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.”
The complete record
Every one of 653 lines we hold for Matt Burnell, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 9 of 14.
“A stand-out example of this partnership is the Barossa Regional University Campus, a vital local facility enabling Barossa students to undertake tertiary studies close to home. It's a place where ambition meets opportunity and where young people, parents returning to study and career changers alike can access the support, technology and community they need to succeed. By bringing university learning into the heart of the Barossa, the Nuriootpa study hub is breaking down barriers to higher education, keeping talent in the region and building the skilled workforce our industries need. In an era of rapid economic change, this commitment to lifelong learning, reskilling and upskilling is more important than ever. But challenges remain.”
“They understand that economic development begins at the grassroots. It begins with local knowledge, local networks and local ambition. Their work builds confidence, and with confidence come investment, jobs and a stronger future for the community they serve. Infrastructure is a central part of that story, including roads that connect workers to opportunity, digital networks that open doors to global markets and community facilities that strengthen the fabric of local life. These investments do more than improve access; they create fairness and ensure every family in every town has the same chance to thrive. Another cornerstone of RDA's work is skills and workforce development. They partner with local employers, schools and training providers to equip people with the skills they need for the jobs of the future.”
“It reminded me that regional development is not just a concept written in reports or captured in statistics; it's lived, it's local and it's led by people with vision and passion for their home. While on the tour, I met with small-business owners taking their products to national and international markets, and I saw a university campus connecting students in these regions to organisations offering the highest levels of education in the country. What unites these stories is the guiding hand of RDA, connecting businesses and people to support, to funding and to opportunity. Whether it's a family owned cafe expanding its workforce, a local manufacturer diversifying into exports or a tourism venture welcoming new visitors, RDA is there, helping each one navigate the path to success.”
“This evening I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of Regional Development Australia Barossa Gawler Light Adelaide Plains, an organisation that continues to drive economic growth, community collaboration and opportunity across our region. Just last week I had the privilege of joining RDABGLAP on a regional tour, a journey through our own towns and communities that showcased the projects, partnerships and people shaping the shared future of the region. To the CEO, Jennifer Lynch: thank you so much for your warm welcome, along with Rolf Binder. At every stop, I saw firsthand the progress being made—small businesses developing, infrastructure being upgraded and communities working together with confidence and pride.”
“The Last Post is for veterans and first responders, their families and every Australian who believes that service should be seen, heard and honoured. If you would like to donate to this cause, please visit the Australian Cultural Fund and search for 'The Last Post'. Every dollar counts when telling an important message like this. To follow them on their journey, you can find them on Instagram at the_last_post. Lastly, to Locky, Michael and Jack and their support crew: best of luck, stay safe, and I'll see you all for stepping-off day at 0700 hours on 18 October at the Freeling Coffee Co.”
“The Last Post are a local South Australian based team of veterans dedicated to capturing the untold stories of those who have served. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with Steven Lockwood to discuss their journey of remembrance and reconnection. Starting this month, three veterans, Michael Djoric, Jack Rainy and Locky, will set out on a 15,000-kilometre journey around Australia on humble Honda CT110—albeit modified—postie bikes. Along the way, they'll meet with veterans and their families to listen, learn and share their experiences of resilience and life beyond the uniform. These are the stories that deserve to be heard—stories that reveal the strength and the heart that carry our servicepeople through the hardest of times.”
“When I met with the team from Lives Lived Well down there two weeks ago, the information was clear: this is working, this is helping veterans and it is making a huge difference for their families.”
“It will also introduce standalone legislation to ensure its independence and enhance oversight of implementation. I want to talk about defence and veteran mental health wellbeing briefly in the limited time I have left. This is such a big subject matter that it's hard to fit it into 10 minutes. When I think about veteran mental health and wellbeing, I think about my family and veteran wellbeing hub that we've just recently opened in my electorate of Spence at the Playford health precinct. It has been an absolute game changer for my community. We have RAAF Base Edinburgh, which sits right at the heart of my electorate. It has brought out ex-service organisations together. It has given us the ability to provide critical services to veterans and their families when they need them most. It really is making a huge difference.”
“We established in December the Royal Commission Implementation Taskforce within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to oversee the development of comprehensive and considered advice on implementing the response to the royal commission. At the beginning of August this year, nine recommendations were fully implemented, and there are a further 110 under way. We are making headway—we're getting there—but we've got a lot more work to do. The new Defence and Veterans' Services Commission will be up and running by the end of September, a significant step in the right direction. We are recruiting the inaugural Defence and Veterans' Services Commissioner. This appointment will drive systemic change, and champion the wellbeing of serving and ex-serving ADF members across government and the ex-service community.”
“They haven't been able to get a decision to be able to move forward and get the treatment that they desperately need, or they have had to go into significant financial hardship to get treatment just so they can stay on their own two feet and carve out a living. The simplification of these rehabilitation acts is massive—it will make a huge difference for so many veterans moving into the future. I can't wait for next year when this new act goes live. It's going to make life so much better for our veterans—and so it should. When the final report was handed down last year—seven volumes, 122 recommendations, a lot of work—we agreed in principle or agreed to 104 of the recommendations, noting 17 for further work.”
“One of those findings was the backlog of claims—approximately 41,000 when we came to government in 2022. To hear today that we have cleared that backlog completely and are reviewing claims within 14 days sends a really clear signal to our veterans that they are valued and we are providing all the right levels of support to make sure that their claims matter and are of the highest priority for this government. The Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act will also go to assisting this process. It helps simplify what has been an extremely complicated rehabilitation compensation scheme for veterans. When we go out to our RSLs across our electorates, the first thing we hear is about a veteran who has gone through delay after delay after delay to get the help that they need.”
“She has turned up time and time again in this place to make sure that this royal commission delivered outcomes to prevent suicide and a lack of support from being the norm for our ex-service personnel. I want to say to Julie-Ann Finney: thank you for everything you've done, thank you for being here today and thank you for everything that you will do in the future, because I know that you are not going to stop. You are making a huge difference and it does need to be acknowledged in this chamber. I have the very great pleasure of being in a chamber with quite a number of ex-serving personnel on both sides of the chamber and on the crossbench. I think it does help when we have these types of discussions to have that type of experience from all sectors of the chamber to ensure that accountability and delivery of the findings happen.”
“It's when you discharge—when you least expect it—that things start to come down on top of you. And that's when we see things spiral out of control, often because it's never been a realisation that we need support. So I'm extremely encouraged by the fact that we are going to start talking about the process to civilian life following your time in uniform, as a key focus of the findings from the royal commission. I do want to take special note of a very special person, who was sitting in the chamber, in the House of Representatives, earlier this morning whilst the minister gave his address—and that is Julie-Ann Finney, who is a remarkable South Australian, with a remarkable son, David. She really has been a shining light in ensuring that this royal commission got off the ground, and she has seen it through.”
“But the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide did uncover a lot of alarming facts. I am one of those people who have had good mates that I served with commit suicide on discharge or not long after. I have watched some of my mates really struggle with PTSD after their service overseas. And, unfortunately, they had been left waiting when they most needed support. That's why I'm so buoyed by the support that's now being put in place ensuring that we talk about veteran wellbeing from the day you enlist. When I enlisted, your discharge was never talked about; it was far off in the distance. It was a never-never. 'It's not going to happen to me.' I discharged after three years of service. I had friends who discharged after one year of service under medical reasons.”
“My mates, who I'd been through primary school and high school with, were all sitting down, and we made a decision to enlist together. In January and February of 1997—maybe not so smart—we headed off to Puckapunyal and completed our basic training as enlistees to the Australia Army Reserves. And it started a learning process for me that helped shape me into the person that I am today, something that I'm extremely grateful for. The reason why I want to start there, and start with that explanation, is, as rightfully the member for Riverina said earlier, not all veterans are broken. We must see through the scars and see the skills that our veterans have. There are some fine contributions that have been made by veterans, not just in this chamber but across our great country, post service.”
“It gives me great pleasure to stand and speak today not just as a veteran but also as one of the co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Veterans. I want to go back to a moment in time I shared with the Deputy Prime Minister just recently at the Mark Oliphant College. I got asked a question by some students about what shaped me and my journey to politics. I sat there and thought about the question that had been posed to me. After much reflection since I've been elected to this place, I realised my time wearing our nation's uniform really formed the basis for everything I've done following enlistment. For, me my enlistment happened in December 1996. It was an extremely joyous period in my life. I'd just finished high school.”
“It was clear you approached each opportunity with curiosity, respect and a willingness to learn. I look forward to our future catch-ups and seeing how you are going with your schooling and your journey towards greatness. I hope you had a great time with us, and, with a little luck, you may consider joining Young Labor as part of your future journey towards politics. All the best and thank you.”
“Our young people are crying out for help, and it should be the top priority of the government to support them… Emma, thank you for your thoughtful words and speaking on behalf of yourself and your peers. I hope the time working alongside us in my office gave you an understanding of the work of a member of parliament, like myself, in their electorate and an insight into the work you may want to do after school. Your contribution during your time with me has been invaluable—from helping with social media and speechwriting, like most of this one, and other tasks that keep the office moving to the bigger moments of engaging with the community, like welcoming many of my colleagues, such as the Speaker of the House and the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, to Spence.”
“Not all students learn the same way, and because of this, we need to help our teachers to be better equipped to educate students that receive information differently. I would like to add that phones or devices made for music should be allowed, under the right circumstances, in schools. For some young people it helps them focus and learn. Without these, students can find it hard to fully engage in the classroom and can fall behind in their learning. Furthermore, we need to maintain free mental health services for young people. Statistics show that 402 young people aged 15-24 die each year because of suicide. A number that we need to lower, and which these free services aim to do. Nearly 2 in 5 five young Australian experience a mental health disorder and 20% of teens experience depression before reaching adulthood.”
“Recently I had the pleasure of welcoming a young trailblazer into my office. Emma Britten-Jones—a year 10 student from Edmund Rice Flexi School, in Elizabeth. Emma joined my electoral office for a week and a half of work experience, and, if I'm right, they'll be listening right now to this speech. During her time with us I asked her to write a speech for me to present to parliament about something she considers important, and these are her thoughts on the importance of education and mental health for young people in the electorate of Spence: I would like to begin by saying that the future of Education faces uphill challenges. The way students learn is not the same as it was 10 years ago.”
“For example, if a telco were found to have done the wrong thing and gained $15 million from its conduct, this legislation allows for penalties to go higher in order to account for that profit—as it should. In the same way consumers are deterred from doing the wrong thing every day, via the law, telcos need adequate punishments should they do the wrong thing, in order to stop consumers from being taken for a ride. Schedule 4 complements the previous one by expanding the minister's power to increase any infringement notice penalty ACMA can issue for breaches of telecommunications rules. Debate interrupted.”
“Telcos are powerful and, if that power is being misused, to protect consumers, it must stop the moment it is detected. That's exactly what this bill does. For schedule 3, although this may seem like an obvious thing to say, telcos are highly profitable organisations. We want to ensure that penalties for breaching industry codes and standards are proportionate to a telco's size and resources, which will provide a strong and effective deterrent. That's exactly what this bill does. It increases the maximum general civil penalty for such breaches from $250,000 to $9.9 million. These amendments will also modernise the penalty framework for industry codes, standards and service provider determinations, allowing penalties to be based on the benefit gained from the conduct or the provider's turnover and enabling fines well above $9.99 million.”
“With regard to schedule 2, at the moment, ACMA cannot take direct enforcement action for breaches of industry codes registered under part 6 of the Telecommunications Act 1997. No matter how serious the breach, compliance with these codes was initially voluntary. If a provider is found in breach, ACMA can issue a direction to comply or a formal warning but can only take stronger enforcement action if the provider continues to ignore that direction. This bill changes part 6 of the Telecommunications Act, making compliance with industry codes mandatory from the outset and removing the need for ACMA to first direct a provider to comply before taking enforcement action. Before this bill, it was as if telcos could do the wrong thing once and not get penalised if it occurred again. This bill fixes that.”
“At present, there is no full list of CSPs operating in Australia, making it harder for ACMA to proactively educate providers about their obligations or to target compliance and enforcement actively or effectively. Introducing a CSP registration scheme will give the government a clearer picture of the market, allowing ACMA to educate providers, streamline compliance and strengthen overall accountability. Amendments to the Telecommunications Act 1997 will also empower ACMA to remove CSPs from the market if they pose an unacceptable risk or cause significant consumer harm, creating a strong deterrent against noncompliance and increasing trust in registered providers, including smaller or new CSPs. These powers will be a measure of last resort, with review processes and protections to maintain connectivity for consumers.”
“This standard also removes requirements for victims to tell their stories multiple times, removing the need to relive traumatic and stressful events. I return to cost-of-living measures. It requires telcos to recognise domestic and family violence as a possible cause of payment difficulties and financial hardship and to understand the serious impact disconnection can have on someone vulnerable. Consumers are being looked out for under an Albanese Labor government. Schedule 1 establishes a carriage service provider, or CSP, registration scheme. It is defined broadly under the Telecommunications Act 1997, but, simply put, it is an entity that uses carrier facilities to provide phone or internet services to the public.”
“As well as ensuring Aussies are getting the fair go they deserve, this is another way the Labor government is taking pressure off families. It's particularly true in the north. The reality is that thousands of families in Spence have had that difficult conversation with a telco provider that they rely on, seeking an alternative way to pay their bills or trying to find a cheaper service. Labor is making policy with those conversations directly at mind. From 1 July 2025, the Albanese government introduced the domestic, family and sexual violence industry standard, ensuring that those seeking support via phone or online can do so safely, securely and reliably. Measures as part of this include minimum requirement for telco policies and staff training, prohibiting alleged perpetrators being connected to victims and tighter privacy rules.”
“The Labor government has already taken substantial steps to strengthen our communications sector and, importantly, to safeguard consumers. This is particularly evident in ACMA's financial hardship industry standard, introduced in March 2024 following direction from the Minister for Communications. This standard makes it mandatory for telcos to better support customers facing hardships to pay their phone and internet bills. This means telcos now have to prioritise keeping customers connected, as they always should, when their customers are struggling financially. It mandates that telcos provide targeted support to customers experiencing hardship, including payment plans, to ensure they remain connected. This is a standard that gives ACMA robust enforcement powers to ensure compliance.”
“The Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025 achieves this in two ways. Firstly, it equips the government with greater authority via the Australian Communications and Media Authority to take swift action against telcos that breach their existing obligations. Secondly, it strengthens the penalty framework, ensuring appropriate consequences when a telco missteps while also encouraging companies to prevent such conduct from occurring in the first place. This bill is both reactive, providing a strong and meaningful mechanism to hold telcos accountable, and preventive, making sure providers understand their obligations, how to comply and the repercussions of failing to do so. This is exactly what a robust telecommunications sector requires in a modern Australia, and I'm proud to play a part in advancing this bill.”
“But with that level of influence on daily life, telcos must be held accountable by the Australians they serve. We've regrettably seen instances where the ACCC has alleged that carriers have acted improperly, where Australians who rely on a telco's services have instead been let down—for example, in being charged for services they didn't request, often without realising they were purchasing extra products. Worse still, in some instances, Australians targeted were said to have been financially vulnerable or living with mental disabilities. Consumers are being exploited by the service they depend on. This cannot be allowed to happen. That's exactly what the Albanese government is trying to address with this bill, because we are working to ensure that it does not happen again.”
“So all that technology—the backbone of the Australian public at home, at work and even checking the footy scores and the engine that powers the Australian economy, supports our sovereign capacity and safeguards our nation's security—is reliant on the telecommunications sector to operate it. An Australian at work, making calls, sending emails—whatever it is—is now totally reliant on carriers like Telstra and Optus to complete their work. Beyond work, Australians, in their personal lives, are equally reliant on telcos to stay in touch with others, to send and pay their bills and to access essential services. So it's evident that Australia's telcos play a vital role in everyday life, shaping and supporting the Australian way of living.”
“As a society, Australia, like all nations across the globe, carries that same reliance. Entire countries can be brought to a standstill without their technological systems and assets. When the internet slows or drops out altogether, it can cripple businesses, and it disconnects Australians from vital services and can block them from reaching loved ones, as we experienced in the nationwide Optus outage of November 2023. That single outage was estimated to have cost customers and the broader nation around $2 billion or more in lost economic activity. On an individual level, that one outage meant that 228 calls to triple 0 couldn't be connected. That means 228 emergencies could not be attended to—228 people in need, stranded. That outage lasted just 12 hours, and it affected just the one national network.”
“For some time now, the world has been fundamentally underpinned by technology. For better or worse, an Australian now treats a mobile phone as an extension of themselves which now replaces even wallets, watches and televisions. The world our maths teacher told us about, where we'd never be able to have a calculator in our pocket, is simply not the reality.The average Australian today will, according to one estimate, spend close to 17 years of their life looking at a screen. That accounts for work, play, education, socialising—absolutely everything that a human does. That reliance reaches beyond how we engage with the world around us. It seeps into our actions and our emotions, leaving many of us to feel as though life itself is impossible without that technology.”
“Got us in first as sons hand was getting worse. Cannot recommend this clinic enough! Fast, reliable and easy! Thank you Paul! This is what good Labor policy is all about—delivering accessible care via Medicare. We make your health our priority. We are proud of our Medicare urgent care clinics across Australia, and we will continue to support these to make sure that, when you need it the most, you can access the care and support you and your family need.”
“Today I want to take the opportunity to share the real world, tangible impacts of Labor funded Medicare urgent care clinics in my community of the northern suburbs of Adelaide. Felicity Robertson writes: 'Despite the staff being under significant pressure with many waiting patients, they were kind, compassionate, patient and thorough—all the more important, as my daughter has a disability and can easily feel overwhelmed in a medical environment. This clinic is an invaluable community resource, and I'm very grateful for the care we've received.' Quite frankly, I couldn't have put it better myself. Jessica Goodwin also writes: Nurse Paul was absolutely incredible! Making a worried parent feel much better. He was confident, calm & reassuring. Continued to check up on our 2 yr old who came in with a swollen hand as a result of a bite.”
“In South Australia, that's more than 111,000 appointments that have been made possible thanks to the delivery of the urgent care clinics. Imagine a heaving MCG crowd on grand final day. That's how many people have received urgent care in South Australia alone. These clinics are open seven days and fully bulk-billed—no appointment needed—making priority care easily accessible for everyone. We are also making medicines cheaper, cutting the PBS co-payment to $25 from 1 January 2026—the lowest in more than 20 years. This builds on the biggest cuts to PBS costs in history, 60-day prescriptions and freezing PBS prices until 2030—because only Labor will deliver cheaper medicines and a stronger Medicare for— (Time expired)”
“Today I rise to talk about the Albanese Labor government's work to strengthen Medicare and deliver cheaper medicines for Australians. Medicare is at the heart of our health system, and Labor is making the largest investment in Medicare since its creation more than 40 years ago. We are investing $8.5 billion to deliver nearly 20 million extra bulk-billed GP visits each year, funding hundreds of nursing scholarships and training thousands more doctors. By 2030, nine in 10 GP visits will be bulk-billed, saving patients and families $859 million a year and tripling the number of fully bulk-billed practices across the country. Labor has also delivered 90 Medicare urgent care clinics, with more than 1.8 million Australians already having been treated.”
“I want to conclude by commending my good mate the Member for Hunter, who serves as the Special Envoy for Men's Health. His leadership is driving real improvements in how men's health is understood and supported, delivering both immediate outcomes and long-term benefits. The work he is doing is helping to create a healthier Australia today and a stronger future for generations of men to come. In closing, there's nothing tough about being silent and not seeking help. If you really want to be courageous, you've got to go and see your GP and get that little niggle checked out. You never know; it just might save your life.”
“These initiatives remind us that cancer care and men's health are connected, but these conversations must go beyond the clinic. They need to be had at home, on the job site or at the footy field. Talking about health saves lives. Acting early on symptoms, taking up screening and reaching out for support—these choices give men the best chance to live long and well. Every Australian man deserves that chance, whether he lives in the city or in the regions, whether he comes from a First Nations community, whether he carries a family history of risk. This government must stand with them, and we are taking steps in the right direction to help our communities. Together we can change the future of prostate cancer and men's health in Australia.”
“We are delivering $20.7 million for grassroots initiatives that strengthen resilience and encourage men to seek support early. That includes $8.3 million to continue the men's sheds initiative, with grants of up to $10,000 for sheds around the country and new health promotion programs; $7.4 million to expand the Movember Ahead of the Game program in partnership with the AFL, helping young men build resilience and understand the importance of asking for help; $3 million to Healthy Male, delivering the Plus Paternal initiative to support men preparing for fatherhood and building good parenting skills; and $2 million to the Black Dog Institute, supporting research at the Dani Foley Centre for Health and Wellbeing, linked to St Kilda Football Club's annul Spud's Game at the MCG, which raises awareness of men's health, mental health and suicide prevention.”
“They are supported by organisations such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and by countless community support groups who offer safe spaces and peer support. These networks remind us that strength is found not only in medicine but also in community, yet we must acknowledge the inequities that persist. Men in rural and regional Australia face longer wait times, higher costs and greater distances to care. First Nations men often face additional barriers, including the lack of culturally safe health services. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at greater risk and need earlier, more proactive screening. These inequities demand action, and Labor is acting. Beyond cancer treatment the Albanese government is also investing in men's health and wellbeing at the community level.”
“This program is helping patients navigate everything between diagnosis and recovery, ensuring that no-one is left alone in the complexity of a cancer journey. At the election, Labor also announced a $32 million package to strengthen Medicare and support men's health, recognising that prostate cancer is part of a wider challenge to how men engage with their health. Research conducted by the Movember Institute of Men's Health shows that, because of gender stereotypes, two in every three men avoid seeking health support. Almost half of men believe it is normal to avoid health checkups altogether. This culture costs lives. Talking about men's health, breaking down stigma and encouraging action are vital if we are to change outcomes. I also recognise all healthcare professionals, whose work saves lives and supports families every day.”
“I rise today to mark September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the impact of the most common cancer facing Australian men. Prostate cancer's reach is profound, affecting not only the men diagnosed but their partners, families and communities, who carry that burden alongside them. Behind every statistic is a real story of a father, a brother, a mate. Their journeys remind us why early detection, timely treatment and continued support matter so deeply. The Albanese government is committed to taking action, because we know that early detection and better treatment saves lives. That's why we have made the biggest investment in cancer nurses on record. In 2023, the government delivered $166 million for the Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program, the first of its kind.”
“To Lieutenant Colonel Dan Ellis, commanding officer of 3RAR, 'Old Faithful', it was a privilege to embed with your team for three days as part of the ADF Parliamentary Program. The professionalism on display during our stay was first rate by all under your command—thank you. Talisman Sabre is more than a defence exercise; it's a display of trust, teamwork and the enduring value of peace secured through unified preparation.”
“As Vice Admiral Justin Jones noted, Talisman Sabre demonstrates our enduring alliance with the United States through deepening cooperation in training and force integration, and it is that level of integration across defence, diplomacy and community that will define our success. Importantly, defence is working closely with local governments, traditional owners, emergency services and communities because we understand that a strong defence must also be a respectful one. I was also fortunate enough to be able to attend the live-fire demonstration at Shoalwater Bay, witnessing live fire of our new HIMARS platform among other demonstrations. To Brigadier Ben McLennan, commanding officer of 3rd Brigade: thank you for your warm hospitality during week 1 of the exercise.”
“Now it's a global partnership, with participation from other friends in Japan, India, Indonesia, France, Germany, the UK, Canada, South Korea, Fiji, Tonga, Singapore, New Zealand and the Philippines, working side-by-side across all theatres: land, air, sea, cyber and space. These aren't just war games; it's a live, real-world rehearsal of how we operate as a coordinated force. Amphibious landings, ground manoeuvres, air combat operations and live fire drills are part of this year's multidomain exercise. The scale of this operation is unprecedented. Forces began arriving in mid-July, moving across Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Christmas Island and now our nearest Pacific neighbour. The logistics involved are among the most complex in our history.”
“I rise to speak about Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the 11th and largest iteration of Australia's premiere military training operation. It serves as a demonstration of our deepening alliances, expanding capability and nationwide defence preparedness. From July 13 to 4 August 2025 Australia was host to more than 30,000 personnel from 19 nations, with Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam attending as observers. For the first time, the exercise was also held with our neighbours Papua New Guinea, honouring their 50th anniversary of independence and our shared commitment to regional security. Talisman Sabre started as a bilateral exercise between Australia and the United States.”
“But the club has grown far beyond its humble facilities, fielding more teams across all ages and genders without the modern infrastructure needed to keep pace. That's why the town of Gawler has developed a comprehensive master plan for the precinct in close consultation with the Donnybrooks and local residents. The goal is clear: facilities that reflect the modern game, encourage participation and honour the club's legacy. I'll continue working with council to help bring that vision to life, because Donnybrooks have earned it and this community deserves it. In closing, congratulations to the under-16 girls and the senior women on both securing a 2025 flag.”
“I want to tell the House about a proud sporting club based in my electorate of Spence, one that I was proud to recently join for their much-anticipated sponsors' day: the Willaston Sporting Club, better known as the Donnybrooks. More than just a football club, they're a vital part of the community's identity, bringing together generations of players, families, volunteers and sponsors since 1889. They play on grounds rich in history—once a World War II RAAF base, later a migrant hostel and now Elliot Goodger Memorial Park, named after a local mayor who served his community with distinction. Like most sporting clubs across the community, at Willaston they are bound by a shared love of footy, netball, cricket and the unmistakable smell of Deep Heat from the sheds.”
“Additionally, Labor is delivering 100,000 new homes across the country, reserved exclusively for first home buyers because we want to level the playing field. We are continuing the largest housing build in Australia's history because more houses means more affordable homes in suburbs like Munno Para, Andrews Farm, Eyre, Riverlea, Angle Vale, Virginia and Concordia—to name a few. Real progress is being made, and Labor is getting on with the job of delivering for you.”
“Too many Australians are working hard saving every dollar they can but still feel like the dream of owning a home is slipping away. In Adelaide's north, we know this story all too well. Families tighten their belts but are still locked out of the housing market. That is why Labor is determined to change this. From 1 October first home buyers across Australia will be able to purchase a home with just a five per cent deposit. For those in the north, where the average house price is around $650,000, it means needing only $32½ thousand to put down a deposit on a home. Because the government will guarantee part of these mortgages, people won't be forced to pay additional fees like lenders mortgage insurance.”