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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“This instrument identifies places of detention that a person can be held, including a room that meets the standard specified in the instrument or otherwise an Australian Border Force vehicle. The committee considers the right to humane treatment in detention and the right to privacy may be limited where a person is detained in a place that does not meet the standards of humane treatment or where they are subjected to the search of their person. The committee considers that many of the safeguards that accompany the measures are discretionary and do not provide sufficient protections for vulnerable groups, such as children or people with disability. I would like to draw particular attention to these human rights concerns as detaining a person in a vehicle during hot weather can result in death.”
“This bill also expands the circumstances in which the tribunal would not be required to give certain information to an applicant regarding a reviewable migration decision. As this may impede a person's ability to challenge a decision and this measure would apply to the decisions that may result in expulsion or deportation of noncitizens or foreign nationals, it engages and limits the prohibition against expulsion of aliens without due process. The committee also considered that there is a risk that this measure may not place a proportionate limitation on this right in absence of appropriate safeguards and given the extent of interference with the right that may be significant. In Report 1 of 2026 , the committee has concluded its consideration of the Customs (Place of Detention) Directions 2025.”
“In Report 8 of 2025 , the committee commented on the Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. This bill seeks to expand the circumstances in which the Administrative Review Tribunal may make a decision without holding an oral hearing. This engages and may limit the right to a fair hearing. The committee also noted that questions remain as to how much time and resources will be saved by this measure. It is accordingly unclear to the committee whether this measure is rationally connected to the objective of efficient resolution of proceedings. Further, the committee noted that should the measure disproportionately impact certain applicants, it may also engage and limit other rights, including the right to equality and nondiscrimination, and the rights of people with a disability to equality before the law.”
“On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the following reports: Human rights scrutiny report: report 8 of 2025 and Human rights scrutiny report: report 1 of 2026 . Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—I am pleased to present Report 8 of 2025 and Report 1 of 2026 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. In these reports, the committee considered 22 new bills, 253 new legislative instruments and deferred consideration of two bills. It has commented on six bills and 14 legislative instruments, and concluded its examination of seven bills and 10 legislative instruments. The committee has sought additional information from the relevant minister in relation to the human rights compatibility of two bills and nine instruments.”
“Medicare urgent clinics are providing fully bulk-billed care for urgent care but not life-threatening issues. We began this commitment with 50 clinics and we've already delivered 90, with a plan to expand the network further. This means that more families are getting seen sooner and putting less pressure on our hospital departments. Cost-of-living relief also looks like the two tax cuts that are coming this way towards households, something that those opposite did not take to the last election. Yes, the Labor Party is the party of lower taxes. We are also moving on wages because the Labor Party fundamentally want to see incomes increase, something that those opposite do not believe in.”
“What our side of politics has been doing is looking at what sensible investment looks like, and I have seen that in my community. And an example is METRONET, where we have seen the elevated rail line, which is increasing productivity on our roads. It's also activating community spaces. Also, last week, I got to attend the Chung Wah community centre, which will be a new project, again, in the heart of Swan. One of the things that we got to hear about is the Lunar New Year and the project that symbolises something bigger. The Lunar New Year calls us to remember that prosperity is not created overnight. It is built step by step, one brick at a time, one apprenticeship at a time, one community at a time. That is what responsible delivery looks like. It also looks like strengthening Medicare so people can get care without a credit card.”
“The truth is that, when we talk about dream teams, theoretically that should be the Liberal Party and maybe the Nationals, but they can't even decide on whether or not they're a team. It's fascinating that we're at a time in politics where the opposition and the crossbench have exactly the same numbers. When you talk about numbers, you want to trust a side that understands numbers, and it doesn't sound like that side understands the numbers—very, very concerning! This government has been working very intentionally to bring down inflation, and we have been doing that for a long time—slaying that naughty inflation dragon. I totally recognise that. It has been persistent. There are parts of it that have been persistent. But I'm going to say that we have done a better job of dealing with inflation than the other side.”
“Sometimes those opposite talk about things in an esoteric way. I had the privilege of dropping her off for her very first day of full-time school, and what I would say is that I'm in touch with what's happening in our communities and I know that households are doing it tough, but what I also know is that people out there in Australia know which government or which side of politics has their backs, and it is indeed the Albanese Labor government. We are a government that managed to deliver two surpluses. We have been looking for savings for every single part of our budget. I know that the Minister for Finance has been working very hard on this, and what I would say is that the finance minister and the Treasurer are a dream team. There is so much talent on this side of the bench.”
“I am privileged to have the opportunity to stand here and talk about this moment. It's interesting to hear the shadow treasurer lecturing the government on credibility. It is fascinating, considering that, during question time, he did not know how interest rates were set and that they're independent from the government. Neither did he read the RBA governor's statement on interest rates. If he had read the statement, he would have seen that it was a growth in private demand. The truth is that, if we have a shadow Treasurer that lacks credibility, what does that say about the coalition as a whole? But I won't talk about that, because what we really want to talk about is Australian families. I am the member for Swan. I have an electorate which has many people that have households. I got to drop off my daughter at school yesterday.”
“They did a two-part workshop. The first part was about sharing pain and lived experience. The second was to teach people how to build that muscle to make sure that we stamp it out. I recognise that my government needs to make sure that we look at the systems. To everyone that has written to me in relation to this, thank you, and I will work hard to make sure that we stamp out antisemitism and racism.”
“We've sometimes been told that the lifeguards weren't prepared for mass shootings, but when I was speaking to Michael he said that he was ready, and the reason why he was ready was that he had done training for mass blood losses due to shark bites. He explained that he knew exactly what to do there at the forefront because he had been trained in how to deal with blood loss. Michael had built the muscle memory to respond to that situation. What I think we need to do, as a nation, is build up our muscle memory to make sure that we call out hatred. This is stuff that I've seen happen in my community of Swan, where there were community-run workshops post Christchurch. We saw the Vic Park Collective, the Star Street Uniting Church, the Islamic College, the queer community and the Aboriginal community saying that hate was unacceptable.”
“I remember going to the Lifeblood Cannington Donor Centre, which opened at 11 o'clock on the Monday morning. What was interesting was that at 10.30 a line was already forming. They don't typically do walk-ins, but Australians wanted to step up and do something. The Red Cross server broke, and they ended up accepting walk-ins. The local cop station wanted to do a group donation. They had record donations. The thing that I recognised is that, yes, we stepped up, but we need to make sure that we don't do so only in the wake of a crisis; we need to continue to step up in the future. I have my second donation scheduled for later this month. I spoke with Daniel and Michael—also known as Beardy and Mouse—two Waverley lifeguards who were there at the scene on the day. It's interesting.”
“When it is minimised it does not fade; it mutates and escalates. No matter the form it takes or where it hides, we must eradicate it. A parent should never have to explain to their child that strangers hate them. That type of hatred has absolutely no place in Australia. We know of some schools overseas where children learn what to do in a mass shooting. I don't want to have an Australia where kids have to go through security in order to feel safe. We need to think about what kind of country we want to be, and we must demand more. In the aftermath of Bondi, Australians showed who we are, with courage. We saw some of the best of what Australians can do in crises, whether that be first responders, hospital staff, lifeguards or ordinary people doing ordinary things.”
“We cannot restore what has been taken, but we can honour the truth that these lives were precious and their loss will be felt nationwide. Terrorism aims to intimidate communities into retreat and to divide. I remember when September 11 happened. I was 21 years old, a student at Curtin University. Curtin had a memorial soon after, and the thing that I remember clearly from that memorial is when the Jewish student leader got up and shared a Jewish teaching. The teaching was that there is value in every single human life, and whoever destroys a single life destroys an entire world. The Bondi shootings did not just take 15 lives; they took 15 entire worlds. Antisemitism is unique, and it is a dangerous form of hatred. It draws on a history of persecution. It spreads through conspiracy, scapegoating and dehumanisation.”
“My heart is so heavy. But it is really important that the parliament meets today, under this weight of profound loss. On 14 December at Bondi Beach, 15 innocent people were murdered, including 10-year-old Matilda Bee. This badge is a symbol of Matilda. I have not met her, but she sounds like an extraordinary young girl. She clearly had so much love and happiness to share into our world, and I'm so sad that she won't be able to do that. But the truth is that her story will live on. This attack was an antisemitic terrorist attack carried out during Hanukkah, a time that should have been marked by light, family and hope. To the family and friends of those who were murdered, particularly the Jewish Australians who are grieving: I just cannot fathom what you're going through.”
“This is because we know that this is a support line that so many people need, and we want to make sure that we continue to make a tangible difference to the lives of people across Australia and Swan.”
“The Minister for Social Services and the Assistant Treasurer joined me in my electorate at Advocare, the state's peak body for seniors, and we hosted a roundtable on financial abuse—an issue that is often hidden but has devastating impacts. We continued to have a conversation that began last term, which started the financial abuse inquiry that I instigated. It's more than listening; we're actually acting as well. We're doing so much work in this area, which includes reforms so that victims-survivors aren't left with Centrelink debts caused by perpetrators, and we are also boosting frontline support for victims-survivors. This week we saw that the government announced a $42 million increase for 1800RESPECT.”
“Her first participant was a boy with cerebral palsy, who is now a teenager. He spoke to the minister through his text-to-speech device and described the different therapy he was accessing and how the supports of the NDIS and Healthy Strides made his life so fabulous. He also talked about the death of his mother and how challenging that was but also how he was able to have the strength to continue to do his therapy and be an incredible young man, as it gave him the chance to do more for himself and participate more fully in life. One of the things that he talked about was how his mum just always said yes, as opposed to saying no, which I think is fantastic. We saw the power of scientific innovation and compassion and why the NDIS matters.”
“When Western Australia is strong, Australia is strong. But strength takes many forms. Sometimes strength is kindness; sometimes strength is about listening, and sometimes calling for help takes strength. That spirit was on display when federal cabinet visited WA. There were many visits that happened, which was phenomenal, and it was such a special moment to see some of the amazing ways that this Albanese Labor government is tangibly changing the lives of so many people. One of the highlights was the minister for the NDIS, who visited an organisation called Healthy Strides in East Victoria Park. It's a success story in WA, born from the vision of a woman called Dr Dayna Pool, who created a centre where kids with neurological conditions and other disabilities don't just access Australian-leading therapy; they access world-leading therapy.”
“As such, to the extent that the measure excludes industrial gaseous emissions from the offence to preserve and protect the Murujuga, it is not clear that it is compatible with the rights to culture and privacy. The committee is seeking further information in relation to the compatibility of the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 with the right to freedom of expression. The committee notes that many measures in the bill would restrict individuals' access to information held by government, which limits the right to access information, a component of the right to freedom of expression. Finally, I would like to thank the secretariat for all their hard work in bringing a largely new committee up to speed. I note we have two more meetings before the end of this year. I encourage all members to consider the committee's report closely.”
“However, the instrument also provides that an Aboriginal site or object is taken notto be moved, damaged, defaced or otherwise disturbed by, or as a result of, industrial gaseous emissions, which may have the effect of limiting the rights to culture and privacy. The committee notes that industrial gaseous emissions are a key threat to the petroglyphs in the Murujuga. Excluding damage or disturbance caused by industrial gaseous emissions would therefore appear to frustrate the overall purpose of the instrument. Noting the profound cultural and spiritual significance of the petroglyphs, the committee considers that the measure represents a significant interference with the rights of culture and privacy and it is not clear that the measure is accompanied by any safeguards.”
“The committee is nonetheless seeking further information from the Minister for Social Services about the compatibility of this measure with these rights. In this report the committee has also commented on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection (Murujuga) Declaration 2025.This instrument makes it an offence to move, damage, deface or otherwise disturb an Aboriginal site or object in the Murujuga, Western Australia. The committee notes that the stated overall objective of the instrument is to preserve and protect the Murujuga and considers that protecting and preserving this area from injury or desecration promotes multiple human rights, particularly the rights to culture, privacy and equality and non-discrimination.”
“The committee considers that, in the absence of access to review or the ability to seek backpay or compensation if the person is found not guilty of the serious offence, there do not appear to be effective remedies available. Additionally, the committee notes that, if the cancellation of social security payments were to be considered a criminal punishment, criminal process rights should be afforded. I note that this bill passed the Senate earlier today. The committee is strongly of the view that these matters should have been considered before the parliament determined its position on this bill. Members of parliament need to have the benefit of this committee's advice in order to be informed of the human rights implications.”
“Further, the committee notes that cancelling an individual's access to social security in its entirety may go against the nature of the right and there is a risk that the measure may result in the non-fulfilment of Australia's minimum core obligation to ensure that minimum essential levels of benefits are provided to individuals. The committee also considers that it would limit other human rights, including the rights of the child, right to an adequate standard of living, right to health and may have implications for the right to life. If a person's right to social security is impermissibly limited, effective remedies should be available.”
“While the committee acknowledges the importance of ensuring individuals charged with serious offences are arrested, the committee notes that any limit on the right to social security must solely be for the purpose of promoting the general welfare in a democratic society and must be compatible with the nature of the right. The committee notes that the explanatory materials do not provide any information or evidence that cancelling a person's social security benefits would facilitate their arrest. The committee further notes that a person cannot seek review of the decision to issue a benefit restriction notice. As such, the committee considers that it is unclear whether the measure pursues a legitimate objective, is rationally connected to the objective or is a proportionate limitation on the right to social security.”
“To assist with proportionality, the committee has recommended that the bill be amended to include further safeguards to assist vulnerable individuals to understand the effect of income apportionment. After the committee's initial consideration of this bill was tabled, a government amendment to the bill was agreed to that introduces a broader power to cancel a person's social security payments or concession cards if they are the subject of an arrest warrant in respect of a serious violent or sexual offence or if the person may prejudice the security of Australia or a foreign country.”
“This bill retrospectively validates income apportionment as a lawful method for assessing employment income for certain social security entitlements and seeks to establish the income apportionment resolution scheme. As this bill validates earlier debt decisions that may limit a person's entitlement to social security, the measure engages and may limit the right to social security. The committee considers that it is unclear whether there are adequate safeguards accompanying the measure to ensure that it constitutes a proportionate limit on the right to social security in all circumstances. It is also unclear whether the two remedies available, namely pursuing an action against the Commonwealth or accepting a resolution scheme payment, will be effective in practice.”
“On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights I present the committee report entitled Human r ights s crutiny r eport : report 7 o f 2025 . Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—I am pleased to table report 7 of 2025 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. In this report, the committee considers 21 new bills and 111 new legislative instruments. It has commented on three bills, six legislative instruments and concluded its examination of five bills. In this report, the committee concluded its consideration of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025.”
“And, of course, we are backing the WA GST to make sure that we get our fair share. We're building WA. We're doing that in the heart of Swan, working with the WA government to build the elevated rail line METRONET. This is a game changer for the community of Swan. We're also activating spaces underneath this rail line. We now see seven kilometres of amazing parkland in my community. The Boorloo Bridge was just the beginning. I can't wait to see what the Albanese Labor government can continue to do.”
“The Albanese government is busy cutting student debt. While we're cutting student debt, the coalition are busy cutting each other down. We're backing Australia's future; they're backing nuclear. I'm surprised that they didn't have a nuclear meltdown in the last fortnight. Let me be clear: when we invest in clean energy, Australia wins. We're backing critical minerals, and the coalition is blocking net zero. We're going up the value chain. They're going down on investment and down on Aussie jobs. They opposed cheaper medicines, they opposed energy security and now they're opposing each other. While they're busy building their own cases to take over their own party, we are building the nation. We're building roads, ports and renewable infrastructure, including in WA.”
“I note that when we needed to intervene into the gas market and cap prices at $12 a gigajoule, we did that to make sure we help Australians because that's what the Albanese government does. Debate adjourned.”
“Sometimes there is still too much exposure. Thanks to a decade of neglect by the opposition, we are fixing the mess, planning for the future and doing it in a way that supports jobs, industries and households. We know gas will play a key role in the orderly transition to net zero. We are ensuring that Australians also have the energy they need, while preparing for tomorrow. When people say that the government isn't taking gas supply or energy transition seriously, we must look at the facts and recognise that defending the national interest cannot be done with just ideals. We are guided by real consultation and experts and we work constructively with industry to get results.”
“Gas, unlike coal, is flexible. It can be switched on and off in minutes, making it essential to back up the variable renewable energy generation. Our future gas strategy makes this clear. As existing sources decline, we need to replace them to keep prices down, keep the lights on and maintain energy security. The Albanese government is not a caricature the opposition makes us out to be. However, the opposition does beggar belief lately, especially regarding gas, energy and resources. How is this certainty for industry and households—net zero or maybe not net zero, or definitely not net zero? That is possibly in Paris or not in Paris, if the National Party will let them. We won't sugar coat it. We're too exposed, we were too exposed leaving COVID, when the war in Ukraine began a global gas price shock and exposed the weaknesses.”
“Given the market operator's stronger powers to prevent supply crises, let's be clear, there's been no gas shortfall under this government. We are delivering practical solutions to keep gas affordable, reliable and, at the same time, we are driving the transition to clean energy. We've legislated emissions targets, reformed the safeguard mechanism and invested in renewable energy at record rates. Since May 2022, we have added over 18 gigawatts of wind and solar, enough to power six million homes. Wind and solar capacity is up 45 per cent since we came to office. But while we accelerate renewables, we do not ignore the five million Australian homes that still rely on gas for heating, cooking and hot water. Industries also need gas to process critical minerals and to manufacture batteries, solar panels and wind turbines.”
“Today the Albanese Labor government is taking gas supply and energy transition seriously. We know that gas markets must work for households, businesses and our economy, not just for exporters. That is why we opened a comprehensive gas market review earlier this year. We received 112 submissions, and the departments are now working through them to make sure our regulatory framework is strong, stable and fit for the future. We have acted. Since coming into government, we have strengthened the heads of agreement with LNG producers so gas is offered to Australians before it can be exported. We have reformed the Australian domestic gas security mechanism, giving us the power to reserve gas if there is a shortfall. We have also introduced the gas market code, securing more than 644 petajoules of gas for Australian homes and businesses.”
“I am open to a conversation about how sometimes the gas industry does not work for all Australians. This is a government that believes in the national interest and is not afraid to stand up for it. Similarly, antagonising industries that Australia relies on is not the answer. We will defend the public interest in the names of jobs and energy security. I know this because I remember when, before Labor governments state and federal, in WA 15 years ago, we had $170 billion' worth of LNG projects happening in the North West Shelf but not one of those projects was being developed in WA. Hundreds of engineers lost their jobs, and the workshops were empty. That experience taught me something important: when governments fail to plan, Australians pay the price. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes.”
“We accept science and know that we need it for research and innovation and that it's central to Australia's future. Science isn't just a discipline; it's a promise to learn, to grow and to build a better future that is fairer, smarter and more sustainable.”
“The Pawsey supports researchers who are tackling some of Australia's biggest environmental challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss and water management. Take the work on carbon sequestration. Australia has vast underground basins that could store millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide, but modelling these complex systems is complex and requires a huge amount of data and computing. Pawsey has partnered with researchers to simulate how carbon can move through rock formations and be stored safely and how we can watch it over time. All of this—including the MWA, Pawsey, Dr Hurley-Walker's research and environmental modelling—is possible because the Albanese Labor government invests in science. And, under the Albanese government, that investment is growing.”
“It's proof that high-performance computing can be both powerful and responsible. Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker is a radio astronomer who has used data from the MWA to create the most detailed map of the southern sky ever produced at low radio frequencies. Her work has helped uncover hidden galaxies, dying stars and cosmic phenomena that we're only just starting to understand. She was awarded the Nancy Millis Medal for women in science, a well-deserved recognition of her groundbreaking research and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists. Dr Hurley-Walker is a star in science, and she is based in WA and lives in the heart of Swan. But the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre isn't just about space; it's also about Earth. One of its most exciting areas of work is environmental modelling.”
“It is a place where raw data becomes insight—a place where petabytes of information from telescopes like the MWA are processed, analysed and transformed into knowledge. It is a hub for innovation. It supports researchers across astronomy, medicine, engineering and environmental science. It is home to some of Australia's most powerful supercomputers, including Setonix, named after the Latin word for quokka—another WA icon, from Rottnest Island. There is much to say about this place from a scientific perspective. Its infrastructure is designed to reduce energy use and produce less carbon emissions. It uses groundwater cooling, solar energy and efficient data centres designed to minimise its environmental footprint. Imagine data centres connected by pipes and actually seeing fluid pumping through this. It's very impressive technology.”
“It has also generated over $83 million in economic activity, and it's not just about astronomy. The MWA has spun off technologies that now power high-performance computing, data processing and even remote sensing. These innovations are being used in fields far beyond space and science, from medical imaging to environmental modelling. The MWA is a symbol of what's possible when we invest in science, collaboration and the future. One of the key partners in supporting the MWA is the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre, based in Perth and also funded by the Commonwealth as a CSIRO site. It is also a partner of the new and extraordinary Square Kilometre Array, which will make WA an astronomy capital of the world.”
“A telescope in the desert, a window to the universe, stars above and stars in science—that's what I'm talking about today. In the red dirt of Western Australia's Murchison region sits a telescope that's quietly reshaping our understanding of the universe. It's known as the Murchison Widefield Array, or MWA. Recently, I had the privilege of celebrating its phase 3 upgrade. This upgrade has boosted its sensitivity and data capacity, allowing scientists to peer deeper into space and go further back in time, right to the formation of the first stars and galaxies over 13 billion years ago. The MWA is a global collaboration involving 29 partners and hundreds of researchers. It's supported by Curtin University, the Commonwealth government and international partners.”
“A streamlined pathway will reward well prepared proposals and reduce delays, saving billions across the economy while maintaining strong environmental standards. We want an ecosystem of intelligence, not a pipeline of problems. This is a collaborative approach by a mature government, and we are working both with community groups and with industry. If industry does its homework and comes to the table in good faith, clarity will be rewarded with clarity. Efficiency means empowering awareness through our systems. This is very exciting legislation. We can get the balance right. We can do right by future generations. Australians reject extremism and division, as we saw at the last election. Now let's show it in the parliament. Let's do the work for the country that we all love. (Quorum formed)”
“I want people to recognise that the EPA is nothing to be afraid of. The US, Canada, New Zealand and the UK all have their own versions. An independent national environmental protection agency will ensure that rules are enforced fairly and transparently. It will educate and guide industry and communities. Companies will be held accountable for the damage they cause, promoting better compliance and deterring future breaches. This is excellent progress. We also want Australians to understand the state of the environment. That's why we will also have the Head of Environment Information Australia, to improve access to reliable data. We want to support evidence based decision-making. This aligns with global best practice in environmental regulation, and our world-renowned natural wonders deserve nothing less.”
“We attempted this bill once before, but the Liberals and the Greens teamed up and blocked its pathway. What a disappointment. The Liberal Party is supposed to be the party of business, but not supporting this legislation will bring business to a halt. It's one thing to stand by a future Ley government, or even a future Wilson government, but not standing by business—are the Liberals so far from their values that they can't even remember what to do for business? As for the Greens, in the last term we never saw a 'green for go' or even a 'yellow for go slow'; it was red lights all the way. What Australia saw was blockers, not builders, and at the last election Australia gave them the red light. I hope the Greens have left that blocking era behind them. It's getting a bit old and a bit like a broken traffic light.”
“There was genuine constructive public debate about finding the right place for emissions, and I thank the Labor Environment Action Network, who, like many groups, came to the table in good faith. No-one on this side of the House is deluded about climate. Climate change threatens the planet. It is indeed anthropogenic, meaning it is caused by mankind, and we need to act on it. This bill requires the disclosure of emissions, both scope 1 and scope 2, and aligns with Australia's safeguard mechanism. Proponents will also be required to disclose associated emission mitigation measures and abatement targets, along with their estimated emissions. This supports our climate goals. Environmental approvals must be considered with broader decarbonisation efforts.”
“For cases where harm is unavoidable, we have introduced the concept of net gain. This updated offset framework ensures that any environmental damage is more than compensated. Net gain means that projects that do harm must leave nature better off than before. Protection statements will make it easier for decision-makers and proponents to understand what is required. This bill honours the deadly Australian bush, and, like the deadly bush creatures we all love, this legislation has teeth. Stronger penalties and enforcement powers will ensure that environmental harm is taken seriously. You will not profit from the destruction of nature in Australia. The incentive to move fast while breaking things, copping just a slap on the wrist, will be history. Put simply, if you wreck our environment, whatever you make from your wrecking, you will pay.”
“I am proud to be part of a Labor government that is determined to keep decarbonisation and housing and nation-building projects moving at the pace required, at the pace we need to safeguard not just our prosperity but our children's prosperity. And do you know what? Industry wants clarity. Take it from an engineer. Sometimes, that means a quick no, because the sunk costs of waiting on approvals are disastrous for a project. Here's another line: if a project harms our most precious environmental assets, it won't get the green light. Don't waste your time. As the Minister for the Environment and Water put it, no, you can't mine Uluru, and it shouldn't take a bureaucratic run-around to say a quick no. We're also empowering industry to do their bit by setting standards based in science. Priority 1 is avoiding harm.”
“This includes the National Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Information Australia, the restoration contributions holder and also, importantly, a better, faster, smarter approval system. This is a massive effort by a Labor government, prepared to do the work to safeguard what matters. Begun by the former minister for the environment, the member for Sydney—thanks to her hard work, the current Minister for the Environment hit the ground running and has not stopped. Forget the term 'fixer'; I think of him as an endurance athlete because this has been a marathon—a marathon of consultation, conservation and conversation.”
“So, as someone who has walked, driven and flown across the country to mine sites and commissioned and worked in continuous improvement and even energy efficiency and emissions reductions, what I would say is that I have seen instances where the resource sector has done best practice, and it has been very impressive at those times. I've been immensely proud to call myself an engineer that has worked on the mines. But there have also been times when there have been questionable practices and sometimes, frankly, sloppy work. The thing that we're trying to do today is lift the standards, have a new benchmark and set what we expect across Australia. This is what this legislation is doing, and we have important structures that we're putting in place.”