to language is also essential to a healthy democracy, because informed citizens must first be able to understand the systems that serve them and the processes that enable their participation. I know personally just how impactful programs like this can be. When I arrived in Australia as a young girl, I could not read English. I struggled to speak it properly. Even when I could manage a casual conversation, I certainly could not understand complex processes, legal language or government forms.”
“That is why government funded translating and interpreting services are not a luxury; they are essential nation-building infrastructure. Australia first established government translation services in 1947, in response to the large influx of postwar migrants from Europe. At that time, we recognised a simple truth: people cannot integrate, work, access health care or comply with the law if they cannot understand it. That system was built upon in 1973, when Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a national telephone interpreting service. Today, TIS National supports more than 2,700 interpreters across over 150 languages. Those interpreters work across metropolitan suburbs, regional towns, courts, hospitals, police stations, medical facilities, workplaces and homes.”
“Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world. Our story is one of migration—of people arriving on this continent from every corner of the globe, bringing with them skills, traditions, faiths, languages and hopes for a better future. Australians come from all walks of life and from almost every country on earth. Some arrive with English skills better than many members of this chamber. Others, particularly those reuniting with family, arrive with limited or no English skills at all. That diversity is not a weakness; it is one of our greatest strengths. But it also brings with it a responsibility to ensure that language is never a barrier to dignity, safety, opportunity or participation in Australian society.”
“As the first Sri Lankan born woman elected to this parliament and Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Sri Lanka, I remain deeply committed to strengthening the ties between our two nations. Happy independence day!”
“Ayubowen and hello. I rise to wish the Sri Lankan Australian community and everyone back in Sri Lanka a very happy 78th independence day. For many, independence marks the beginning of a new chapter—one defined by hope, resilience and ambition. While Sri Lanka has faced challenges along the way, the enduring friendship between our two nations has remained constant. That bond is best reflected in our vibrant diaspora. Today, more than 170,000 people of Sri Lankan heritage call Australia home. We have built our lives here and embraced the opportunities Australia provides while carrying our culture with us in the languages we speak and the food we share. As I raise my son, Ilija, I feel how important it is to pass these traditions on. No matter the distance, we never forget where we come from.”
“My question is to the Minister for Social Services. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitment to strengthen paid parental leave? What approaches has the government been asked to consider?”
“This spirit is best captured by Michael Harper, from Alexandra, who remained on the fireground to help others despite learning his own home was destroyed. That speaks volumes. Their bravery saved lives and prevented even greater loss. I want to thank all CFA firefighters, especially those at Cranbourne, Hampton Park, Narre Warren, Clyde, Devon Meadows, Tooradin and Warneet-Blind Bight: your courage, selflessness and tireless— (Time expired)”
“In recent weeks, Victoria faced its most severe bushfire emergency since Black Summer and too many families faced the terrifying reality of fire at their door. Victoria also experienced its hottest day on record, reaching 48.9 degrees, creating dangerous conditions that spread fires quickly, with some still burning. Tragically, we mourn the loss of Maxwell Hobson, who died defending his farm and cattle. My heart goes out to his family and community. In the face of tragedy, we have seen extraordinary courage since the first catastrophic fire warnings issued on 7 January. Thousands of CFA volunteers and emergency service workers stepped forward without hesitation. Local brigades stood on the frontline, day and night, battling fast-moving fires in extreme conditions.”
“In the book of Psalms it is written: The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Today our nation is broken-hearted. We grieve with the families. We stand with the injured. We stand with the Jewish community. We stand together. There is a long road ahead. Trust must be rebuilt. Safety must be restored. We must walk that road together with unity, with resolve and with courage. My condolences go out to those we have lost. Lest we forget.”
“Violence has no justification. We must do better. We must be better. Today we also honour the heroes of Bondi, the police, the paramedics, the doctors and nurses, the members of the Bondi and North Bondi surf lifesaving clubs, the volunteers of Hatzolah and the ordinary people who ran towards danger. Boris and Sofia Gurman saw the Islamic State flag in one of the cars. They tried to stop the attackers, seizing his weapon, before being shot by a second rifle the shooter had in his car. Reuven Morrison charged one of the gunmen with only a brick. He was killed for his courage. Ahmed al-Ahmed disarmed one attacker, saving countless lives, before being shot twice. Geffen Bitton tried to help him and was critically wounded. On that day, they showed the best of Australia—courage, decency and self-sacrifice.”
“They were murdered in an act of violent extremism, an act designed to spread fear, to divide us and to silence our community. It will not succeed. The Jewish community came to Australia for the same reason as so many others, including my own family. They came for safety—safety from war, safety from persecution, safety to raise their family and safety to practise their religion in peace. But this compact, the compact of Australia, has failed our Jewish community over the last two years. We have seen the rise of antisemitism in our schools, in universities, online, on our streets and in places of business. Worst of all, we have seen leaders weaponise this for political gain. This is simply not good enough. It is the responsibility of every Australian to say clearly that antisemitism has no home in Australia. Hatred has no excuse.”
“We should not need to be here this week. This week of parliament should not have been necessary. On 14 December our nation changed. We witnessed the worst act of terror in Australia's history. Fifteen Australians were murdered at Bondi Beach, and 40 more were injured. They were gathered at a Hanukkah event. They came to celebrate faith, family and light. They were met with terror. This was one of the darkest days in our nation's history. This was not only an attack on the Jewish community; it was an attack on every Australian. It was an attack on our values. It was an attack on our way of life. These were lives—not statistics, not headlines. They were parents and grandparents, children and siblings, friends and neighbours. They were Australians.”
“I'm really looking forward to joining the wonderful Christmas celebrations right across Holt, from local carols and community markets to festive gatherings at our schools and churches, and, as I do every year, I will be attending Christmas Eve mass at St Agatha's church in Cranbourne to give thanks and to reflect on the blessings of faith, family and the incredible community I am so proud to represent. To the people of Holt and all Australians, I wish you a merry Christmas filled with love and hope for the year ahead. God bless you all.”
“As we approach the festive season, it gives me great joy to reflect on the spirit of Christmas—a time of hope, kindness and community. I want to especially acknowledge the incredible emergency service personnel and volunteers, firefighters, paramedics, police and SES workers who will be on duty while many of us celebrate. I also want to thank the hardworking retail and fast food workers whose dedication keeps our communities running during this busy and challenging time. For many families in Holt and across Australia, Christmas is a special time to come together, celebrate our shared values and give thanks.”
“Together they organised nationwide rallies that united hundreds of workers and supporters demanding fair pay, safer working conditions and respect for workers' rights. Yet, while exploiting workers, Amazon also exploits our taxation system. Despite earning over $3 billion in Australia last financial year, they paid less than one per cent in tax. No corporation should be able to silence workers or shrink their contributions to society. It's time we stood together and made Amazon pay.”
“As Black Friday approaches, Australians are preparing to shop for bargains. Yet, for too many Amazon workers, the real cost of these deals comes in the form of exhaustion, job insecurity and enforced silence. Globally, Amazon has built an empire on convenience, too often sacrificing fairness along the way. Their record speaks for itself. From refusing to engage in good-faith bargaining at its Staten Island warehouse to shutting down all seven of its Quebec warehouses the moment workers wanted union recognition, time and time again Amazon's conduct reveals a consistent and deliberate disregard for workers' rights. Here in Australia, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association and the Transport Workers' Union have been at the forefront of the Make Amazon Pay campaign.”
“I want to close by acknowledging two compassionate advocates from my electorate, Elizabeth Barton from the Aged Care Justice and Hannah Spanswick from ANMF. Every time I meet them, I learn more about the system and its challenges. Thank you, Elizabeth, and thank you, Hannah.”
“I want to thank Minister Rae for visiting my electorate in September to meet with community members and discuss the rollout of the new Aged Care Act, which commenced on 1 November 2025. We know, thanks to the royal commission into aged care, that the previous system was failing older Australians. We took that seriously. That is why this new act places the rights and dignities of older people at its centre, with stronger new penalties for providers who fail to uphold them. And we are backing that up with $4.3 billion for support at home programs, supporting 300,000 additional participants over the next decade. As Australians age, we know that we will need to the workforce to support them. That is why Labor is delivering four pay rises for 400,000 aged-care workers, with some now up to $28,000 a year better off.”
“Early works have begun at the Thompsons Road roundabout, with planning under way for Pattersons Road roundabout on Berwick-Cranbourne Road—two of our worst bottlenecks finally being fixed. A new Medicare mental health centre is being established in Cranbourne to provide free walk-in support. We've also committed $10.68 million for the Casey mini-stadium, a future home for women's sport and a major boost for our local community. Across Clyde, Clyde North and Cranbourne East, new mobile towers are being rolled out, keeping our fast-growing community connected and safe. There is still more to achieve, and this government remains committed to building a stronger, fairer future for every Australian. Once again, to the people of Holt: thank you so much for putting your trust and confidence in me.”
“I also want to thank my family and my campaign team for their support and encouragement throughout this journey. My partner and I have since been blessed with our son, Ilija, our greatest joy and the one who keeps us up most nights. Over the past three years, this Albanese Labor government has delivered real cost-of-living relief for everyday Australians. We've made medicines cheaper through our major PBS reforms. We've made childcare reforms, making it more affordable and helping parents get back to work and support their families. We've strengthened wages and workplace protections after years of wage stagnation, and, through free TAFE, we've opened doors to skills and opportunities for thousands. In Holt, that national progress is being matched by real improvements on the ground.”
“It is only right to begin my first speech in the 48th Parliament by recognising those who've honoured me with the privilege of being their voice in this House. To the wonderful people of Holt, from families I've met in our parks and at doorknocks to workers I've spoken with at train stations: thank you for placing your trust in me once again. My office doors are always open. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every single volunteer and supporter who stood by me not just during the last campaign but throughout the past three years, from doorknocking to handing out how-to-votes at prepoll and on election day. Your dedication made this result possible. Campaigning while pregnant wasn't easy, but I'm deeply grateful to everyone who looked after me at the booths, brought me water and kept me going.”
“My question is to the Minister for Social Services. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitment to strengthen paid parental leave, and what other approaches has the government been asked to consider?”
“Doctors told me this change has meant that more locals are coming through the door seeking care earlier and without fear of cost. Already, 23 GP clinics across Holt have signalled their intent to become fully bulk-billing practices. This is the Australia we are building, where health care is accessible, affordable and universal.”
“Mid this year, I gave birth to my first child at Dandenong Hospital, where I experienced firsthand the peace of mind that comes from a strong public health system supported by Medicare. There were no bills, no gap fees—just compassionate, high-quality care and the freedom to focus on my son, not my finances. That experience reminded me what Medicare truly stands for—the simple but powerful idea that no Australian should ever have to choose between their health and their wallet. The Albanese Labor government's expansion of bulk-billing incentives is delivering on that promise. It is the single-biggest investment in Medicare in more than 40 years, ensuring Australians can see a GP with their Medicare, not their credit, card. Recently I visited Our Medical Cranbourne and Clyde North Medical Centre, which is now bulk-billing every patient.”
“They cut funding for multicultural programs, undermine the visa system and refuse to stand up against racism. Labor stands with every community in this country, ensuring that they are supported and not used as political scapegoats.”
“In Holt we don't just acknowledge diversity; we celebrate it. We are currently celebrating my favourite time of the year, a season of renewal and reflection as we mark important festivals across many cultures, including Easter, Nowruz, Holi, Aluth Avurudu, Hindu new year, Ramadan and Vaisakhi. Each of these celebrations brings people together in hope and solidarity. For my family and me, Easter is a particularly meaningful time, a chance to reflect on the faith and sacrifices of Jesus Christ. I look forward to attending the Good Friday service at St Agatha's in Cranbourne and joining my community in reflection. To all those celebrating this month, I wish you a time of joy, peace and renewal. But, while Labor embraces multiculturalism, the Liberals do the opposite. They divide communities, attack migrants and push fear for political gain.”
“My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Women. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to support Australian women with the cost of living? What threats are there to this support?”
“The choice couldn't be clearer. Labor is investing in our country's future, while the Liberals are only offering higher tax cuts and cuts to our public service.”
“Inflation is down, incomes are rising, unemployment is low, and interest rates are easing. On every front, the Australian economy is in better shape than it was three years ago, but we know there's more to do. That's why, under Labor, Australians will pay less tax than under the coalition. Labor has delivered tax cuts of $1,320 a year, with an extra $536 on the way. We're making the largest ever investment in Medicare so more Australians can see a GP for free. Labor will deliver another $150 in energy bill relief for families and make cheaper medicines even cheaper by cutting the cost of a PBS script to $25. We are wiping 20 per cent off student debt because gaining skills shouldn't mean a lifetime of debt. Labor's budget is about cost-of-living relief for families and building an Australia that we can all be proud of.”
“I want to thank the Minister for Skills and Training for coming along to launch the book, and Catherine Scarth, the AMES CEO, for all her hard work. I want to wish her good luck for her retirement in the years to come.”
“Yesterday AMES Australia was in parliament to launch their new book, Heartland s , a collection of migrant stories that reflect the history of our nation. Among the many stories are those of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas; the member for South-Eastern Metropolitan, Lee Tarlamis; Socceroo Archie Thompson; and many more, including mine. Each wave of migration has contributed to the story of Australia, shaping the nation we are so proud of today. This project captures a snapshot of that ongoing story, a story of generations, of those who have come here to build a better future. When I read the experiences shared in Heartland s , I see a common theme. Whether families arrived 20 years ago or 100 years ago, they all came with the same dreams—the hope of opportunity, security and a better life for their children.”
“Labor believes every child has the right to go to school and, just as importantly, the right to early education. This is why we are supporting families, strengthening the early education system and laying the groundwork for Australia's future success. We are building Australia's future. We are doing it by investing in our youngest. I want to thank the Minister for Education, Jason Clare, and the Minister for Youth, Dr Anne Aly, for driving these reforms and ensuring that all Australians have the best start in life. I commend this bill to the House.”
“The Productivity Commission supports these changes, the Business Council supports these changes, childcare operators support these changes, and parenting groups support these changes. The Albanese Labor government believes that every child deserves access to quality early child care and also education. That is why we are building a universal early childhood education system, one that is simple, affordable and accessible for every family. We are abolishing the activity test, guaranteeing three days a fortnight of child care for every Australian family so that all Australians get the best start in life. We are investing $1 billion to expand childcare places in suburbs like Hampton Park, Clyde, Cranbourne West and Botanic Ridge to make sure that happens.”
“They do not support making child care more affordable, they do not support wage justice for early educators, and they do not support building the future workforce this country needs. When the Liberals were last in government, they halved the Child Care Subsidy. This resulted in the number of low-income families receiving care dropping from 32,000 to 6,500. This is their belief: not child care for everyone, but only child care for those who can afford it. Labor is building a foundation for our nation, ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality education and care from the very start of their lives. The Liberals—they only want to tear those foundations down. The benefits couldn't be clearer.”
“Through the National Skills Agreement, we are delivering a historic $12.6 billion investment to rebuild TAFE, and we are guaranteeing 100,000 free TAFE courses, permanently. Through our $10,000 apprenticeship support payments, we are encouraging more people to take up apprenticeships in key industries, addressing workforce shortages and ensuring we have the skills to build our nation. While we are making these transformative investments, we know that the Liberals are not on board. They have voted against these policies, including fee-free TAFE, calling them 'wasteful spending'. It's still unclear what the Liberals plan to slash in their $300 billion budget cuts, but we do know that they do not support these programs.”
“It will also focus on co-locating early education services on school sites where possible. Our commitment to education does not stop at early childhood learning. Labor will, for the first time in history, fully fund Victorian public schools. Under the new agreement, the Commonwealth will provide an additional five per cent of the schooling resource standard to Victorian public schools. This is an additional $2.5 billion in Victorian public schools over the next decade, bringing them up to the schooling resource standard for the first time in history, ensuring that our public schools are properly funded and that all students have the support they need to succeed. We are also expanding fee-free TAFE and university places, helping more Australians to gain skills they need for the jobs of the future.”
“Under the new system, families that meet activity requirements or have a valid exemption can still access 100 hours of subsidised early education per fortnight. We know that we can't get more children into the sector without expanding the number of places available. In suburbs like Clyde, Clyde North and Botanic Ridge, there are over seven children for each childcare place—three times the national average. That is why we have announced one of the largest investments in expansion of childcare centres in history, through Labor's $1 billion Building Early Education Fund. We will build and expand early education centres in areas of need across our outer suburbs. This includes areas in my electorate, like Clyde, Clyde North and Botanic Ridge. This fund will provide grants and invest directly in owning and leasing out services.”
“It will provide certainty for families, helping parents, particularly women, return to work, take on more hours or pursue further education and training. We know that a lack of access to affordable child care is one of the biggest barriers preventing parents from fully participating in the workforce. This is why these reforms are also a crucial part of our plan to strengthen Australia's economy, by ensuring parents have more opportunities to work, study or train. We are unlocking growth across the economy. These reforms will help address crucial skills shortages to ensure that Australia has the workforce it needs for the future. In the first full financial year, the three-day guarantee will benefit around 66,700 families, with more than 100,000 families becoming eligible for additional hours of subsidised care.”
“This initiative represents a significant shift towards universal access to early learning. Currently, too many children who would benefit the most from early education are missing out. The Productivity Commission's final report, A path to universal early childhood education and care , released in September 2024, made it clear that the children and families most likely to benefit from early education are the least likely to attend. Those are children in our outer suburbs, children in communities like mine, in Hampton Park, Cranbourne, Clyde and Narre Warren South. The three-day guarantee will ensure that no child starts school behind simply because their families were unable to access early education.”
“Minister Clare has said that after Goodstart, one of the largest childcare providers in Australia, signed onto the agreement, they saw a 35 per cent increase in applications. More passionate early educators are entering the sector, ensuring that children receive the high-quality care and education they deserve. This is just the beginning. Labor's vision is clear. We're working towards a universal early education system where every child is guaranteed access to at least three days of high-quality early learning per week. From January 2026, we will replace the current activity test with a three-day guarantee, ensuring all families, regardless of their work or study commitments, will be eligible for at least 72 hours of subsidised early education per fortnight.”
“To ensure that every child can access quality early learning, we must also invest in our early education workforce. That is why the Albanese Labor government has delivered a 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators. For too long, early childhood educators, who play such a crucial role in our children's development, have been undervalued and underpaid. This pay rise will help attract and retain skilled professionals in the sector, ensuring that our children receive the best possible start in life. I have seen the impact with my own eyes. From Bella Estate to Cranbourne West, when I visit childcare centres, the passionate staff have told me about how they're able to focus and put more energy into the job without having to worry about living pay cheque to pay cheque.”
“Labor knows that access to high-quality education and care is essential, not just for our children but for our workforce, our economy and our society as a whole. That is why we have already taken major steps to make early education more affordable for families across our nation. Our cheaper childcare reforms have cut the cost of early education for more than one million Australian families. Recent data show that an Australian family with a household income of $120,000 a year that is paying the average quarterly fee for 30 hours of child care per week has saved approximately $2,768 since September 2023. For many families, this relief has made a real difference in balancing work and family life. But affordability is just one piece of the puzzle.”
“A world-class education system is the foundation of a strong economy and a strong nation. It is the bedrock upon which we build a more prosperous and fair society. Education empowers individuals, strengthens communities and drives innovation and productivity. That is why the Albanese Labor government has been working since day one to strengthen our education system, starting from the earliest years of a child's life. Early childhood education and care is not just a convenience for working parents; it is essential for our future. Research shows that quality early education leads to better school readiness, higher educational attainment and improved employment outcomes later in life. Children who attend early education are more likely to develop crucial social, emotional and cognitive skills that set them up for lifelong success.”
“We know that Australians are doing it tough, and that's why our government will keep working hard here in Canberra for communities like mine.”
“This is what the Liberals call helping Australians. It's not lower power bills, fairer wages or making life easier for families but just perks for big businesses while working Australians are left to fend for themselves. I'm not sure which genius in the opposition came up with this plan or at which Gina Rinehart funded luncheon it was cooked up, but, while the Liberals hand tax cuts to the wealthy and luxurious lunches to big businesses, Labor is delivering real relief for working Australians. The contrast couldn't be clearer. Higher wages and tax cuts under Labor, or lower wages and budget cuts under the Liberals. Labor is delivering for everyday Australians. The Liberals are only delivering for their mates in big businesses.”
“Every single one of these measures is making a real difference for families in communities like mine, and every single one of these measures has been opposed by the Leader of the Opposition. The Shadow Treasurer wants to lecture us on cost-of-living relief. He should take a long hard look in the mirror, because the only time the Liberals have shown any interest in cost-of-living relief is when it benefits their wealthy mates. Now I may have misspoken earlier when I said that the Liberals had no cost-of-living relief policy. They have one. Let me walk you through it. Imagine that you are a CEO of a big company, it's lunchtime, and you are feeling a little bit peckish and want to order lobster, caviar or steak tartare. Under the Liberals' cost-of-living plan, you can—all on the taxpayer's dime.”
“Not only have we cleaned up the economic disaster left behind by the Liberals; we have also been rebuilding our health system, strengthening our education system and delivering targeted, responsible cost-of-living relief for communities like mine in Melbourne's outer south-eastern suburbs. Unlike the Liberals, we understand what families in Holt and across Australia are going through. That's why Labor has delivered a tax cut for every single taxpayer, wage increases for the first time in a decade, $300 in Commonwealth energy bill relief, cheaper child care, $3 billion wiped off student debt, pay rises for aged care and early childhood educators, fee-free TAFE and cheaper medicines.”
“Inflation had a six in front of it, and it was climbing, and the public service had been gutted. Thousands of essential jobs were outsourced to overpaid consultants, draining billions from the economy. This is the economic disaster the Liberals left behind. Since being elected, we have been working day in, day out, to address the cost of living for families, and our plan is working. Inflation has fallen from 2.4 per cent and is trending down. We have created more than 1.1 million jobs, with four out of five in the private sector, and unemployment is at the lowest average for any government in 50 years.”
“I find it absolutely laughable that the shadow Treasurer would stand in this chamber and try to lecture us on cost of living. This is the same opposition that will talk about anything—flags, foreign wars, manufactured outrage—but won't outline a single policy that will actually help families in my community. The Liberals have had plenty of time to come up with a credible plan but what have they done instead? They have tried to distract Australians with culture wars. They have voted against cost-of-living relief at every opportunity. They have spent more time fighting among themselves than fighting for Australians doing it tough. When Labor came into government, we inherited a mess. Wages had been deliberately kept low for a decade under the Liberals as a part of their so-called economic plan.”
“To everyone who contributed on the night, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness is what makes our community in the south-east suburbs so special.”