Elizabeth Watson-Brown
Ryan · Australian Greens · Australia
“We terrified the major parties because they knew it was popular and they were going to lose votes if they didn't do something. So they caved. Both Labor and the Liberals committed to 50 cent fares permanently. In 2022, we won bigger taxes on coal corporations in Queensland with the same method. We announced our policy.”
“Labor MPs were sitting around a table with Sportsbet at the Midwinter Ball last night, and this morning they introduced gambling reform designed to appease the gambling lobby. Gambling is a multibillion-dollar industry built off the losses of everyday people. People are losing their livelihoods and their lives over this.”
“This is the motion that Labor just tried to stop me talking about: the need for essential public services to return to public ownership. Instead, Labor replaced it with their own topic. I've never seen this happen before in the entire time I've been here.”
“It's no wonder that they want to stop me talking about it. They don't have the solutions. The real solution is staring us in the face. We have to end 40 years of privatisation and corporate rule. If you're out there in the real world listening to this, I just want to say something.”
“on indulgence I also acknowledge that it's a very good idea that we do have a conversation about this because it's a critical thing. We here on the crossbench are representing our constituents, and we are giving them a voice here in this parliament. Any potential suppression of that is a suppression of the voices of our constituents.”
“That's why I reckon we can win a gas tax, but only if we organise. We know the people in Labor and the major parties are still too close to big corporations to really put everyday people first, so we'll have to replace them. But you know how we replace them? By getting organised.”
The complete record
Every one of 365 lines we hold for Elizabeth Watson-Brown, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 8.
“One constituent told me that her elderly father has recently suffered a stroke and has been classified as needing the highest level of Support at Home funding, level 8. However, under the new laws, he still has an eight- to nine-month wait for the funding to arrive. This constituent says, 'There is a high likelihood my father will die before his funding comes through.' These are the harsh, tragic realities that the government has imposed on people at the stage of life when they should be being looked after. Not only is the policy itself terrible, but the rollout has been absolutely atrocious. One constituent wrote to me regarding her 82-year-old stepmother, whose funding for vital care services has been consistently delayed.”
“We'd all like to imagine that we'll be cared for when we get older and that we'll be able to access the support that we really need when we need it. In a wealthy country like Australia, surely that is not too much to ask. But, last year, the Labor government did a dirty deal with the coalition that protects for-profit care providers and makes life harder for older people and their families. Many older people must pay more for the care they receive or simply make do with less care. With long delays for receiving funding, shamefully—tragically—people will die while they wait. The Greens opposed this scheme at the time, and, sadly, since these changes have come into effect, I have heard truly heartbreaking stories from Ryan residents about the deep suffering that these changes have caused.”
“It's certainly not the people of Brisbane, who do not want these vehicles further clogging our skies for the convenience of the ultrawealthy. The minister must reject the master plan and send Brisbane Airport back to the drawing board.”
“It forecasts a 70 per cent increase in total aircraft movements by 2046, including more than doubling the number of international flights, which are usually on larger and noisier aircraft. This far outpaces predicted population growth. It will also double the number of flights during peak periods, exacerbating the very worst impacts of aircraft noise. There are no plans to address the larger noise impact created by the massive increase in aircraft movements. Brisbane Airport and Airservices Australia are already managing noise very poorly, as found by independent assessors, so the lack of any plan for this is absolutely appalling to see. The plan also includes plans for vertical take-off and landing aircraft, also known as flying taxis. Who is asking for this?”
“We're already seeing the Olympics driving up house prices. Locals are paying more rent than ever and getting outbid at auctions by property speculators, but Labor and the LNP say they can't do anything about it. Banks, property developers and property speculators—that's who the major parties really care about—are making more money than ever off everyday people. Talking of bad development, Brisbane Airport's draft 2026 master plan is very bad news for Brisbane. It forecasts a huge increase in flights, making noise and emissions impacts on residents even worse. It also includes longer term plans for more overnight freight operations and flying taxis that will clog our skies.”
“Brisbane is being sold off, and we are getting absolutely nothing for it. Labor and the LNP are using the Olympics to enrich their big developer mates. Here are six pieces of public land that are being given away to private developers (1) the Brisbane athletes village at the RNA Showgrounds has been sold off to corporate developer Lendlease, (2) the $2.3 billion Gabba arena has been funded by a giant asset sale of nine hectares of public land, (3) the 7.1 hectare Visy site has been sold or leased to private developers, (4) the 100 hectares of public land at Hamilton Northshore have been sold off or leased to private developers, (5) the Gold Coast athletes village and Sunshine Coast athletes village will receive a share of $3.5 billion in public funding to subsidise private developers, and (6) the LNP council are privatising the Brisbane Riverstage.”
“I move: (1) Schedule 1, page 3 (after line 5), after item 1, insert: 1A At the end of Part 2 Add: 8A Prohibited financial assistance (1) Financial assistance must not be provided under this Act if it would: (a) directly finance the extraction of coal or natural gas; or (b) directly finance the construction of pipeline infrastructure primarily for the extraction of natural gas; or (c) directly finance the logging of native forests. (2) In this section: native forest does not include a plantation. plantation means an intensively managed stand of trees that is created by the regular placement of seedlings or seed. Question unresolved.”
“Instead of derisking our future and our climate by ending new coal and gas projects, we are derisking this gas project, operated by a for-profit corporation, that'll make climate change worse. We saw a decade of subsidies for fossil fuels under the Liberals, and now we're seeing Labor doing exactly the same. There's the fuel tax credits scheme, which cost the budget $10.2 billion in the 2024-25 financial year. Labor also put aside a tidy $1.9 billion in their first budget for the Middle Arm hub in Darwin, which will enable even more gas exports out of the Northern Territory. The Greens want no new coal and gas, because it's clear that new coal and gas is not compatible with a safe climate. But the least we can ask for is committing to an end to public money—to taxpayer money—going to make climate change worse.”
“Privatise the profits and socialise the losses of a project that'll make climate change worse and damage our future—it makes absolutely no sense, and the government must rule out funding it by supporting this amendment. To summarise, public money should not be used to keep coal and gas projects on life support. It's simple. The Australian people don't want it, so why is the government entertaining the idea? Comet Ridge, that new gas project in Queensland, have bragged that they're in discussion with the NAIF, a government funding body, for a loan of $110 million. Let's be clear about what that means: Comet Ridge should and could be seeking private funding, but they're applying for this government backed loan because it gives them a better deal. It's the government, it's taxpayers, that are taking on the risk of that loan.”
“Right now, there is a gas project, the Comet Ridge project, that has issued a statement to the ASX that they are in discussions with the NAIF for a $110 million loan. Australians do not want their money propping up new coal and gas projects. The NAIF is one of the last remaining specialist investment vehicles able to finance fossil fuel expansion with public money. My amendment gives effect to what informally appears to be Labor government policy—to not use public funding to fund coal and gas projects. The government should make its policy position clear by supporting this amendment. Comet Ridge have applied for that funding because they couldn't or wouldn't obtain it through private lenders. Let me spell out what that means. That is the government, and therefore Australian taxpayers, taking on the risk of this gas project.”
“In the Future Made in Australia package, we ended the ability of Export Finance Australia to finance coal, oil and gas projects both in Australia and overseas. And we amended the broad grant power in the Industry Research and Development Act to turn off the massive pipeline of fossil fuel subsidies that the coalition was using to fund fracking in the Beetaloo and new coal plants in Queensland and support the gas fired recovery. The same treatment now needs to extend to the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund. It was used by the coalition, who wanted to fund Adani's coalmine with $1 billion of public money—but the deal fell over. Queensland Labor vetoed it because they were worried about losing seats to the Greens. But the risk of financing fossil fuel projects with public money is not over.”
“The Greens will be opposing the unamended Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment Bill 2026 in the House and reserving our position in the Senate. The reality is that there's nothing stopping the NAIF from being a fund to keep coal and gas on life support, and that is why we're opposing it. I have an amendment, which has been circulated, to stop the NAIF funding dirty coal and gas projects and related infrastructure, and also native logging projects. Ending the public financing of coal and gas projects and infrastructure is an area where we were able to work with the government to make advances in the last parliament, and my amendment should be supported by the government to build upon that good work. In the last parliament, we closed off the National Reconstruction Fund from funding coal, gas and native forest destruction.”
“So, rather than making small tweaks around the edges, the government has an opportunity here—a good opportunity—to demonstrate some courage. I call on the government to bring phone and internet provision back into public hands and finally guarantee decent coverage for all Australians.”
“So Telstra, a private corporation, not only receives $300 million a year from the taxpayer but also gets to charge consumers what they damn well like for what should be a government owned and run public service. For people like my constituents, for whom Telstra is the only available provider, the government has effectively chosen to set up a private, for-profit monopoly, and taxpayers are paying for the privilege. Essential services, especially utilities like service providers, who can easily form monopolies, should be in public hands. They should never have been sold off in the first place. Running these services for profit means they are not being run for public good. Private providers are not incentivised to provide universal quality service if it's not profitable.”
“That's nearly $300 million paid annually by the taxpayer to Telstra in exchange for providing theoretically universal coverage, though, as my constituents know all too well, the coverage Telstra provides is nowhere near universal. You might think that, given we're already paying for this coverage in our taxes, consumers could access Telstra's phone and internet services for free or at the very least have a provider be a public service owned by the Commonwealth. Certainly, you wouldn't expect that such a deal could be allowed to benefit a private corporation's profit line. But no. Telstra was privatised by the Howard government and has stayed privatised under every Labor and Liberal government since.”
“This is not only a safety issue but also an economic policy failure. We know what it's called when one corporation has control over the entire market. It's called a monopoly. In areas where Telstra is the only provider, it is operating a monopoly over phone and internet services. This is bad news for consumers like my constituents, who suffer as a result of no competition to lower prices or to improve customer service. But this failure is not just an accident. It's not just an aberration. This is a direct result of decisions made by the federal government. The government did a deal with Telstra in 2012 whereby Telstra received a plum 20-year exclusive contract worth $297 million every year.”
“As my constituent put it, 'We are not seeking special treatment, only a basic level of reliable service that supports emergency communication and community safety.' Another constituent, from Brookfield, told me their poor mobile service means they cannot reliably make phone calls from inside the house. They said the Telstra map shows they should receive 5G, but it simply doesn't happen. They're not even covered by the Optus map, so they're looking at spending thousands of dollars to install a repeater. That should not be necessary, especially in a suburb just 12 kays out from the CBD. Down in Moggill, again in my electorate, locals also report frequent issues. For example, even the local shopping complex doesn't have reception inside. A large commercial complex 20 kays from the CBD having no reception is just not good enough.”
“One of my constituents, from Kenmore Hills, wrote to me about the shockingly bad phone and internet reception he experiences at home. He tells me his area receives negligible Telstra mobile reception, frequently not even enough to load a webpage or just place a phone call. He says this becomes critical during severe weather and power outages, including one example when they were left without electricity, internet or phone signal for three days following storms. He rightly points out the safety implications for elderly residents, for stranded motorists and for people experiencing power outages.”
“A phone call in an emergency can be the difference between life and death. In the case of a fall or a heart attack, or during one of the extreme weather events we've experienced so often in my electorate lately, people need to be able to reach out for help, but in my electorate—the vast majority of which is less than 20 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD—people are left without basic phone and internet access. In a wealthy country like Australia, this is absolutely unacceptable. It's particularly bad in areas in my electorate like Brookfield, Upper Brookfield and Kenmore Hills, where recent power outages due to summer storms exacerbated the issue. With roads cut off, some parts of those communities have had absolutely no way whatsoever to communicate with the outside world—in 2026.”
“I rise to speak to the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. For too long, Australians, including in my electorate, have put up with dreadful and patchy phone service due to privatisation, cost cutting and government neglect. Both Labor and Liberal governments have not addressed the inevitable failures resulting from Telstra's privatisation, and my constituents are paying the price. This bill updates the relevant legislation to better reflect modern technology but doesn't address the real issue at its heart: privatisation of what should be public services does not work. The Greens will support this bill in the House and reserve our position in the Senate. In 2026, access to phone and internet reception is an essential service.”
“It's not borne by corporations, billionaires and weapons manufacturers, who will actually profit from it. It's borne by everyday working people.”
“These are folks who've already been vetted, and approved to travel to Australia for a range of reasons: for work, for weddings, for funerals. Many of these people are on their way right now, only to be turned back at the airport when they land. My heart goes out to the Australian military personnel who'll be deployed in the UAE. My heart goes out to every person left stranded, and abandoned, by the Australian government. And my heart goes out to the people of Iran, who are paying the cost of this war. If you thought this war was about protecting the people of Iran, here is the clearest example that that is a lie. Labor is actively working against the safety of people from Iran. The cost of this war is not borne by the people who started it. It's not borne by politicians.”
“We have to really ask the question, as we're debating this migration amendment bill: who is really benefiting from the war in Iran? It's not you or me or working Australians. It's not the Australian military personnel who will be deployed to the UAE. And it's certainly not the people of Iran. It's indefensible that Australia will help extend this war by sending military personnel and weapons of war to the Middle East, while simultaneously closing the door to anyone left stranded as a result. While the young women from the Iranian soccer team are safe and will be able to stay in Australia, any other Iranian who currently holds a visa to enter Australia will now be denied access. That is the effect of this bill that is being rammed through this House with barely hours' notice, with the two major parties teaming up for cruelty.”
“Who sold our energy system off to private corporations? It was the Liberals and Labor, who now receive millions in political donations from these corporations. We've got to get corporate profiteering out of our essential services. Privatisation was a mistake. When the government says it can't do anything about huge energy bills, I say they're pulling your leg.”
“I rise to speak to the issue of power bills. Check your power bill lately? Did you wince? Have government rebates all dried up and the bills spiked? Where's your money going when you shell out hundreds every quarter? To build more energy infrastructure? To operating costs? No. It's going to the profits of huge energy corporations—record profits lately, in fact. If you're with AGL, $755 of your energy bill each year is pure profit for that corporation. AGL isn't producing your energy; it's just a retailer, just a shonky middleman. AGL's CEO makes $3.5 million each year. That's where your money is going. There's simply no reason it has to be like this. We used to have a fully publicly owned energy sector with energy run at cost and no profits made. Now we have private energy corporations gouging us to access our energy.”
“Not put in a super profits tax to crack down on war profiteering; not unequivocally condemn the attacks—no, we're getting ourselves entrenched in this conflict, contributing to the prolonging of the war and escalating it, and it's making us all a target. Will the Prime Minister jump to comply with Trump's next demand? First it was political support, then refuelling planes and now troops. What will his next demand be? The Australian people deserve to know. I remember Vietnam: sold to the public as a defensive war. I remember Iraq: sold as necessary to prevent 'weapons of mass destruction' that turned out to not exist. Labor had the courage to oppose that war. Where is Labor's courage now?”
“We're taking the side of Trump and Netanyahu in their illegal war that is both costing human lives and causing economic shocks that will crush everyday people across the world. Who benefits? Certainly not the Australian people—but one big beneficiary will be the gas companies that extract Australian gas for free without paying any royalties and export it overseas for massive profits. They will massively benefit from the price spikes after Qatar's gas operation went offline. But only their shareholders will see that benefit, not ordinary Australians—exactly what happened just a few short years ago when the Russia-Ukraine war saw energy bills for ordinary Australians skyrocket. But what does the government do?”
“Did they ask us if we wanted to deploy our troops, our aircraft and our missiles to support Donald Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war? Did they ask us if we thought putting Australian troops' lives at risk was worth it to support Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war—the war that started with the bombing of a primary school and the killing of 150 school children? No: the Prime Minister has just unilaterally committed us to this, seemingly after a 2 am phone call with Donald Trump. What's worse is that his government has been lying to us, saying troops would not be deployed. And now, of course, we do have personnel deployed. We're putting the security of Australians back home here at risk by getting involved and making ourselves a target.”
“The Prime Minister says we're only politically supporting the war. Then we hear that they're considering defensive aid. Now we hear Australian troops are being deployed—Australian aircraft, Australian missiles—for Trump and Netanyahu's war. When did they ask the Australian people or the Australian parliament? We should be debating this, which is why I'm moving this motion. Troops are troops. Deploying defensive troops to the Middle East is joining the US's war effort. Its effect will be to free up offensive capabilities for the US and for Israel. If not now, when are we going to debate this in the parliament? Australian troops, Australian aircraft, Australian missiles—did the Prime Minister ask the Australian people? Did he ask if we ever wanted to get involved in another illegal US forever-war?”
“Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Ryan moving the following motion: That the House: (1) notes that nearly 100 Australian military personnel will be sent to the Middle East alongside military equipment that will be used to participate in the US and Israel's war with Iran, and that this decision to deploy military personnel has not been discussed by the Australian Parliament; (2) rejects Labor's push to be part of another US-led war in the Middle East, which has already seen thousands of civilians injured and killed, and caused even greater insecurity and economic damage around the world and in Australia; and (3) calls on the Government to immediately end support for the US and Israeli war with Iran, withdraw all Australian troops from the US military, prohibit the US from using Australian-based military assets, and not send any Australian troops to the region to participate in this illegal war.”
“I seek leave to move the following motion: That the House: (1) notes that nearly 100 Australian military personnel will be sent to the Middle East alongside military equipment that will be used to participate in the US and Israel's war with Iran, and that this decision to deploy military personnel has not been discussed by the Australian Parliament; (2) rejects Labor's push to be part of another US-led war in the Middle East, which has already seen thousands of civilians injured and killed, and caused even greater insecurity and economic damage around the world and in Australia; and (3) calls on the Government to immediately end support for the US and Israeli war with Iran, withdraw all Australian troops from the US military, prohibit the US from using Australian-based military assets, and not send any Australian troops to the region to participate in this illegal war.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. Corporate profiteering by big gas corporations skyrocketed after the invasion of Ukraine, causing rising power bills, and it's about to happen again, thanks to Trump and Netanyahu's attack on Iran, which you support. These corporations literally take Australian gas for free and make obscene profits from it. Will you put a 25 per cent tax on gas exports as advocated for by the ACTU?”
“No wonder there's such frustration out in the community, and we've heard it in my electorate where people are working harder but falling behind while they see others already with wealth racing further ahead. While the Greens will be supporting this super change in the House, we're reserving our position in the Senate. I want to make an important distinction here, because this watered-down super tax was announced alongside a long-overdue increase in the low-income super tax offset. The Greens wholeheartedly support this part of the changes, two-thirds of which will flow to women's retirement.”
“A super account with $5 million in it will only face a tax rate of 14 per cent on capital gains under this bill while a bartender or a nurse that works part time and earns $20,000 a year faces a tax rate of 16c for every dollar earned. If you think this new tax system is bad, here's the painful bit: this bill is an improvement. Right now, that $5 million account or an account with $423 million in it, enjoys an effective tax rate of 10 per cent on capital gains. This is a difficult proposition. The tax change is a tiny step forward, but is wholly, almost laughably inadequate to deal with economic unfairness in our tax system. The 10 richest Australians will still pay a lower rate of tax than the nearly three million Australians on the minimum wage.”
“It will not stop superannuation being used for tax and estate planning, and it will not restore super to its purpose of supporting hardworking people in retirement. Under the changes in this tax bill the 10 richest super funds, each with $423 million in their account, will still face a lower tax rate when they sell shares or investment properties than every single full-time worker in Australia. Even a full-time worker on the minimum wage will pay 30c in every dollar earned while these super funds, each with $423 million in their account, will pay 27c on every extra dollar their super fund earns from capital gains. Our tax system is turbocharging intergenerational inequality, and this bill will not meaningfully change the trajectory that we're on.”
“This bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026, shows that this country has an absolute mountain to climb when it comes to making our tax system fairer, especially for young working people, who are getting smashed while the richest of the rich have a smorgasbord of tax minimisation options to choose from. The 10 richest super funds in Australia have an average balance of $423 million each. Clearly, superannuation is being used as a tax shelter, and over its 32 years compulsory super has strayed far from its original purpose of providing working people with a dignified, comfortable retirement. This bill is merely tinkering at the edges of this mountainous system.”
“If I know one thing about Australians, it's that they want to live peaceful and comfortable lives. It's increasingly clear to me that Australia lining up in support of wars of aggression damages everyone's chance at that life—everyone except a tiny few, that is. Corporate profits soared under Russia's invasion of Ukraine and created massive inflation spikes. Watch this space. When do we stand up and say 'no' not just for the people overseas but for our own lives too?”
“I rise to speak on the US's illegal war in Iran. Who wins from this latest illegal US led war in the Middle East? It's not the people of Australia. What do the people of Australia get out of this? Spiking oil prices and, with them, an increased cost on everything, an increased risk of terror attacks, global destabilisation and further forced migration impacting our whole region. Why are Labor and the Liberals so impatient to throw their support behind Trump and Netanyahu? It's not for the people of the Middle East, who get further destabilisation, further bloodshed and further radicalisation. Let's remember that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan produced decades of instability, ISIS and the return of the Taliban. This is how disconnected from reality, how spineless and how unthinking our political establishment has become.”
“How many meetings did he have with Commonwealth Bank lobbyists while he was in his role? Was he lining up this new job while crafting the devastating pro-bank policy? I think the people of Australia really deserve to know.”
“In some areas, like Moggill in my electorate, prices have doubled in the last five years, and I don't need to tell you this is far outpacing wage growth. It's an absolute disaster. It's a generational disaster. The policies of both major parties have caused this—underinvestment in public and social housing and the tax breaks for property investors. But it's Labor's five per cent deposit scheme that's kept that gravy train—house prices increasing even more—going. The scheme is literally designed as a gift to the banks. They get to lend more to people and collect more interest payments, but they're not taking any of the risk of that extra lending. No, that's on us; that's on the taxpayers. We're going to have to bail out the banks if any of this goes sideways.”
“That is the Australia that they have built, a system designed to benefit the big banks and wealthy asset owners—not ordinary people, who are spending more and more of their income just trying to put a roof over their heads. At this point, they're not even trying to hide it. The architect of Labor's housing policy that's driving up house prices and creating enormous profits for the big banks now works for one of those very big banks. The housing minister's top policy adviser, who played a central role in creating the five per cent deposit scheme—which has saddled first home buyers with enormous debt and sent house prices skyrocketing—has now accepted a role as executive manager, group strategy, at the Commonwealth Bank. In Brisbane, house prices are set to increase by another 20 per cent over the next two years.”
“Meanwhile, the stick just got longer for everyone else, because this policy has pushed up house prices. That's a fact. If that were my policy, I'd certainly be embarrassed about it. If there has ever been an example of how our political establishment has failed this country, you have to look no further than the housing market. Labor and the Liberals—and, on this question, they're the same—since the 1980s have both decided that housing is a commodity, not a place to live, not a right. They've deregulated the banks. They've introduced massive tax incentives for property investors. They've decimated public housing, which at least offered a competitive pressure on private housing.”
“If you saved up for a house deposit last year, no, you didn't. That's what last week's data shows. Over the last year, the amount of time it takes to save up for a deposit increased by almost a year. Let me say that again. If you spent last year saving for a deposit, it is very likely that you are no closer to that deposit, because house prices have increased by so much. It's like the property industry has attached a long stick and a string to your head, whacked a house shaped carrot at the end and told you to start running. Someone from the government might interject at this point—maybe they will—and say that they've allowed people to buy a house with a five per cent deposit. Great—some people get the carrot by paying 50 per cent of their income to service a truly diabolical debt.”
“Both major parties have contributed to the absolute disaster that is our housing crisis here in Australia. It's decades of underfunding of public and social housing. In the postwar period, we were building up to 25 per cent of our housing stock as public and social housing. Now, public housing waitlists skyrocket while those in the greatest need are forced into the private rental market. It's the tax concessions for property investors. The capital gains tax discount introduced by the Howard government has absolutely skyrocketed inequality. Sixty per cent of the benefit flows to the top one per cent. That's $12.7 billion a year. But Labor's latest policy innovation has sent prices skyrocketing even further: bigger mortgages for first home buyers. If you're a renter, saving a deposit is an even more distant goal.”
“It's particularly bad in areas like Brookfield, Upper Brookfield and Kenmore Hills, where recent power outages due to summer storms exacerbated the issue and, with roads cut off, led to no communication whatsoever with parts of that community. Down in Moggill, locals also report frequent issues. Even the local shopping complex doesn't have reception inside! A large commercial complex, 20 kays from the CBD, having no reception is simply unacceptable. This week we found out the new forecast for the full rollout of the NBN won't be completed until 2040—2040! This is the result of years and years of cost-cutting. And with Telstra now in private hands, they have no real incentive to provide services if they're not profitable. We must ensure these essential services are run for public good and not profit.”
“Australians are left to deal with the cost of climate disasters—bushfires, floods and deadly heatwaves—but the very companies profiting off these disasters are contributing nothing back. It's time to make them pay their fair share. And speaking of the problems with privatisation, let's talk about the abysmal telecommunications infrastructure in my electorate. A phone call can be the difference between life and death. A fall, a heart attack—our community needs to be able to reach out for help. But in my electorate, the vast majority of which is less than 20 kays from the Brisbane CBD, people are being left without basic phone and internet services. It's a result of the privatisation of our infrastructure, and the ridiculous mandate that NBN Co, set up to provide fast internet to all Australians, act like a for-profit company.”
“If you've paid income tax once in the last 11 years you've paid more than the 79 big corporations that haven't paid a cent in the 11 years we've had the ATO corporate tax transparency data. That includes News Corp, Ford, Vodafone, Warner Bros, Virgin Australia and Dow Chemical. Toll road operator Transurban is another company that has not paid any tax over these 11 years—also a huge beneficiary of the privatisation of public road infrastructure, squeezing thousands of dollars a year out of ordinary Australians just trying to get to work each day. But most of the 79 companies are coal and gas exporters, who are profiting enormously from Australian resources—resources that belong to all of us—exporting them overseas, paying no tax and, cherry on top, making climate change worse.”
“I couldn't agree more, but let's do that together—let's do it all together. Whatever your country of origin, whatever your religion, we ought to take back the country we call home from the lobbyists, from the moneyed interests, from the big corporations, from a political class that has proved so thoroughly incapable of tackling the major problems we face today.”
“Maybe in some distant future humanity will be able to live entirely without national borders. Who knows? In the meantime, we need some controls; we need some balance. The member for Kennedy's statement takes people's legitimate concerns down a dark, distracting and dangerous path, one that renders us all weaker in the face of corporate dominance, since we forget who really has power in this situation—one that makes us more suspicious, less connected to our communities and more anxious, not more peaceful, not more at ease. More to the point, politicians talk about social cohesion, but they never put two and two together. Social cohesion is fundamentally undermined by ballooning wealth inequality. Ultimately, I think, when we talk about curtailing immigration, we are really talking about wanting to take back control of this country.”
“You could say that we've had too many people come into this country, or you could simply point out that our major parties have abysmally failed to plan for growing populations and build the public transport, the hospitals, the schools, the public space that we all need. It should be pretty clear by now that there is someone to blame for how much harder life is becoming for so many in this country, and it's Labor and the Liberals and their decades-long bipartisan commitment to deregulation, privatisation and tax breaks for huge corporations and the ultrawealthy. While these corporations and billionaires have plundered much of the country and while Labor and the Liberals have squandered our wealth, migrants work hard, build community and enrich our society. No-one's saying we should simply throw the borders open.”