Cameron Caldwell
Fadden · Liberal National Party · Australia
“I rise today with a heavy heart, because the scourge of domestic and family violence is no longer just a headline in the media for our local community. This week it has been happening in our own backyard. In Biggera Waters, 23-year-old Mallorie Jane Roberts, a young mum with a little son, was allegedly shot and killed in her own home.”
“I also want to acknowledge the courage of neighbour Sharon Burgess, who did what every decent Australian hopes they would. She called triple zero and desperately tried to save Mallorie's life until paramedics arrived. Sadly, Mallory could not be saved. Then, in Hope Island just a couple of nights ago, another horror unfolded.”
“To all of us in this place: we must be clear; domestic and family violence must be called out wherever it occurs. Backed by our brave police, frontline services, neighbours, families and a community that refuses to look away, we must work together to end domestic and family violence.”
“My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. In February 2026, a constituent of mine, Mr Austin, aged 98, had his aged-care application reviewed by Labor's AI tool. Despite his age and having suffered a life-threatening fall, his application was assessed as 'low priority'.”
“I second the amendment. I support the Manager of Opposition Business. This is a worthwhile amendment to the motion and one that respects the longstanding traditions held in relation to the conduct of this committee.”
“The housing minister has talked about a 10 to 20 per cent 'correction', and that should concern every Australian with a mortgage. That's not a housing plan; that's an admission that this government has lost control. Sadly, the great Australian dream has turned into a nightmare under this Labor government.”
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“All of this is pretty bad, but the inconsistency in the explanations from the Prime Minister has been quite interesting. You see, initially, back in question time on 3 September, he said that the reports of the return of these so-called ISIS brides were not accurate, but interestingly enough it appears that they have now landed in Australia and that the New South Wales police had been right. They were coming, and now they are here, and Minister Burke and this Labor government must explain it. (Time expired)”
“Will there be some sort of program of deradicalisation to ensure that, if they've brought their extreme ideology back to Australia, it will be impressed on them that that is not the Australia that we support? In fact, I'm pretty sure that, by the very nature of their support for an international terrorist group, they have committed offences. So perhaps the answer from Assistant Minister Hill will be that they're in jail. That'd be a great answer, because then we would know where they are and we'd know that the government has been able to keep Australians safe. But I suspect that's probably not going to be the response. Minister Hill would perhaps also like to explain what support the government provided to these people in their returning to Australia and how much it has cost Australians.”
“It was when Australians were shocked to hear that six people—two ISIS brides and their four children—had smuggled themselves out of Syria and had returned to Australia. This is a highly dangerous cohort of individuals who were members of the barbaric Islamic State regime. If it's not bad enough that these people are in our country, there are questions that I really want Minister Burke to answer. Or perhaps Assistant Minister Hill, in his stead, will answer these questions: Where are these ISIS brides now? Does the assistant minister know where they are located? Are our communities safe from these people—because I question whether or not, given the track record of this Labor government, it will have in fact carried out some pretty basic security screening on these people?”
“He is the Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and the Minister for Cyber Security, so I reckon he'd be the one to know the answers, but I appreciate the fact that he has sent along the Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, and I suppose that, on balance, that's better than nothing. In following on from the contribution of my good friend from the Sunshine Coast, the member for Fisher, I think it is right to point out that the first obligation of every government is to keep its citizens safe. On that very basic point, one has to call into question whether or not this Albanese Labor government has what it takes to defend our citizens and make sure that they are safe as they move around their communities. The most recent example that I can recall happened just this week.”
“The only person in this portfolio who has a track record of going missing more often is the former minister, Minister Giles, who we know was punted unceremoniously. Whilst Labor talks a big game on their national security credentials, the reality is far from it. I wanted to see Minister Burke here tonight because he is a very, very experienced parliamentarian. He's been in this place for 21 years, and I am sure he would know the answers to some of these questions that we will pose here tonight.”
“Whilst it's great to see you, Mr Deputy Speaker Small, I was really hoping to see Minister Burke here this evening. I think that the least he could probably have done with his evening was to come and share it with a few of us here in the Federation Chamber. You see, of late, the minister has really enjoyed getting around and seeing the sights of Australia and making his presence well known. Last week he was welcoming refugees at the airport, and then, while the Prime Minister was overseas, he was talking about modern Australia on the steps of the Opera House, just gently raising his profile. But today, in parliament, when we are in the middle of consideration in detail on the appropriation bill, the minister is not here.”
“I rise today on what is a wonderful day here in Canberra, but it's an even better day in Queensland because we have been extremely successful with our sporting teams. I should give a shout-out to the Brisbane Lions, who won back-to-back premierships.”
“I was moved at the time by the story and by the family's efforts to not have lost Tom in vain. I supported that small gesture. Within a very short period of time, Anzac Day rolled around, and John, Robyn and Annie were there. In that moment, the realisation of their pain hit me quite deeply. I was extremely proud to have played some part in ensuring that Tom's loss was never going to be without a lasting legacy. John, Robyn and Annie, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to you because you have gone and turned your pain into a positive message that we can use as a nation to redirect what happens in the future. This royal commission has played a role in ensuring that the legacy that Tom and you as a family have put forward will not be lost and will not be in vain. Thank you so much.”
“I rise briefly today to make a contribution on this matter. I want to, firstly, pay tribute to the contributions that have been made on both sides of the chamber on this issue. It's one that I think has been taken extremely seriously by all sides of politics, and there is a genuine and deep recognition of the issues that needed to be resolved. I rise particularly to pay tribute to some local residents that I've got to know very well: John and Robyn Halloran. John and Robyn lost their son, Tom, who served our nation. There was an enormous amount of pain for them and for Tom's sister, Annie, with his loss. The family first came to my attention when the local RSL at Runaway Bay approached me in my capacity as the local councillor to put a small plaque in memorial of Tom at our cenotaph at Runaway Bay.”
“One of the wonderful local clubs in the electorate of Fadden is the Paradise Point Sailing Club, and I recently caught up with President John Murphy to present him with a $3,000 cheque for training and essential equipment to help their volunteers. Recently they held their famous midwinter cup in August, and a big shout-out goes to Max Latt, who took out the John Murphy perpetual cup, and to Jack, Joshua and Leila, who also won that day.”
“The Southport Labrador Cricket Club is one of the icons of the northern Gold Coast, and the mighty Tigers have roots in the Gold Coast back to 1883. They play out of Morrie Glasman Oval at Arundel, which is a wonderful venue, and they recently had their AGM in August. Congratulations to continuing President Dean Johnson, Vice-President Don Gumm, Junior Vice-President Joel Smith, Secretary Terry Blacktopp, Treasurer Sherelle Gumm and the members of the general committee. I visited them recently to present them with a cheque for $3,000 to assist with the automation of their scoring system onto iPads, which, of course, will make things a lot easier for those hardworking volunteers. The scores will be uploaded online straightaway.”
“I recently visited the Northern Gold Coast Netball Association and caught up with Vice-President Melissa Roberts. Of course, I should give a shout-out to President Anne Blom as well. This is one of the largest netball associations on the Gold Coast, and I was very pleased to present them with a $3½ thousand volunteer grant to help them strengthen their programs and help with officiating by volunteers. Their twilight season starts on 9 October and caters for players aged nine to 14 years old, providing a social netball experience. These wonderful volunteers at all of the clubs, helping with playing and training, have a fantastic spirit, and full credit goes to the association for doing such a wonderful job for our young netballers.”
“This morning I rise to pay credit to the wonderful Coomera Cubs Baseball Club. I visited them recently to hand over a cheque for a $3½ thousand volunteer grant that is well deserved. This club is doing an incredible job at the northern end of the Gold Coast, and full credit to President Nick Day, Vice-President Andrew White, Head Coach Case Bunting and all of their team of trainers and volunteers. They've been going on the northern Gold Coast for nearly 20 years and, on the weekend, they took out three of the 2025 winter series grand finals—the majors, the minors and the masters—so they are doing extremely well. You go out there, and this place looks immaculate. Its professional and it's giving our kids a wonderful opportunity to play baseball.”
“We visited the Oxenford State School to watch a performance of Aladdin. It was a great night and a huge credit to Principal Brendan Creighton and Deputy Principal Kristin Tembaro. There was wonderful support from the P&C, from Melanie Pearson, Angela Geddes, Ava Abbott and Christine New. I want to give a special shout-out to Miss Price and the crew of volunteers who set up all the gear and painted all the backdrops, and to the students who did an incredible job in putting on a performance they should be very proud of.”
“Today I rise to pay tribute to a wonderful part of our community, to those in the suburb of Oxenford. Recently, I visited the Oxenford Men's Shed, where I caught up with President Keith Ward and Secretary Les Chapman. I provided them with a cheque for a grant of $3,500 to support their volunteers. That will help with tools, programs and safety. It was also great to catch up with John Spieker, Barry Watling, Taz Kendrick, Graeme Cook, Max Sutherland, Brian Sore, Tony Down, Michael Williams and Robert Loftus. Of course, it's worthwhile to reflect on the great work that the men's sheds do to provide a safe place for older men and to help them with their mental health. Additionally, last Saturday night I was fortunate enough to have a daddy-daughter night with my daughter, Clementine.”
“He's given himself a credit card, and it's got no limit. But the bill is going to be paid by every Australian—the ultimate buy-now pay-later scheme but with a repayment plan that's dumped on every Australian household. Over the last three years, Labor has racked up debt equivalent to every man, woman and child having a debt of $4,000. Australians deserve better, and the government's two strategies of debt and taxes are not a recipe for success.”
“That is an achievement not to be proud of. After three years, the Treasurer offered up a three-day think tank. But that wasn't even real; it was staged, because we know that big government, big unions and big super had already decided what the outcome was going to be. Everything was already in the newspapers. We read about it. The coalition has clearly outlined markers for success, and Labor has failed them. You don't raise living standards by raising taxes, you don't raise living standards by raising the cost of doing business and you don't raise living standards by raising the burden on future generations. The Treasurer wants you to believe he is careful with the nation's finances, but he has thrown out the budget rulebook so he can go on a spending spree at every Australian's expense.”
“At the last election you would have believed nothing other than the fact that Labor would deliver cheaper child care. But the reality is so different for the average Australian. I have a few words on our Treasurer. In the last three years, Labor has added $100 billion to the national debt. We'll hit a trillion dollars this year and $1.2 trillion by the time the next election rolls around. The Treasurer is planning a decade of deficits, and now he has, really, one option in his sights, and that's to come after everyday Australians to help him pay for it. We know that the Treasurer wants to etch himself in the history books. He wants to be on the mugs and the tea towels out there in the parliamentary shop. But no other Treasurer has sat on that bench and been responsible for a higher level of national debt.”
“There's only one mechanism that they can use to try and counteract what the Treasurer does, and that is to keep interest rates higher for longer. What does this mean for everyday Australians? It means that every single month the average mortgage holder is paying about $1,800 more on their mortgage than what they did when Labor first came to office in 2022. There are other markers that show why this Labor government is failing Australians: electricity prices are up by 39 per cent; gas, 39 per cent, rents, 20 per cent; and education, 17 per cent. I was recently contacted by a mother whose got some children in day care at Hope Island in my electorate. They explained that their daycare costs have now gone up by 25 per cent over two years.”
“The take-home message from this matter of public importance this afternoon is very simple. It's an important message for all of us in this place to remember, and that is that government spending and government decisions impact the lives of everyday Australians. It is more than fair for all of us on this side this afternoon to draw a clear line between what this Labor government have done over the last three years and the way that everyday Australians feel about their lives and their hip pockets. There are many examples of how they feel about their hip pockets and the bills that are landing in the mailbox. One example is in relation to mortgage expenses. As a result of government spending, inflation stayed too high for too long. The impact of that is that the Reserve Bank's hands are tied.”
“And today, ladies and gentlemen, you will see the Minister for Climate Change and Energy come in here. And, on another topic that's important to the youth of Australia—you care about the climate; you care about results—have a look at what has been happening with emissions reductions over the last three years. They have flatlined. This Labor government is all talk and no reductions. That's what's going on: a flat line now; actual gains under the coalition.”
“Today we've got the students and young people here from the National Leadership Forum joining us in the gallery. I want to take this opportunity to speak to you directly, because this place is where your future is created and where it's protected. We just heard the prior speaker—classic spin over substance! And if there's one thing to take away from your trip to Canberra, it's to look at the facts. There is absolutely no truth in the 'fact' that the housing crisis took 40 years; it has taken four years, under this Labor government. And what have they done this week? They have reheated, re-announced, a policy from our housing minister, announced in 2019. They're a bit slow to the party—six years down the track! That is why there's a housing crisis.”
“My good friend the member for Casey, who is a proud Victorian, provided to me earlier documentary evidence to prove this to be completely incorrect. Here's just one fact: the then minister for housing and assistant treasurer, the Hon. Michael Sukkar, put out a press release on 12 September 2019. Interestingly, the topic of this press release was, in fact, the scheme that Labor has rebadged, reheated and reannounced this week. I know how much the Labor Party loved the Hon. Michael Sukkar, and we've heard a lot about how good this policy is this week. They really should be talking up the vision of the Morrison coalition government, because we are clearly the ones who, six years ago, were trying to guide this government towards a solution. I think that a lot of credit should be given to Michael Sukkar for his work in this area.”
“In three short years, Labor has presided over the biggest population boom we've seen in the post-war era. When I talked about that housing target earlier, under the coalition government, almost 200,000 homes were being constructed each year. So this wasn't some whopping great ambitious target. It was just for the headline. It should have been able to be delivered by a competent government, but what we've seen is that this government is falling further and further behind. Their target is slipping further and further out of reach. It's slumped now to about 170,000 homes a year, which, quite frankly, is not going to get us there in an environment where we need more not fewer homes. One of the great things that those opposite love to say is that we didn't have a housing minister during the last coalition government.”
“When it was served up as an option at the last election, Labor, of course, criticised it, but now they've rebadged it and brought it back as their own idea. I think, despite the fanfare around housing this week, the Prime Minister knows that his minister is in trouble on this issue. Minister O'Neil used to sit somewhere right over there, not far behind the PM. She's now moved so far down the bench she's practically out the door. In fact, the real measure of her seniority is that she's further away from the PM than the member for Sydney—and we all know what that means: you're really out of favour. I think he sees failure on the horizon. He knows that it's coming, because Minister O'Neil has a track record of failures in foreign affairs, and now she's developing a track record of failures in housing.”
“It requires affordable materials, a skilled workforce and a planning system that can approve projects quickly, but right now materials are expensive, tradies are in short supply, and approvals are being bogged down in red tape. Instead of fixing those problems, Labor has chosen to clog the system with more bureaucracy, just papering it over with their photo-friendly announcements. We've heard that one of their great solutions is to freeze the construction code, but over the last three years this government has been addicted to adding regulation. There is not a single regulation that this government doesn't want to just wrap its arms around and bring into the fold. So the freeze has come literally three years too late.”
“Homebuyers are being pushed further and further away from the communities they grew up in. Renters are living in fear of the next lease renewal, knowing a hike or notice to vacate could upend their lives. The fundamental problem is that Labor has been pushing demand up while supply goes backwards. Net overseas migration topped half a million people last year, the biggest surge in our history, but the number of new homes being built has fallen. This is basic economics. More people but fewer houses equals higher prices, higher rents and ultimately more homeless people when the system fails. Building homes is not just about turning dirt.”
“When they took office, their ambitious plan promised 1.2 million homes over five years, and it sounded impressive—until, recently, we of course started to see what's going on in reality. The Housing Industry Association, backed by Treasury, has revealed the truth—that this actually quite modest target is going to be missed by some 400,000 homes. Labor announced the headline-grabbing $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, which, after all the fanfare and all the glossy photo ops, has constructed just 17 homes. To put it bluntly, a $10 billion program delivering just 17 homes is like promising to build a Surfers Paradise high-rise and turning up with a garden shed. On the Gold Coast, Labor's failure to deliver housing is hitting hard. Families are battling rising rents. House prices keep climbing out of reach.”
“One of the little-referred-to barriers is that higher interest rates become a barrier to buying. Your average dual-income family could have the capacity to borrow $100,000 more if interest rates were just one per cent lower. But what we've seen under the Albanese Labor government is that inflation has stayed too high for too long, and the Reserve Bank's response has been that, sadly, for every mortgage-paying Australian and every Australian that dreams of homeownership, mortgage rates have had to stay higher because interest rates must control the mechanisms that are resulting from the Treasurer's high-spending agenda. We must be realistic about this. Australia is facing a housing crisis, and the Albanese government are the ones to blame.”
“In that speech, I reflected on the importance of homeownership, and I'll read from that speech: I was fortunate enough to buy my first property during the time of the Howard government … I fear that the great Australian dream is being snatched away. We must strive … to increase homeownership. There is no better way to illustrate the collective ambition of our nation to have individual freedom and responsibility than to have people own their own home. Give as many people as possible the opportunity to have a stake in our nation. And my feelings on this topic have not wavered. We must strive to give Australians their piece of our nation. I think there's a lot of focus on housing policy and on what the housing minister has or hasn't done, but I don't want to let the Treasurer off the hook here.”
“On the Gold Coast, families work hard and small businesses sometimes open when their owners get back from a surf, and it's a place where young Australians still dream to have a home that they can call their own. The Liberal and National parties have always stood for that dream: homeownership, personal responsibility and a government that empowers, not controls. We are, and always have been, the party of homeownership. Under Labor, sadly the dream of homeownership is fast becoming a nightmare. The Minister for Housing, Ms O'Neil, promised that she had a plan. But unfortunately what's been delivered is nothing more than press releases and slogans. We're certainly just towards the end of maiden-speech season, which made me reflect on my own, which I delivered on 4 September 2023.”
“With 26 seconds to go, I would like to comment on the remarks made before by the member for Bennelong, who has now rewritten history by claiming the reduction in carbon emissions that was actually achieved under the Abbott, Morrison and Turnbull governments. In fact, what's happened in the last three years? The emission reductions have flatlined. The big gains were made under coalition governments, and I urge Australians to see the facts on this. (Time expired)”
“I commend the leaders, parents and volunteers who give so much of their time to ensure scouting thrives on the northern Gold Coast. Earlier this month, I attended the Runaway Bay Little Athletics open day. This remarkable club has now been serving our local community for more than 45 years. With around 400 members last season, it continues to be a thriving hub of activity and opportunity for local athletes. I congratulate centre manager Rene Doel, secretary Nikki and the entire committee for their dedication and leadership. Clubs like Runaway Bay Little Athletics are about more than sport; they are about belonging and building the confidence of the next generation. They remain an aspiration for our Gold Coast community.”
“Importantly, it also strengthens our grassroots community clubs that are the heartbeat of our local areas. Special mention to my state colleagues Michael Crandon, Mark Boothman, Sam O'Connor and, of course, Premier David Crisafulli, the member for Broadwater, who all continue to deliver for local families. Once again, it's the LNP supporting the next generation of Queenslanders to participate and thrive through sport. One of the great strengths of our community is the Scouting movement, which teaches resilience, leadership and service to young Australians. Recently, I was pleased to support the Helensvale Scout Group at their Bunnings sausage sizzle fundraising event. Scouting gives young people confidence, outdoor skills and a strong sense of responsibility to others. These are qualities that last a lifetime.”
“On 18 August each year our nation pauses to mark Vietnam Veterans' Day, honouring the more than 60,000 Australians who served in that conflict and remembering the 500 who never came home and the 2,400 who were wounded. Veterans were not shown the respect they deserved on their return, but today we stand united in gratitude. On the Gold Coast our veteran community remains strong, supported by local RSLs and service organisation. To all the Vietnam veterans and their families, we say thank you. Your courage, sacrifice and enduring legacy have strengthened our nation. I welcome the delivery by the Crisafulli LNP Queensland government of the $200 Play On! vouchers for children aged five to 17. This practical support will provide real relief for families and help more young people get active in sport.”
“Labor promised to back small business, but what have they delivered? No meaningful tax relief and no clear plan to address skill shortages—just more paperwork, more complexity and more spin. Our small businesses want government to get out of the way and let them succeed. They don't want handouts; they just want a fair go. It's time for a government that understands small business isn't just part of the economy; it is the economy. The small-business owners in my electorate of Fadden at the northern end of the Gold Coast deserve better than neglect from this Labor government.”
“Small business is the lifeblood of the northern Gold Coast, from Coombabah to Coomera, from Pacific Pines to Pimpama. These are the suburbs where Australians are taking risks, building futures and driving our local economy with hard work and pride. But, under this Labor government, they've been forgotten. While the recent roundtable focused on big business, big unions and big government, our small-business owners are burdened with rising costs, worker shortages and red tape that makes it harder to grow, harder to hire and, quite frankly, harder to stay afloat. Power bills are up, insurance is out of control and Labor's industrial relations changes have made life even more difficult for those trying to employ locally. Every extra cost, every form and every delay chips away at confidence and adds to the pressure.”
“We all agree that the scheme must be sustainable, but the way the government is handling reform is leaving families behind and anxious about the future. The parents at the AEIOU centre were not asking for luxury. They were asking for time, for answers and for the basic dignity of knowing their children wouldn't be forgotten. The coalition will always support sensible, clinically guided reform. But no child who needs support should be left behind and left wanting.”
“In June, the AEIOU centre in Arundel closed its doors—a specialist service for children with autism, gone overnight. Twelve families including children as young as two were given two weeks notice—two weeks to find new care, new therapy and new hope. Many have been forced back into mainstream settings that they know simply won't work for their kids. This was more than just a centre; it was a lifeline. Non-verbal children were learning to speak. Others were becoming toilet trained for the first time. They were thriving because they were finally understood. On 19 June I wrote to Minister Butler and Senator McAllister, urging them to step in, but, unfortunately, to date I have received no reply. Labor's changes to the NDIS are causing real anxiety for real families.”
“Well, she didn't mention a willingness to meet the clubs or to meet with me and didn't even really offer a way that this funding could be achieved through her office. She simply pushed us to a government website and suggested that they apply for future grants. In fact, one thing that I thought was particularly interesting was the paragraph where it says: 'She encourages the clubs to consider fundraising through the Australian Sports Foundation. All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.' Well, those $2 donations won't go a huge way to the $1.5 million project, the $550,000 project— (Time expired)”
“Last week, in this chamber, I spoke about the grassroots sporting clubs in my electorate—volunteer run, community backed clubs—the Coomera Colts, the Helensvale Pacific Pines Hawks, the Legends Football Club and the Southport Labrador Cricket Club, who are all seeking shovel-ready funding support to build inclusive changeroom facilities, particularly for female players. This was triggered because on 2 June I wrote to Minister Wells, the Minister for Sport, asking for her bipartisan support to progress projects that I had committed to prior to the recent election. Fortunately, after she hadn't responded for 51 days, my speech seemed to have awoken the minister from her slumber, and she then replied to my letter 56 days after I wrote it. What did she say?”
“I commend this motion moved by my good friend the member for Casey, and I say to the government: stop dithering, stop delaying and start delivering. The future won't wait, and neither will Australians.”
“But what they need and deserve is a government that will back them to succeed in an ever-changing world. Right now, they're not getting that. Instead of leading from the front, this Labor government is doing what it always does: try to wrap everything up in red tape and hope someone else figures it out. The AI revolution won't wait for Labor to catch up; it's already here. I want to see an Australia where AI helps reduce pressure on teachers, improves diagnosis in our health system and lets small businesses focus on growth, not red tape. I want to see public services become more efficient, not more robotic, and I want to see Australia as a leader in ethical, practical and locally driven AI. But we won't get there with a government stuck in the past.”
“We on this side believe AI should be used to make life easier, not more bureaucratic. We believe government should use these tools to serve Australians better, not create another excuse for inaction. And we believe in backing Australians with the skills and infrastructure to compete not just here but on the global stage. That means building a workforce that's ready and making sure the next generation of Australians can work with AI, not be replaced by it. And it means writing laws that protect our privacy and values without strangling the innovation that drives opportunity. Australia is full of smart, capable and forward-looking people—people who run small businesses, raise families, employ apprentices and back themselves. They know how to work hard and how to adapt.”
“How about starting with the basics, like getting Centrelink to pick up the phone or stopping the delays in Medicare processing that are frustrating Australians right across the country? They talk a big game on innovation, but what have they actually done—raised energy costs, floated new taxes, throttled business confidence. You can't run a modern economy, let alone an AI economy, on uncertainty and ideology. You need reliability, affordability and a government that backs people to have a go. Under Labor, we've seen the opposite. Energy bills are up, red tape is up and confidence is down—and there is a digital agenda that moves slower than a buffering livestream. I support this motion because I support technology that works for people, not the other way around.”
“While Australians and their communities are moving ahead, this Labor government is stuck at the lights, looking in the rear-vision mirror. We've had talkfests. We've had discussion papers. But what we haven't had is a real plan and real action. While other nations are investing in digital infrastructure, AI education and industry partnerships, Labor is still forming committees. Let's be honest. When the Prime Minister was asked about ChatGPT, he looked like he thought it was a breakfast cereal. You cannot lead a country through a digital revolution when you don't understand the tools that are at the centre of it. Labor says it wants to deliver efficiencies through AI.”
“I rise to support this motion from the member for Casey, because artificial intelligence is no longer coming; it's already here. It's in our homes, our schools, our workplaces and, yes, even the way our kids are doing their homework. AI is developing fast, and, if we don't get serious about it—really serious—then Australia risks being left well behind. The opportunities in front of us are massive. This technology can lift productivity, streamline services and spark new industries. Across electorates like mine, in the northern Gold Coast, we know what it means to adapt, to innovate and to get on with the job when change arrives. Our part of the world doesn't sit back and wait for government to catch up, but that's exactly the problem.”
“It was heartening to see such a strong turnout, with participating members reaffirming the shed's role as a place of purpose and connection for local men. I congratulate President Gordon Cowser and Secretary George on their re-election. Both are outstanding community leaders whose dedication has helped the shed thrive, particularly as they look to the future with their upcoming new premises. These people deserve our recognition and support for what they do for each other and for what they do for our community.”
“I rise to honour the North Gold Coast RSL Sub-Branch on the celebration of its 25th anniversary. This incredible milestone reflects a quarter of a century of unwavering service to veterans and their families in the region. It was celebrated with a gala dinner at Club Helensvale, attended by the state RSL president, Major General Stephen Day. From its humble beginnings, the sub-branch has grown into a vital pillar of support, providing comraderie, welfare advocacy and a sense of belonging to those who have served our nation. I commend President Ken Golden and all members past and present for their tireless commitment, and I thank them for upholding the ANZAC spirit in our region. Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending the annual general meeting of Men's Shed Labrador, a group that exemplifies mateship and mental wellbeing.”
“I've built a business, I've raised a family, I've served in local government, and now I serve here with one purpose: to defend the dignity of work, the value of aspiration, the hope of a better tomorrow and the inherent values that we have as Australians. I will always oppose policies that entrench dependence. I will support policies that lift people up, and I will hold this government to account every step of the way, because Australians deserve better. They deserve a government that doesn't just promise but performs, one that doesn't just talk but actually delivers. I, as always, will be here on this side ready to serve, and we as a coalition will not remain silent.”