Matt Burnell
Spence · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Christiana also said: We need Carnival to stop exploiting the workers. We work very long hours and get paid not even peanuts. Australia has built its reputation on fair wages, safe workplaces and respect for working people. Those values cannot stop at the water's edge.”
“Long shifts are routine, often stretching well beyond 12-hour days. Nobody should have to choose between protecting their health and keeping their job, and, after I heard this, nobody can convince me to go on a Carnival cruise in the future. The Maritime Union of Australia deserves enormous credit for exposing these practices.”
“This was about making sure those without a voice had someone prepared to stand up for them. That experience has stayed with me ever since. Perhaps that is why I reacted so strongly after meeting two former Carnival Cruise employees, Queen and Christiana, this week. What they described left me entirely appalled.”
“Queen and Christiana described having to purchase their own drinking water, Wi-Fi, toiletries and sanitary products while living on board. Basic necessities became another cost deducted from wages that were already impossible to live on. No employer should expect workers to pay simply to meet their most fundamental needs.”
“Thank you to the member for Mayo for that fine contribution to this House just now. Before I entered this place, I spent a decade working offshore in the Australian oil and gas industry.”
“I call on AMSA to ensure these rights are respected and enforced. I know the pride that comes from working in the maritime sector. I also know the sacrifices made by those who spend months away from their families to keep global trade and tourism moving. That commitment should never be rewarded with exploitation.”
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“I'm proud to support the Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025—a bill that delivers real cost-of-living relief, makes our education system fairer and reflects our Aussie values—because that's what we do on this side of the House. I often feel that the people of Spence really feel they can relate to the immortal lyrics of the great Dolly Parton, 'Barely getting by; it's all talking and no giving,' but last Wednesday, at the very beginning of this 48th Parliament of Australia, after talking the talk before the election, we walked the walk and gave something back by introducing this bill. When people are doing it tough, we don't just look away. That's not the Labor way, and it sure isn't the Australian way. We get stuck in and help each other out.”
“We will continue to close the retirement gender gap, we will continue to crack down on unpaid entitlements and we will continue to ensure that working people share in the benefits of national growth. When Labor say we are on the side of working Australians, we mean it. I commend our government's work so far and I look forward to continuing the work ahead.”
“Our workplace reforms—including multi-employer bargaining, limits on exploitative labour hire practices and better rights for casual workers—have all been designed with one goal: to get wages moving. One of the clearest examples is in aged care. We have fought hard and delivered a 15 per cent wage increase for aged-care workers, because valuing care means valuing carers. The same goes for early childhood educators, retail workers, cleaners—so many Aussies whose essential work was applauded and needed to keep our country running during the pandemic but undervalued for too long. The Albanese government believes in an economy that works for people, not the other way around. The Labor Party believes that when working people do well the country does well. I'd be lying if I said our job was done; we have more to do but we are on the right path.”
“Turning to wages, I'm proud to say that, under the Albanese Labor government, real wages are growing again. In fact, for nearly three million workers, they have already gone up since 1 July. After a decade of wage stagnation under those on the other side of the chamber, Australian workers are finally getting a fair go on payday. Since May 2022 we have supported successive increases to the minimum wage and the preservation of award wages, delivering meaningful pay rises. In fact, over two years the Fair Work Commission has delivered minimum wage increases of more than eight per cent, in line with inflation and in recognition of the pressures that everyone is facing right now.”
“Workers shouldn't have to chase what is rightfully theirs. This change will give employees greater flexibility over their entitlements and improve compliance for all PCBUs. We're backing it with stronger powers for the Australian Taxation Office, more frequent reporting and new technology to detect nonpayment in real time. We've also introduced enforceable service standards for super funds, ensuring they deliver not just reasonable terms but also fair treatment, clear communication and transparency for their members. Superannuation is not just about accumulation of returns; it's about giving every Australian the peace of mind that their hard work today will be rewarded tomorrow. Just as we fight for fairness in retirement, we must also deliver fairness now.”
“From July 2026, parents who take time off to raise their children will not be penalised in their retirement. For the first time in our history, super will be paid on paid parental leave, because we understand that time spent caring is not time spent working less; it's time spent working differently. It's a change that will benefit over 180,000 Australian families every year. This is equity in action. This is what good governments can do when we put working families at the centre of our policymaking. In addition to this, we are rolling out payday super, requiring employers to pay super at the same time as salary and wages. This reform, coming into effect from 1 July 2026, will help eliminate the pain of unpaid super, which is currently costing workers an estimated $3.4 billion each year.”
“We've delivered on our commitment to increase the superannuation guarantee. From 1 July this year, the guarantee rose to 12 per cent, a move that strengthens the retirement of millions of workers across the country. That figure of 12 per cent might seem like a number on paper, but, for a 30-year-old working today, it can mean tens of thousands of dollars more in their back pocket in retirement. It is a difference between anxiety and security in older age. And it is a Labor government that has ensured that commitment, first promised over a decade ago, has finally been delivered in full. We've also taken historic action to address one of the biggest drivers of the gender retirement gap by legislating for superannuation to be paid on Commonwealth paid parental leave.”
“I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government's commitment to Australians earning more and keeping more of what they earn; (2) notes that on 1 July 2025: (a) millions of Australian workers on minimum and award wages got a 3.5 per cent pay rise; and (b) the superannuation guarantee increased to 12 per cent; and (3) welcomes the Government delivering the better future Australians voted for. I rise to speak on two of the most fundamental issues for Australian workers: superannuation and wages. Every Australian deserves dignity in retirement and fairness in their back pocket today. The Albanese Labor government has worked steadily and deliberately to restore fairness to our workplace laws and to repair long-neglected systems that support hardworking Australians.”
“It's about building a country where no man feels like he must suffer in silence. When we support men's health, we strengthen families, we strengthen communities and we strengthen our nation. This isn't just a men's issue; it's an issue for our society. Whether it's the dad struggling after a job loss, a teenager facing anxiety at school, the veteran coping with trauma or the retired tradesman navigating illness. Every Aussie bloke deserve support, dignity and the chance to live a full and healthy life. I welcome this government's leadership in delivering that support. I commend all organisations, health workers, community volunteers and families who are walking alongside our men every single day. By investing in better health outcomes for our men and boys, we are building something bigger: a stronger, fairer and healthy Australia.”
“We are helping men who might never have spoken to a psychologist get help at their local footy club. We're helping fathers open up to their sons and look out for their mates, and we're helping blokes in small towns take that first vital step by saying three powerful words: I need help. We're doing it while making the system more affordable and more accessible for all Australians. You shouldn't have to be wealthy or live in a major city to get the quality health care you need. Breaking down the stigma isn't just a campaign; it's a commitment. It's a promise to men and boys across the country that we see them, that we value them and that help is just around the corner. It's about shifting the cultural landscape so that talking about your health is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
“We're expanding funding for trusted committee organisations like men's sheds, Ahead of the Game, Healthy Male and the Danny Frawley Centre, which work with men where they live, work and play, from local sports clubs to regional towns. These investments are not a one off. They're part of a broader health and mental health agenda that this government is delivering. We're investing $8.5 billion to strengthen Medicare, including cheaper medicines, more bulk-billing and better access to GPs. As well as this, $11.6 million specifically for men's health was allocated in the 2024-25 budget. There is over $1 billion for mental health services, including expanding headspace centres for young Australians, especially in Gawler in my electorate of Spence, and growing our mental health workforce so people don't have to wait or go without help.”
“We're doing that by investing in early intervention, building safe and accessible services and dismantling the outdated stereotypes that stop too many men from reaching out. This year, we have committed $32 million to targeting men's health initiatives. That includes $11.3 million for Movember—maybe not my strong suit but definitely the member for Hunter's!—an organisation that has transformed awareness and action on men's health for more than two decades. This funding will help train 60,000 primary healthcare workers so that, when men do walk through the door of a GP, they are met with professionals who understand their needs and how best to support them. As well as this, there is $20.7 million in grassroots mental health programs because we know the most effective support often happens outside traditional settings.”
“We know that men are more likely to delay going to the doctor, more likely to downplay symptoms and more likely to believe they just need to tough it out or to man up. But being strong does not mean being silent. It's okay to be not okay. In Australia today, silence is costing lives, as suicide remains the leading cause of death of Australian men aged 15 to 44. Every day, we lose around seven men to suicide. That's seven families torn apart, seven communities left grieving and seven more reasons to act with urgency and compassion. That's why this government is taking action to change the conversation around men's health and to change the outcomes for men and boys across Australia.”
“Today I speak on an issue that has historically gone unspoken in this place and in homes, workplaces, footy fields and pubs across our nation. That issue is men's health, and gives me great pleasure to be in the chamber with my very good friend the member for Hunter, the very aptly appointed Special Envoy for Men's Health. You're doing a fantastic job, mate. While we've made great strides in medical research, in expanding services and in breaking down barriers, there is still a painful truth that we must confront: too many Australian men are struggling with their health in silence. Too many are fighting battles physical, mental and emotional without support, without understanding and without the tools they need to seek help. Tragically, far too many are dying because of it.”
“These troops faced not only Japanese bullets, bayonets and grenades but tropical disease, hunger and conditions of captivity, which were also significant threats daily. Back home, every town, suburb and street corner was touched by the absence of a son, a daughter, a father or a mother who never returned home. On the 80th anniversary of VP Day, we remember their courage, their service and their sacrifice, and we honour the families who bore the burden of their loss. Lest we forget.”
“Australians served at the Kokoda Track in the defence of Milne Bay and various battles across New Guinea, Borneo and the Solomon Islands. These sites all became defining moments of Australian endurance and resolve. These battles are now carved permanently into the mythology of our great country. Stories of sacrifice, courage, losses and success are now taught in schools across Australia. Victory in the Pacific on 15 August 1945 marked the end of the Second World War and the return of peace, but it came at a staggering cost. More than 27,000 Australians were killed in World War II. Additionally, approximately 23,000 more were wounded or traumatised in service of their country.”
“This was a time when our nation came face to face with the real possibility of invasion. Cities were bombed—Darwin, Broome, Townsville. Sydney Harbour was attacked by submarines. However, we stood resolute. Our spirit did not waver. The soldiers on the front line fought valiantly to protect their families and their country while the home front stood firm in unprecedented conditions. In the face of war, the country kept going. In factories, on farms and in hospitals, millions more Australians kept the country running and the war effort alive. They were all undeniably important to our victory. Enlistments across the country continued in droves. First Nations servicemen and women, despite facing discrimination at home, volunteered in large numbers and served with distinction.”
“He made the ultimate sacrifice serving country, killed in action flying his Vultee Vengeance aircraft, which was shot down over PNG in 1944. He is remembered at the Lae Memorial, which commemorates more than 300 officers and men of the Australian Army, the Australian Merchant Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force who lost their lives in these operations and have no known grave. The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Pacific is one of incredible significance to Australia. Between 1939 and 1945, Australia fought two world wars, one in Europe and, for the first time in a global conflict, one on our own doorstep in the Pacific theatre of war. With the threat of the Japanese empire slowly marching through South-East Asia, nearly one million Australians answered the call to fight or work, or perish.”
“I'm exceptionally grateful for your friendship, assistance and guidance over the last term, and I wish you and your family all the best with your future endeavours. I also wish to thank Senator the Hon. Andrew McLachlan for agreeing to be my new co-chair—I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing—in the 48th Parliament. I look forward to working with you over to coming term. The 80th anniversary of victory in the Pacific is one that holds special significance to me. Like many people, I am proud to say that my grandparents served in the Second World War. On my mother's side, my pa, Federal Stokie Rodda, served as a gunner in the Australian 2nd Field Regiment 3rd Division in Papua New Guinea. My great uncle, Noel George Burnell, was a flying officer with No. 235 Squadron.”
“I too want to start by thanking every veteran and all our current serving personnel of the Australian Defence Force for their service. I also want to acknowledge the previous speaker, the member for Herbert, for his service to this great country as well. I say these things not only as a veteran myself but also as the Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Veterans, a role in which I am proud to be able to serve once again this parliament. It's a role I will continue to fulfil with a great sense of pride and humility. I want to take this opportunity to thank my good friend, the former member for Menzies, Keith Wolahan, for his service as my co-chair to the Parliamentary Friends of Veterans in the 47th Parliament.”
“I thank Holley Skene and her team at SINE SA for their leadership and deep connection to the community of Spence. I thank every healthcare worker who will walk through those clinic doors. I thank the Malinauskas and Albanese Labor governments for recognising that health equity starts with investment, and for bringing this clinic back to life. Together, we are not only restoring services; we are giving people in Spence the care they deserve. We are doing it with a determination to eliminate cervical cancer, support inclusive care and build a healthier Australia for all.”
“Serving as a centre of excellence, it will not only deliver critical services but also serve as a statewide training hub for healthcare professionals. It brings world-class care right into the heart of Spence: accessible, inclusive and responsive to the cultural and social barriers that too often prevent people from seeking help. At a time when syphilis and other STIs are on the rise nationally, this clinic offers prevention, diagnosis and treatment close to home with compassion. SHINE SA will also play a vital role in delivering on the national goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035, ensuring that women in Adelaide's north are not left behind in that mission. This is a proud example of what Labor governments do best: we invest in health, reduce inequality and deliver real outcomes for real people.”
“Tragically, Adelaide's north accounts for nearly a quarter of all cervical cancer cases in South Australia. When the former South Australian Liberal government cut funding to this clinic in 2019, it left a gaping hole in services and in the public's trust. Quite frankly, the northern community was left stranded by these heartless cuts made to SHINE SA. But today, with the combined leadership of the Malinauskas and Albanese Labor governments, and in partnership with SHINE SA, that trust is being rebuilt one appointment at a time. Through a $1.92 million investment by our government on top of a further $5.3 million by the state government, the Davoren Park Clinic is once again open, and it will be stronger than ever.”
“Today, I want to celebrate the triumphant return of a service that our community in Adelaide's north has needed. With a combined effort between the South Australia state and the federal Labor government, it has been proudly delivered. The reopening of the SHINE SA clinic at Davoren Park is more than ceremony and ribbon-cutting; it is a restoration of care and commitment to the people of South Australia. We all know that Spence is a community of enormous potential but also one of significant need. Health inequality here is real, and nowhere is that clearer than in sexual and reproductive health. In Playford alone, only 52 per cent of women participate in cervical screening; that's well below the state average of 64 per cent and far from the national goal needed to eliminate cervical cancer.”
“There will be some great auction items up for grabs. Did I mention the Riverside All-Stars' No. 1 spinner telling a few yarns? Andrew McDonald, my phone is on. I am looking for a call-up to the national team. Please don't keep me waiting! To all the good people in Gawler and the surrounds: if you've got time next Friday night, please buy a ticket. Get down and support a really good cause. This will be its fourth year. The Riverside All-Stars are looking to have another victory, led from the front and the bowling attack. Also, we've got some fine batters lined up this year. We want to kick-off with a really strong start, starting on Friday night next week.”
“With the Hope Cup 2025 fast approaching and as the premier spinner for the Riverside All-Stars side—some would say the prince of spin—I thought I should do my bit and make sure we have a good turnout for next week's gala night dinner at Nixon's Function Centre in Gawler. That's right. Next Friday, 8 August, from 6 pm till 10 pm, you'll be able to hear how the Riverside All-Stars team steamrolled to a crushing victory over the Gawler Police XI, all backed up by some great yarns from none other than Aussie cricketing legend Ian Chappell. This event is about raising money for a great cause, for those doing it the toughest in our community—those experiencing homelessness and sleeping rough. To make sure we get it kicked off on the right foot, we want the house to be full but your wallets even more so.”
“This outcome is the result of a grassroots campaign, with hundreds of doors knocked, local street meetings, letters to senior leadership and speeches in this very chamber. After years of delays, excuses and confusions, the message has finally got through loud and clear. This is a decision that will not be getting returned to sender; it is happening. While this is a big step forward, other communities in Spence, like Riverlea, will still go without home delivery. To those residents I say I have not forgotten you. I will keep fighting for them so they can also access an essential service that many Australians, that now includes Virginia, can rightly take for granted.”
“It's great to return to the 48th Parliament and once again represent the people of Spence. Congratulations to you, Deputy Speaker, on your deputy speakership as well. Today I rise to share a major victory for the people of Virginia and for commonsense. In only a matter of days, for the first time the good people of Virginia will receive their first home mail delivery from Australia Post ever. This might not sound like much to some, but home mail delivery is something the Virginia community has needed to fight tooth and nail for for several years. In this time, the community has pushed relentlessly for this basic service, even after a recent mail poll showing 92 per cent support was dismissed.”
“When this Labor government made TAFE free for over half a million people, the Liberals voted against it because they don't win when everyday Aussies break free of the barriers to education. When this Labor government made record investments into Medicare, opened urgent care clinics and froze the cost of medicines, the Liberals called it wasteful spending because they don't win when everyday Aussies can look after themselves. The Liberals blocked all this policy because they don't stand to gain when everyday Aussies get cost-of-living relief. While this Labor government supports everyday Australians, the only thing you can count on from the opposition leader is that he will cut your pay and raise your taxes.”
“In the last 24 hours, the opposition said the quiet part out loud. They have vowed that, if the Liberals are elected, they will increase taxes for everyday Aussies. This is absolutely cooked. Families are struggling, especially in Adelaide's northern suburbs, where things are especially hard. But, instead of helping Australians put food on their tables or pay their bills, the Liberals would rather help themselves by taking away hundreds of dollars in savings from people that they represent. It's the icing on the cake, rounding out three years of the Liberals blocking cost-of-living relief. When this Labor government wanted to make houses easier to buy or easier to rent, the Liberals voted against it because they don't win when everyday Aussies keep a roof over their heads.”
“That is a huge time lag between closure and a new station coming online. This enquiry has found that it is not feasible to pursue nuclear power generation in Australia.”
“On top of this, not only are we pursuing technology that's not currently commercially available around the world, but there's this fake promise that it's going to deliver hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs. This does not mean that it's a straightforward transition for coal workers coming out of their existing coal-fired power stations straight into what has not yet been built: a nuclear power station. This will require retraining, and it does run with the problem that there is a huge time delay between an announcement to pursue nuclear power generation in this country and delivery of a nuclear reactor in this country. The first nuclear reactor will take around 15 to 20 years to deliver—we're talking the 2040s. Most of our coal-fired power stations are due to close in the early 2030s.”
“The other problem with that is the fact that there is this pursuit of small modular reactors in South Australia; actually, it's the only type of reactor that's been slated for South Australia. The problem with small modular reactors, as my good friend from Western Australia will attest, is that they don't exist commercially off the shelf anywhere in the Western World, which makes it really difficult to comprehend how we are going to establish a nuclear power generation industry in South Australia if we're pursuing a technology that doesn't exist. This is the type of fantasy-land place that we are currently sitting in. It's just not comprehensible. I just can't get my head around where we currently are at.”
“That's your side of the equation adding their voice to what is a real concern for people in this country. The inquiry also talked about cost, and there are a couple of components to cost: the upfront cost but also the potential cost blowouts. When we look at examples across the world, there are instances where the cost blowout is absolutely astronomical. You have the Hinkley Point C project, which has blown out now to around $92 billion for a single nuclear reactor, which is just mind-blowing. It really is mind-blowing. That is just one example of a cost blowout. The Vogtle nuclear power station is seven years late and $17 billion over budget. The list goes on and on and on.”
“That's been refuted by the other side, but the problem you have with that is that, when you've got organisations like Liberals Against Nuclear, you know you have a problem with social licence, the very linchpin that is probably going to see your policy either sink or swim. That's not something that you can dismiss. It's not something that you can dismiss from my personal experience, having seen what happened around nuclear-waste storage facilities in South Australia. Social licence wasn't obtained, and it sank the pursuit of a nuclear waste storage facility out in the mid-north. It gets much harder when you have your own party faithful, your rank and file, starting up a group called Liberals Against Nuclear, because that's not, as some people would put it, just the 'crazy left'.”
“This is not an investment being made by private industry; this is an investment that the Australian taxpayer is being asked to foot to deliver on—it's nuclear nonsense. It is a very big worry. I want to step through a few different parts of what the inquiry uncovered along the way. I'm going to start off with social license, and I think this is probably one of the most important places for us to start. The reason I say that is that this has the possibility of blowing out the delivery of any future nuclear power generation in this country by significantly large timeframes. Clare Savage from the Australian Energy Regulator said that, with social licence where it currently stands, she would estimate eight to 10 years or thereabout to deliver the legislative requirements to enable the pursuit of nuclear power generation in this country.”
“This inquiry is probably some of the most important work that I've been afforded the opportunity to do in my short time in this place. When you're jumping headfirst into a subject matter that's as big as nuclear power generation, there's a lot to take in. At the end of the day, there's a couple of pinch points that really started to show through—consistent themes that raised considerable questions for myself. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 16:24 to 16:34 Ultimately, what this inquiry has found is this is nothing more than nuclear nonsense. Pursuing a nuclear power future is going to be a costlier process that takes more time than we can afford. This is about building an alternative power generation industry that is estimated to cost around $600 billion.”
“For me personally, I've never had the opportunity to tour through a coal-fired power station. It was a big eye-opener for me and gave me a much better insight into the topic of power generation that we were looking at. To my very good friend over here, the member for Flynn, we were able to go up to Mount Murchison and spend the afternoon with the wonderful Hazel Jensen, and his office helped put on a very country orientated afternoon tea, which was very much appreciated. It took me back to my childhood growing up on the farm. The hospitality that was afforded to us was the best we had on our entire trip around the country, doing this inquiry. To the member for Flynn, thank you very much for your warm hospitality up in your neck of the woods.”
“That doesn't happen without good leadership, which came from both the chair, the member for Hunter, and the deputy chair, the member for Fairfax. There are a couple of other people I do need to thank. The secretariat, Kate Portus, and her fantastic team, including Kimberlee, Ash, Cathy and Antonia. Without those people from the secretariat team, we can't do the work that we do. They make sure that we get to the locations we need to, make sure that we have people turn up to do the inquiry itself and to answer the questions of the committee. Thank you to all of you. We also were aptly supported by companies from Callide and Tarong power stations, who gave us very in-depth tours of both of their facilities. Thank you very much for your hospitality. Thank you very much for the explanation.”
“It gives me great pleasure to stand to speak on the Interim report for the inquiry into nuclear power generation in Australia . I want to start out by acknowledging our chair, the fantastic member for Hunter. He did an exceptional job on this, and all credit is to him. I also wanted to acknowledge the member for Fairfax as our deputy chair, along with a few of my other colleagues. I want to acknowledge the member for Gippsland, the member for Swan, the member for Fraser, the member for Moreton, the member for Kooyong and the member for Cook. The contributions by everybody on the committee was exceptional. It's been a subject matter that's provoked a lot of different feelings across the spectrum within the chamber, so I think the level of respect that was afforded to every single member on that committee should be commended.”
“On her passing, Australia lost an incredible contributor to this place, an incredible woman in her own right. May Dr Rosemary Crowley rest in peace.”
“It is because of strong women in political leadership roles that opportunities are provided to our youngest girls to be the best version of themselves—that's what Dr Crowley's legacy is. It makes a lasting impact on the political discourse in this country. It has helped make this government better, because we have got a majority of women in our government, which is something that I'm extremely proud to be a part of. I know that the decisions we've been delivering over the last three years are so much better for the contribution of the women in our parliament. We are extremely lucky to be in this position. We are, and should be, extremely thankful for the exceptional service that Dr Crowley gave to this place but also, importantly, to the great state of South Australia.”
“I can think of a couple of people back in my home state, like the fantastic Emily Bourke MLC, who I had the good fortune of being at a dinner with recently where she made mention of this; it was an International Women's Day dinner at the Central District Football Club. It was because of her perseverance to pursue a career in politics that Emily followed her passion in standing for the legislative council. This is important because we need to have strong women in leadership roles around the country for young girls to aspire to be. On the weekend just gone, I was out doorknocking with my very good friend Senator Marielle Smith. With us was 14-year-old Vanessa who is a fantastic student at St Columba College and an aspiring politician who came out doorknocking with us for the very first time.”
“Now, the seat of Spence is aptly named after Catherine Helen Spence, a leading suffragist from the 1800s who was the first female candidate to stand for the Federal Convention held in Adelaide; unfortunately, she was unsuccessful in that election. The reason why I raise this is that it was because of people like Catherine Helen Spence doing that hard work to pave the way for women to even contemplate the idea of entering politics that we have ended up with fantastic representatives like Dr Rosemary Crowley, who subsequently encouraged a new generation of female politicians to chase their dreams. There are many that I am very lucky to call colleagues in this place who we probably have Dr Crowley to thank for.”
“She called out gender discrimination, not just in politics but in the media as well as sport, and, as a direct result of the perseverance of her and other trailblazing women, our country knows better. Australia is a better place because of it. She also made a huge mark on the Labor Party and, by extension, the policies Australia wholeheartedly embraces today. As a doctor, Rosemary Crowley knew the importance of accessible health care, and, through her activism and unwavering commitment to that objective, both in this building and across her life, she helped shape the universal healthcare system we cherish today.”
“I'm just as honoured to do the same back home, alongside my state colleagues Minister Zoe Bettison MP and Rhiannon Pearce MP, who represent my constituents in Adelaide in their respective seats of Ramsay and King. That progress can be traced straight back to the trail blazed by Dr Crowley. The significance of her life and work cannot be understated. And it was not without challenges. I think Senator Penny Wong put it best—that, when doors were put up in front of her just because of who she was, she continued to beat them down, over and over again. It's not good enough that Dr Crowley was confronted with barriers based on gender, regardless of when she entered this place. But she pushed on to do what was right.”
“I'd like to echo the Prime Minister's and opposition leader's fine words yesterday to offer my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the Hon. Dr Rosemary Crowley AO, a former senator and minister from the great state of South Australia—an incredible contributor to our country, both in those roles and beyond, and an absolute champion for women in SA and across the country. Dr Crowley's impact in this regard cannot be understated. As the first Labor woman from South Australia to enter federal parliament, her achievements, passion and sheer determination to make a difference are felt to this day. In fact you can see it right across this building, through Australia's first female-majority government. I'm privileged to be able to work with and learn from the incredible women I share these corridors with every time I step foot in Canberra.”
“I encourage you to, please, pick up the phone, come into my office and sit down, and we'll do everything we can to get you on the right track. I commend this bill to the House.”
“This is a bill which, through appropriately holding telcos to account, gives certainty to the consumer that a provider or retailer will act in their interest. It's people-centric policy, something that has become a trademark of the legislation passed in this place over the last three years, and long may it continue. Before I close, I want to say to every single constituent in my electorate of Spence and beyond, for that matter, that, if you are having difficulties with your telecommunication provider, if you've got issues with reception or if you are struggling with paying your bills and you don't know who to reach out to, a great first place to reach out to is your local federal member. We are here to help you.”
“I'm sure many of us in this place can attest to one of the people we represent coming into our offices and rightfully raising concerns about how difficult it can be to navigate the internal process of a telco. Especially for older or more vulnerable consumers, this can be an absolute maze of terms, conditions and phone calls. Again, just going back to the dependence Aussies have on these companies, that conversation is urgent. It's an experience that leaves an Australian wondering what their next phone bill is going to look like or if they're going to be able to use their phone tomorrow. That anxiety thousands of Australians in my community can relate to, especially when faced with a higher cost of living. That is what this legislation looks to address.”