Zaneta Mascarenhas
Swan · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The additional thing that I think is useful for us to think about—and I'll put my engineering hat on—is that in the mining industry one of the things that we do intentionally is something called preventive maintenance.”
“For my cousin, who had emergency heart surgery—basically, when they got to the moment of, 'You have a leaky heart valve; we need to perform emergency surgery on you'—the question was: 'How much will this cost? And can you afford it?' So I'm incredibly grateful for the Australian Medicare system.”
“The committee concluded its examination of all legislative instruments within the disallowance timeframe. While the committee observed an improvement of the timeliness of ministerial responses to requests for information, the fast paced parliamentary legislative program prevented the committee from providing timely scrutiny on some occasi…”
“This bill sets out clear guidelines to maintain the quality of these programs, and it makes sure they are run properly, with the same safeguards that protect other dollars spent across Medicare.”
“I remember another one of my friends, who was a lawyer from Melbourne travelling in the US, and he talked about going out hiking. He basically got this massive, deep wound in his leg and he's like, 'I'm not going to see a doctor because it's going to cost me a lot,' so he continued to make sure that he kept it sterile.”
“That looks like more people seeing a doctor instead of putting it off. The lingering cough that you keep meaning to get checked out, the blemish on your arm that doesn't look quite right or the stubbed toe that turns out to be properly broken—that is what these incentive programs are really for.”
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“I move: That this House: (1) commends the Government for its ongoing commitment to improving road safety for vulnerable road users and fostering more connected, liveable communities through continued investment in active transport infrastructure; (2) notes that the 2026-27 budget delivers an additional $500 million for the Active Transport Fund, bringing the total investment in active transport infrastructure to $600 million, with $50 million to be made available each year for the next ten years to support the construction of new and upgraded walking and cycling infrastructure across Australia; (3) acknowledges the success of the first round of the Active Transport Fund, which delivered $100 million for safer, connected and accessible transport infrastructure projects, including walking and cycling pathways in communities across the country; (4) recognises that the first round of the fund supported 81 projects across all states and territories, helping local councils and state and territory governments improve active transport connections to schools, workplaces, services and recreational areas; (5) further notes that projects funded through the Active Transport Fund improve road safety outcomes for vulnerable road users by separating cyclists and pedestrians from traffic and encouraging greater uptake of active transport; and (6) highlights that the Active Transport Fund supports the Government's broader objectives of reducing transport emissions, improving public health outcomes, easing congestion and creating safer, more connected and sustainable urban and regional communities.”
“We have these in Mirrabooka, Northam, Armadale, Gosnells and Midland, and soon we will have one in Belmont as well. The Albanese Labor government has done this because we want to lower the barriers to make it easier for people to access mental health support. People don't require a mental health treatment plan or a referral, which makes it easier to actually go in and speak to a professional. Hearing from people like Laura is a reminder that what we do is really important and makes a strong impact in this community.”
“I love doorknocking in Swan. Last week, we were doorknocking in Cannington, and the team met a fabulous woman called Laura, who is a phenomenal mental health advocate. Laura works for Consumers of Mental Health WA, the state's peak body run entirely by people with lived experience of mental illness. She also helps run the Listening Lounge, a free peer support group where people can turn up exactly as they are and be met by people who have lived experience. Laura told us that this kind of peer support had made a real difference to her own life, and it's why she now dedicates some of her time to helping others access this kind of support. She told us that the same sense of welcome is what her colleagues described about the new Medicare mental health centres open all across Western Australia.”
“Earlier today in the Federation Chamber, I was listening to the member for Macarthur talking about when he first opened his practice, which was the same day that we introduced the Medicare system that we have today. He saw the way that Medicare transformed health outcomes for Australians. Labor built Medicare, and, of course, we will protect it. One of the great things about this job is having the opportunity to listen and act. I remember speaking to a man who was distraught about the bulk-billing rates in his community. In Swan, there were 11 Medicare bulk-billing clinics. We now have 22. We saw bulk-billing rates of 67 per cent. It is now 75 per cent.”
“Sliding doors—these are moments in your life when you realise that your life could have changed quite significantly. My mum and dad grew up in Kenya, and my dad had six brothers and sisters. All of his brothers and sisters migrated to the USA. We were the only ones who migrated to Australia. When I think of my cousins in the US and I think of my life here in Australia, I realise that I am so grateful for all the opportunities and all the things that happen in Australia and some of the things that make Australia a truly extraordinary country—minimum wage, superannuation, paid parental leave and, of course, Medicare. Who was it that introduced those policies? It was the great Australian Labor Party.”
“The Albanese government is acting on this. Under the Key Apprenticeship Program, apprentices in critical housing and construction and clean energy occupations can receive up to $10,000 over the life of their apprenticeship. Jobs and Skills Australia has projected that we'll need another 32,000 electricians by 2030, and another 130,000 more construction workers. Fee-free TAFE is a part of that pipeline. It's a practical way that the Albanese government is making a positive difference.”
“After Tessa finishes her apprenticeship this year, she hopes to study electrical engineering in her future, because she sees a gap in the industry where engineers design electrical systems that don't always work in the field but work in theory. As an engineer, I totally recognise that sometimes engineers do get it wrong, but the best engineers are those that have actually done a trade. I also want young women and First Nations people watching someone like Tessa and knowing that the pathway is real and that it is open to them. That's why the support structures around apprenticeships matter so much. Frank has been clear that the system still has barriers, particularly for Aboriginal apprentices trying to finish. He advocates constantly for fixing the structural barriers to ensure that we can have retention, because he has lived them.”
“What was amazing was seeing this phenomenal wall of amazing Aboriginal artists from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. It was incredible. I also let Frank know that, having checked out Wesfarmers' artwork, I think it was actually better. What I also got to do was meet one of the apprentices, Tessa Walley. Tessa is a proud Whadjuk Noongar woman, and she is completing her electrical apprenticeship through Wilco Electrical. Tessa told us that she didn't know much about electrical work before she started. But her dad used to drive her around the neighbourhood fixing phone lines and doing low-voltage work, and she thought 'YOLO'. For those that need a translation, it means 'you only live once'.”
“Across his businesses, Frank and his partners have created more than 70 Aboriginal upskilling positions in the electrical and construction industry, including 30 electrical apprenticeships that have awarded more than $11 million to Aboriginal subcontractors. I visited Kardan with the Minister for Skills and Training, and we were met with some of the amazing team members from Frank's team. I have to say that, when you think of, let's say, electrical construction offices, you don't imagine the offices that I got to walk into. There are these beautiful plants as you go up the steps. You walk into reception; there's beautiful artwork all across the walls. Then you get to go downstairs and go into this place that, in my husband's work, would be called a dungeon. That's what they call it there. But, here, I would describe it as a paradise.”
“Today, across four companies, including Baldja and Bilyaa, he employs more than 200 full-time employees. Frank is a proud Aboriginal man. As a young single dad who was unsure about his future, his vocation and what he'd do for work, his uncle offered him a mature-age apprenticeship. He has spoken about that moment and how he felt that it was amazing that someone believed in him so much to give him this 'sweet as' opportunity. When he became a business owner in 2015, he made a pledge. He would create the same 'sweet as' opportunities for his community, and he certainly has kept that pledge.”
“Burswood Road in Burswood—an unassuming road, it's a road that I've travelled on many times as a little girl that grew up in the Goldfields, because we'd always stop at Burswood Seafood. But I went there recently, thinking that I knew everything there was to know about Burswood Road because my husband used to also work on that road. I entered through this unassuming door, and I got to meet this incredible man called Frank Mitchell—curly hair, big smile, really good energy. I was entering his business. Frank Mitchell is Local Hero of the Year, and I got to enter into his business called Kardan Construction. This was alongside the Minister for Skills and Training. I got to meet an incredible number of Aboriginal electrical apprentices. Frank took over Kardan 10 years ago with eight staff and a $1.5 million turnover.”
“So I want you to know that we're doing this because we believe in a better Australia where people can actually own their own home. But also we want to back Australian workers. If you are contributing to our economy, then we want to back you when it comes to tax cuts. Why should taxpayers be subsidising property investors? We've seen demonstrated tax distortions in the market that have simply been not fair. We are doing this for the next generation, and I'm very proud to be a part of the great Australian Labor Party.”
“I am so thrilled, because the great Australian Labor Party is the party of tax cuts, and we are also the party of homeownership. I'm very conscious that we have some amazing students that are here watching the parliament live, and I want these students to know that what we are doing as the federal Australian Labor Party is trying to make the future better for your generation. That is what we are doing, and I'm thrilled that you're seeing democracy happening in real time. Today we wanted to make homeownership fairer for your generation because, back in 1999 when the capital gains tax was changed, we basically saw the property investment market on steroids. It made it harder for people starting their first job to actually own a home of their own.”
“We need to make sure that that never happens again, and I want to make sure that Australia is a place where everyone can reach their full potential. I'm proud to be a part of the most multicultural federal government in Australia's history. That's not just backbenchers; that's also around the cabinet table as well. We represent modern Australia.”
“At the time when my mum and dad migrated to Australia, they were very focused on integration, so much so that they did not continue practising the language that my sister already knew, Swahili, and I don't know any languages other than English, and sometimes I feel like I should, but modern Australia is a much different place, and what I'd say is that, for people that are bilingual or multilingual, our globalised world needs more people that can speak more languages, and I am a little bit jealous of the member for Tangney. The Albanese government is also extending its economic pathways to the refugee integration program for another 12 months as well. I'd also say that the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is incredibly important and that what we saw happen in Bondi was absolutely unacceptable.”
“What we're trying to do in the future is actually continue to strengthen the modern multicultural Australia, and a part of that is with the $500 million in funding to support multiculturalism, social cohesion and community priorities. This is something that's particularly important at this moment in Australia's history, because I would say that social cohesion is challenged right now. The Albanese government is also targeting investment through the Infrastructure for Multicultural Communities grant, making sure that Australians have access to modern, fit-for-purpose community infrastructure. We're also continuing the community languages program by investing another $25 million to support 600 community schools across Australia, helping 90,000 students learn 84 languages.”
“One of the things that we saw during the pandemic is some of the impact of laws, whether state or federal, on culturally and linguistically diverse communities. It's really important that we actually think about the way that these policies affect communities and can be implemented in a practical manner. By doing this, we are building an Australia which recognises the importance of inclusion, diversity and opportunity and empowering people to contribute to this amazing nation. We also have the national Translating and Interpreting Services that has been providing services in Australia and has helped translate more than 51,000 documents and provided over 236,000 interpreting services. We also have the Australian migrant English program, which has helped about 70,000 clients in previous financial years.”
“We established the Office of Multicultural Affairs to co-ordinate settlement services, community grants and advocacy so that the voices of these culturally and linguistically diverse communities can help shape public policy rather than simply receive it. For the first time in 11 years, there is a standalone minister for multicultural affairs at the cabinet table, not tucked into another portfolio and not an afterthought. We commissioned the Multicultural Framework Review, the first examination of this nation's multicultural policy in more than 50 years, and we committed $100 million in response to this. Also, the office has been engaging with CALD communities and peak bodies, making sure that their voices are indeed represented in public policy, research and design.”
“Australia is known as one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world, and, out of all the countries in the world, my father chose to migrate to Australia, which is something that I will always be very grateful for. My electorate of Swan is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse electorates in Western Australia. The people I represent come from many places across the globe, from the Philippines to India, from Vietnam to South Africa, from New Zealand or even the Pacific. They are nurses and teachers, small-business owners and tradies. They show up. They contribute. They help build this country. This government has made structural decisions that reflect this reality.”
“That is my community, and I am proud to represent them. I want to acknowledge that this kind of reform is not easy. With this in mind, the test of tax reform is not whether it pleases every commentator or billionaire. The test is whether the system is fairer as a whole. To that test, this bill stacks up.”
“In the electorate of Swan, 1,965 first home buyers have already bought their first home through Labor's five per cent deposit scheme. The week before last, when I was doorknocking in the electorate, I spoke to a young man who was grateful to get a 20 per cent HECS cut but also recognised that we're trying to make the housing system fairer for his generation. And then I spoke to an older gentleman called Gary, who told me that he loved the changes and wanted Labor to go further. Last week, when I was in Canberra, I spoke to Shane North, who called the office to say that these are fantastic changes. What he explained is that he had worked hard and bought his own home and he wanted the same for the next generation. It wasn't because he was a father, because he's not. He said that it was just fundamentally the right thing to do.”
“In my electorate alone, we are delivering 524 new social and affordable homes, and 487 of those are coming from the Housing Australia Future Fund, a fund that the coalition voted against—a fund they tried to stop. That fund is currently delivering homes in my community, but the supply alone is not enough. That's why this budget matters. It reforms negative gearing. It reforms capital gains tax. These reforms over time will help an additional 75,000 Australians enter the housing market over the next decade. This is a significant change, and it is a significant change of direction after a period of time in which home ownership rates have been decreasing. But this government is not just relying on these generational tax reforms to rebalance the scale. We're already helping Australians own their own home in my electorate.”
“That is the gap that this generation has been asking the government to close. It has locked too many people out of ownership. Young people in our communities go to school, university or TAFE; get their first job; work hard; and do everything right, and they still find themselves locked out of the housing market. As the Prime Minister said earlier today, the Labor Party is the party of home ownership. That's why the Albanese Labor government is coming at the housing challenge from every single possible angle. We're building more homes, we're making rent fairer and we're backing first home buyers, and now we're making the tax system fairer. Let me start with supply because, contrary to what the opposition believes, you can't fix housing without building more of it.”
“The ability to own a home should not be a privilege for some; it's a right that should belong to every Australian, and for too long that has not been the reality—not for the people that I represent in my community and not for Australians all across the country. This bill introduces tax reforms that rebalance the system. They are reforms that back the workers, the first home buyers and the generation coming up behind us. For too long, the way that we tax labour income and the way that we tax investment in residential property has been out of balance. The result over many years has been a system that has rewarded those who already own assets as opposed to those that are trying to acquire their first home. Since 1999, house prices have increased by more than 400 per cent. That growth has been twice as fast as the growth of incomes.”
“It's useful to think about our housing crisis by way of looking at people. Sometimes that might be a friend who's not wanting to move out of their school catchment area so their child doesn't have to change school; maybe it's walking up to someone that's in the process of selling stuff on Facebook Marketplace and they have a six-month-old baby, but they're packing up their house because the landlord has put up the rent; maybe, as I saw, it's a lady playing the clarinet at the park next to the zoo because that's where she lives while facing homelessness; or it could be a FIFO worker who just cannot find a rental. These are the many stories that we've heard all across Australia. What this budget is fundamentally about is fixing the system to make it fairer for more people.”
“We're doing that because it's the right thing to do, and it will put less pressure—but that's not the only thing that we're doing. We're also working on housing supply. For these reasons, I commend this bill to the House.”
“This generation that is coming up behind us should inherit a system that backs them, not one that's stacked against them. This bill makes it real. It helps the worker. It helps the first home buyer. It helps the next generation. This is also about making sure that we make tangible differences in our community. I remember speaking to the school principal at my kids' school, maybe two years ago, and she explained that there were 20 families that had had to leave the school because of how crazy the housing crisis was. I also have a friend who, when she went through a divorce, said that the most important thing that she wanted to do was to make sure that she didn't take her kids out of the school catchment area, because of how disruptive that was. What we're trying to do is to fix the system to make it fairer for first home buyers.”
“And then I also spoke with Shane North, who called the office to say that he was absolutely behind these changes. He explained that he worked hard and had bought his own house and that he doesn't have children but that he wants the system to be fairer for the next generation. These are important changes, and I am, absolutely, very proud to represent them. This bill rebalances the system that has been tilted for far too long. It says that the dream of homeownership should not depend on whether your parents already own property. This is reform whose time has come. The ability to own a home should not be a privilege for the few; it's a right that should belong to everyday Australians. A worker should keep more of what they earn. A first home buyer should have a fair shot at the keys to their own front door.”
“Through Labor's five per cent deposit scheme, 1,965 first home buyers in the electorate of Swan have already bought their own home. That's the difference between a government that occupies space and a government that actually acts. Many of the people that I talk to bring up housing as the first issue on their mind. Often, it's not for themselves. It's because of someone in their life they love, usually a child or a grandchild who simply cannot see a way through to homeownership. I hit the streets last week when I was back in my electorate, and I spoke to a young man who was grateful for the 20 per cent HECS cut. Then, he also said he was absolutely behind making housing more affordable for his generation. I spoke with an older gentleman, Garry, who told me that he loved the changes and wanted them to go further.”
“The Howard government's changes to capital gains tax in 1999, coupled with negative gearing, turned housing into the single most lucrative investment in this country, and the effect on the housing market and on generations of Australians has been catastrophic. House prices have run away from wages, and homeownership has slipped further out of reach for younger generations. This bill changes that. As I stand here today, I'm proud to say that I'm a part of a government that is challenging the status quo and making changes for a fairer society. This government expects that these changes will bring 75,000 more Australians into homeownership over the next decade, turning around a decade in which homeownership has been going backwards. We're not waiting for tax changes to take effect before helping first home buyers.”
“This government is also introducing a $100,000 instant tax deduction for workers, which will benefit around 6.2 million Australians. This is the fifth time this government has cut income taxes. It's responsible. It's targeted. It's fair. And I would like Australians to know that those opposite have, time and time again, opposed this government's tax cuts—tax cuts that give money back to the people, back to everyday working Australians. As the Prime Minister said earlier today, we are the party of homeownership. For too long, this country has accepted a housing market that is broken, a market that works against ordinary Australians and works against a productive economy.”
“We are the government that believes that Australians should earn more and keep more of what they earn, as opposed to the coalition, who will vote against tax cuts this week. We do not believe that a worker should pay more tax than an investor. Income earned through hard work should not be taxed more heavily than income earned by holding an asset. That's not fairness. It's not productive either. That is the system that this bill begins to set right. It's no secret that tax concessions in this country go to the highest earners. Meanwhile, working Australians, who keep this country going, have been doing the heavy lifting. This bill changes that. Most Australians go to work every day, contribute to the economy and pay their taxes. That's why I welcome the new $250 working Australian tax offset, which will benefit more Australians.”
“The system has been broken, and, if the coalition think that the system has been working, they have had their heads buried under the sand. The ability to own a home should not be a privilege for some. That's a right that should belong to every single Australian. For too long, that has not been the reality for the people that I represent in Swan and not for Australians right across the country. This bill introduces tax reforms that rebalance the system, reforms that back the workers, the first home buyers and the generation coming up. This bill is the start of the most significant tax reform this country has seen in 25 years. It does three things: it puts money in the back pockets of every Australian worker, it opens the door wider for first home buyers and it stops the tax system rewarding asset income over wages.”
“As the member for Swan, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026 is probably one of the bills that I will speak to most proudly. That is because I came here because I want to make Australia a fairer place for future generations. If this were the only bill that I contributed to in the country, I would be a very happy woman, because this is about making the system fairer for future generations. That's as a local of my community of Swan; it's also as a mother. I have two children, Felicity and Lincoln, five and eight. I let them know that the reason why I'm away for 20 weeks of the year is that I want to build a fairer Australia for them. This is what this change is about. We are changing the system and we are doing that because—guess what?”
“The committee considers that, while there are some safeguards regulating the use of force by customs officers, it is not clear that these are adequate, further noting the requirements under international human rights law that the use of potentially lethal force should be a last resort. The committee considers that the broad authorisations for customs officers to use firearms may not be sufficiently circumscribed. The committee has recommended the instrument be amended to include overarching principles on the use of force by customs officers. I encourage all members to consider the committee's report closely. With these comments, I commend the committee's scrutiny report 6 of 2026 to the House.”
“Among other things, this bill would: The measures in this bill would engage and limit various rights, including the rights of a person with disability; the rights to privacy, equality and non-discrimination, liberty, health and freedom of expression; as well as the prohibition against torture and ill-treatment. The committee is seeking further information from the minister to assess the compatibility of measures in the bill with these rights. The committee has also concluded its consideration of the Customs (Deployment of Approved Firearms and Other Approved Items of Personal Defence Equipment) Directions 2026. This instrument sets out the directions to customs officers for the use, issue, storage and management of approved firearms and other approved items of personal defence equipment.”
“On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the committee's report entitled Human rights scrutiny report: report 6 of 2026 . Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). It's fabulous to have so many people in the House to receive this report. I am pleased to table report 6 of 2026 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. In this report, the committee considered 10 new bills and 161 new legislative instruments. It has commented on 12 pieces of legislation, and concluded its examination of one legislative instrument. In this report, the committee commented on the Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill 2026.”
“In Swan, in Cannington, we've provided funding from the Active Transport Fund to build an active transport footpath from the Cannington Leisureplex to the river. This goes past the Canning RSL. It also goes past Cannington Community College. This will be a great community asset. But in this budget we've also committed $500 million from the Active Transport Fund—that's $50 million over a 10-year period. Cycling is great for your health. It's great for the environment. It's also great for your back pocket. This is about getting people cycling.”
“'Woo hoo!'—that is the feeling of riding a bike. And today is UN world bike day. I know that the member for Perth is a regular cyclist and has ridden across our magnificent Boorloo Bridge in Perth. Today is a day of celebrating the simplicity of riding a bike, and I can let people know that the community of Swan loves riding bikes, whether that's the mamils of South Perth commuting to work, or the parents of Vic Park riding their cargo bikes to do school drop-off, or whether it's kids from Beckenham playing on the BMX course. All people in my community love cycling. And, of course, we have the magnificent Boorloo Bridge. But this is a government that doesn't just talk the talk or walk the walk, or ride the ride; we're actually putting money behind this.”
“For those that want to build their skills through a trade, the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways program offers a four-year paid apprenticeship. This is a direct pathway for the nuclear-powered submarines and naval shipbuilding workforce that has a nationally recognised qualification at the end of it, because the best way to build a skilled workforce is to build those people right now. This is the biggest diversification in WA's economy for a very long time.”
“The government has announced a pilot program with Huntington Ingalls Industries, the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, to help Australian companies qualify for the Virginia class submarine supply chain. Less than six months later, 2022 Australian companies have progressed in the accreditation pipeline. Eight have already been fully qualified to supply components into that supply chain. More than 4,000 Commonwealth supported places have been allocated across 16 universities for the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Student Pathways program from 2024 to 2027. In my electorate of Swan, we have Curtin University, which has 320 places, with a further 56 at the University of Western Australia and another 50 at Murdoch University.”
“Up to $8 billion is being invested to upgrade HMAS Stirling and the support of the implementation of the Submarine Rotational Force-West, creating around 3,000 direct jobs. It's great to hear that the member for Sturt has visited the HMAS Stirling very recently. The upgrades include wharf upgrades, operational maintenance and infrastructure support to increase port visits by the UK and the US. The jobs for subs program is recruiting and upskilling over 200 new entry level positions for graduates, apprentices and trainees in engineering and fabrication trades through the Australian Submarine Corporation. Australian businesses are already entering the global supply chain.”
“Over the next two decades, tens of billions of dollars will flow into defence capabilities in Western Australia, supporting 10,000 well-paid, high skilled jobs, and the work being done at Henderson is not just about submarines. It's also about the foundation for the next generation of Australia's surface fleet. The Australian Albanese government has selected the Japanese upgrade of Mogami class frigates as the preferred platform for the Navy's future fleet of 11 general purpose frigates. The first three vessels will be built in Japan, but the remaining frigates will be built in Western Australia once the successful consolidation of Henderson is complete. These ships will help secure our maritime trade routes and Australia's northern approaches. Now to AUKUS and what it means for Western Australian workers.”
“But what does that monumental investment look like on the ground? My home of Western Australia is a great example. Henderson is the centrepiece of Australia's naval shipbuilding future in the west. The $12 billion committed to the Henderson defence precinct is a significant down payment on what will be continuous naval shipbuilding capability in Western Australia for generations to come. That funding underpins the construction of the army's landing craft, the domestic build of Australia's future general purpose frigates subject to the successful consolidation of facilities for surface combat sustainment, contingency docking for our future nuclear-powered submarine fleet from the early 2030s and depot level maintenance including graving docks.”
“We are living through a period of genuine global uncertainty. The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global fuel supply chains. The pace of military change in our region is unlike anything we've seen in recent times. As a trading nation surrounded by oceans, Australia's security is inseparable from our ability to keep sea lanes open and supply chains stable. This budget meets that moment. The 2026 National Defence Strategy sets out what is required: a more self-reliant Australia, a stronger sovereign defence industrial base, better national preparedness and deeper cooperation with allies and partners. The total funding in the defence portfolio reaches $887 billion through to 2035-36. This is not just expenditure. It's investment in jobs, the industries and the capabilities that will underpin Australia's security for decades.”
“In WA, at Stirling and Henderson and across the supply chain, the Defence industry is on track to provide 10,000 jobs—the biggest diversification in WA ever.”
“Western Australian companies, VEEM and Camco among them, have already qualified for AUKUS nuclear powered submarine supply chains under the Defence Industry Vendor Qualification Program. The Jobs for Subs program is recruiting and upskilling over 200 new entry-level positions through ASC. Through the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Student Pathways program, Commonwealth supported places have been allocated as follows: 320 to Curtin University, 56 places to the University of Western Australia and 50 places to Murdoch University. This will be building a pipeline of skilled West Australians into this program that will be needed. Across the country, AUKUS will create around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years. Yes, it's very exciting!”
“Earlier this year HMS Anson , a UK Astute class submarine, docked at Stirling and received significant maintenance. Australian workers are maintaining allied nuclear powered submarines in Western Australia right now. This is a capability this country did not have four years ago. The Submarine Rotational Force-West is on track to be stood up from the end of next year. From 2027, 500 direct jobs will support the sustainment of nuclear powered submarines at Stirling . The government is investing $8 billion to expand HMAS Stirling , creating around 3,000 direct construction and infrastructure jobs for Western Australians. At Henderson, $12 billion has been committed as the first major down payment on what will be a $25 billion Defence precinct, underpinning continuous naval shipbuilding in WA for decades to come.”
“This government established the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence so that parliament can be briefed and scrutinised on classified Defence matters in a secure setting. Of course, the AUKUS program is subject to Senate estimates through the scrutiny process. This combination of transparency and accountability mechanisms has been built into the program from the start. Now let me turn to the delivery, because the most substantive answer to these questions about transparency is the clear account of where this program stands. At HMAS Stirling , south of Perth, we have seen visits from nuclear powered submarines with increasing complexity in every maintenance package. In 2024, the USS Vermont arrived at Stirling and received a significant package of maintenance work carried out by Australian workers.”
“Now we have the recent events in the Middle East that have disrupted global fuel supply chains and reminded us how much Australia depends on open sea lanes and stable trade routes. Peace and stability are good for humankind and are good for nations. In that environment, AUKUS represents a fundamental shift in Australia's Defence capability—the single biggest increase in our military capability since the establishment of the Navy more than a century ago. I also think that it needs to be stressed that AUKUS is not an alliance; it's a technology-sharing partnership. This is about building our capability, from design to building to actually operating these submarines. The question before us today is whether this government is fundamentally being transparent about the program that's being delivered. I will address this now.”