Mary Doyle
Aston · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Our government is laser focused on assisting with the cost of living. On this side of the chamber, we understand that many Australians feel as though the economy isn't working for them. We know that right around the country Australians are looking for solutions, and that's why Labor is delivering real change.”
“We've passed new laws to give first home buyers a fair go because, if you work hard and save, you should be able to buy a home of your own. Lower taxes, higher pay and a fair go for families and first home buyers—that's real change, and that matters to people in my community. It's real change that we'll keep delivering.”
“We all know the type—the people from local organisations that put on a feed for people who are having a hard time feeding themselves; those in a community group that support women and children fleeing family and domestic violence; the club presidents and coaches who give up their evenings and weekends to ensure local sporting clubs run sm…”
“We back workers on the minimum wage and those on modern awards. We welcome the decision by the Fair Work Commission to increase the minimum wage by 5.97 per cent to $26.44 per hour, alongside a 4.75 per cent increase to award wages from 1 July this year.”
“They don't ask for recognition and they don't seek the spotlight, but, without them, our communities simply would not function the way they do. These people and organisations are the very reason why the Tilly Aston Community Awards were created a couple of years ago.”
“These awards honour a legacy of service and community spirit that continues to inspire today. Nominations are now open to anyone living or working in the electorate of Aston, and I especially encourage self-nominations. Sometimes the people doing the most meaningful work do not realise just how much of a difference they are making.”
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“That kind of empowering knowledge should not have to be forsaken out of fear of being unable to obtain life insurance or an affordable life insurance option. I'd like to now acknowledge the outstanding work of Dr Jane Tiller, senior research fellow, genetic counsellor and public health researcher at Monash University, for her dedication and advocacy in regard to this important issue. Dr Tiller has advocated tirelessly to raise awareness regarding genetic discrimination in life insurance for around a decade, and without her and her team's efforts, this bill may not have been introduced into this House today. I thank her. For many families and households juggling mortgages, raising children and planning for retirement, life insurance is not a luxury.”
“For those like myself, a negative result gives some peace of mind that there isn't a genetic link at least for the cancer or other ailment with which they may have been diagnosed. For those who do receive positive results, however, it gives them the ability to look at options that suit them and to take swift action. From the stories I've heard over the years from people who do have positive genetic test results for cancer or other ailments, it is an empowering step for them to take, as they are now able to take control of their medical and health decisions. They are forewarned and forearmed. They say knowledge is power. It can be life saving or life extending for them, and that means the world to people who have tested positive and for their loved ones.”
“The thought of passing on a gene mutation to our future children was quite alarming, to say the least. All of these thoughts were popping into my head, so of course it never occurred to me what genetic testing might mean if I was ever to apply for life insurance one day. Long-term financial matters such as that are rarely on the radar of a young person in their mid-20s. Yes, there are many things to consider. Ultimately, I was very glad I underwent genetic testing. In August 1997, 18 months later, I received a letter in the mail informing me that I had tested negative for both the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene. The relief that swept over me was incredible. It was as if decades of my life ahead had been handed back to me, and they were. I'm so thankful for genetic testing and I highly recommend it for anyone who may require it.”
“During that long wait, anxious about what lay ahead, I received the added benefit of genetic counselling. At first I was very confused by this, not quite understanding why I needed to have genetic counselling. I just wanted to know, with these gene mutations, which meant a higher chance of breast cancer recurrence, what medical options were going to be available to me so I could live my life to its fullest. Of course I would need genetic counselling along that road—even more so if my results turned out to be positive. I was very young and very naive. I'd only just gotten engaged a month or so before my cancer diagnosis, so there was a lot going on in my mind. I was yet to even think about my wedding venue, wedding date and wedding dress, and all that guff, let alone think about having children one day with my husband-to-be.”
“Yet Treasury analysis shows the current framework has led some Australians to delay or avoid testing, even avoiding participation in clinical trials because of fear it could affect their access to affordable life insurance. That means the full benefits of genetic science are not being realised, and that is exactly what this bill addresses. I understand on a deeply personal level the importance of undergoing genetic testing. Just over 30 years ago, in February 1996, I underwent genetic testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations after being diagnosed with breast cancer in early December 1995, aged just 25. At that time, genetic testing was in its early stages. I had blood drawn—it wasn't a cheek swab back then—and it took another 18 months to receive my results.”
“That is why I am proud to be part of a federal Labor government introducing legislation to ban the use of genetic test results in life insurance underwriting. Schedule 1 amends the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 and aligns the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 to make it crystal clear that life insurers will not be able to use a person's genetic test results to determine whether they are offered cover or on what terms. Genetic testing can extend and indeed save lives. It allows doctors to prevent, treat and monitor cancers and other genetic conditions. It enables research that identifies new risk factors and develops new therapies.”
“I rise to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Genetic Testing Protections in Life Insurance and Other Measures) Bill 2025. At its heart, this legislation is about removing barriers to better health, to smarter investment, to global engagement and to sensible regulation. For Australians, it is about confidence—confidence in our health system, confidence in our financial system and confidence that government is working in their interests. One of the greatest barriers to broader participation in genetic screening has been the fear of discrimination by life insurers. No-one should ever be deterred from taking a potentially life-saving test because they are worried it could later be used against them.”
“As more batteries are installed across the country, they help manage demand more efficiently, improve reliability and support Australia's transition to more renewable energy. By contrast, the record of the former energy minister, now the Leader of the Opposition, was, quite frankly, appalling. His time as energy minister was defined by controversy and failure, with a tenure clouded by repeated questions about judgement and conflicts of interest. Under the former coalition government, prices stayed high and climate progress stalled. Australians deserve better, and our government is delivering just that. On this side of the House, we are focused on practical policies that lower bills, strengthen our energy system and build a cleaner future for all Australians.”
“More than a quarter of a million Australian households, small businesses and community organisations have now installed solar batteries through the Albanese Labor government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Around half have also installed new or upgraded solar systems at the same time. Together, these batteries now provide 6.3 gigawatt hours of storage—a milestone that shows Australians are embracing solutions that cut power bills, make better use of rooftop solar and strengthen a cleaner, more reliable energy system. In my electorate of Aston, more than 1,446 households have already taken up the program since it began—including mine—saving money, boosting energy independence and contributing to a stronger energy system.”
“Since July last year, more than 71,000 women across the country have accessed dedicated menopause health assessments through Medicare. The Albanese Labor government has invested $49 million to expand care for complex gynaecological conditions. We are increasing bulk-billing for IUDs and implants, saving women up to $400 a year, and, with 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics operating nationwide alongside new national menopause guidelines, we are transforming the way women's health is treated in this country. For women in my electorate of Aston, this means more affordable care, better support at every stage of life and a health system that takes their concerns seriously.”
“Twelve months ago, the Albanese Labor government made a landmark commitment: an almost $793 million investment in the health of Australian women and girls. Today, we stand proud not just of a promise made but of a promise delivered. Already, more than 660,000 women across the country have accessed cheaper medicines for contraception, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatment through the PBS. For the first time in over 30 years, new contraceptive pills have been listed, and, for the first time in more than two decades, new menopausal hormone therapies have been added, giving women more choice and real savings at the pharmacy. Since the start of this year, PBS prescriptions have been capped at $25, while concessional patients continue to pay $7.70, easing pressure on household budgets. But this reform goes beyond medicines.”
“We are supporting employers who train the next generation, and we are rebuilding a skills system that works for workers, industry and the nation. Backing apprentices is not just about filling jobs; it is about building homes, powering our clean energy future and giving young Australians secure, well-paid careers. Labor backs apprentices. We back skills, and this Albanese Labor government backs Australia's future.”
“He said that the $10,000 incentive is 'definitely a big help––$10,000 is a lot of money'. He told us it goes towards his tools and his car and that is a 'big incentive to keep going'. And that is what this is about—keeping people in apprenticeships, helping them complete their training and giving them confidence that their government backs them. The truth is in 2022 we inherited the worst skills shortage in 50 years. A decade of Liberal neglect hollowed out the apprenticeship system. Billions were ripped from TAFE and training. Seven billion dollars was spent on untargeted schemes with dropout rates as high as 60 per cent, while critical trades were ignored. Labor is taking a different approach. We are delivering targeted, direct support to apprentices in clean energy and housing construction. We are investing in TAFE.”
“The Key Apprenticeship Program is structured to support apprentices from start to finish. Participants receive $2,000 at six months, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months, and another $2,000 on completion. Employers can claim up to $5,000 in the first year. For those who need to relocate, the living away from home allowance provides weekly support, and we have increased that allowance for the first time since 2003. We have also increased the Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support payment for the first time since 1998. These are not symbolic changes. They are practical reforms that ease cost-of-living pressures and set Australians up with skills for life. Let me tell you about Sheldon from Melbourne. Sheldon is six months into his first year as a plumbing apprentice.”
“That tells us this program is opening doors for young Australians, giving them a pathway into secure, well-paid careers. These are careers that cannot be outsourced. These are careers that build communities. We are also seeing encouraging signs when it comes to women entering trades. Victoria has recorded 148 women apprentice commencements under the program. There is still much more work to do, but this is a movement in the right direction. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research data shows that the number of women in training and trade apprenticeships has increased by 46.8 per cent compared to pre-COVID levels. That is why we are backing this up with measures like the $60 million Building Women's Careers Program, because building Australia's future means ensuring everyone has the opportunity to be part of it.”
“In my electorate of Aston, we are already seeing the benefits. Our government's Key Apprenticeship Program is attracting new apprentices into housing construction right where we need them most. It is driving Australians towards the occupations that will help us build more homes and address housing supply challenges. I'm proud to say that my home state of Victoria is leading the nation in apprenticeship commencements under this program. In the first six months since the Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream launched on 1 July 2025, 11,407 apprentices commenced in housing construction trades across Australia. Of those, 3,415 were in Victoria, working with 2,598 Victorian employers. That is real progress and momentum. Almost half of Victorian apprentices are aged 19 and under.”
“The Albanese Labor government is building Australia's future. But, if we are serious about building that future, about building more homes, delivering clean energy and strengthening our communities, then we must also build the workforce that will deliver it. That is why we are backing apprentices by putting real support––real dollars––behind the next generation of carpenters, plumbers and sparkies, who will build this nation going forward. The Albanese Labor government is providing $10,000 directly to apprentices to help them complete their training. That's practical support with the cost of tools, equipment and fuel that will help with the everyday pressures that come with starting out in a trade. We are also making free TAFE permanent because we understand a simple truth: investing in TAFE is investing in Australia's future.”
“This is evidence of, yet again, our government taking strong action to strengthen superannuation and ensuring that it delivers on its purpose of providing income for a dignified retirement. I commend this bill to the House.”
“Schedule 5 to the bill refers to deductible gift recipients' specific listings, which encourages philanthropic giving and supports the not-for-profit sector, as donors may claim in tax income tax deductions for donations to organisations with DGR status. Removal of specific listings is necessary to maintain trust and integrity in the administration of tax concessions that can be accessed for not-for-profits that have DGR status. And finally, schedule 6 to the bill will increase support for wine producers under the existing wine equalisation tax producer rebate scheme from 1 July 2026 by increasing the rebate cap of $350,000 to $400,000 per financial year. Schedule 6 will support approximately 3,000 wine producers.”
“The convention will also reduce compliance costs for taxpayers and improve certainty for individuals and businesses that have dealings in Australia and in Portugal by determining the allocation of profits from cross-border dealings between the two countries. The convention will add to the attractiveness of Australia as an investment destination. Finally, the convention supports the government's plan to make multinationals pay their fair share of tax and strengthens the integrity of the tax system. It helps prevent tax evasion and avoidance by providing mechanisms for the tax authorities to exchange information and provide assistance in the collection of tax debts.”
“These events are part of Australia's broader sporting legacy, leading into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This measure will help ensure their success and maximises their national impact. Schedule 4—the Portuguese convention. Schedule 4 of this bill amends the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 to give force of law to the tax convention between Australia and Portugal, which was signed on 30 November 2023. This convention is the first of its kind between Australia and Portugal and it will provide avenues to support closer bilateral linkages with Portugal, particularly in the areas of commercial trade, investment and innovation. It will do so by reducing withholding tax rates on dividends, interest and royalties, which will reduce tax disincentives to investment and the cost of business of accessing foreign capital.”
“The tax exemptions are strictly limited to income directly related to the delivery of the events, and apply only between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2031. This is not a blanket exemption. It is a focused measure with clear boundaries. Hosting both these Rugby World Cups will generate jobs, boost tourism and deliver long-term benefits to local communities, including increased participation in sport, especially among women and girls. Similar exemptions were provided for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and for the 2020 ICC T20 World Cup. This measure follows a well-established approach to supporting international sporting events in Australia. This measure fulfils Australia's commitments to world rugby as part of our successful bid to host the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups.”
“This amendment reinforces the government's commitment to supporting Australians to make an informed choice about their superannuation, while also providing strong consumer protections. It will protect employees from being unduly influenced to make uninformed decisions, open inappropriate products and unintentionally create duplicate accounts. Schedule 3 contains an income tax and withholding tax exemption for the Rugby World Cups. Schedule 3 delivers on our commitments and honours Australia's obligations to world rugby as part of our successful bid to host the 2027 men's and women's 2029 Rugby World Cups. It ensures we remain a trusted and competitive host for major international sporting events.”
“Schedule 2 to the bill amends the Corporations Act 2001 to impose a ban on advertising superannuation products to employees during onboarding with certain exceptions, of course. Australians deserve protection from inappropriate advertising when they provide their superannuation details to an employer during the onboarding process. This amendment introduces a ban on advertising superannuation products to an employee specifically at the point of the employee onboarding when starting a new job. This is a key moment when employees engage with their superannuation, and they should be able to do so in an informed and safe way. Exceptions will be available for showing employees their stapled fund, the employer's default fund and certain MySuper products, which are subject to strict regulation.”
“This amendment supports the government's commitment to empower employees to make informed choices by making it easier to see, consider and select their existing super fund when they start a new job, if they choose to do so. This will reduce unintended duplicate accounts, which can erode retirement savings through duplicate fees and insurance premiums. Duplicate fees add up and can mean thousands and thousands of lost retirement earnings over years of a worker's career. This will give employers more timely and accurate superannuation details, supporting their readiness for the government's payday super reforms. Schedule 2 is the ban on advertising superannuation funds during onboarding.”
“Schedule 1 to the bill, employee onboarding reforms, amends the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 to streamline the superannuation choice of fund process during employee onboarding. Australians deserve to make an informed choice about their superannuation fund when they start a new job. This amendment provides greater flexibility for employers or their agents to request an employee's existing stapled fund details from the ATO earlier in the onboarding process. That way, if the stapled fund exists, the employer can provide those details to the employee during onboarding to help inform their choice of fund.”
“We are especially proud of its history, particularly our industry super—how the Labor movement fought for a fair retirement system for all workers and how the Labor Party brought superannuation to all workers via the super guarantee back in the early 1990s, which was when I began my working career, so it was not just the upper echelons of corporations, the senior managers and CEOs, who benefited from superannuation any more, oh no. Our super system has been our best financial success story and the envy of the world. You know who else we are proud of? The many workers around this country that our super supports. And I am proud to be a part of a government that is ensuring it continues to deliver for generations to come.”
“Those opposite, every time they were elected to government, going back to the Howard years, delayed the super guarantee and undermined the foundations of our world-class retirement system. However, on this side of the House, our government is strengthening superannuation and making it more sustainable so it can deliver a decent retirement for Australian workers. This government is proud of Australia's superannuation system.”
“These reforms build on our government's broader work to strengthen super—legislating the purpose of super, lifting the super guarantee to 12 per cent, boosting the low-income super tax offset, or LISTO as it's become known, and paying super on paid parental leave. The Albanese Labor government has implemented major reforms to ensure funds deliver for their members, from the financial accountability regime and stronger reporting standards to expanding the performance test from around 80 products to more than 800. Together with payday super, these reforms will help make sure Australians earn more, keep more of what they earn and retire with more. The comparison could not be clearer.”
“Earlier access to stapled fund details means employees can make that choice with confidence and employers have the right information to support our government's payday super reforms. Schedule 2 introduces a targeted ban on superannuation advertising during onboarding. This is a key moment for employees, and they should be able to engage with their super in a safe and informed way, free from inappropriate pressure on all product promotion. Limited exceptions ensure workers can still see their stapled fund, the employer's default fund or a regulated MySuper product, keeping the focus on transparency, not sales tactics.”
“I rise to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025. Without a doubt, Labor is the party of superannuation. This bill is yet another step that our government has taken to strengthen a system that delivers on its purpose of providing income for a dignified retirement. Schedule 1 streamlines the choice of fund process so workers can see and consider their existing stapled fund when they start a new job. This will help reduce duplicate accounts that erode retirement savings through unnecessary fees and insurance premiums. The Albanese Labor government is of the strong belief that Australians deserve to make an informed choice about their superannuation.”
“Together we will continue to stand united for dignity, for equality and for the shared values that bind us all as Australians.”
“I wish to express my utmost sorrow to Mr Vasan Srinivasan, chair of the Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust, which owns the centre. I also want to thank him for his leadership, dignity and steady resolve at a time of deep distress for him and his community. His response has shown strength where others sought to sew division. There is no other way to put this. These actions are disgraceful, and they have absolutely no place in Aston or anywhere in Australia. I stand unequivocally with those affected. As their federal member, I say this without hesitation or qualification: our multicultural diversity is not a weakness to be feared. It is one of our greatest strengths. It is the foundation of our communities, the lifeblood of our democracy and a defining part of who we are as a nation.”
“Police have since warned scrap metal dealers to be aware of attempts to sell this stolen statue, a shameful detail that only deepens the hurt caused. This statue, donated by the Indian government to the Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust was the only one of its kind in Victoria. That statue was not merely a piece of metal. Ghandi was a man of peace and unity, and his statue at the community centre represented the strong cultural and bilateral ties between Australia and India. Its theft is an insult, not only to that community but to the values we claim to uphold as a nation. The statue had also been vandalised with anti-Gandhi and anti-Indian graffiti in 2023 and 2024. And now, in 2026, we find the statue stolen, cut off at the ankles no less.”
“Last year I stood in this place to condemn blatantly racist and hateful attacks carried out against two Asian restaurants, an Aboriginal healing centre and a Hindu temple in the suburbs of Boronia and Bayswater in my electorate of Aston. Those cowardly acts were not random. They were deliberate, targeted and driven by fear and hatred. I condemned them then, and I condemn them again today without hesitation. It is therefore with deep anger and profound disappointment that I rise once more to speak about another attack, this time in the suburb of Rowville. On Wednesday last week I was made aware that Victoria Police were investigating the vandalism and theft of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville.”
“In just three months, the national bulk-billing rate has surged to 81.4 per cent, the largest quarterly increase in 20 years outside of the pandemic. In my electorate of Aston, almost half of the GP clinics are now bulk-billing-only practices, with there now being 22 bulk-billing practices in total. That's 15 additional GP practices now bulk-billing patients due to Labor's reforms. That is real cost-of-living relief for local families in my community in Melbourne's outer east. Because of our delivery, 96 per cent of Australians now live within a 20-minute drive of a registered bulk-billing practice. We promised a stronger Medicare, we promised more bulk-billing and that's exactly what we're delivering.”
“Labor is the party of Medicare. We created it, we protected it and, under the Albanese Labor government, we are strengthening it for the future. At the last election, the Albanese Labor government made a clear promise to the Australian people that we would rebuild bulk-billing and make it easier for families to see a bulk-billing doctor, and that is exactly what we are delivering. Thanks to our historic investment in Medicare, Australians can now access more than 3,400 bulk-billing practices across the country, and that number continues to grow every week. Almost 1,300 of these practices were previously mixed billing. That means more families are now walking into a GP clinic knowing that they will need only their Medicare card and not their credit card.”
“My question is to the Minister for Education. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to cut student debt and to make it cheaper and quicker to get the skills Australians need? And why is unity so important in delivering for Australians?”
“We opened Medicare urgent care clinics, including one in my electorate, in Bayswater, which is very popular. Right across the country we opened these Medicare urgent care clinics, with more than two million Australians already receiving free urgent care. We cut student debt by 20 per cent. We have done so much to help Australian households and small businesses; I could go on, but I don't have a lot more time. It is targeted, and it is responsible and it is certainly not the kind of spending you could call 'reckless'.”
“We expanded paid parental leave to 24 weeks and ensured superannuation is paid on government funded parental leave, recognising that small businesses benefit when workplaces are fair, modern and able to retain skilled staff. We delivered $300 energy bill relief in financial year 2024-25 and $150 off power bills in the financial year to December 2025 for every household and around one million small businesses, while investing in long-term cost reduction—including 30 per cent off home batteries. That is structural reform that helps small businesses manage costs and to plan for the future. We made the biggest-ever investment in Medicare since its creation, easing pressure on small-business owners, who know that a healthy workforce is a productive workforce.”
“This stands in stark contrast to those opposite, who went to the last election promising higher taxes and have opposed every measure designed to support small-business confidence and consumer demand. In government, those opposite shamefully suppressed wages. They in fact made it a cunning design of their economic plan, undermining the spending power of customers that small businesses rely on to survive. Since coming to office, our Labor government has delivered pay rises for minimum and award wage workers, lifting annual incomes by more than $9,000. What happens when wages increase? People spend a bit more. This means local economies are strengthened. All kinds of small businesses like restaurants, cafes, gift shops, shoe stores—my favourite!—and bakeries benefit.”
“They have been thought through and they are changing lives in households, shopfronts and workplaces right across Australia. Yesterday, the independent Reserve Bank monetary policy board increased the cash rate by 25 basis points. We understand this will come as difficult news for millions of Australians with a mortgage and the pressure this puts on families and small-business owners juggling repayments, rent and cash flow. While the decision was widely expected, that doesn't make it any easier. That is why we continue to roll out responsible cost-of-living relief, including a further tax cut later this year and another one next year—tax cuts that benefit 1½ million sole traders and which put real money back into the small businesses that power local economies.”
“Had our cost-of-living-relief measures not passed, that is what would have hurt Australian families and the small businesses that rely on their spending. After nine long years of cuts, chaos and neglect, those opposite left behind a system that was fundamentally broken, where inflation was rising, wages were going backwards, productivity was stagnant and essential services—which small businesses depend upon—were hollowed out. That is their legacy. However, this second-term Albanese Labor government has chosen a very different path—one grounded in responsibility, fairness and targeted relief for working people and the small businesses that form the backbone of our economy. The measures we have passed through this place are not reckless; they are deliberate.”
“Let me begin by saying that the only thing reckless in this debate is the sheer nerve, the utter gall, of members of the Liberal Party standing up to lecture anyone on the economic responsibility of the cost of living, particularly when their record left Australian families and small businesses worse off. In the 47th parliament, the Liberal Party along with their then partners, now ex-partners, the National Party made it their mission to block every single cost-of-living measure introduced by this government, measures that would have supported households and the 2.6 million small businesses that employ nearly 40 per cent of the workforce. That was not responsible or principled; that was reckless.”
“Rita is additionally a member of the International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders, a member of the Lived Experience Advisory Committee, and is the Associate Director of the Lived Experience Workforce. Mr John McGrath received the OAM for his service to surf lifesaving and to the community. From 2011 to 2020, John was the Director of Communications at Far South Coast Branch Surf Life Saving New South Wales. In 2014, John became the deputy president of the surf life saving club and presided over this role for three years. John has been a member of the surf life saving community since 1964 and has played a major role in the communities in which he has served. I thank them all for their contribution to Aston and also our nation. Thank you.”
“I'd like to congratulate three of Aston's finest who received the Medal of the Order of Australia last week as part of the Australia Day 2026 honours list. Mrs Elizabeth Aylett OAM received the award for her service to netball. Elizabeth has been a netball player since 1952 and an umpire since 1964. Elizabeth is the founder of the White Horse Netball Association, and went on to become a life member of the association in 1981. Following her outstanding contribution to netball, the Lizzie Aylett Umpires Award was established in 2016. Mrs Rita Brown received the OAM for her service to community health. Rita has been the Australian Borderline Personality Disorder Foundation President and Chair since 2018, and foundation director since 2013.”
“From easing the burden of student debt to making homeownership more accessible and from strengthening Medicare to broadening education opportunities and supporting household budgets, these changes collectively contribute to the wellbeing and stability of families across my electorate. I want to wish all the people of my electorate all the very best over the holiday season. Stay safe when out driving. For those of you who celebrate it, have a very merry Christmas, and to all: have a happy new year in 2026.”
“Households across the Aston electorate, many of which have felt cost-of-living pressures, have benefited from additional assistance to manage utility bills, while tax adjustments have helped ensure that workers can earn more and keep more of what they earn. These measures offer both immediate relief and long-term financial stability. Furthermore, from 10 December 2025, the Albanese government's world-leading action to ban social media for under-16's will come into effect. The restrictions will aim to protect young Australians from pressures and risks that users can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts. As we reflect on the year it becomes clear that the broader national reforms delivered have had real, tangible effects on the Australian people.”
“This change has been particularly meaningful for residents in casual, part-time or shift based roles. This year the Albanese Labor government has additionally committed to ensuring that working parents who experience the unimaginable tragedy of stillbirth or early infant death can continue to access the employer paid parental leave to which they are entitled. The Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Bill 2025, which passed the parliament, makes that possible where it is consistent with an employee's terms and conditions of employment. At a time when cost-of-living pressures have been front of mind for families and small businesses, energy bill relief and tax changes have provided further support.”
“These measures contribute to a more accessible and affordable healthcare environment for the entire community. Education and vocational training have continued to support opportunities and skills development across electorates like Aston. The ongoing expansion of free TAFE has opened doors for people looking to retrain, upskill or pursue new career pathways. Local students and workers have benefited from easier access to courses that align with key industries in the outer eastern suburbs, helping strengthen both their employment prospects and their region's economic resilience. Workers in Aston have also seen practical improvements to their financial security through the introduction of payday super, which ensures that superannuation is paid at the same time as wages.”