Carol Berry
Whitlam · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“I am proud of the steps that Labor has taken to try and make universities and further study more accessible and affordable for students from all walks of life. We've taken a range of measures which have been outlined in the accord. For example, Labor has cut 20 per cent of HECS debts.”
“Previously, this was only available for Indigenous students living in regional and remote Australia. The Department of Education estimates that over the next decade, this initiative could double the number of Indigenous students at university.”
“The new system will address existing issues in the higher education funding system and will better align Commonwealth funding with enrolments. Importantly, higher education providers will be supported to transition to the new funding system.”
“My father, aunty, sister and husband are all public school teachers, and I'm proud to have been educated in public schools. I'm very passionate about public education because, without it, I wouldn't be where I am today. My mother was raised in housing commission in Dundas Valley near Parramatta in Sydney's western suburbs.”
“It also recommended increasing the number of higher education students from underrepresented backgrounds, matched by a focus on success for these students. The universities accord found that 69 per cent of young Australians from wealthy families had a university degree, compared with only 19 per cent from less wealthy families.”
“I spoke about this person in the Federation Chamber earlier this week: Dr Jodi Edwards, a Yuin Dharawal woman who has dedicated her life to community, culture and language across New South Wales, including in the southern Illawarra region of my electorate of Whitlam.”
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“They'll then give back enormously to our community through the professions of their choice. I am proud of the Albanese Labor government's commitment to education at all levels, and I commend this bill to the House.”
“The new system will address existing issues in the higher education funding system and will better align Commonwealth funding with enrolments. Importantly, higher education providers will be supported to transition to the new funding system. Under this new needs based funding system, the amount of funding per student will more than double next year in some cases. Universities will be able to put this extra funding towards things like: tutoring, mentoring and other academic supports; direct financial assistance like scholarships and grants; and offsetting the higher costs of campuses in regional and remote areas. I am pleased these that reforms will mean that more local kids from my electorate of Whitlam will get a chance to go to university, people like Jodi, and they'll get the supports they'll need to stay there.”
“Previously, this was only available for Indigenous students living in regional and remote Australia. The Department of Education estimates that over the next decade, this initiative could double the number of Indigenous students at university. We need to take action now to help set our tertiary education system up to deliver on Australia's future skills needs. That means more people at TAFE and more people at university. The Albanese Labor government has implemented more than 30 of the accord's 47 recommendations in full or in part. As I mentioned previously, these changes inject an additional $3.6 billion in Australia's higher education system over the next decade to increase the number of students at university and to meet Australia's future skills needs. This bill enacts that commitment through a new funding system.”
“I am proud of the steps that Labor has taken to try and make universities and further study more accessible and affordable for students from all walks of life. We've taken a range of measures which have been outlined in the accord. For example, Labor has cut 20 per cent of HECS debts. We introduced paid prac for the first time, which provides financial support for eligible teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students when they do their practical training. We've increased the number of free university bridging courses, which are an important link between school and university. We've introduced the National Student Ombudsman and a national code to prevent and respond to gender based violence. We've made demand-driven Commonwealth supported places available to all First Nations students where they get the marks to get in.”
“Our new system will effectively uncap the number of places for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and from regional areas. We'll also provide that extra funding to support students who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, First Nations students and students studying at regional campuses, and that support will go a long way. This approach is similar to the Gonski model for school funding, which provides schools with extra funding based on where they are located and the needs of the students they educate. The needs based funding will provide universities with additional resources for tutoring, mentoring, academic assistance, scholarships and emergency financial support for these students.”
“First, it embeds the new system to support growth in domestic students, including those from low socioeconomic and regional and remote backgrounds. Secondly, it establishes mechanisms to support students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, First Nations students and students studying at regional campuses. And thirdly, it formalises the role of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission in allocating Commonwealth supported places. Our reforms are expected to result in an extra 230,000 domestic students commencing at university over the next decade. There will be an additional 16,000 places for students in the system each year for the next three years, and this increases to 19,000 additional places each year from 2030.”
“It also recommended increasing the number of higher education students from underrepresented backgrounds, matched by a focus on success for these students. The universities accord found that 69 per cent of young Australians from wealthy families had a university degree, compared with only 19 per cent from less wealthy families. The Albanese government has responded to the Universities Accord by making a substantial financial commitment. That commitment is an additional $3.6 billion in funding for Australia's higher education system over the next decade. This investment will increase the number of students at university and help to meet Australia's future skills needs. This bill enacts our commitment through a new funding system. It amends five pieces of legislation to do three core things.”
“The accord released its final report in February 2024, and it provides a valuable blueprint for higher education reform over the next two decades. A key recommendation is that Australia needs to increase the number of people in the workforce with a certificate, diploma or degree. When the final report was released two years ago, 60 per cent of working Australians had a certificate, a diploma or a degree. The accord reported that this needs to increase by about 80 per cent by 2050, which is a significant jump. To achieve this target to deliver on Australia's future skills needs, we need to take action now. The universities accord recommended adopting a new funding model for higher education that is planned and managed by the Australian Tertiary Education Commission.”
“The accord was led by a panel of eminent Australians, and its objective was to devise recommendations and performance targets to improve the quality, accessibility, affordability and sustainability of higher education in Australia in order to achieve long-term security and prosperity for the sector and the nation. The Minister for Education asked the universities accord to look at seven priority areas: Australia's knowledge and skills needs, now and in the future; access and opportunity; investment and affordability in higher education; governance, accountability and community; connections between the vocational education and training and higher education systems; the sustainability and quality of higher education; and new knowledge, innovation and capability for Australia.”
“This bill focuses on tertiary education and will open the doors of opportunity for many thousands of Australians who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to study at university. Young people who grow up in families with less money or outside our big cities are less likely to have the opportunity to study at university than other Australians, and, if they start a university degree, they are less likely to finish it. The data indicates that they are up to twice as likely to drop out after their first year at university than other students. The Albanese Labor government wants to change this. The genesis of this reform can be traced to the Australian Universities Accord, which was established by this government in November 2022.”
“I'm a passionate advocate for public education because it safeguards Australia's great tradition of fairness and equal opportunity and because I understand that education is critical to opening the doors of opportunity for every Australian. I am proud that, earlier this year, the Albanese Labor government reached agreements with every state and territory to put all public schools in Australia on a path to full and fair funding. This means that about $20 billion in additional Commonwealth funding will be invested in public schools across the country over the next 10 years. This represents the biggest new investment in public schools by an Australian government.”
“I've had so many opportunities to give back to the community working in the not-for-profit sector and for government. Here I am, 30 years later, after starting my studies at the University of Wollongong, in federal parliament. I'm very grateful for the education I've received, first at Hazelbrook Public School, then at Springwood High School and then at the University of Wollongong. Part of what drives me is the inherent knowledge that there are talented people everywhere in our community. Your postcode does not dictate your ability to contribute and give back. As a Labor government, we know this to be a fact, and we want to ensure that every child and that every adult has an opportunity to get an education, to thrive and to reach their potential.”
“My father, aunty, sister and husband are all public school teachers, and I'm proud to have been educated in public schools. I'm very passionate about public education because, without it, I wouldn't be where I am today. My mother was raised in housing commission in Dundas Valley near Parramatta in Sydney's western suburbs. I come from humble beginnings, but, thanks to our public education system, I got an education. My parents were determined that my sisters and I would go to university. When I started law school at the University of Wollongong in the mid-nineties, all I had was a dream that my parents fostered—that there was no reason I could not achieve whatever I longed for. I was proud to become a lawyer and to work as a public interest and human rights lawyer for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre.”
“In 2022, Jodi was named Shellharbour Woman of the Year and Illawarra Regional NAIDOC Aboriginal Community Person of the Year for her enormous contribution to many organisations and initiatives within our community, and in 2023 she was nominated for the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year award. Dr Jodi Edwards has made an absolutely extraordinary contribution to our community, and in large part this contribution has been made possible because Jodi was able to access an education. But her path was not easy. We want to make pathways for people like Jodi easier so that every Australian gets a chance to give back to the community, to achieve their potential and to be a leader in our community, just like Jodi is. I'm proud to say that I come from a family of public school teachers.”
“Dr Jodi Edwards now works at the University of Wollongong, where she is the vice-chancellor's Senior Indigenous Research Fellow with the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security. Two years ago, the Albanese Labor government invested in the University of Wollongong's Unbroken Whispers project, which is led by Dr Jodi Edwards. Blending Indigenous research and modern science, Jodi and her team are tracking southern right whales, humpback whales, orcas and dolphins along Australia's east coast. Jodi's project draws on stories and knowledge from the world's oldest living culture to better safeguard our incredible ocean environment.”
“I spoke about this person in the Federation Chamber earlier this week: Dr Jodi Edwards, a Yuin Dharawal woman who has dedicated her life to community, culture and language across New South Wales, including in the southern Illawarra region of my electorate of Whitlam. Jodi grew up in the southern Illawarra and experienced much of the structural disadvantage that impacts so many First Nations Australians. Jodi left school in year 10 to support her family after her father was injured in a workplace accident. However, Jodi is a determined woman and decided she wanted to pursue her education. She returned to high school at the age of 26 to complete her HSC—the first in her family to do so. Jodi did not stop there. Against all odds, Jodi was awarded her PhD from Macquarie University in 2021.”
“I am proud to speak in support of the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026 because it continues the Albanese Labor government's reforms to help build a better and fairer education system for our country. The bill's title alludes to a statement made by the Prime Minister four years ago after Labor won government. The Prime Minister said: … I want every parent to be able to tell their child no matter where you live or where you come from, in Australia the doors of opportunity are open to us all. To illustrate my passion for ensuring equal opportunity for all Australians, I would like to tell you about an amazing person in my electorate of Whitlam who has done incredible things with their education.”
“In addition to the hampers, True Hearts Community provides a safe place where people can come for a chat over a cup of tea. I was delighted to visit Leanne and her team of volunteers in Warilla and saw for myself how they put together the hampers and provide comfort to so many families in the community. Leanne Gordon is a beacon of kindness and generosity, and I thank her sincerely on behalf of our community for the selfless and outstanding contribution that she's made over the past 15 years and that she still continues to make today.”
“I rise today to recognise Leanne Gordon, an extraordinary woman who has devoted the past 15 years of her life to the not-for-profit organisation True Hearts Community, which provides invaluable services to people in need in my electorate of Whitlam. True Hearts Community prepares and distributes approximately 500 food hampers each month from a community centre in Warilla. These hampers are distributed three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and include fruit, vegetables and bakery items, as well as pantry items and meat when it's available. The hampers assist vulnerable individuals and families who are facing hardship due to financial insecurity and domestic violence. Leanne is a survivor of domestic violence herself, and she is particularly committed to helping women and children escaping domestic violence.”
“Blending Indigenous research and modern science, Jodi and her team are tracking southern right whales, humpback whales, orcas and dolphins along Australia's east coast. Jodi's project draws on stories and knowledge from the world's oldest living culture to better safeguard our incredible ocean environment. In 2022, Jody was named Shellharbour Woman of the Year and Illawarra Regional NAIDOC Aboriginal Community Person of the Year for her enormous contribution to many organisations and initiatives within our community, and in 2023 she was nominated for the New South Wales Aboriginal Woman of the Year award. I thank Jodi Edwards for her absolutely extraordinary contribution to our community.”
“I rise today to recognise Dr Jodi Edwards, a Yuin Dharawal custodian who has dedicated her life to community, culture, education and language across New South Wales, including in the Southern Illawarra region within my electorate of Whitlam. Jodi left school in year 10 to support her family after her father was injured in a workplace accident. She returned to high school at the age of 26 to complete her HSC, the first in her family to do so. Jodi was awarded her PhD from Macquarie University in 2021. At the University of Wollongong, she is the Vice-Chancellor's Senior Indigenous Research Fellow with the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security. Two years ago, the Albanese Labor government invested in the University of Wollongong's Unbroken Whispers project led by Dr Jodi Edwards.”
“I need to fast-forward some of my speech because it was interrupted. To recap, more than five million under-16 social media accounts have now been removed and we really want to strengthen the approach that we've already taken. I sincerely hope that these attempts at protecting children online are effective. We know that we are signalling to social media companies that we are serious about online harm to children, and we expect them to do everything they can to comply.”
“I wish that this law had been in place years ago. As a parent, I know we need better protections for children online. As lawmakers, our responsibility is to safeguard the wellbeing of future generations. Children cannot negotiate terms of service. They cannot fully understand complex algorithms. They cannot realistically challenge multinational corporations. The responsibility therefore lies with us. This legislation reflects a fundamental principle that has guided public policy for generations: that, where there is a risk of significant harm to children, governments both have the authority and the obligation to intervene. We regulate tobacco. We regulate alcohol. We regulate seatbelts. This bill follows in the same tradition. We are seeking to protect children from harm.”
“There are those who will say that determined young people will always find ways around restrictions, and they likely will. No law achieves perfect compliance. Seatbelt laws do not eliminate every road fatality. Speed limits do not prevent every accident. Yet we continue to support these laws because they reduce harm. Similarly, this legislation will not eliminate every underage social media account, but if it prevents thousands of children from being exposed to harmful online experiences, then it will have made a meaningful difference. Public policy should not be judged against perfection. It should be judged against whether it improves outcomes. My children are now aged 21, 16 and 15. As a parent, I battled for many years to protect my children from damaging online content. It was important to me to allow my children to have a childhood.”
“That's why implementation matters. Age verification technology should be proportionate, secure and subject to strong oversight. Protecting children and protecting privacy are not mutually exclusive objectives; both can and must be achieved together. Australia is starting to be recognised internationally as a leader in online safety regulation. Other countries are closely watching our approach. If these reforms succeed, they may influence similar protections around the world. Leadership requires courage. It requires governments to act in the interests of their citizens and, in this case, their younger citizens. Waiting for technology companies to regulate themselves has not delivered adequate protection for children. This bill represents a recognition that stronger government oversight is now necessary.”
“Some opponents argue that young people need social media to remain socially connected. That concern deserves consideration. Social connection is important. However, this legislation does not seek to isolate young people from the digital world altogether. The law was designed so that messaging services such as WhatsApp, online education platforms and essential health services could continue to remain available where appropriate. This bill is not anti technology; it's pro safety. It recognises that not every online platform carries the same level of risk. Some have raised concerns regarding privacy and age verification. Privacy is an important right. Australians rightly expect that any age assurance systems introduced under this legislation will protect personal information and minimise unnecessary data collection.”
“The evidence surrounding online harms continues to grow. Research has linked excessive social media use among adolescents with increased rates of anxiety, depression, body image concerns, sleep disruption and exposure to harmful content. Young users are particularly vulnerable because their emotional regulation and decision-making skills are still developing. Social media that is designed to maximise engagement does not distinguish between content that is healthy and content that is harmful. Instead, it prioritises whatever keeps users scrolling. For children, this can mean repeated exposure to unrealistic beauty standards, self-harm material, misinformation, disturbing material, cyberbullying or addictive content. No child should become collateral damage in the pursuit of advertising revenue.”
“Parents across Australia are increasingly concerned about the amount of time their children are spending online. Where parents can control this, they do, but there is so much outside of their control because of the content that children can now access online. Unfortunately, this is now a challenging feature of modern parenthood. Many families struggle to monitor social media use around the clock. Children can access content at school, at friends' homes and on multiple devices. Some of the content that children can now access on social media is horrifying and distressing and far from being age appropriate. Parents should not have to fight billion-dollar technology companies alone. Government has a responsibility to create an environment where families are supported rather than undermined.”
“Critics have argued that these reforms place too much responsibility on social media companies, but we disagree. Technology companies possess some of the most sophisticated data-collection and identity-verification technologies ever developed. These companies know what users watch, where they're located, what ads interest them and even how long they pause while scrolling. If companies possess technology capable of delivering personalised advertising with remarkable accuracy, then surely they possess the capability to implement reasonable age-assurance measures to protect children. The question is not whether or not they can; the question is whether or not they will. This legislation ensures that they must. This debate is ultimately about protecting children.”
“Some of the largest tech companies in the world are impacted by these measures, and they generate billions of dollars in annual revenue. For businesses of this size, modest financial penalties can come become little more than another cost of doing business. This bill addresses that problem by significantly increasing the maximum penalties for companies that systematically fail to comply with Australia's online safety laws, and that's why we are doubling maximum penalties to $99 million while giving regulators stronger investigative powers. That's about ensuring accountability. When multinational corporations profit from Australian users, they must also respect Australian law. No company, regardless of its size or influence, should be above the law.”
“(Quorum formed) The next step in the Albanese Labor government's mission to protect Australians from online harm to is to legislate a digital duty of care. A digital duty of care will put the responsibility on digital service providers to adopt a safety-by-design approach and have systems in place to protect Australians—in particular, young Australians—from harm before it occurs. Our original social media minimum-age legislation recognised these dangers by requiring social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts. Importantly, the responsibility was placed where it belongs: not on parents, teachers or children but on the tech companies themselves. Today, our proposed amendments strengthen that framework by ensuring those companies cannot simply ignore their obligations.”
“This bill increases the maximum civil penalty for noncompliance with minimum age obligations from 30,000 to 60,000 penalty units. This brings the maximum penalty up to $99 million. These changes are intended to strengthen deterrence and reinforce the expectation that platforms take their minimum-age obligations seriously and do more to comply. Our government will strengthen the eSafety Commissioner's information-gathering powers so they can get the information they need from platforms to assess compliance when they need it. In particular, the amendments enable the commissioner to issue notices requiring the provision of information and documents from any person where the commissioner reasonably believes they hold material relevant to compliance with the minimum-age framework.”
“In considering potential enforcement action, the eSafety Commissioner has advised the government that stronger investigative powers are required to build stronger evidence against potentially non-compliant platforms. This bill responds to these challenges by strengthening the enforcement framework underpinning the social media minimum age requirements. The Albanese Labor government is on the side of parents and children, not platforms. The eSafety Commissioner's public compliance update shows that social media giants seem to be trying to get away with doing the bare minimum. If these social media companies want to do business in Australia, they must obey Australian laws and they must uphold their social responsibility.”
“They have the capability and resources to meet their obligations under the social media minimum age framework and to protect younger users. We are expecting them to demonstrate their social responsibility to children and young people in our society and to use that capability to protect young people. In March 2026, the eSafety Commissioner released a public compliance update which found that while platforms have removed, deactivated or restricted access to more than five million accounts—and this is a good start—a substantial proportion of Australian children under the age of 16 continue to hold or create new accounts, or they are able to bypass existing age assurance systems. The eSafety Commissioner is actively investigating the compliance of five platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.”
“However, alongside these benefits come serious risks, in particular, for young Australians. Children today are exposed to cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online predators, scams and unrealistic social comparisons at unprecedented levels. This is completely unacceptable. These are not isolated incidents; they are systemic problems that demand systemic solutions. Keeping Australians safe online, particularly children and young people, is an important priority for the Albanese Labor government. That's why we've delayed people's access to social media until they're 16 years old. It's to protect young Australians from the pervasive impact of social media. Social media companies are among the largest and most influential digital platforms in the world.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026. This legislation is about one simple but vital principle: when laws are made to protect children, those laws must be strongly enforced. A law without effective enforcement is merely a statement of intent, and this bill ensures that Australia's social media minimum age laws are backed by serious consequences for companies that fail to meet their responsibilities. Social media has transformed how we communicate, learn and connect. It has brought enormous benefits to society by allowing people to stay in touch across continents, access educational resources, build communities and express themselves creatively. These advantages should not be ignored.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How is the Albanese Labor government helping Australians with the cost of fuel and the cost of energy? What policies would increase costs on Australians?”
“Richard joined the SES when he was just 18 years old, and he epitomises the volunteers who give up so many hours of their time to assist communities before, during and after emergencies, often at risk to their own personal safety. In fact, Richard ended up in hospital with a dislocated shoulder and damaged wrist following his first call-out with the SES in 1984. Thankfully, these injuries did not deter him, and he has given invaluable service to the southern Illawarra community and the state of New South Wales ever since. Like many SES volunteers, Richard goes about his business quietly, not seeking publicity or attention in any way. I'm delighted to take this opportunity to thank Richard Hart, on behalf of the southern Illawarra community, for helping and protecting us during emergencies for over 40 years.”
“I rise today to recognise Richard Hart, who has been a volunteer with the New South Wales State Emergency Service in my electorate of Whitlam for the past 42 years. I was honoured to attend the New South Wales SES Southern Illawarra Cluster awards ceremony last week, an evening which celebrated the wonderful work carried out by our local SES volunteers. At this event, Richard Hart was awarded life membership of the New South Wales SES for his extraordinary service over more than four decades. Richard has acted in a variety of roles at the New South Wales SES Shellharbour City Unit, and he is currently Deputy Unit Commander.”
“Bulk-billing is the beating heart of Medicare, and the Albanese government is successfully delivering more bulk-billing for more Australians. By strengthening Medicare, expanding bulk-billing and making essential medicines cheaper, the Albanese Labor government is restoring confidence in a vital system that defines who we are as a country.”
“Labor has also cut the cost of everyday medicines on the PBS to $25, the lowest co-payments since 2004, and it's just $7.70 for concession card holders to get their medicines. This is helping millions of Australians afford the medicines they need. Over three million cheaper PBS scripts have been filled in my electorate alone, and that's delivering over $19 million of savings to people in my community. Labor built Medicare, and the Albanese government is strengthening it after a decade of neglect under the coalition. When Labor came to government in 2022, bulk-billing was in decline, GP clinics were under pressure and people were putting off seeing a doctor because they simply couldn't afford it. The Albanese Labor government has stepped up and reversed that trend, recognising that health care must be based on need, not wealth.”
“Patients can walk in and see a trained doctor or nurse, and the services are bulk-billed, and they do not pay a cent. A network of 137 Medicare urgent care clinics has opened over the past three years, including two in my electorate of Whitlam—one in Dapto and one in Shellharbour. Medicare urgent care clinics across Australia have seen over three million presentations since the first sites opened in 2023, and there have been over 33,000 visits to urgent care clinics in my electorate of Whitlam. A significant benefit that flows from opening an urgent care clinic is that it takes pressure off local hospitals. In my electorate, that includes Shellharbour and Wollongong hospitals, where more than half the presentations are non-urgent or semi-urgent presentations.”
“The bulk-billing rate has risen for every age group as a result of Labor's reforms, including a particularly strong increase of almost eight per cent to 76 per cent for patients aged between 16 to 64 years. There are now over 3,800 Medicare bulk-billing practices across Australia, and I note that more that 1,400 of these were previously mixed billing clinics. In my electorate of Whitlam, the number of fully bulk-billing practices has jumped from nine to 28 due to Labor's incentives. Approximately 97 per cent of the Australian population is now within a 20-minute drive of a bulk-billing practice, which is a wonderful outcome. Another major bulk-billing reform implemented by this government is the rollout of Medicare urgent care clinics which are open for extended hours seven days a week with no appointment needed.”
“This investment means that patients will save hundreds of dollars a year in out-of-pocket costs. I'm delighted to say that the latest data shows Labor's bulk-billing policies are delivering excellent results. The national GP bulk-billing rate was 81.9 per cent for the January-to-March quarter, a 4.6 percentage point increase on the same period last year. Bulk-billing has increased in every state and territory due to our reforms, including a rise of four percentage points to 85 per cent in my state of New South Wales. In my electorate of Whitlam in 2023, bulk-billing rates were at 73 per cent. In 2026, due to our government's incentives, bulk-billing rates are close to 90 per cent.”
“I am proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government, which is investing $8.5 billion to strengthen Medicare and deliver more free health care for Australians. This free access to a GP is life-changing for many Australians because it means they can go to the doctor when they need to, not just when they can afford to. Labor has made it easier for Australians to see a GP for free by expanding bulk-billing incentives and boosting payments to GP clinics that bulk-bill every patient. Our most recent reform came into effect on 1 November last year. From that date, and for the first time, bulk-billing incentives are paid to GPs for every patient they bulk-bill. Previously, these incentives were only available to children under the age of 16 and concession card holders.”
“The challenge of housing affordability is a massive issue in our community, and there is widespread acceptance that our housing market is not working, especially for young people aspiring to own their own home. We cannot accept the unfair status quo, which is effectively locking out an entire generation from ever owning their own home. That is why our government is taking action. This budget will restore hope for thousands of people across the country that they might one day be able to afford their own home— (Time expired)”
“I rise to support the reforms contained in the budget. This budget is designed to deliver fairer outcomes for Australian workers and aspiring homeowners. This budget will build on the tax cuts we've already delivered and further reduce the tax burden for over 13 million workers. That's teachers, nurses, tradies, aged-care workers, disability support workers, early childhood educators and all Australians who work hard for their wages. The coalition opposed our tax cuts last year, a move that was soundly rejected by millions of Australians across the country, and we urge those opposite not to make the same mistake again. This budget will make it easier for Australians to buy their own home. For too long too many Australians have been locked out of the housing market.”
“Our tax reforms are pro aspiration, pro worker and pro investment. They are the right reforms even though they involve difficult decisions. They take our intergenerational responsibilities seriously and don't leave those problems for the next generation to fix. For all of these reasons, I commend these bills to the House.”
“I note that, while these two bills put in place the main provisions of our tax reforms, the government will consult on the most complex policy issues, including the application of capital gains tax changes to small and start-up businesses. These bills will reduce the tax burden for over 13 million workers, help 75,000 Australians realise the dream of homeownership, deliver $3.5 billion in new measures that lower taxes for businesses and start-ups, and reduce compliance costs by $540 million a year. These reforms will make our tax system better, fairer and simpler and make our economy and our tax system work in the interests of more Australians. They build on the tax reforms already delivered by the Albanese Labor government, consolidating our record of responsible economic management.”
“It's important to state that new builds can continue to be negatively geared after 1 July 2027, ensuring the benefits of negative gearing are directed to investments that support growth in Australia's housing stock. Negative gearing will continue to support residential properties which genuinely add to supply, such as dwellings constructed on vacant land or where existing properties are demolished and replaced with a greater number of dwellings. I note these changes to negative gearing will only apply to residential property. Commercial property and other asset classes, including shares, will remain subject to existing arrangements. Further exemptions to the negative gearing changes will also be available for private investors who support government housing programs, for example through the provision of affordable housing.”