Jodie Belyea
Dunkley · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“For me, this shift became clear when I was confronted and intimidated by a group of 12 men, from a fringe organisation, intent on preventing me from speaking openly with members of the community, a mother and her daughter. It was a stark reminder that the tone of politics in our country is changing and changing quickly.”
“Over these past few weeks I've had an increasing number of conversations about the state of democracy in Australia. At the Langwarrin probus club I was asked what I thought about democracy and the current state of politics.”
“Democracy depends on engagement. It requires people to ask questions, to listen carefully and to disagree without being disagreeable. It is strongest not when everyone agrees, but when everyone believes they have a place in the conversation. The young people I met reminded me that engagement is not the problem—disconnection is.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. Tomorrow is 1 July. Why is this an important day for those of us who are committed to strengthening Medicare, helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn and delivering real change? Is there anything standing in the way of these efforts?”
“It provides strong mechanisms to protect public funds, enforce compliance and maintain the integrity of programs that support healthcare delivery across the country. Importantly, it also provides a framework that can support future primary care initiatives as Australia's health system continues to evolve.”
“This is an important piece of legislation that strengthens the foundations of Medicare and supports the delivery of affordable, accessible and high-quality health care for Australians.”
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“It will improve access to the freeway by reducing vehicles using the Gladesville Boulevard roundabout to turn into the freeway. It will improve road safety and reduce the likelihood of crashes. It will improve intersection performance and reduce congestion. The $25 million investment will support locals travelling to and from the south-east and Mornington Peninsula. It is a welcomed budget decision that will ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians using these much frequented areas.”
“With the suburbs of Patterson Lakes, Chelsea, Chelsea Heights and Bonbeach becoming part of the electorate of Dunkley, I have been out and about talking to locals in these communities. An issue of great concern for locals, which they've spoken to me about at the doors and on the phones, is the lack of safety at the Thompson Road and Mornington Peninsula Freeway intersection. This is for both motorists and pedestrians who live nearby and use the intersection frequently. I am very pleased to announce the federal Labor government is responding to these long-held concerns by announcing an upgrade to this major intersection. This will include installing traffic signals at the entry ramps at Thompson Road, Patterson Lakes and the Mornington Peninsula Freeway.”
“This announcement is a tribute to all of you—Australian women who have worked so hard for so long to have their voices heard on this very important topic.”
“This investment has been informed by extensive consultation with women, healthcare providers, advocacy groups and the National Women's Health Advisory Council and the findings of two separate Senate inquiries. This announcement is a result of having women in leadership at the big table in the highest level of government. Half of the members of the Labor Party are women, and they are making significant contributions alongside our male counterparts. I have been fortunate to have the income to seek help and pay for medicines to support my menopause journey; however, I know for many women, the cost of treatment has been a big issue. This announcement levels the playing field and ensures women can get the help they need when they need it. Thank you to the women out there that have shared their stories and led the charge.”
“By presenting this package and making this announcement in federal parliament and in the national media, we are giving women, girls and those that love and support them permission to talk about this topic, to get educated and to get the help they need when they need it. To my colleagues, thank you for your leadership on women's reproductive health. I would also like to thank the women in my community of Dunkley who have shared their stories and amplified the importance of increased support. Kit McMahon and Laura Riccardi from Women's Health in the South East and Cathy Halmarick from Peninsula Health have also been involved in running a forum on menopause to shine a light on this issue. It's started the process of demystifying a hot topic and enabling women to feel unashamed for asking for help and sharing experiences.”
“Medicare rebates for insertion of IUDs and birth-control implants will increase by up to 150 per cent, with around 300,000 women each year expected to save $400 in out-of-pocket costs. We will open more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, treating more conditions, while those that suffer from uncomplicated UTIs will be able to consult a trained pharmacist at no cost. The PBS listings come into effect almost immediately on 1 March, and the remaining measures will be implemented following the re-election of the Albanese Labor government. These changes could save women and their families thousands of dollars across their lifetime.”
“For the first time in more than 20 years we are listing new menopausal hormone therapies. From 1 March we will have a range of hormone therapies listed on the PBS, including EstroGel and EstroGel Pro, helping to secure supply and end the shortage of these important treatments. More than 150 women each year are expected to save $290 a year or up to $577 a year with a concession card. Two new oral contraceptive pills have been added to the PBS for the first time in more than 30 years—Yaz and Yasmin—saving 50,000 women $250 to $300 dollars a year. Work is under way to list more contraceptive pills. There will be more choice, lower costs and better access to long-term contraceptives. One in 10 Australian women use a long-term contraceptive compared to one in eight in New Zealand, one in seven in Ireland, and one in three in Sweden.”
“I always remember my grandmother talking about 'The Change'. She, like many women, felt embarrassed and ashamed to talk about menopause and medical issues, but this week that changed. Just like that, reproductive health is the hottest topic in health this week, because we have introduced more Medicare support for women experiencing menopause. A new Medicare rebate of around $110 for menopause health assessments will be introduced so women can get the care and support they need from their family GP. Funding will be provided to train health professionals, the first ever clinical guidelines will be developed, a national awareness campaign will be rolled out, and specialist support for menopause will be provided at the 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics.”
“I felt totally ashamed and embarrassed. This is the reality of many women experiencing reproductive health issues, with many women choosing to leave the workforce. The women's economic and equality task report, chaired by our Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC, notes the cost of women not engaging in employment to our economy is $128 billion. Reproductive health issues like period pain, endometriosis and menopause have a significant impact on women's employment. I'm sure there are many people listening to this who will know a woman—a wife, a partner, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a grandmother—who has to stay at home from work or school because of reproductive health issues. Until more recently, we haven't spoken about our experiences openly. The topic of reproductive health has been placed in a closet, spoken about in hushed tones.”
“But as time went on that approach stopped working—there were the night sweats, the insomnia, the muscle cramps and the sore joints, and my wellbeing was waning with every month that transpired. I eventually turned to Western medicine to get things under control. Thanks to Dr Sandi Vinson Bromberger and Hayley Binding, who have both supported me to navigate the menopause journey. Without your medical advice, I may not be working at all. The Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care spoke in the chamber just yesterday about her experience during perimenopause, with flooding on a tram on her way to work, and the embarrassment and sense of helplessness she felt. I remember when I was transitioning from perimenopause to menopause, sitting in a meeting on my first day of a new job, with my new boss, and having to get up due to flooding.”
“On Sunday this past week, there was a groundbreaking announcement by the Minister for Finance and the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care focusing on providing accessible reproductive health care for women and girls. The Albanese Labor government is building Australia's future and strengthening Medicare with an investment of more than half a billion dollars to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women with $573 million over five years. Women have asked government persistently to take their health care seriously, and we have listened. Here in the Federation Chamber today we are talking about it in the most unusual of places. In my late 40s I transitioned into menopause. I spent the first four to five years treating it using alternative medicine.”
“We have delivered the upgrade to Jubilee Park Stadium; the upgrade to Ballarto and Hall Road; two commuter car parks at Frankston and Kananook; upgrades to Emil Madsen Reserve; the new facilities for Sikh Volunteers Australia; a bulk-billed Medicare urgent clinic right in the heart of Frankston; thousands of dollars in grants to local community organisations and RSLs, including $2.2 million for community organisations, volunteers and sporting clubs; and soon we will have the groundbreaking Frankston basketball stadium. On top of this, Labor has delivered locally a newly redeveloped Frankston Hospital and a brand-new Chisholm TAFE. We have been laying the foundations for implementing the Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre to have a thriving Frankston.”
“Labor has been delivering for Dunkley in spades, with my community seeing projects delivered ranging from Medicare urgent care clinics and sporting pavilions to road upgrades and community centre upgrades to brand-new commuter car parks. Over the past three years, approximately $220 million has been invested in our community alone.”
“And I cannot forget fee-free TAFE, with over 600 places funded to date and TAFE listed as enduring for years to come. If the opposition get in, all they can promise is a nuclear fantasy—a project that's going to cost $600 billion—and financial cuts across our industries and sectors of $350 billion. The opposition have no plans and no policies to help Australians. They voted against every single cost-of-living measure, and the people of Dunkley will be worse off. (Time expired)”
“I've been the member for Dunkley for roughly 11 months, and I can tell you that the Albanese Labor government has been laser focused on easing cost-of-living pressures on families in Australia. We know people are doing it tough, so that's why this government has enacted a range of targeted measures to help people. We've given tax cuts to every taxpayer, meaning more Australians are keeping more of what they earn. We've got wages moving again, with our early childhood educators and aged-care workers all receiving a pay increase. We've introduced cheaper child care and cheaper medicines. Every Australian household has received a $300 rebate off their power bill, with each small business getting $325. We've delivered HECS relief with more on offer, with a potential 20 per cent promised in our second term of government.”
“The road toll is an issue, particularly in big cities like Melbourne and in communities like Dunkley, with people driving far too fast on local roads. Lowering speed limits in high-risk areas, building more speed humps—a recommendation from Dunkley locals when I'm on the doors—and enforcing stricter penalties for speeding offenders will significantly reduce fatalities, because excessive speed is a major factor in fatal crashes and the road toll. Road crashes remain one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in our country, and my family knows that far too well. I urge everyone to watch their speed, particularly our newest P-platers on the road. The road toll is just far too high. Any death on Australian roads is one death too many.”
“The $6.5 million given to Frankston City Council by the federal government includes a $2.8 million increase from the prior five years. On a national level, we have also increased funding under the Black Spot Program from $110 million to $150 million per year and created the new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program. That will increase over time to $200 million per year. The government is also committed to improving data collection and using it to increase road safety, including ensuring there are improved data-sharing requirements for state and territories. This was something the Liberals and Nationals refused to do when they were in government. For the first time, it creates a requirement for the provision of a nationally consistent dataset on roads to help address the issue.”
“Behind these numbers we hear about are devastated families, communities grieving and an economic toll that stretches into the billions. Every one of us has a role to play in reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities on our roads. The safety of drivers on our roads is a priority for the Albanese government, and this government has done an immense amount of work to address this issue, more so than the opposition. On a very practical level, we have more than doubled the Roads to Recovery Program funding, from $500 million to $1 billion per year. This is funding that will go to local councils, like Frankston City Council, to deliver road safety projects across the country. In Dunkley alone, the federal government will spend more than $6.5 million to fix roads in the next five years.”
“As the mother of an 18-year-old young man who just got his licence, along with many of his friends, this is of deep concern. We know young men, in particular, take risks when driving. Ensuring they keep their speed down is critical. You will often hear me say, when I'm Flynn's passenger in the car, 'Slow down.' The other issue that impacts the road toll, which I hear about in my electorate of Dunkley when I'm out and about on the doors, is the state of the roads—the potholes that create damage to cars and tires and that have people veering off in the wrong direction when they hit the holes or try to dodge them. Potholes make driving dangerous, particularly when excessive speed is involved at night and in the rain.”
“I'm pleased to join my colleagues the member for Solomon and the member for Macarthur in speaking on this motion moved by the member for Barker. Every day, Australians set out on their daily commutes to work, on school runs and on long-haul drives, trusting that they will reach their destination safely, while many people set off on holidays across the country, travelling in caravans and motorhomes. This past 12 months, we have lost 1,300 lives. This is the highest road toll since 2012. The road toll has risen each year for the past four years. This increase has not been seen since 1966 or before the introduction of compulsory seatbelts. The road safety crisis is now killing more than a hundred Australians every month and hospitalising a hundred Australians every day.”
“We have invested record amounts into bulk-billing and created an additional 103,000 bulk-billed visits to the GP every week, on average, or 5.4 million additional bulk-billed visits since November 2023. This means there have been an additional 36,000 bulk-billed visits to GPs in Dunkley as a result of our tripling of the bulk-billing incentive.”
“This funding will be delivered to states and territories to help cut waiting lists, reducing waiting times in emergency rooms and managing ramping. We have built 87 Medicare urgent care clinics, relieving pressure on emergency rooms and helping people seeking care when their GPs are closed. These clinics are open from 8 am until 10 pm, Monday through to Sunday, providing access to medical support that doesn't clog up the hospital system—and all you need is your Medicare card. My community is fortunate. We have the Frankston Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which I've been working hard to promote to make sure local people in Dunkley are aware of it. There have been nearly 27,000 visits to this clinic in Frankston as of 13 January 2024.”
“For many people in my country living with chronic conditions, life-saving drugs available on the PBS at a fraction of their actual cost are literally crucial for their survival, preventing financial hardship for those with chronic illness and other serious health conditions. This is a government that values Medicare and the health of all Australians. The Albanese Labor government is continuing to improve our health system, strengthening Medicare, easing cost-of-living pressures with cheaper medicines and embedding new mental health services in Medicare. Just yesterday there was a phenomenal announcement of the delivery of an additional $1.7 billion to fund public hospitals and health services next year.”
“This has made primary health care more accessible, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, students, and low-income families. Medicare also plays a crucial role in funding Australia's public hospitals, ensuring that emergency and essential medical services are available to all. Public hospitals provide world-class care, from life-saving surgeries to chronic disease management, without the financial stress that often accompanies private health care in other nations. Alongside Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme ensures that Australians have affordable access to necessary medications.”
“Prior to Medicare, access to health care in Australia was largely dependent on private insurance or personal financial means. A lengthy hospital stay before Medicare could cause significant financial distress for people on low or no income. If you could afford private insurance, depending on how long you paid for it, it could run out during your hospital stay. The establishment of Medicare was a bold and necessary step towards eliminating these disparities, and change the healthcare system it certainly did. It ensured every Australian and permanent resident had access to essential healthcare services and necessary treatments without the financial burden. One of the greatest strengths of Medicare is bulk-billing for GPs.”
“My speech in the debate tonight is on a very special birthday that just passed: the 41st birthday of Medicare, an extraordinary social program that has changed the lives of millions of Australians. Since its introduction in 1984 by the Hawke Labor government, Medicare has transformed the lives of millions, ensuring that access to quality health care is not a privilege reserved for the wealthy but a fundamental right of all Australians. Medicare's journey began with a vision that no Australian should have to choose between their health and financial security. When the system was introduced under the Hawke government, it faced significant political and ideological opposition, yet the idea behind it was simple—that health care should be available to all, regardless of income, social status or geographic location.”
“Congratulations to you all for your dedication towards creating a safer, supportive and thriving community. You are all local legends. Our sense of community is strong in Frankston, in Dunkley. It is evident in our schools, our sporting clubs, our volunteer organisations and our new citizens—all working together to make Dunkley a better place.”
“It was a pleasure to welcome hundreds of new Australian citizens to the Frankston community at the Australia Day ceremony just a few weeks ago. Thank you to Frankston City Council, Mayor Kris Bolam, councillors and my state colleague Paul Edbrooke. To our newest citizens, welcome to you all. You join us in sharing the values that define Australia—respect, inclusivity and a fair go for all. You are now part of our rich and vibrant fabric. Whether you arrived here seeking new opportunities or a change of scenery, your presence strengthens our community. I would also like to acknowledge Frankston City Council's Australia Day award winners: Wayne Hollingsworth, Frankston Citizen of the Year; Heather Stewart, the founder from Women and Mentoring; and David McFarlane, Young Citizen of the Year.”
“There is a clear choice at this election. The opposition, the Liberal and National parties, will cut free TAFE funding, and all Australians will pay more for TAFE. This government is opening doors for people with TAFE so that they can get well-paid, secure work and build their future. Under the Albanese government, free TAFE is here to stay to help build Australia's future—a future made in Australia.”
“We cannot risk those opposite limiting access to vocational education and cutting off pathways for workers in essential and critical industries. We would have further cuts to vocational education if they were in government, blocking many Australians from reaching their full potential and having access to qualifications they need. This would only further exacerbate the critical skill shortages in Australia, meaning projects in housing, infrastructure and energy would be further delayed. This is not in the economic interest of our nation nor in our national interest. The Liberals don't respect our public TAFEs. They don't understand or value the importance of TAFEs in our local communities. They have shown they'll go for cheap and fast-tracked training over a well-supported and trusted VET sector with TAFE at the heart.”
“We are working to train people in construction so we can build more homes and to train more people in nursing and childcare professions so that we have the nurses that we need in hospitals, aged-care workers and childcare educators to educate and care for our children. There is a huge risk if the Leader of the Opposition gets his hands on TAFE. The opposition has refused to back our additional free TAFE and VET places for construction, our new energy apprenticeships and the financial supports and incentives to prioritise apprentices and employers. Last time they were in government, we saw their efforts to dismantle our TAFE and VET system. They cut $3 billion of funding from the VET system and TAFE last time they were in government.”
“It's also an investment in the future prosperity of Australia, a future made in Australia. I hear a lot in my local community that free TAFE is literally changing lives. That's because many in my community who may not be well-off financially or may not have done as well as they would have liked in school get the opportunity to chase their dreams with no financial barrier. Workforce shortages in critical areas shouldn't just be acknowledged; they should be acted upon. The government has a duty to act to fill the shortages, and that's exactly what the free TAFE will act to do. This government has acted in the best interests of the country, industry and, most importantly, people wanting a career.”
“It's motivating to see how many residents are benefiting from the fantastic opportunities that this Labor government has provided. I know at least five people from my family and friendship group benefiting from free TAFE. They are studying nursing, childcare, electrical and IT courses, and the list goes on. I love catching up and hearing their enthusiasm as they talk to me about completing a subject or their course. They have a real sense of purpose that they are working towards a career and that they can afford to. Contrary to what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has stated—the Liberal spin—free TAFE is not undervalued just because it's free. It is, in fact, valued because it is an investment in people and their ability to have a career in the field they choose.”
“We spoke to many different students, studying everything from nursing to mental health, youth work and community services. They all spoke of how free TAFE has quite literally changed their lives by removing the financial barrier to reskilling. In my beautiful electorate of Dunkley, over 2,000 apprentices are currently working towards a nationally accredited qualification because of free TAFE. I regularly speak to people from Dunkley, either at their door or on the phone, who want to reskill or upskill. A young person who is unsure of their future—I hear about their concerns about what to do now that they have finished VCE. I share a little of my journey with TAFE, and I talk to them about looking at TAFE courses, because TAFE is a legitimate and important pathway for young people, for women and for men wanting to reskill and upskill.”
“The Albanese Labor government has a minister for housing and has injected $32 billion into building housing supply across the nation, the greatest investment in housing by any federal government. Central to meeting the housing crisis is having enough tradies and apprentices to build the homes that we need. Thanks to the work of the Minister for Education, we recently announced that apprentices in the construction industry—those training to be builders, electricians and plumbers—will receive a $10,000 incentive to support them to complete their apprenticeships, an innovative investment aimed at making a difference for individuals, industry and our future made in Australia. Late last year, I had the dedicated and passionate Minister for Skills and Training in my electorate, and we visited the Chisholm TAFE.”
“Their first step on this journey has been returning to education, and TAFE has been the pathway that women from MEGT and the Women's Spirit Project—those recovering from trauma and disadvantage—turn to every time because it helps them build their skills and capacity. It supports them to build their confidence and kickstart their career without struggling financially. We need a coordinated response to the skills shortages that this country is facing. This bill ensures that free TAFE addresses workforce shortages in industries of local and national priority, helping skill up workers Australia needs for a strong economic future and a secure and sovereign future. As everyone knows, we have a housing crisis in this country, a result of the opposition not taking action on this issue during the 10 years they were in government.”
“This legislation will establish free TAFE as an enduring feature of the national vocational education and training system, funding 100,000 free TAFE places a year from 2027. This legislation will provide ongoing certainty to students, employers and industry, as well as states and territories, and an understanding that the Commonwealth government is committed to investing in skills and TAFE. Importantly, free TAFE is supporting Australians who've experienced barriers to education, with 35,000 people with disabilities and over 30,000 First Nations Australians taking up the opportunity to study at TAFE. Through my past work, heading up the MEGT Foundation and the Women's Spirit Project, I have mentored and coached women, to build their courage and confidence and steer them to set career goals.”
“Not to show my age, but it was also just before the Liberals in Victoria gutted our TAFEs during the 1990s. Those opposite, when in government, cut $3 billion of funding from the VET system and TAFE. It's no wonder we have a skills shortage that has fed a crisis in housing and other sectors, such as the childcare education and aged-care sectors. The Albanese Labor government values TAFE deeply. Unlike the opposition, we are committed to investing in the skills Australia needs to drive economic growth and provide secure and well-paid work for Australia. We need TAFE to help build Australia's future, a future made in Australia. There can be no doubt that free TAFE has been a huge success. In the first 21 months of free TAFE, there have been over 600,000 enrolments. And, with this bill, free TAFE is here to stay.”
“I'm pleased to speak on the Free TAFE Bill 2024. As a former TAFE student and teacher, speaking on this topic is very important to me, and is one that I care about deeply. TAFE changed my life for the better, giving me the skills I needed to pursue the jobs and career I wanted. I entered TAFE in my mid-20s, following a number of years working as a secretary. I'd been working in the disability sector as a volunteer, working with young people. I wanted to pursue a career in youth work and community development. Chisholm TAFE gave me the opportunity to study and learn about youth work and community development in greater detail. TAFE gave me the opportunity to develop skills and confidence, to study as a young woman, and this was before it was even free. It led me to an incredible career that has led me here.”
“An Australian household with two workers earning an average income would have been around $7,200 worse off under those opposite. If those opposite win the next election, they will take the country backwards and the people of Australia will become worse off. Living standards will go backwards. We know this because, firstly, they have no policy offerings. They have stated they want to reduce spending, pushing wages down, pushing electricity prices up, cutting Medicare to pay for nuclear and, of course—their newest thought bubble—cutting cost-of-living help to pay for long lunches for bosses. We have listened and we have acted. Labor's cost-of-living measures are targeted to support those doing it tough while carefully managing inflationary pressures, delivering real relief while keeping spending under control.”
“One of the areas I love to talk about the most as a past TAFE student —as my colleague from the Hunter knows very well—is free TAFE. It is excellent that it is free. We have supported over 600,000 enrolments into free TAFE, enabling people to get access to the skills and training they need at no cost. If re-elected, we will continue to provide ongoing cost relief by removing financial barriers to education and training, particularly for groups that typically experience economic disadvantage. I hear from my constituents in my electorate, in Dunkley, at street stalls and during doorknocks about the strain on their household budgets. They're feeling the pressure, but they also understand that inflation is driven by serious global factors.”
“We have made medicines cheaper, making them more affordable for Australians. We froze the PBS co-payment for five years and expanded the PBS register to include more life-saving medications. Here in Dunkley, our policies have already saved residents over $2.2 million on prescription costs. For those who need support the most—pensioners and concession cardholders—PBS medications now cost no more than $7.70, ensuring no-one has to choose between health and the household budget. Our cheaper child care policy is delivering cost-of-living relief for more than one million Australian families by cutting out-of-pocket costs. Since cheaper child care came into place, average out-of-pocket costs dropped from $4.22 an hour in June 2023 to $3.66 in June 2024.”
“When our government was elected, inflation had a six in front of it, but now inflation has a two in front of it, easing the pressure on household finances. Our efforts have been substantial across every area. This time last year, when I was campaigning for the by-election in Dunkley, we announced tax cuts for every taxpayer. Now every Australian taxpayer has a tax cut, making a real difference for 13.6 million Australians and ensuring that hard-working Australians are keeping more of the wages they earn. These tax cuts have been good for Middle Australia, good for women, good for helping with cost-of-living pressures, good for labour supply and good for the economy. There has been $300 in energy bill relief for every household and a $325 rebate for every small business.”
“I'm pleased to speak on this matter of public importance to point out some obvious mistruths by those opposite. Firstly, it's the notion that things were better when those opposite were last in office. When Labor came to office, inflation was high and rising, real wages were going backwards and the budget was weighed down by a mountain of debt and waste. Tackling inflation is a tough challenge. There's no quick fix, and those opposite know it. We know CPI indicators can fluctuate, but let me be clear: without Labor's cost-of-living relief, inflation would be even higher. Whilst the opposition plays politics with the serious global inflation that has impacted Australians, we have got on with the task of providing targeted cost-of-living relief whilst delivering record jobs growth, bringing inflation down and reducing debt by $177 billion.”