Dan Repacholi
Hunter · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“It's practical and it's most certainly overdue I want to spend a bit more time on why this transparency matters in the real world. When people cannot see the cost up front, they're making decisions in the dark. They might pick the first specialist they referred to without knowing that there are more affordable ones right near them.”
“He said to me, 'I just want to focus on getting better and not having to worry about the bill.' This is the kind of uncertainty that is not accidental. When more of the burden is pushed onto individuals and people are expected to navigate the costs on their own, this is exactly what happens.”
“We tried that, and it simply didn't work. Out of thousands of eligible specialists, only a handful chose to share their fees. That is not transparency. That is a system that leaves patients in the dark. This bill fixes it by using data we already have—medical data, hospital billing data, insurer data.”
“If we make the system clearer, simpler and easier to understand, we remove more barriers. We make it more likely that they will actually take that next step, book the appointment, follow through with treatment and get checked early instead of late. That saves lives. And it's not just about physical health.”
“I've spoken to a family in Singleton whose teenage daughter needed a specialist consultation. They were trying to do the right thing, following the medical advice they were given, and get Olivia the care she needed, but they were given very little clarity on the cost.”
“They can see whether a doctor participates in gap-cover arrangements. They can understand what their insurer is likely to cover. This is common sense. It's something that people expect. This bill also provides transparency around hospitals and insurers. It will show which doctors operate at which facilities.”
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“This scheme grants ACMA the power to prevent high-risk or harmful providers from operating in the market, ensuring that only those that meet strict standards are allowed to provide services in this country, in Australia. This is common sense. No company that poses an unacceptable risk to consumers should be permitted to continue operating unchecked. The maximum tolerance for providers that exploit or harm consumers should be zero. These reforms are implemented through four key schedules. Schedule 1 establishes the CSP registration scheme, helping to prevent high-risk providers from operating and stopping those that have already caused harm. Schedule 2 makes industry codes directly enforceable, equipping the ACMA with the necessary tools to address harm and ensure compliance.”
“These changes bring the telecommunications sector in line with other heavily regulated industries, such as banking and energy, and align telecommunications regulation with the broader Australian consumer law. To further support enforcement efforts, the bill expands the government's ability to increase infringement notice penalty amounts issued by the ACMA. This ensures that penalties remain proportionate with the nature of the violation, strengthening incentives for industry compliance and protecting Australian consumers. Beyond enforcement and penalties, this bill also increases transparency in the telecommunications market. It establishes a carrier service provider, or CSP, registration scheme, a long overdue measure that will allow more effective oversight of telecommunications retailers.”
“The maximum general penalty for breaching industry codes and standards under the Telecommunications Act 1997 is currently capped at $250,000, an amount that in 1997 may have been a meaningful deterrent, but, in 2025, for multibillion-dollar telecommunications companies this sum is nothing more than a minor operational cost. This bill increases the maximum penalty to approximately $10 million and, in certain cases, allows penalties to be based on the value of the benefit obtained from misconduct or the revenue of the offending provider. This approach ensures penalties have real teeth. Telecommunications companies will no longer be able to view fines as just another cost of doing business. Instead, they will face financial consequences substantial enough to deter unethical behaviour and incentivise compliance.”
“Under the existing system, the ACMA must first issue a direction to a company before taking further action, essentially granting big telcos a free pass on their first violation. This loophole has allowed bad actors to operate with impunity, disregarding their responsibilities, while consumers suffer. This bill removes that loophole. It empowers the ACMA to take direct and immediate enforcement action against telcos that fail to meet their obligations. This change ensures that breaches are met with swift consequences, reinforcing the message that consumer rights cannot be ignored. Another major component of this legislation is the significant increase in penalties for noncompliance.”
“The current telecommunications consumer protection framework exists to prevent harm, but it is clear that it has not kept pace with industry practices and consumer expectations. Too many people remain vulnerable. That's why this government has taken decisive action to strengthen safeguards, particularly for those experiencing financial hardship, domestic violence and other vulnerabilities. This bill is about more than just regulation; it's about ensuring fairness. It enhances the compliance and enforcement powers of the Australian Communications and Media Authority to hold telecommunications providers accountable. A key measure is the elimination of the ineffective two-step enforcement process, which currently allows companies to breach consumer protection rules without immediate consequences.”
“This unprecedented ease of communication has opened doors to opportunities that previous generations could have only dreamed of. But, as incredible as our telecommunications infrastructure has become, we know it's not perfect. In fact, for too many Australians, it's a source of frustration and hardship. Poor service, misleading contracts, billing errors and unresponsive customer support have left many consumers feeling powerless in their dealings with big telecommunications companies. We have heard all the stories of people left without phone or internet services for weeks, being overcharged with no clear path to a resolution or being ignored by providers that fail to uphold even the most basic standards of service.”
“I rise today to contribute to the debate on the Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025. This bill represents a crucial step forward, ensuring that telecommunication providers are held accountable for the services that they provide and the obligations that they owe to their customers. Communication is fundamental to the human experience and, in our day, to existence. We need to be able to communicate with people. It is the very foundation of our social structures, our economies and our democracies. Throughout history, the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently has driven human advancement. Today we can connect with people around the world in seconds. We can conduct business, maintain relationships and access vital services with a click of a button.”
“The technology is too slow, too costly and too risky. Australia has better, faster and more cost effective alternatives to meet its energy demands. The government must now act decisively to invest in renewable storage and grid infrastructure, the technologies that will deliver the affordable, clean and reliable energy that Australians deserve. I finish by saying thank you to all the committee members on this inquiry. Thank you to the deputy chair. We did have an enjoyable time going around and doing this inquiry. A massive thankyou to all of our staff members and a huge thankyou to the committee secretariats for all their work—what they did within the very short and demanding schedule that we had. Huge thanks go to Kate, Antonia, Ash, Kimberlee and Cathy for all their work. I commend this report to the House.”
“Now that they've seen the committee's interim report on nuclear energy, they realise nuclear power won't be ready in time to help Australian workers or to keep our power affordable. They know it will drive up electricity prices. But they can't tell us how much it will cost. They can't say how long it will take. They can't say how much water it will use. They can't say where all the reactors will go, besides the seven sites suggested. They can't even tell us what reactors they're actually going to use. There are a lot of 'can'ts' in this policy, but there are not a lot of 'cans', I can tell you that. The conclusion of this report is as clear as it is compelling. If we want reliable, affordable and sustainable power, nuclear power is not the option. It is definitely not the answer for Australia.”
“That is more money that could be spent on upgrading our transmission networks, expanding battery storage and accelerating the rollout of renewables—investments that would deliver results far sooner and at a fraction of the cost. It is deeply concerning that those advocating nuclear power have failed to provide Australians with any clarity on key details of their proposal. Their policy is riddled with uncertainties and devoid of any practical solutions. In recent weeks, we've seen that Liberal Party members and candidates have quietly removed references to nuclear power from their websites. They're not talking about it. They're scared to talk about it. It appears that they too have come to terms with reality. Their nuclear dream is in meltdown. They are not happy with the path that their leader and shadow ministers are taking.”
“Starting a nuclear energy sector from scratch in Australia is not just a daunting challenge; it's an impractical and unnecessary one. One of the most pressing issues the report addresses is cost. It is clear why private investors remain hesitant to commit to nuclear. Long construction times, excessive capital costs and uncertain returns make nuclear a financial gamble. If the private sector sees nuclear as a bad investment, why should Australian taxpayers be forced to foot the bill? Testimony from the Smart Energy Council suggests that the costs could reach an eye-watering $600 billion and potentially even more. For context, that is more than Australia's entire annual federal budget that we just handed down yesterday.”
“However— Opposition members interjecting— Thank you for the laughter from the other side. However, it seems that I overestimated his commitment to facts and science. Rather than confronting the reality, he and his colleagues prefer to take Australians on a fanciful journey, one that leads us to a nuclear power utopia that exists only in their imaginations. Let's be clear: nuclear power in Australia is not a serious policy option. It's a distraction from real energy solutions. The committee undertook an extensive consultation process, holding hearings across Australia over a period of 19 days and reviewing 857 written submissions. This thorough engagement with experts, stakeholders and communities reinforced what we already knew.”
“They have chosen to ignore the overwhelming global evidence that nuclear power is both cost prohibitive and too slow to deploy. Instead, they have relied on cherry-picked data from nuclear industry lobbyists presenting an unrealistic picture of nuclear energy's viability in Australia. This disregard for independent science is deeply concerning. Australia's energy policy must be driven by evidence, not an ideology. When policymakers attack institutions like the CSIRO simply because the institutions' findings do not align with their political agenda, they undermine public trust in scientific research and jeopardise Australia's transition to a clean energy future. The findings of this interim report are so unequivocal that I assumed that the member for Fairfax would grasp them.”
“Rather than engaging in a genuine debate based on facts and expert analysis, they have sought to cast doubt on well-established research that highlights the financial, technical and environmental challenges of nuclear energy. The CSIRO's GenCost report, widely regarded as the most comprehensive and independent assessment of energy costs in Australia, makes it clear that nuclear energy is significantly more expensive than renewables. The report outlines that small modular reactors—which the opposition continues to champion—remain unproven at scale, with no commercially operational examples anywhere in the world. Despite this, the member for Fairfax and his colleagues have dismissed the CSIRO's findings, claiming that the costs are made up and misleading.”
“By the time a nuclear power plant is operational in Australia, if it ever is, our existing coal fleet will have been decommissioned, leaving a massive energy gap that cannot be ignored. This gap needs to be filled with reliable, cost-effective and rapidly deployable solutions, such as renewables and storage technology, backed up by gas. Betting on nuclear means gambling with our energy future, risking blackouts and higher energy costs due to supply shortfalls. Throughout the inquiry, it became evident that proponents of nuclear energy, including the member for Fairfax and other LNP members of the committee and members on the other side, have consistently undermined and questioned the scientific evidence presented by reputable institutions such as AEMO, ARPANSA and the CSIRO.”
“Australia's coal-fired power stations are already being phased out, with many scheduled for closure by the operators and owners of those power stations within the next decade. A transition to alternative energy sources must be in place before these closures occur to ensure energy security and affordability for all Australians. The reality is that nuclear energy will not be ready in time to replace these outgoing power stations. The construction and commissioning of nuclear power plants requires extensive planning, regulatory approvals and infrastructure development. Even in countries with existing nuclear expertise and supply chains, projects take well over a decade to complete. Australia, which currently has no nuclear power industry, would face even greater delays.”
“Nuclear energy is too slow to build, too expensive to implement and would drive up power prices for Australians. Simply put, it is not the best option for our future energy needs. Even under the most optimistic projections, the first nuclear power station in Australia would not be operational before the mid-2040s. That's two decades from now, and that's assuming it is an entirely smooth process, free from regulatory hurdles, legal challenges and unexpected cost blowouts. If history is any guide, looking at international nuclear projects suggests that delays and budget overruns are the norm, not the exception. One of the most critical considerations in this inquiry is timing.”
“Our mandate was clear: to investigate and report on potential deployment of nuclear power generation in Australia, including the feasibility of small modular reactors. This was not an ideological exercise, nor should it ever be. Rather, it was a rigorous, evidence based exploration of whether nuclear power is a viable and practical option to meet Australia's energy needs both now and into the future. Our goal was to examine the facts, assess the costs and determine whether nuclear energy is compatible with Australia's economic and environmental objectives. Through extensive consultation, expert testimony and in-depth analysis, the committee has arrived at a definitive conclusion: nuclear power is not the right choice for Australia. The evidence is overwhelming.”
“On behalf of the Select Committee on Nuclear Energy, I present the committee's interim report, incorporating dissenting reports, for the inquiry into nuclear power generation in Australia, together with the minutes of the proceedings. Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—I present the committee's report titled Interim report for the inquiry into nuclear power generation in Australia . The establishment of this committee in October 2024 signalled a critical moment in Australia's ongoing debate on energy policy. As we navigate a rapidly evolving landscape, it is our responsibility to ensure that Australians pursue the most effective, affordable and sustainable energy solutions.”
“Remember, they tried to cut Medicare. They want to go backwards. We want to go forwards. That's what we'll continue to do as the Australian Labor Party.”
“For all the young Australians with a HECS debt listening to this, we're going to wipe 20 per cent off it. Those opposite will get back to cutting. Those are the options for Australians—do we keep building, or do we keep cutting? Cuts aren't going to make it easier to see a doctor. They aren't going to make it easier to go to university or TAFE. Cuts aren't going to bring down energy prices. Cuts aren't going to make it easier to raise a family, get ahead or even buy a house. But still cuts are all those opposite have to offer. The member for Fairfax talks a big game, but let's get real on this. If the coalition had been in charge for the past three years, Australians would be thousands and thousands of dollars worse off under what the coalition would have delivered. Remember, they held our wages back. Remember the bills in Medicare.”
“He tried to end bulk-billing and made medicines more expensive. The coalition has made this person their leader because cutting is in their DNA. We know their record and what they have planned for Australia if they can manage to wrestle the driving wheel from us and take us back down the road they love—the road to nowhere. I'm proud of our economic record and the cost-of-living relief that we have delivered. Australians are earning more and keeping more of what they earn under Labor. We are rebuilding our country. We have our plan to keep building and keep easing the cost-of-living pressures. We'll provide another $150 for energy bill relief. We'll further reduce medicine prices, and Australians will pay no more than $25 per script under the PBS. We'll wipe 20 per cent off HECS debts.”
“Whilst it's never too late to admit your own mistakes, Australians wish the member for Fairfax and the coalition had looked in the mirror and had their wake-up call a little earlier. If they had supported our cost-of-living measures over the past three years, it would have made life easier for all Australians. The member for Fairfax also says that we have failed to manage the economy. After talking to himself in the mirror about his inability to support our cost-of-living relief, he's also reminiscing about the nine long years of poor economic management underneath the coalition. We know what the coalition is like in the driver's seat and what it looks like. When the Leader of the Opposition was health minister, he cut $50 billion from public hospitals. That's $50 billion. He cut funding from Medicare.”
“I think he woke up this morning, looked in the mirror, thought about the last three years and went, 'Wow, we have failed to ease cost-of-living pressures!' I admire the member for Fairfax's honesty, because it's true. He, along with all of those opposite, has stood in the way of our cost-of-living relief for the past three years. They opposed Labor's tax cuts for every taxpayer. They opposed Labor's Medicare urgent care clinics, including the ones in the Hunter. They opposed Labor's cheaper medicines plan. They opposed Labor's cheaper childcare plan. They opposed Labor's $300 energy bill relief. If it would ease the cost-of-living pressures, you can bet the coalition opposed it. That's why we call them the 'no-alition' for a reason.”
“Unemployment is the lowest it's been in 50 years, and over one million new jobs have been created, the most in a single term of any parliament in Australian history. We know the drive towards a better place hasn't been easy. Australians have felt every bump and turn. But, unlike those opposite, we've felt every bump and turn with them. That's why delivering Australians cost-of-living relief has been our No. 1 focus, and all those opposite have done is stand in the way. The member for Fairfax says we've failed to ease cost-of-living pressures. I think he has been talking to himself. That's the only thing I could really think of to make any sense of this.”
“It has been three years since Labor got back in the driver's seat. After nine long years on the road to nowhere under the coalition, this government took the wheel and has driven our economy in the right direction. The terrain has been tough at times, but we have not shied away from being up to the job. When we came to government, inflation was high and getting higher. Real wages weren't keeping up, and Australians were going backwards. Those opposite had spent nine long years driving us into the economic desert. Since we have taken the reins, we have been moving in a much better direction. Inflation has fallen to a third of what it was. Real wages are growing, and living standards are rising again.”
“Instead, they pushed people into places they didn't want to go, separated them from their families and left them anxious and afraid. That is not just bad management; that's absolutely disgraceful. From day one I've fought alongside the community against this closure. I spoke with the Minister for Aged Care, joined the community's fight and stood up with families who are furious at this disgusting treatment. Mercy Services: you should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves. Their actions are a disgrace, and I will keep fighting to make sure that no other community is treated this way. Our elderly deserve better; Singleton deserves better. I will not let this stand. To the board of Mercy Services: you are an absolute disgrace for doing this to your people. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
“I want to address the shameful way Mercy Services have treated the residents of their Singleton nursing home. This closure is not just a failure; it's a complete betrayal of our elderly, their friends and their families. Mercy Services decided to shut this home down with barely any warning, throwing vulnerable residents out like they were nothing. People who have spent their lives in this community—our parents, grandparents and friends—were given eviction notices. Some people were given just 14 days to pack up and leave. That is cruel. That is heartless, and that is totally unacceptable. Let's be clear: under Australian law, a nursing home must stay open until every resident has found a suitable new home of their choice, but Mercy ignored that.”
“The coalition's vision for the cost of living is like what would happen if the Australian economy was run by a dodgy tradie—everything costs you double, but it's half as good as it should be, and, worst of all, they disappear when it's time to clean up the resulting mess. Nobody wants to go back to that nightmare. We can't afford to have the coalition saying no to cost-of-living relief that Australians need not only to keep afloat but also to prosper. Whilst we have delivered for the people of Australia every day, we have heard from the coalition what their favourite word is: no.”
“You know what the coalition's favourite word is? It's 'no'. They say it all the time—no to cheaper power bills; no to better wages; and no to fixing our roads, our schools and our hospitals. I bet that if you asked them whether the sky was blue, they'd still say no, they just love that word so much. No, no, no—that's the coalition. Honestly, if the coalition were in charge of a restaurant, they'd refuse to serve you, overcharge you for your water and then blame you for being hungry. While they're stuck saying no, we're on the side of saying yes—yes to real cost-of-living relief; yes to cheaper child care; yes to tax cuts for every taxpayer; yes to more bulk-billing doctors; yes to backing Aussie workers with stronger wages and secure jobs; and yes to making things here in Australia again.”
“Australian manufacturers are already investing in safer alternatives such as sintered stone and porcelain, creating new jobs in sustainable industries. This legislation strengthens our ability to enforce the prohibition on engineered stone, ensuring that it cannot continue to be the silent killer in Australian workplaces. By enhancing the Australian Border Force's authority to seize and immediately dispose of prohibited engineered stone, we are closing the loopholes that could undermine this vital ban. This is about fairness, safety and ensuring that no more lives are needlessly cut short by preventable exposure to dangerous materials. I stand in full support of this bill, and I commend it to the House.”
“Our approach of combining a comprehensive ban with strong enforcement mechanisms sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the continued endangerment of Australian workers. Furthermore, this bill is a step forward in modernising our border protection policies. The Australian Border Force plays a critical role in ensuring that only safe and compliant goods enter our country. By allowing for the immediate destruction of seized engineered stone, we are reducing the bureaucratic red tape and ensuring that enforcement is swift and effective. Without this amendment, the Border Force would be overwhelmed by the storage and management of seized materials, ultimately diverting resources away from other critical areas of border security. This ban is also an opportunity.”
“We have seen the tragic consequences of inaction in the past, particularly in cases like asbestos. By acting decisively now, we are preventing another generation of workers from suffering the debilitating and fatal illnesses linked with respirable crystalline silica. This legislation ensures that our policies are not just words on a paper but backed by concrete enforcement mechanisms that make a real difference. Australia is leading the way globally in this fight against silicosis and silica related diseases. Other nations are closely watching how we implement and enforce this ban as they too grapple with the growing evidence of harm posed by engineered stone. By setting this precedent, we are demonstrating that workers' health and safety must come as a priority and must come before profit and convenience.”
“Since the prohibition is being implemented across all Australian jurisdictions, compensation decisions rest with the individual states and territories. Work and safety are at the core of this policy. This prohibition is about protecting Australians from preventable harm. By ensuring that the ABF have the authority to promptly dispose of seized engineered stone, we'll reinforce the ban and prevent unnecessary risks to workers' health. Moreover, this measure strengthens the enforcement of all prohibited imports, ensuring that its efforts to eliminate engineered stone do not compromise the regulation of other dangerous goods. The implementation of this ban is a testament to our government's commitment to prioritising worker safety and public health over industry convenience.”
“This aligns with our national commitment to eliminating this hazardous material. Importantly, this prohibition does not apply to porcelain, sintered stone products or finished engineered-stone items that do not require further modifications, such as jewellery, sculptures, garden ornaments and kitchen sinks. Businesses that need to remove, repair, modify or dispose of engineered stone must notify their WHS regulator—except in Victoria, where different arrangements apply. Some states and territories have adopted transitional measures for contracts signed before 31 December 2023, allowing limited work with engineered stone until the end of 2024. It is also important to clarify that the Commonwealth government is not providing compensation for the engineered-stone industry.”
“Within seven days of disposing of seized goods, the ABF must issue a notice identifying the goods, detailing how they were handled, and explaining the reason for disposal. Additionally, importers retain the right to challenge the disposal and seek recovery of market value if they can prove that the required conditions of destruction were not met. Engineered stone is widespread, and, understandably, businesses have questions about what this ban means for them— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 10:36 to 10:53 The reality is simple; from 1 July 2024, working with engineered-stone benchtops, panels and slabs is prohibited. No business or individual is allowed to manufacture, supply, process or install these products.”
“The efficient disposal of this material is essential for streamlining the compliance process and enabling the ABF to allocate resources where they are most needed. It is important to note that this change will only impact importers who attempt to bring engineered stone containing crystalline silica into the country and subsequently have their goods seized. The import prohibition is designed to complement the domestic ban under workplace health and safety laws. Given that almost all engineered stone in Australia is imported, this measure provides an additional layer of deterrence at the border. To support enforcement, the government has allocated $32.1 million over two years in the 2024-25 budget for the ABF to carry out its role effectively. This amendment also ensures the transparency.”
“This approach is not unprecedented. The same process is already in place for other prohibited imports, such as tobacco products, vapes, dangerous goods, perishable items and illicit drugs, items that pose serious risks to all Australians. The Australian Border Force, the ABF, plays a critical role in preventing these harmful goods from entering the country. However, if we do not enable them to efficiently enforce the engineered-stone ban, it will hinder their ability to regulate other critical border operations, as I spoke about earlier. This amendment ensures the ABF can effectively enforce the ban while maintaining focus on other prohibited imports. Without this amendment, seized engineered stone will accumulate and place additional strain on Border Force resources.”
“But a ban alone is not enough. There is no point in outlawing a material if it can still enter the country and be used. That's why on 1 January 2025 we reinforced our commitment by prohibiting the importation of engineered stone. This bill strengthens that prohibition by enhancing the powers under the Customs Act to seize and dispose of prohibited engineered stone effectively. It provides us with the tools needed to fully eliminate engineered stone from Australia. Implementing this ban presents us with unique challenges. Engineered-stone products are bulky, and managing seized materials at the border requires transport, disposal and administration, each posing logistical difficulties. This bill addresses these challenges by allowing for the immediate destruction of prohibited engineered stone upon seizure.”
“Other nations are watching and will follow suit soon. When I spoke on this legislation in 2023, I made it clear: every worker has the right to return home from work safe. And nothing has changed. No-one should suffer long-term life-threatening illnesses because of their job, especially illnesses that only manifest years later. We must ensure that workers who have contributed so much to our country do not spend their retirement battling preventable diseases. Last year, I met with Mark, a former stonemason diagnosed with silicosis at the age of just 35. He shared how his once promising career was cut short, leaving him battling a life-threatening disease. His story is not unique. Countless workers face the same fate. This legislation is here for them. The prohibition of engineered stone is a critical step in safeguarding Australian workers.”
“Another widely used material, engineered stone, is proving to be extremely dangerous. It is commonly found in benchtops, panels and slabs across Australian homes and workplaces. However, we know that exposure to respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone can cause deadly diseases, including silicosis. When a material is found to be unsafe, it is a government's responsibility to act. Those most at risk, workers who handle this material daily, deserve protection. That's why on 1 July last year Australia took a decisive action. In a world-first move, we joined with states and territories to ban the use, manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered-stone benchtops, panels and slabs. Just as we lead the way on asbestos regulation, Australia is now setting the global standard in eliminating engineered stone.”
“Madam Deputy Speaker— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 10:23 to 10:29 I rise today to contribute to the debate on the Customs Amendment On the Customs Amendment (Expedited Seizure and Disposal of Engineered Stone) Bill 2024. There was a time when asbestos was widely used and considered safe. It was an affordable and common material in construction found in homes, schools and countless other structures. We believed it to be a great innovation, resistant to heat and corrosion. But we now know the devastating health risks that we discovered later. Inhaling asbestos fibres led to severe respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. Workers paid the price with their health and too often their lives. Now, in 2025, we are facing a similar challenge.”
“I will continue to do that. Thank you very much for putting your support in me. I look forward to going to an election and hopefully being here again once the election is finished.”
“It is an honour of a lifetime to be able to represent the amazing people that live in the Hunter. You can mark my words that every single day that I am the member for Hunter I will keep working my backside off to deliver for you and our area to make sure we are never left behind. Very shortly, we will go to an election. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has put their faith and trust in me to be in this building and be your big loud voice and representative here in Canberra. As I said in my speech, it has been the honour of my lifetime. Thank you. We will go to the polls again soon. I really hope that you can find it in your hearts and see that we've done a pretty good job for the area and that we've always been out there fighting for you to make sure the Hunter never gets forgotten about. I will always do that.”
“To the people of Hunter that put their trust in me as their representative in Canberra, I have worked hard every day to repay you for that trust. I know there is always more that can be done and the work never stops. I look back with pride on all that we have achieved. I hope that the people of Hunter can look back on the past few years and feel like their lives have been impacted in a positive way. My job is to make a difference in people's lives, whether it is through improving access to health, infrastructure and road upgrades, better pay and conditions at work or being able to save a bit of money when you are sending the kids to child care, I hope I have been able to achieve this in some way or another. I feel privileged to call our amazing part of the world home.”
“Something that has been a big focus is making sure that people can have access to health care when they need it. Your access to health care should not depend on how much money is in your bank account. We have delivered the Cessnock Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, restored the hours to the Toronto GP after-hours clinic, delivered two Medicare mental health clinics across the electorate and tripled bulk-billing incentives for GPs to deliver more bulk-billing in the Hunter. All of this would not have been possible without the support from our amazing ministers. I know you all work hard and I know that I probably increase your workload, but thank you for always listening to what we need to make sure the people in the Hunter are getting their fair share.”
“It's not only people in mining who have benefited in the last three years. More than 7,000 new full-time jobs have been created in the Hunter electorate. This is only the start because we are bringing back Australian manufacturing with programs like the $1 billion Solar Sunshot program. This means more well-paid, secure jobs for the Hunter. We have also been able to deliver almost $1 billion for key infrastructure projects like the Singleton and Muswellbrook bypasses and the Mandalong Road upgrade, changing the way that people move around the Hunter, getting them out of the traffic and home from work quicker and safer so they can be with their families. We also helped to get an Optus tower built in Laguna, giving people in that area access to phone reception for the first time, giving them telecommunications like they've never had before.”
“Just a couple of years ago, thousands in the mining industry in the Hunter were being ripped off. They were being paid less while doing the same job as the person next to them. Now, because of same job, same pay, thousands of miners are receiving tens of thousands of dollars extra, and there are still applications underway. This means thousands in the Hunter can go home feeling more secure about their jobs. They can get a loan to pay off a home. The opportunity to live their life the way that they want is right there in front of them because not only are they being paid what they deserve but many have secured full-time work as well. This is the fundamental purpose of the Labor Party—looking out for workers and delivering them a better life. This is what our party was born to do and this is what we have achieved for many in my electorate.”
“On the day that I was lucky enough to be elected as the member for Hunter, I made a commitment to the people to work hard every single day and deliver for my electorate. As I have made my way around the electorate, talking to people and talking to local small-business owners, I have heard what people need and what people want. You often hear a lot of promises from politicians, but actually delivering is really the only thing that counts. That is what I have been focused on doing: delivering. In the past few years I have been able to deliver things that I hope have truly changed people's lives for the better, things like pay rises, free TAFE, cheaper medicines and cheaper child care. But the one that stands out the most to me is the introduction of same job, same pay.”
“I reckon investing in Aussie workers is a whole lot smarter than spending billions on tax breaks for their mates at the top end of town. We've delivered Same Job, Same Pay. Fair work should mean fair wages. The opposition fought tooth and nail to stop this—to keep those loopholes open. And we've delivered cost-of-living relief—tax cuts, cheaper medicines, more bulk-billing doctors, cheaper child care and energy bill relief. The opposition are like a streaker in a footy game—getting in the way, causing chaos and adding nothing of value apart from a bit of humour. While we're getting on with cost-of-living relief and doing that hard, those opposite are still reading the instruction manuals. And I'd just like to say, while I can, that they think we're doing it tough—I'm out of time. Damn it!”