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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“What makes this achievement even more impressive is that Josh and Bec both work full time while contributing to their family business, Barnlodge stock horses. Josh has been part of Morgan Engineering since he was 16, starting in apprenticeship and now serving as a customer service manager. I want to acknowledge Morgan Engineering for backing Josh with travel support and sponsorship so he can compete nationally while still continuing his career. This is regional Australia at its best—hard work, family business, local employees backing local talent, and national success coming straight out of Singleton in the Hunter.”
“I want to recognise two outstanding locals from Singleton, Josh and Bec Barnett, who have both claimed Australian titles at the recent ABCRA National Finals Rodeo in Tamworth. They are husband and wife—two national champions, one incredibly proud community. Josh qualified in four events, the first bloke to achieve that in more than 20 years, and secured the Australian saddle bronc title. He also finished in the top 10 across his other events. He missed out on the all-around cowboy title by just three points. That's consistency, determination and grit at the highest of levels. Bec, when in the finals, ranked second in steer undecorating and delivered across three demanding rounds, finishing first, second and fourth to take out the national title. That is composure under pressure and true championship form.”
“It reflects a commitment to making sure economic growth is shared and that no community is left behind. That's why I support this bill and I commend it to the House.”
“This measure also sends a clear signal that regional industries matter. It recognises that wine is not a niche concern or an afterthought; it is a significant contributor to regional jobs, exports and tourism. Supporting wine producers means supporting entire regional economies. In the Hunter, wine sits along coalmining, manufacturing, agriculture and energy as key pillars for economic strength. A strong wine industry helps diversify the regional economy and makes communities more resilient to economic change and global shocks. This is exactly the kind of practical, targeted policy rural Australia needs. It understands local conditions, it builds on existing frameworks and it delivers real benefits where they are needed most. It reflects Labor's values of fairness, security and opportunity.”
“In the Hunter, wine is often a family affair. Parents, children and grandparents work side by side across the vineyards, the cellar door and the back offices. These businesses provide stable employment in regional towns, where opportunities can be very limited. They allow young people to stay local rather than move away for work. They help keep schools open, sporting clubs strong and main streets active. Supporting wine producers through this rebate is ultimately about supporting those families and ensuring the Hunter remains a place where people can live, work and build an amazing future. It will also help protect cellar door operators, which are central to the Hunter's tourism appeal. Keeping those cellar doors open means keeping people employed, keeping visitors coming and keeping regional towns vibrant.”
“Every vintage relies on regional truck drivers and freight operators, label and packaging suppliers, fitters and plant mechanics maintaining plant and equipment, and the local builders and lecos when winery upgrades or expanded facilities are needed. It supports chefs, waitstaff and cleaners at restaurants and accommodation venues that benefit from cellar door tourism. It supports event crews who run tastings, weddings and festivals that bring visitors into the region throughout the year. When a Hunter winery can invest in a plan with confidence, that confidence spreads through the local economy, creating more shifts, more jobs, more apprentices getting a start, more bookings for local businesses and more families able to stay in the community they love. Importantly, it also supports people behind the industry.”
“By lifting this cap from $350,000 to $400,000 per financial year from 1 July 2026, the government is providing targeted, practical support that reflects the real cost pressures facing wine producers today. This is not about advantage or excise. This is about stability and sustainability. For many Hunter wineries, this additional support will help fund investments in water efficiency, energy upgrades and climate resilience. It will support training and retention of skilled staff. It will help producers innovate, improve quality, diversify offerings and reach new markets. In the Hunter, this kind of support also keeps the entire local supply chain moving.”
“Rising costs of energy, packaging, freight and labour are squeezing the margins. Climate vulnerability is adding uncertainty to every single vintage. Global competition is intense, particularly for smaller producers competing against large international brands with far greater scale. For many family owned wineries, the pressures are consistent. These are businesses deeply connected to place. They employ local people. They invest locally. They support community events, sporting clubs and charities. When they face uncertainty, the impact is felt well beyond the vineyard gate. That is why an increase to the wine equalisation tax producer rebate cap under this bill is so important.”
“They dine at our amazing local venues. They shop in our local towns. They attend concerts, weddings and festivals. That flow-on effect is essential to the health and resilience of a regional economy. The Hunter wine industry also plays an important role in exports and promoting Australia's wine reputation overseas. As we all know, and as I've said in this place many, many times, the best wine in the world comes from the Hunter. Hunter wines carry the story of the region onto the international market and contribute to the Australian brand. That reputation has been built carefully over decades through quality, innovation and consistency, often by family businesses that have weathered the good seasons and the difficult ones alike. However, Hunter wine producers are facing increasing pressures.”
“Wine has been produced in the Hunter for generations. It is part of our history and part of our identity. But the wine industry in the Hunter is not frozen in time. It is a modern, highly skilled industry that brings together agriculture, science, tourism and a fantastic group of workers. Wine production in the Hunter supports vineyard workers, winemakers, cellar door staff and logistics operators. It supports accommodation providers, restaurants, cafes, transport operators, event organisers and tour guides. It supports local tradies, local suppliers and local service businesses. It brings visitors to our townships and villages and sustains local employment right across the Hunter region. When people visit the Hunter for wine, they don't just come for a tasting and leave. They stay overnight. They book local accommodation.”
“It reflects on a broader commitment to supporting communities and industries across Australia. It supports Australia's role as a trusted host for major international sporting events, delivering jobs, tourism and long-term social benefits. It strengthens international tax arrangements to encourage trade, investment and innovation while ensuring integrity and fairness in the tax system. It supports the philanthropic and not-for-profit sector, which plays a vital role in communities like the Hunter, where volunteers and community organisations often provide essential services and support. Crucially for my electorate, this bill delivers meaningful and practical support for the Australian wine industry. The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's oldest wine regions and one of its most distinctive.”
“It recognises that superannuation is not just another financial product; it represents people's financial security. Decisions about super should be made with clear information and confidence, not confusion or pressure. These reforms build on the government's broader work to strengthen superannuation and make it fairer and more sustainable for all. Legislating the purpose of super, lifting the super guarantee to 12 per cent, expanding performance testing and ensuring funds deliver value, boosting support for low-income earners and paying super on paid parental leave are all part of a consistent agenda. That agenda is making sure Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn and retire with dignity in their older age. But this bill is about more than just super alone.”
“It is not a time for workers to be exposed to pressure or influence when making decisions about their retirement savings. This bill ensures that when employees are providing their superannuation details during onboarding they are protected from inappropriate advertising and undue influence. Workers should be able to engage with superannuation in a safe and informed way without being steered or nudged by marketing tactics. At the same time, the bill preserves access to relevant and important information. Employees can still see their stapled fund, they can still see their employer's default fund and they can still see regular MySuper products that meet strict standards. The focus is on transparency and informed choice, not sales. This approach reinforces trust in the superannuation system.”
“That matters as we move towards Payday Super, which will ensure that workers are paid their super at the same time as their wage. Payday Super is about fairness, it is about compliance and it is about making sure workers receive what they are entitled to, when they are entitled to it. These measures will help employers prepare for that change in a practical and manageable way, reducing confusion and improving compliance across this whole system. Another important benefit of this bill is the way it strengthens consumer protections at a critical point of a worker's journey. Starting a new job can be overwhelming, as we all know. We all started here once. There is paperwork to complete, systems to learn, safety requirements to understand and expectations to meet.”
“Without sensible safeguards, each of those job changes can mean a new super account. Each new account can mean new fees and new insurance premiums. Over time, that erosion adds up. It reduces balances, it undermines confidence and it creates uncertainty about retirement outcomes. Over the course of a working life, this can make a real difference. It can affect when someone can retire, how comfortably they can retire and whether they can retire with peace of mind. These reforms help stop that from happening. They give workers clarity and control. They ensure that more of what Australians earn stays in their super accounts, working for their future rather than disappearing through inefficiencies. This bill also supports employers by providing clearer and more timely superannuation information.”
“By making it easier for employees to see and consider their existing superannuation fund when they commence a new role, this bill helps prevent the creation of unnecessary duplicate accounts. It empowers workers to make informed choices while preserving their right to choose the fund that best suits their circumstances. It doesn't remove choice; it strengthens it. For workers in the Hunter, this is particularly important. Many people in my electorate work in industries where job mobility is common and often unavoidable. Apprentices move between work sites. Labour hire workers move between projects and coalmines. Casual workers pick up shifts across multiple employees. People in construction, coalmining, health and hospitality often change employers as projects start and finish and as new opportunities arise.”
“However, for too long, many Australians have seen their retirement savings quietly erode, not because they made poor decisions or failed to plan but because the system allowed inefficiencies and gaps to be present. Duplicate superannuation accounts, unnecessary fees, and insurance premiums that workers did not even realise they had or were paying have steadily chipped away at balances over time. This bill takes practical and sensible steps to address that problem. Starting a new job should be an extremely positive moment in life. It should be about opportunity, stability and progression. It shouldn't be a moment where a worker's retirement savings are put at risk without their even knowing it.”
“It's a region where people understand the value of a hard day's work and expect that effort to be respected and rewarded. People in my electorate are not looking for a shortcut or special treatment. They want commonsense policy, they want fair rules and they want a government that understands that life and work in regional Australia often look very different from life and work in the capital cities. This bill reflects that understanding. At its heart, this legislation strengthens Australia's superannuation system. Labor created super because we believe Australians deserve dignity and security in retirement. We believe that, after a lifetime of work, people should not be left uncertain or vulnerable. Since then, Labor governments have consistently acted to protect and strengthen the system so it continues to deliver on that purpose.”
“I rise to speak in support of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choices in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025. This is a bill that may appear complex at first glance, but at its heart it is about something very straightforward. It's about making sure that the systems Australians rely on are fair and transparent and genuinely work in their best interests. It's about strengthening confidence in superannuation, protecting workers at important moments in their working lives and backing regional industries that are essential to Australia's economy, culture and future. I represent the Hunter, a proud regional community built on hardworking people. It's a region of miners, tradies, nurses, teachers, hospitality workers, small-business owners, farmers and winemakers.”
“It happened because this government, the Albanese Labor government, made the largest investment in Medicare in our nation's history. We backed doctors to bulk-bill and made sure the system worked for patients as well. After years of neglect, bulk-billing was in freefall. We are turning that around, and communities like mine are feeling the difference right now on the ground. This is good for pensioners, families, apprentices and working people. This is good for local clinics and our health system. Labor built Medicare, and the Albanese Labor government will continue to strengthen it to make sure we're looking after the everyday mums and dads and Aussies in this country.”
“Doctor, doctor, give me the news! In the Hunter, for too long the news was not great. Too often the next line felt like, 'And here's the bill.' Every family in the Hunter want to know they can see a doctor with their Medicare card, not their credit card. Before this government strengthened Medicare, bulk-billing in the Hunter was in real trouble. Just 10 out of 50 GP surgeries were bulk-billing. That's only 20 per cent. For too many people, seeing a doctor meant pulling out a credit card instead of a Medicare card. But today that picture has changed. Twenty-five out of 50 GP surgeries in the Hunter now bulk bill. That's 50 per cent of practices and growing. This is real progress for local families right across the Hunter electorate.”
“After more than 20 years of dancing, Shanon decided to give back to his local community and create a welcoming and inclusive space. By bringing together the names of the co-founders, Mellissa and Jessica, with his own, MJS Line Dance was born. In just over a year, MJS Line Dance has grown into a thriving community, now running three successful classes every Thursday night. With routines ranging from pop to country to Irish music, there is something for everyone, whether you arrive with fancy footwork or two left feet. A huge congratulations to Jessica and Shanon. Kurri Kurri and the Hunter are so proud of you guys.”
“I want to congratulate MJS Line Dance of Kurri Kurri on an outstanding achievement and recognise a group proving that rhythm is alive and well in the Hunter. At the Australian Line Dance Championships and the New South Wales Open Line Dance Competition, Jessica Kelly and Shanon Dickson delivered an exceptional performance, taking first place in the intermediate and advanced line dancing choreography competitions and earning second place in the People's Choice Award. That is no small effort at all. Anyone who has tried line dancing knows it requires coordination, memory, fitness and the ability to stay in step—something many of us in this place would struggle with. MJS Line Dance is a proud local family-run business founded in 2024.”
“They've called on family members when someone's needed medical assistance. These aren't services you find on a price list, but they matter deeply to the community of the Hunter. At the end of February, Janet will retire after four decades of service. Places like Lucinda's Unisex Salon remind us that strong communities are built on small places and by people who care. Janet and her staff deserve our thanks, our respect and our recognition for the dignity and kindness that they've shown, especially to older Australians, over the last 40 years. Thank you so much for your service that you've done to Morisset area and to the broader Hunter. Keep up the great work.”
“I want to recognise a small business that represents the very best of community spirit in my electorate of Hunter. For the last 40 years, Lucinda's Unisex Salon has been a constant presence in the Morisset town centre. For many locals, particularly older residents, it has been far more than just a place to go and get a haircut. It has been a place of connection, trust and genuine care. I've repeatedly heard about the compassion shown by Janet and her team. This is a salon where people are known by name, where stories are shared, where no-one is rushed out the door. Over the years, the staff at Lucinda's have gone well and truly above and beyond what anyone could reasonably expect. They've arranged the salon so clients could lie down when they felt unwell. They've walked older customers to the safety of their cars.”
“Let's be honest: any Australian who chooses to compete in winter sports deserves an extra bit of respect. We are a country better known for beaches than for blizzards, and most of our athletes learn their craft a very long way from home. That takes grit, determination and a level of stubbornness that we can all admire. To our Australian Winter Olympic team: we are incredibly proud of all of you. Whether you bring home a medal or memories, you carry the hopes of all Australians. I'm not going to say good luck, because luck is for those who haven't put in the hard yards. Stay safe, and remember that, no matter how cold it gets, Australia is fully behind you. Enjoy it.”
“Guess what? Tomorrow is the start of the Winter Olympics, a global celebration of athleticism, courage and—in some cases—an impressive willingness to throw yourself down an icy mountain at terrifying speeds. As somebody who's had the privilege of representing Australia at the Olympic Games, I feel uniquely qualified to speak on this matter. Admittedly, my Olympic experience involved nice hot summer days rather than snowflakes. The closest I've been to winter sports is grabbing a beer out of an ice filled esky. But once an Olympian, always an Olympian. The Winter Olympics remind us of what makes sport so special: years of training for moments that last seconds, pushing through the pain, doubt and occasional crash—all for the chance to wear the green and gold and make Australia proud.”
“From a men's health perspective, a confident, empowered workforce means better care. It means clinicians who can act decisively when a man finally asks for help. I often say that we cannot fix men's health outcomes by telling men to do better alone. We must fix the system. This bill is system reform. It recognises how men actually use health services and reduces barriers. It improves access, and it supports early intervention. It strengthens Medicare, it strengthens primary care and it strengthens outcomes for men all across this country, especially in regional and outer metropolitan communities like the Hunter. This is why reform matters, and that's why I'm proud to support this bill. I commend this bill to the House.”
“They can help keep men engaged during critical periods of their lives. This saves lives. I want to be very clear. This reform is not about lowering standards. It is about modernising them. The nurses who prescribe under this framework will be highly trained, endorsed against national standards and subject to oversight and review. This is safe, evidence based reform that aligns with international best practice. Other health systems have successfully implemented similar models. The evidence shows improved access, high patient satisfaction and no compromise to safety. Australia should not lag behind. This bill is also about valuing our healthcare workforce. Nurses are highly skilled professionals. Allowing them to work their full scope is not only efficient but also respectful.”
“Enabling nurse prescribing within culturally safe, community led models of care supports better access and much better trust. Men are more likely to engage in health services they trust. This reform strengthens those services. Mental health must also remain front of mind. As the Special Envoy for Men's Health, I cannot speak about access or care without speaking about suicide prevention. Men make up the overwhelming majority of suicide deaths in this country. We know that many of those men had contact with the health system in the months before they died. The problem was not that they did not seek help. The problem was that the help did not always move quickly enough for them. Designated registered nurse prescribers in mental health settings can support timely intervention, medication continuity and follow-up.”
“This bill also supports older men, particularly those transitioning into aged care or receiving community based support. Older men often have complex medical needs. They may struggle with mobility or transport or have cognitive decline. Delays in prescribing or renewing medications can have serious consequences to all of these people. Designated registered nurse prescribers working in aged care and community settings will help ensure continuity, reduce medication errors and improve quality of life. From a men's health lens, dignity in ageing matters. Access to timely care matters. This reform supports both. I also want to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, who experience significantly poorer health outcomes and lower life expectancies. Nurses play a crucial role in Aboriginal community controlled health services.”
“From a men's health perspective, having continual care matters because men are less likely to attend multiple providers. They want clear advice, clear plans and clear next steps. This reform supports that. I also want to speak directly about men working shift work and non-standard hours. In industries like mining, manufacturing, transport and construction, shift work is the norm. Accessing a GP during business hours is quite often difficult, and men are left choosing between their health and their pay. Nurses are often available outside traditional GP hours, particularly in community clinics, hospitals and residential care settings. Giving them prescribing authority ensures that working men are not disadvantaged by the hours they keep. This is an equity issue.”
“We know that men are more likely to disengage if the system feels too complicated or too slow. This bill reduces friction in the system. It also supports better management of chronic disease, which disproportionately affects men. Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illness and musculoskeletal injuries—it's a tough word to say, that one—are more common in men, particularly in men who have worked in physically demanding industries. These are often not one-off issues. They require ongoing care, medication management and regular follow-ups. Nurses already play a crucial role in that care. Allowing them to prescribe within their scope strengthens community and also strengthens the consistency of males seeing and reaching out for this help.”
“When a man walks into a clinic, an aged-care service, a mental health service or a community health setting and speaks to a nurse, that interaction should not end with them needing to come back later, needing to book somewhere else or needing to have a conversation with three or four other people. Every extra step increases the risk that nothing is going to happen at all. Designated registered nurse prescribers mean that, when a man finally reaches out, the system can respond in real time. That matters more often than we would like to admit. In men's health, timing is absolutely everything. We know men are more likely to delay care. We know men are more likely to minimise their symptoms and not actually tell the GP or the nurse practitioner exactly what's wrong with them.”
“Too often, our health system is built to respond when something has already gone wrong—when a bloke turns up in the emergency department with chest pain, when diabetes has progressed too far or when mental health distress has reached its crisis point. That is not a failure of individuals; it's a failure of access. If we want to improve men's health outcomes, we have to intervene earlier. We have to make it easier to have that first conversation, easier to get that first prescription and easier to start treatment before the problem becomes an absolute catastrophe. This bill is going to do exactly that. This bill helps that the whole way along.”
“This bill also supports continual care for men leaving hospital. Too often, men are discharged with instructions to see their GP and follow up with prescriptions and follow-up care. Unfortunately, that follow-up care doesn't always happen—or it happens too late. Allowing nurse prescribers to support discharge planning and outpatient management reduces readmissions and improves adherence to treatment. From a men's health perspective, this is crucial and definitely needed. Men are less likely to follow up, less likely to attend multiple appointments and, unfortunately, more likely to fall out of the system. This bill helps close that gap. I also want to speak about prevention. Prevention sits at the very heart of men's health.”
“Having nurses able to prescribe within their scope means fewer handovers, fewer appointments and fewer opportunities for men to disengage from care altogether. That matters because every extra barrier is a chance for someone to walk away. I want to speak specifically about regional and outer metropolitan Australia. In the Hunter, access to care can vary dramatically depending on where you live. Some towns have very good coverage, and others struggle. GP shortages are real, wait times are real and pressures on emergency departments are constant. This bill helps relieve that pressure. By enabling nurses to prescribe PBS subsidised medicines in primary care, aged care, disability services, mental health settings and hospitals, we make better use of the workforce we already have. This is just common sense.”
“This is a staged, safe and sensible approach, and I want to be very clear about something else: this reform does not replace doctors, it does not undermine GPs and it does not compromise anybody's safety. Designated registered nurse prescribers will practice in partnership with authorised health practitioners under active prescribing arrangements. There is oversight, there is accountability and there are clear boundaries around what medicines can be prescribed. This is about team based care, and it's exactly where modern health systems need to go. From a men's health perspective, multidisciplinary care is essential. Men often present with complex needs; physical health, mental health, work related injuries, substance use and chronic disease all intersect.”
“This bill gives and delivers on an election commitment by the Albanese Labor government to implement scope-of-practice reforms for nurses and midwives. It aligns with unleashing the potential of our health workforce review, and it reflects years of consultation and careful planning. This certainly is not rushed reform; this is considered reform. Health ministers approved a new national registration standard in December 2024. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has set clear education and endorsement requirements. The first cohort of designated registered nurse prescribers is expected to begin prescribing from July 2026—only a few months away.”
“This is good health policy and it's good for men's health policy as well. Men are more likely to present to a health service in crisis rather than earlier. That is true for mental health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many other conditions. Early access to treatment and medication can be the difference between management and emergency. In communities like mine, nurses are often the first point of contact in primary care clinics, in aged care, in mental health settings, in Aboriginal community controlled health services and in hospitals supporting discharge and following up with care. Giving those nurses the ability to prescribe within a structured, regulated and collaborative framework means patients are not left waiting. It means continual care of these patients and it means better outcomes.”
“From a men's health perspective, this is critical. I cannot tell you how many blokes I've spoken to that say the same thing to me. They know something is wrong, they know they need help but they can't get in to see a GP for a couple of weeks. Or they live in a town where there is no access to a GP and they're not taking new patients. Or they're juggling shift work, caring responsibilities and cost pressures, and they, unfortunately, are putting themselves last. So they wait and they wait, and their condition gets worse. This bill helps break that cycle. By allowing designated registered nurse prescribers to work their full scope of practice, we expand the front door to the health system. We reduce the bottlenecks. We get people treated earlier and we keep them out of hospital.”
“We see it in all the statistics. Men die younger than women. Men have higher rates of suicide. Men are more likely to present late with chronic diseases. And men in regional and outer metropolitan areas like the Hunter face even greater barriers to timely care. That is the context in which this bill matters. The legislation enables appropriately trained and endorsed registered nurses to prescribe certain medications under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, or the PBS. It allows those prescriptions to attract a Commonwealth subsidy and it ensures appropriate oversight through the Professional Services Review scheme. That might sound technical, but, in the real world, the impacts are very simple. It means people can get the medicines they need when they need them and without unnecessary delays.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025. I do so as the member for Hunter but also in my role as the Special Envoy for Men's Health. And I want to be very clear from the outset: this bill is not just about workforce reform, it's not just about scope of practice and it's not just about legislation. This bill is about access, it's about prevention and it's about saving lives—particularly the lives of men who too often fall through the cracks of our health system. When we talk about men's health in this place, we have to start with the uncomfortable truth: men are less likely to seek help. Men are more likely to delay care. Men are more likely to put things off until something becomes serious or, sometimes, until it's, unfortunately, too late.”
“The Nationals don't have a plan for regional Australia's future. They have nostalgia and fear—fear of change, fear of progress, fear that, if the regions succeed under Labor, people might remember who actually delivered for regional Australia. Australians can see what this MPI is all about: the same old boring attack from a party that talks big about the bush but failed when it mattered most.”
“Where were they when wages flatlined, apprenticeships were cut and regional health services were stretched to breaking point? They were silent or, worse, they were just complacent. This government is backing regions with real investment, like investment in roads, like the Singleton and Muswellbrook bypass; energy; skills; health care; and local jobs. We're backing fee-free TAFE so young people don't have to leave town to get the training they need. We're backing apprentices, local industry, the energy sector, mining and critical minerals. All these create jobs in places like the Hunter instead of shutting the gates and walking away. We're doing in partnership with communities, unions, local councils and industries, because lasting change only works when the regions are actually part of the plan.”
“And, while we're doing all of that, we also have done what the Nationals never managed to do, which is actually fix the budget. There have been two surpluses, a smaller deficit and debt going down, not up, and we are over $233 billion better off than what we inherited, with more than $114 billion in savings found. That's not reckless. That's actually responsible. The IMF says our fiscal strategy is effective. The OECD says we have tightened policy, but apparently the Nationals know better than the world's leading economic institutions. What really sticks in the throat is the hypocrisy. The Nationals like to pretend they are the guardians of the regions, but where were they when regional manufacturers were hollowed out? Where were they when power prices went through the roof?”
“From July next year, lower income and middle income earners will pay less tax and, from the year after, even less again. That is real money back into people's pockets week after week. There are cheaper medicines, with PBS scripts capped at $25, the lowest price in two decades, and frozen for pensioners and concession card holders at $7.70. That makes a real difference in regions, where chronic illness is higher and access to healthcare has become much harder. A stronger Medicare with more bulk-billing, more urgent care clinics and more doctors and nurses where people actually live—these are not promises but actual delivery. Cheaper child care, energy bill relief, a $40 increase to JobSeeker, higher rent assistance and a 20 per cent cut to student debt—these are policies those opposite all voted against, by the way.”
“They went to the last election with a plan for even more debt and higher taxes to pay for a nuclear fantasy that would drive up power prices and kill jobs in our regions. That is the reality they don't want to talk about. Now, are people doing it tough? Yes. There is no doubt about that at all, and the Labor government has never pretended otherwise. The difference is that this government is actually doing something about it. We are not pointing fingers, not talking Australia or Australians down but getting on with the job of governing in difficult global conditions. We are delivering cost-of-living relief that is responsible, targeted and fair and tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer—three rounds of them. The first are already flowing, with even more to come.”
“Here we go again—another day, another MPI from the Nationals, claiming the sky is falling in, families are failing and somehow it's all Labor's fault. It is the same script and the same scare lines from the same people who had nine long years to fix things and chose not to. The truth is that this MPI is not about helping regional Australia. It's about distracting from the Nationals' own record of neglect, of turning up to the regions at election time, taking photos in hi-vis and then disappearing when the hard work needed to be done. When the Nationals were in government, regional Australia did not get relief; it got ripped off. They left us with inflation at 6.1 per cent and rising. They left bigger deficits, no savings and debt heading completely in the wrong direction.”
“Around 300 direct jobs at Myuna are now on the line, along with over 1,000 jobs and more across the supply chain, not because a mine has failed but because Origin is playing corporate games. This is not the energy transition. This is not inevitable. This is a deliberate commercial decision, shifting risk onto workers, families and the community. Yesterday's short-term offer was a spin, not a solution. It provides no certainty. If Origin keeps Eraring running, it must take responsibility and commit to a genuine long term coal supply agreement. The Hunter has powered New South Wales for generations. The least Origin could do is power these jobs into the future. Sign a deal, and do it now.”