Ash Ambihaipahar
Barton · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“They enable earlier, more effective information-sharing to support continuity of care, proactive outreach and smoother transition arrangements, including the earlier transfer of relevant information from Defence to DVA so that claims are processed faster, compensation reaches people sooner and individuals identified as being at increased…”
“Care is not yielding; care is valued work, and we are building a system that treats it that way. He speaks of the social conditions for hope. For too many Australians, homeownership has become a source of despair, rather than aspiration. First home buyers can access a five per cent deposit.”
“It is part of the Albanese Labor government's ongoing, deliberate work to implement the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide—a royal commission this government called for while it was in opposition, because we understood that the scale of veteran suicide in this country demanded more than sympathy.”
“When Pope Leo warns against systems that reduce the person to an algorithm, this Labor government answers, 'Not here—not on our watch.' This letter speaks of the value of work not merely as economic activity but as an expression of human dignity. Catholic social teaching has always held that a fair day's work demands a fair day's pay.”
“Pope Leo also wrote that technology must serve human people, not shape them. Labor's reform, Australia's social media ban for under-16-year-olds, says the same thing in the language of legislation—that no algorithm should be permitted to interrupt a child's becoming.”
“But I want to highlight to this House that progress is not the same as completion, and the work does not end with the passage of this legislation. The health and wellbeing of our defence personnel, our veterans and their families must remain a standing priority of this parliament, not fleeting.”
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“This is a proportionate response. It protects the integrity of the system. It protects respondents, often small businesses, from the time and cost of defending claims that should never have been brought. It frees up the commission's capacity to focus on matters that genuinely require its attention. I want to emphasise that strengthening the commission's ability to deal with vexatious or misconceived applications is not about limiting workers' access to justice; it is about protecting that access. It's ensuring that a system is not so clogged with bad-faith or AI generated noise that genuine claims cannot be heard. The workers I represented deserved a commission that had the time and resources to properly hear their cases, and so do the workers of today.”
“In my time at the bar table, I encountered applications that lacked merit, and that is inevitable in any legal system. Not every claim succeeds—and not every claim should—but there is a meaningful difference between a claim that fails on merits and a claim that was never a legitimate claim at all. The commission's current powers to dismiss applications that are misconceived or lacking in substance are being tested by the volume and the character of some of the applications now being generated, sometimes with the assistance of AI tools that can produce plausible-looking documents without any genuine legal foundation beneath them. The bill broadens the grounds on which the commission may dismiss such applications and, critically, enables the commission to prevent vexatious litigants from making further applications.”
“The general protection provisions of the Fair Work Act exist to protect some of the most fundamental rights of a worker: the right to exercise a workplace right, the right to take industrial action and the right to be free from adverse action. These are serious protections, but the commission's ability to deal efficiently with these matters has been disrupted by the unintended consequences of the Milford decision, which now requires the commission to address the jurisdictional issues before getting to the substance of the actual dispute. This bill corrects that, and it is the right thing to do. On the question of artificial intelligence and misconceived applications, this is a genuinely new challenge. The bill's response is measured and very sensible.”
“The commission's workload has grown substantially, and the bill before us identifies several new pressures: the rising prevalence of paid agents making applications of very questionable merit; the emergence of artificial intelligence being used to generate applications that are misconceived or frivolous; and consequences of the Milford decision, which has imposed significant additional procedural burdens on the commission that were never intended. I want to speak to each of these, because each reflects something I recognise from practice. On the Milford decision—when I was appearing in general protections matters, one of the things I valued about that jurisdiction was that it was nimble.”
“When I was appearing in the commission proceedings as a young lawyer—whether it was a general protections application for an ETU member who had been sacked after raising a safety concern or an unfair dismissal matter for a hospitality business owner—I saw firsthand how important it was that the commission could operate efficiently. When a worker is dismissed, every week that passes without resolution is another week of financial stress, anxiety and uncertainty. And for employers, too—unresolved disputes hanging over a business creates uncertainty. It adds to costs and impacts operations significantly not only financially but also through the added pressure for other team members in the business.”
“I also worked for the Australian Hotels Association and their legal firm, advising employers in the hospitality sector—some were small, family-run operations who were trying to navigate a system that can feel complex and overwhelming. I regularly appeared in front of the Fair Work Commission as well as the Federal Circuit Court. I say this not to pad out my biography but more in relation to this particular bill not being an academic one. Every provision in it corresponds to something I have seen with my own eyes, experienced in real time and felt the weight of on behalf of real people. Let me start with the Fair Work Commission, because I think we sometimes forget what an extraordinary institution it is and what we ask of it.”
“I rise to speak in support of the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026, and I do so with a particular sense of purpose. Before I came to this place, I spent more than 10 years in the workplace relations and employment law trenches. I worked for the Electrical Trades Union, standing beside electricians and apprentices who had been shortchanged, underpaid or dismissed without cause. I also worked with the Nurses and Midwives Association, representing nurses working double shifts in understaffed wards who came to me pretty much exhausted and afraid of what would happen if they did speak up.”
“Written and directed by Bus Stop Films co-founder Genevieve Clay-Smith, Boss Cat follows 23-year-old Sonja as she fights to hold on to her independence and identity while becoming a renowned krumper. Olivia Hargroder is an outstanding actor, particularly in her role as lead actress. She absolutely steals the show. I was very honoured to attend the premiere as part of the Sydney Film Festival. I hope this is the first of many feature films to come. Congratulations to the B oss Cat team and everyone at Bus Stop Films.”
“I rise to celebrate Boss Cat , the first feature film from Bus Stop Films. Bus Stop Films is a disability-led, not-for-profit social enterprise. It has a large reach across the nation, but I'm very proud that it's based in my electorate of Barton. For years, Bus Stop Films has pioneered inclusive filmmaking. It has opened doors for people with disability to access training, employment and real opportunity across the arts and media sectors. But its work does more than create pathways. It changes attitudes. It changes how people think about disability, creativity, independence and contribution. Now, it has premiered its first feature film, B oss Cat .”
“We cannot allow organised crime to continue generating billions of dollars while communities bear the consequences. We cannot allow decades of public health progress to be undermined by illegal and unregulated products flooding the market. Smoking still kills, on average, 66 Australians every day and accounts for 20 per cent of the nation's cancer diagnoses. Two out of three long-term smokers will die of a tobacco related illness. This bill represents a measured, targeted and proportionate response to a growing national problem. It strengthens penalties, improves investigative powers, enhances proceeds-of-crime mechanisms and reinforces cooperation between governments and law enforcement agencies. Most importantly, it sends a very clear message that illicit tobacco crime will be treated with the seriousness it deserves.”
“It's about protecting legitimate businesses that are doing the right thing. It is about protecting public health outcomes that generations of Australians have worked very hard to achieve. it's about ensuring that criminal organisations cannot continue to exploit weaknesses in the law for massive financial gain. The government understands that strong laws alone will not solve every aspect of this challenge. Our ongoing enforcement, cooperation and investment will remain essential, but legislation such as this provides the necessary foundation to ensure our agencies have the powers and tools required to respond effectively. We cannot allow Australia to become an attractive operating environment for criminal syndicates seeking to profit from illicit tobacco.”
“South Australia and Queensland have reported reductions in illegal trade activity in areas where intensive enforcement measures have been implemented. Victoria is also progressing reforms to strengthen closure powers and landlord accountability measures. This demonstrates what can be achieved when governments work together with a shared purpose, and the Albanese Labor government remains committed to continuing this cooperative approach. We understand that combating illicit tobacco requires coordination across borders, agencies and jurisdictions. Criminal networks do not respect state boundaries, and our enforcement efforts cannot operate in silos. Ultimately, this bill is about protecting Australians. It's about protecting communities from organised crime and violence.”
“Over recent months we have seen encouraging progress in interjurisdictional collaboration. Governments across Australia are increasingly recognising the need for a united response to organised crime in the illicit tobacco market. Through the National Illicit Tobacco and the E-cigarette Coordination Forum, governments have identified priority actions to strengthen enforcement and close legislative loopholes. These actions include the introduction of stronger licensing schemes, tougher closure orders for illegal operators, increased penalties for landlords knowingly facilitating unlawful activity and expanded on-the-ground enforcement operations. There are signs that these strategies are already having an impact.”
“And the third is enhancing coordination and intelligence sharing across jurisdictions through initiatives such as the National Disruption Group and the National Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Coordination Forum. These efforts are already producing results. Since January 2024, the Australian Border Force has seized more than 14 million vaping products and related accessories. In the final six months of last year alone, authorities also seized more than one billion illicit cigarettes. These figures demonstrate both the scale of the challenge and the importance of sustained enforcement activity. However, no single level of government can address this issue alone. Strong cooperation between the Commonwealth, states and territories is absolutely essential.”
“This funding has supported enhanced enforcement activities at the border and within the community. The government has also established the nation's first Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner, backed by $21.3 million in funding allocated in the 2025-26 budget. This role is critical in coordinating national efforts and ensuring stronger cooperation with Commonwealth, state and territory agencies. The government's approach is built around three central priorities. The first is disrupting and dismantling threats at the border to prevent illicit tobacco and vaping products from entering Australia in the first place. The second is improving the detection, disruption and destruction of illegal tobacco and vape products both at the border and within local communities.”
“They use encrypted communications, complex financial arrangements and coordinated distribution networks. Our agencies must have the tools necessary to keep pace. At the same time these amendments maintain appropriate safeguards and oversight mechanisms, the bill does not impose unnecessary burdens on ordinary Australians, community organisations or legitimate businesses. Rather, it strengthens targeted enforcement against serious criminal conduct. This legislation forms part of the Albanese Labor government's broader and ongoing efforts to combat illicit tobacco and vaping products across the country. Since 2023-24, the government has invested $346 million into the Australian Border Force to strengthen efforts aimed at detecting and intercepting illicit tobacco and vaping imports.”
“The amendments to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act are particularly significant. By recognising key illicit tobacco offences as serious offences under the act, the amendments ensure agencies will be able to access telecommunication interception powers already available in relation to other forms of organised crime. This is not about creating unprecedented or extraordinary powers; it is about ensuring consistency across the law enforcement framework and recognising the reality that illicit tobacco crime has become a major organised criminal activity. Law enforcement agencies must be equipped with appropriate powers to investigate criminal syndicates that are increasingly sophisticated, technologically capable and highly organised. Criminals involved in this trade are not operating in isolation.”
“Criminal groups are exploiting price differences and weakened enforcement settings to distribute the unregulated tobacco products more broadly throughout the community, including potentially to younger Australians. That is why stronger action is required. The bill introduces increased maximum penalties for a range of illicit tobacco related offences. These enhanced penalties reflect the serious harm caused by this activity in line with the recommendations made by the Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner. Importantly, the stronger penalties will also enable law enforcement agencies to utilise a broader range of investigative tools when targeting illicit tobacco networks. This includes access to enhanced surveillance and investigative capabilities under existing legislative frameworks.”
“Workers and local communities are placed at risk when organised crime embeds itself within local economies. Consumers are exposed to unregulated products that may contain harmful or unsafe substances, and our local high streets are taken over by multiple tobacconists rather than the law abiding, community building small businesses. Perhaps most concerningly, the growth of illicit tobacco threatens decades of progress in reducing smoking rates in this country. Australia has been long recognised globally as a leader in tobacco control and public health policy. Through education campaigns, regulation and taxation measures, smoking rates have steadily declined over time, saving countless lives. However, the expansion of cheap illegal tobacco products risks undermining these hard fought gains.”
“They are being used to bankroll wider criminal activity. The same organised syndicates involved in illicit tobacco are frequently linked to other forms of serious offending, including drug trafficking, scams, extortion and financial crime. We have also witnessed disturbing incidents associated with illicit tobacco trade, including violent intimidation, firebombings of tobacco retailers, threats against business owners and criminal disputes spilling into local communities. These are serious threats to public safety and social cohesion. It is important to recognise that illicit tobacco offences are not victimless crimes. Legitimate small businesses suffer when illegal operators undercut lawful retailers who comply with Australian taxation and public health laws.”
“Secondly, the bill aims to strengthen Australia's proceeds of crime framework so authorities are better equipped to seize and confiscate the profits generated through illicit tobacco activity. These criminal organisations are motivated by profit. If we are serious about dismantling these networks, we must target the financial incentives that drive them. The scale of the problem cannot be understated. It is worth repeating that the Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner report estimated that the illicit tobacco market in Australia was worth between $4.1 billion and $6.9 billion in the 2024-25 period alone. That is billions of dollars flowing into the hands of criminal groups rather than being invested in hospitals, schools, infrastructure and essential services for Australians. These profits are not sitting idle.”
“Together, these amendments modernise and strengthen the legal frameworks available to authorities in combatting the illegal tobacco trade. At the core of this legislation are two objectives. Firstly, the bill seeks to rebalance the risk-and-reward equation for criminal actors involved in illicit tobacco. Criminal syndicates are currently generating enormous profits while facing penalties that are no longer proportionate to the seriousness of the conduct involved. Those breaking the law would rather cop the fine because it does not actually affect their significant profits. Existing laws have simply failed to keep pace with the scale and sophistication of this market.”
“The Albanese Labor government recognises this issue demands a strong and coordinated response, and that is precisely why this bill has been introduced. The legislation before the House will strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and disrupt illicit tobacco operations while also increasing the penalties faced by those who choose to profit from this illegal market. It sends a very clear message: organised crime should not view illicit tobacco as a low-risk, high-reward activity. The bill amends a number of Commonwealth laws, including the Customs Act, the Excise Act, the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Taxation Administration Act and the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act.”
“We think that organised crime groups are earning between $4.1 billion and $6.9 billion in profit from this trade. For too long, illicit tobacco has been viewed by some as a secondary issue, merely a matter of lost revenue or regulatory noncompliance, but the reality confronting our communities today is vastly different. The illicit tobacco trade has evolved into a sophisticated and highly profitable criminal enterprise. It is now deeply connected to organised crime syndicates that engage in a range of unlawful activities, including money laundering, fraud, intimidation, trafficking and violent offences. That means every illegal packet sold is not just a breach of the law; it is money flowing into the hands of criminals who do real damage in our communities.”
“It sends the wrong message about tobacco use and it risks normalising products that we know can cause serious harm. However, this legislation is about far more than cigarettes sold under the counter or untaxed tobacco entering the country illegally. It is about organised criminal networks exploiting gaps in our laws, undermining public health measures, threatening community safety and profiting at the expense of ordinary Australians. Here are some quick statistics from the Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner 2024-25 annual report that shows the seriousness of this problem. Between 50 and 60 per cent of all tobacco products sold in Australia are illegal and a significant proportion of vape products purchased in Australia was illegal.”
“I rise today to speak on the Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026, which is an important and necessary reform that reflects the seriousness of the threat posed by illicit tobacco trade across this country. During my time as a councillor at Georges River Council, I recall many local residents raising this concern, particularly on the rise of tobacco shopfronts popping up everywhere in my local area, particularly within very close proximity to local schools. This issue is not limited to my electorate, but I'm alive to the challenges within the local planning laws around permitted use, which are enabling the rise of tobacco shops in communities like ours. Parents, teachers and local residents are rightly concerned when these businesses appear near places where young people learn, play and travel each day.”
“It is how we protect our borders, it is how we strengthen our economy and it's how we build the peace, stability and prosperity that our country and our region need.”
“Now, some members of this parliament would have Australians believe that investing in our region is somewhat at odds with putting Australia first. But that is the problem with slogans; they might sound tough, but they do not deal with the world as it is. The wellbeing of our region is directly connected to the wellbeing of our own country. Development assistance to the Pacific and South-East Asia helps disrupt people-smuggling routes. It helps tackle drug trafficking, illegal fishing and the spread of disease. It helps build stability in the places closest to us, and it also ensures that Australia remains the partner of choice so that other powers cannot simply step in, gain influence and build proximity to our region. The truth is that backing our region is backing Australia.”
“When we turn to Indonesia, we see one of the most significant steps in our bilateral relationship in decades: the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, or the Jakarta Treaty. This is about strengthening the ties between our two nations at a time of real upheaval. It recognises that our futures are connected and that our security is stronger when we work together. With India, the next phase of our comprehensive strategic partnership will continue to deepen our relationship with one of the fastest growing economies in the world. That means diversifying trade. It means building secure and open supply chains for our exporters and businesses. It means continuing to build our capacity in the Indian Ocean so critical maritime trade routes remain free and open.”
“We're taking a different approach. We are treating the Pacific as family because they are family. That means trust. It means reliability. It means support. Through the Pacific Islands Forum, we are backing Pacific-led responses to energy supply disruptions and inflation shocks, including targeted budget support in Fiji as a regional energy distribution hub. We've signed the Pukpuk Treaty, a historical mutual defence alliance between Australia and Papua New Guinea, and we are pursuing a landmark partnership agreement with Tonga focused on strengthening economic integration, climate resilience and regional security cooperation. That is what respectful partnership looks like.”
“In this budget, that means supporting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. At the moment, Australia and our neighbours are facing a triple shock: global aid cuts, trade disruptions and energy insecurity—all linked to the conflict in the Middle East. These shocks are being felt across the world, but they are being felt particularly hard by developing nations in our region. That is why we are reprioritising our aid budget so that more than 75c in every development dollar is directed to our region. For too long, Pacific nations were lectured, mocked and dismissed by the former coalition government. Their concerns about climate change were not taken seriously, their ambitions were belittled and their communities were treated as an afterthought. Development assistance was cut and a vacuum was left for others to fill.”
“This budget is about resilience and reform at a time of global uncertainty. In uncertain times, Australia cannot turn inwards. We have a responsibility to lead in our region. I'm a proud member of the Tamil heritage—the first member of this background from New South Wales. I am also the first member of Papua New Guinean heritage in the House of Representatives. I represent Barton, one of the most diverse electorates in Australia. It is a place where people understand that our story as a nation is tied to the stories of our neighbours, our families and the region we call home. When I come to this place, I try to act in a way that honours that heritage. But, more than that, I try to act in a way that helps build the kind of Australia we need and the kind of region we need.”
“That is what this package seeks to do. It supports workers, it supports aspiring homeowners, it supports productive investment, it supports businesses and it supports a stronger economy.”
“Do we want a system that supports homeownership? I believe that Australians, unless they're the opposition—those who are laughing across the chamber—would answer yes to all of those questions. That is precisely why these reforms deserve support. Every generation inherits challenges. The question is whether we choose to tackle them or not. Housing affordability is one of those challenges. Productivity is one of those challenges. Intergenerational fairness is one of those challenges. We could leave those problems for someone else. We could leave them for future governments. We could leave them for future taxpayers. But that would not be leadership, because leadership means making decisions today that improve opportunities tomorrow. Leadership is about making hard decisions, not just taking the most popular approach.”
“These reforms are also important because they demonstrate that economic responsibility and fairness can go hand in hand. This is often a false choice presented in public debate. Some say we must choose between helping households and maintaining financial responsibility. Others suggest reform is simply too difficult. But good governments do not avoid difficult decisions. Good governments confront them. The Albanese government is undertaking these reforms while also strengthening Medicare, helping with cost-of-living pressures, investing in housing, supporting businesses and maintaining responsible budget management. That matters, because tax reform should never be viewed in isolation. Tax reform is about the kind of country we want to build. Do we want a system that rewards effort? Do we want a system that encourages productive investment?”
“Many pay accountants, many spend significant time navigating the system and others simply give up and miss out altogether. This reform changes that. A worker with modest work related expenses will be able to claim $1,000 of instant deduction without needing to track every small purchase. It means less paperwork, less stress, less complexity and more time spent doing things they actually enjoy. The Australian Taxation Office estimates this measure alone will save Australians hundreds of millions of dollars in compliance costs every year. Think about that. It's not because we are changing tax rates but because we are reducing unnecessary bureaucracy. Sometimes the best reform is not adding something new. Sometimes it's just making life simpler.”
“They provide practical support while strengthening incentives to participate in the workforce. Perhaps one of the most popular reforms in this package may be also one of the simplest, and that's the $1,000 instant tax deduction. I suspect many Australians know exactly what it feels like at tax time—the frantic search through drawers, the mysterious shoebox full of receipts, the desperate attempt to remember whether a particular purchase happened in that financial period or the previous one, the endless scanning of emails and the detective work wrapped around that that is required to reconstruct a year's worth of expenses. It's hardly anyone's favourite annual tradition. I can certainly say that for myself. But millions of Australians currently spend hours gathering documents to claim relatively modest work related expenses.”
“The working Australians tax offset recognises a simple truth: for most Australians, income comes from work. It comes from effort. It comes from showing up. It comes from contributing. And workers deserve to keep more of what they earn. The new working Australians tax offset will provide tax relief to more than 13 million Australians. That means more money in household budgets—more money for groceries, more money for school expenses, more money for family holidays, more money to save and more capacity to get ahead. For younger Australians especially, this matters enormously. Many millennials and gen Z face challenges that previous generations never experienced to the same extent—higher housing costs, higher rents, greater financial uncertainty. The cost of building a life has increased, and these reforms recognise that reality.”
“Imagine someone buys an asset and holds it for many years; part of that increase in value may simply reflect inflation. Under these reforms, investors will be taxed more accurately, for their real gains rather than inflationary gains. This is about restoring fairness and economic efficiency. It is also about reducing distortions and it's about encouraging investment to flow towards more productive use, because, when investment decisions are driven by tax loopholes rather than economic merit, the whole economy becomes less productive, and, when productivity suffers, living standards suffer. That is why these reforms matter not only for today's taxpayers but also for future generations. There's another group that deserves recognition in this debate, and that is workers—the people who get up every day, go to work and keep our economy moving.”
“Australians who already own investment properties will not be affected. The rules people relied upon when making decisions remain in place. But, going forward, investment incentives will be better aligned with Australia's housing needs. That is sensible reform. It is a balanced reform and it is a reform designed to help an estimated 75,000 more Australians become homeowners over the next decade. There's another important reform before us today, and that is capital gains tax. Now, I know those three words are unlikely to set social media alight unless you're the opposition, who like to cook up a bit of a scare tactic. But no-one's rushing home to discuss CGT over dinner. But the principle behind these reforms is actually very straightforward. People should pay tax on genuine gains.”
“For too long, our tax system has contained distortions that have encouraged investment to flow into established housing rather than into increasing housing supply, and, for too long, tax settings have contributed to a situation where many younger Australians feel locked out of the market. Since 1999, house prices have risen over 400 per cent—more than twice as fast as the average income. These reforms begin to address that challenge. By pegging negative gearing for future purchases to new builds, we are simply sending a signal that, if investors want a tax concession, we want that investment to help create new housing supply—more homes, more construction and more opportunities for Australians looking to buy their first home. Importantly, these changes are grandfathered.”
“There are small-business owners wondering whether they can afford to hire more waitstaff at their local cafe, and many are young people who are doing everything they can right now but still feel like the dream of owning a home keeps moving further and further away. Let me tell you about someone I will call Sarah. Sarah's 29 years old. She works full time. She pays her taxes. She contributes a lot to the community. Every fortnight, she puts money aside for a home deposit. But every time she gets closer to her saving goals, house prices seem to jump again. She watches properties being purchased by investors who already own multiple homes. She wonders whether she will ever have a place of her own. Australians, like Sarah, are not looking for a handout. They are looking for a fair shot. That is exactly why these reforms matter.”
“It is about helping young Australians believe that homeownership is still within their reach, and it's about ensuring that our tax system encourages productive investment rather than simply rewarding those who are best able to navigate a complicated set of rules. Deputy Speaker Boyce, I represent many hardworking families, and I'm sure yourself and a lot of people in this House do as well. Some are nurses finishing night shift at St George Hospital in my local area. Some are teachers helping educate the next generation at Undercliffe Public School to McCallum Hill Public School to all the way to Carlton South Public School. There are tradies that are waking up very early.”
“I rise today in support of these tax reforms and in support of something that Australians have been crying out for many years for: a tax system that is fairer and simpler and that better reflects the reality of modern life. When Australians talk to me, they talk about trying to save for a first home. They talk about juggling the rising costs. They talk about wanting to get ahead with hard work, and they talk about wanting a system that rewards effort. At its core, that is what this package is about. It's about making our economy work for more Australians. It is about ensuring that aspiration is rewarded.”
“I also want to acknowledge Bayside Labor Councillor Soraya Kassim and our local public health network, who support Advanced Diversity Services to help make this community-building work possible. At this event, I was very much humbled to be able to serve food and hear more about the lives of people who have so cruelly been forced to leave behind their community back home. No family should have to flee their home because of war, displacement and destruction. The sanctions Australia announced this week are part of condemning escalating settler violence against Palestinians. The killing must end. We must have lasting peace and a two-state solution.”
“I rise to acknowledge and celebrate Advanced Diversity Services' Eid al-Adha celebration on Sunday 31 May. I particularly want to acknowledge Dr Mona Qasim, a Palestinian refugee and neurosurgeon who is bringing together people who have fled Gaza and are now rebuilding their lives in this wonderful country. At the celebration I met a school principal who is now diligently learning English while teaching Arabic herself to our community here. Even after being forced from her home and her community, she is still teaching, leading and giving to others. We were also honoured to welcome His Excellency Dr Amjad Abu el Ezz, the ambassador of the State of Palestine to Australia and New Zealand.”
“Those days have to end. The reality is that she is 17. These are young people. This is not the Australia we should accept, and this is not the future we should ask our young people to settle for. I'm not giving up on the Australian dream—the dream that you can own your home, that you can live near your family and people you like, that you can build a stable, secure life through hard work. This government is not giving up on that dream either. That is why we have introduced this budget, and the Australian dream should not be something a 17-year-old already has to give up on.”
“If it hadn't been hard for people my age, I cannot begin to imagine how hard it is for Australians 10 years younger than me, who are approaching 30, about to take the next step in life, who want to settle down, have their first kid, maybe have another kid, build stability and stay near to people they love. But then, they look at their bank accounts and they think, 'Where on earth is that money supposed to come from?' Last week, I had the opportunity to go to a youth radio station in Kogarah and meet some of the volunteers there. One young woman said to me—she's about 17 years old—'Ash, I've accepted the fact that I will never own my home.' This is the reality for young people. They have resigned themselves to the fact that they will never own a home. We can't write them off; we can't keep talking about avocado and toast.”
“I cannot look my friends and other people in my community in the eye and tell them that the current system is fair. And I can't defend a system that tells people my age to suck it up and keep supporting rules that favour investments over homes, because that's what we've heard today from the member for Hume and the member for Lindsay. I had the privilege of helping people in the member for Lindsay's electorate when I worked at St Vincent de Paul. It's not all roses in the member for Lindsay's electorate. There are people really struggling. One in three people that came to the St Vincent de Paul Society were first timers. They had two secure jobs in the household, two incomes coming in, but struggled to pay the rent. That is a reality for many people, even the people in the member for Lindsay's seat.”
“But I have the privilege of being a member of parliament. The roles that I've been in at those different points of my life have given me access to secure work and decent pay. That was not only because of working hard—the people I grew up with also worked hard. The reality is that we live in one of the luckiest countries in the world. We have so much opportunity. My experience is that I was in the right industries at the right time with the right opportunities. Growing up, I had friends who also worked very hard. They worked hard at school. They completed their training. They built their careers. They're raising their beautiful kids. They're caring for their parents. They've done all the right things, and still they're struggling to buy a home. We talk a lot about houses and investment, but it's a home.”