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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“The bill restricts a person from engaging in promotional conduct in connection with the NDIS where that conduct undermines the objects or the principles of the NDIS Act. It also strengthens the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission's powers to obtain relevant information from NDIS providers and other persons within appropriate timeframes. It also ensures that we can provide participants who wish to withdraw from the scheme with additional safeguards and additional communication options. The Albanese government is committed to ensuring the National Disability Insurance Scheme provides essential supports for people with permanent and significant disability, both today and into the future. We want the scheme to be fair, consistent and empowering for people with disability.”
“The core purpose of this bill is to strengthen the regulator, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and to support both the commission and the National Disability Insurance Agency to do their jobs more effectively. The bill specifically responds to calls for improved and enhanced quality and safety regulation for NDIS participants. The amendments in this bill do the following. We're strengthening penalties to ensure a fit-for-purpose framework that deters people from doing the wrong thing, including from providing and delivering poor-quality and unsafe services and supports. It ensures unsuitable people can be excluded from providing services in the NDIS by expanding the categories of people against whom a banning order can be imposed.”
“The vast majority of NDIS providers deliver quality services and do the right thing, but there are, unfortunately, some who do the wrong thing. Our government continues to take action to ensure that all providers who operate under the system do so with integrity. A review by the Australian National Audit Office found that the systems set up by the previous government lacked prevention controls and also did not appropriately account for fraud and non-compliant activity. The Albanese government has acted quickly, determined to address these significant gaps. We are making significant investments to tackle fraud and noncompliance, including setting up the Fraud Fusion Taskforce and passing laws to place the scheme on a sustainable footing.”
“The job I had immediately before I became a parliamentarian was CEO of the Disability Trust, which is one of the largest providers of disability services in Australia and has been so for over 50 years. We worked hard to ensure that we supported people to fulfil their dreams and aspirations. So I worked alongside people with disability for many years before the NDIS was introduced and I saw firsthand how sorely it was needed. It's been amazing to watch the difference that the NDIS has made to Australian society. It's a world-leading scheme that reflects the fair-mindedness and decency of the Australian people. Importantly, it provides life-changing support to around 750,000 Australians, so it's vital that we protect the NDIS for the long term by making sure it's sustainable, effective and safe and that it operates with integrity.”
“I rise to speak on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2026 as someone who worked alongside people with disability in various roles for over 15 years before I became a member of parliament. I'm therefore particularly passionate about upholding and promoting the rights and interests of people with disability. At the start of my working life, I worked as a human rights lawyer for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre. In that role, I worked alongside people with disability to have their rights upheld through the courts and by promoting systemic law and policy reform. I later became the CEO of the New South Wales Council for Intellectual Disability, where I advocated for people with intellectual disability and their families to be able to get access to better supports and services.”
“Their success highlights the fact that they are not only elite gymnasts as individuals; they also are able to combine superbly as a team at the highest level. There have been setbacks over the past year, but they have fought back from injuries and trained extremely hard, including for 20 hours a week in a hot tin shed over summer, to win selection for this prestigious international competition. Tomorrow night is their last training session in Australia before they fly out. On behalf of everyone in the electorate of Whitlam, I would like to wish Kelsie, Mykenna and Allegra all the very best as they represent their club, their state and their country at the world cup.”
“I rise today to recognise Kelsie O'Neil, Mykenna Collier and Allegra Fosteris—three extraordinary young women from the Oak Flats Albion Park Gymnastics and Acrobatics Club, which is in my electorate of Whitlam. Kelsie, Mykenna and Allegra have been selected to represent Australia in the senior women's group event at the world cup in Belgium. This is a major competition that is part of the International Gymnastics Federation world cup series. This talented trio, representing New South Wales, won the senior international women's group competition at last year's Australian Gymnastics Championships. They not only won the all-round title; they also secured gold in the balance, dynamic and combined routines.”
“The first part focuses on marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits. The second part focuses on area based management tools, including marine protected areas. The third part of the treaty establishes a regime for the environmental impact assessment of activities. The fourth part of the treaty focuses on capacity building and the transfer of marine technologies. I am proud that the Albanese Labor government is a recognised leader when it comes to the high seas biodiversity treaty. We were one of the first countries to sign it and we have been leading, with Belize, the international negotiations to prepare the treaty for implementation. I support this bill wholeheartedly and am proud to be contributing to its passage through parliament.”
“The objective of the high seas biodiversity treaty is to strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of marine diversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions, and this is critically important. It was adopted at the United Nations on 19 June 2023 and opened for signature on 20 September 2023. Australia signed on day one, making us a founding signatory. The treaty entered into force on 17 January 2026. However, Australia is among a small number of nations that require legislation prior to ratification, which is why this bill is before the House. The treaty focuses on the high seas, which sit outside individual countries, national waters and exclusive economic zones. The high seas cover more than 60 per cent of the global ocean, yet only about one per cent is currently protected. The treaty has four main parts.”
“I'm extremely proud of the actions taken by the Albanese Labor government when it comes to protecting our ocean and marine environments. In 2023, we tripled the size of Macquarie Island Marine Park, which lies between Tasmania and Antarctica and is a critical feeding and breeding ground for millions of seabirds and thousands of seals and penguins. A year later, in 2024, we expanded the subantarctic Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Park by almost 310,000 square kilometres, which is an area larger than Italy. As a result, Australia now protects more ocean than any other country on earth and for the first time more than half of Australia's oceans are under protection. Our marine protected areas now cover 52 per cent of Australian waters and a mind-blowing 4.6 million square kilometres of ocean.”
“This is a fantastic outcome for all those who spent years campaigning against proposed development, including the 682 surfers who jumped on their surfboards and set a new world record for a paddle-out protest. I'm privileged to be a member of parliament's Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, and I'm also co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Ocean and Sustainable Development. I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the vitally important role that Jas Chambers and Dr Lucy Buxton from Ocean Decade Australia are playing in supporting the work of the Parliamentary Friends of Ocean and Sustainable Development. My roles on this group and the relevant committee only intensify my interest in this bill.”
“I am fortunate to be the member for Whitlam, which is blessed with breathtaking coastal landscapes in the southern Illawarra region, and my electorate office in Shellharbour is not far from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. One of the jewels in my electorate is the Farm at Killalea, which is regarded as the best beach in New South Wales and the second-best beach in Australia. This stunningly beautiful place is one of my favourite places in the world. About four years ago, the local community succeeded in its campaign to save this extraordinary place from development, and today the 260 hectare Killalea state park is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service as a regional park.”
“I begin by paying my respects to First Nations people as the traditional custodians of both land and sea country in Australia. First Nations peoples have sustainably used and managed coastal land and sea for more than 65,000 years, and many continue to do so today. Their knowledge and stewardship of the marine environment is an essential element in Australia's ocean story. Australia is an island nation, and the ocean is at the heart of our national identity. It is critical to our economic prosperity, health and social wellbeing, and it connects us with our region and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, however, our oceans face substantial threats, including from climate change, overfishing, and plastic and other pollution.”
“Labor understands this truth: the cost of living isn't just about prices; it's also about wages. The Albanese Labor government has worked to get wages moving again, backing pay rises for low-paid workers, supporting collective bargaining and restoring fairness to workplace laws that have been deliberately weakened. Australians believe deeply in health care and ensuring that education and a range of our systems, like aged care, need to deliver. They need to work for all Australians, and we're passionate about delivering fairness for all Australians.”
“When it comes to cost-of-living relief, we're working hard to relieve some of the pressures impacting on families, and we have delivered tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer, cheaper medicines for all Australians under the PBS, subsidised child care and record investments to create more housing supply, particularly for those who need that housing the most. We've delivered targeted help for first home owners and for renters. We've increased bulk-billing to reduce the cost of seeing a doctor. We've reduced HECS debts. We've delivered more support for apprentices. We've delivered fee-free TAFE. We've delivered pay rises for those workers who are critical to our society, such as early childhood educators and aged-care workers. We've reduced unemployment, and we've protected penalty rates.”
“As the gap grows globally between the haves and the have nots, it's part of the Labor project to ensure that our society and our economy remain as fair as possible. That means we implement reforms which impact every Australian, Australia-wide, to make our economy as fair as possible. I, for one—and I know this is true for all of my colleagues—will continue to passionately advocate for fairness on behalf of the people of our electorates. Labor has delivered record investments in public hospitals, public health care and public education because we know that these great systems are also great equalisers. Labor has taken several steps to reduce pressure on households and to improve fairness in our system.”
“We've empowered the ACCC to impose fines of up to $100 million for price gouging and uncompetitive behaviour, which sends a very clear signal to anyone engaging in unethical behaviour in this crisis that they will be punished for it. A short time ago, we announced a six-month adjustment to diesel standards that will help suppliers bring more fuel into the domestic market. We understand that the conflict in the Middle East is causing significant challenges, and we're working as hard as we can to address these challenges as quickly as possible. We understand that we are living in challenging times. When confronted with challenging economic circumstances, our government is doing what Labor governments do best. We're engaged in nation building. We're engaged in implementing reforms to make our society and our economy as fair as possible.”
“This is a responsibility that we take incredibly seriously, and we understand what is at stake. We've appointed a Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator to support coordination between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments on fuel security and supply chain resilience. We are addressing fuel supply chain disruption by releasing up to 20 per cent of the baseline minimum stockholding obligation for petrol and diesel. This allows the release of over 700,000,000 litres of petrol and diesel from Australia's domestic reserves. We've also temporarily amended Australia's fuel quality standards to allow higher sulphur levels for 60 days. This will allow around 100,000,000 litres a month of new petrol supply that would otherwise have been exported to be blended into our existing domestic supply.”
“Labor has always been a party that cares deeply about the impacts of toughening economic conditions on those who are impacted the most. This is fundamental to our cause as a party. As the opposition has shown, it's easy to be reactive, to trot out an empty slogan or to misrepresent the facts to score cheap political points. What's harder and requires more sophistication is to pull the right levers at the right time in a dynamic and challenging geopolitical context. In stark contrast to the assertion made by the member for Goldstein, the Albanese Labor government has taken strong action to secure fuel supply for Australians. We are working with stakeholders across the country to ensure that the right amount of fuel gets to the right parts of the country to respond to what has been a massive surge in demand.”
“There are over 50 aircraft on display at HARS, with about 20 of them still airworthy. Bob is central to the preparations for the arrival, expected in May, of one of the remaining parts of a Boeing 707, donated by John Travolta, who is a renowned aviation enthusiast and a former ambassador for Qantas. Adding one of the last surviving examples of this rare Boeing 707 to HARS will further boost Bob's legacy. I thank Bob De La Hunty for his huge contribution to the Shellharbour region and, more broadly, to preserving the history of Australian aviation for both current and future generations.”
“I rise today to recognise Bob De La Hunty, who is President, Chief Pilot and a Life Member of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, which is known as HARS. It's located at Shellharbour Airport in my electorate of Whitlam. HARS is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers. It operates an award-winning aviation museum that is admired around the world as well as the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame. Bob is a veteran pilot who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the year 2000 for service to the preservation of Australian aviation history, particularly through HARS. He has been the heart and soul of HARS for decades, leading its mission to recover and, where possible, restore to flying condition aircraft or types of aircraft that have played a significant part in Australian aviation history.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister update the house on the impact of the war in the Middle East and outline the action being taken to boost Australia's fuel security and supply?”
“She volunteers for Illawarra Convoy, a major fundraising event in our region. Tahlia not only competes at elite levels in karate; she mentors young athletes in that martial art. Tahlia is described by her peers as caring and committed, and a young woman who embodies the values of active citizenship. I congratulate Tahlia for achieving so much at such a young age and for being a wonderful role model for everyone in the community.”
“Tahlia received this award because she exemplifies passion and community spirit through her tireless volunteering and leadership. This is not the first time Tahlia has been recognised for her qualities and skills. She was named 2025 Young Rural Ambassador for the Albion Park Show, and in that role she has supported local shows across Albion Park, Kiama, Robertson and Dapto. Recently, it was announced that Tahlia has been selected as the 2026 Young Rural Ambassador for the Robertson Show. I've met Tahlia on a number of occasions, and she is a remarkable young woman. She plays a key role as vice-president of the Ag Group, known as TAG, inspiring youth involvement in agriculture and local organising committees. Tahlia runs school agriculture programs and has earned multiple awards for poultry showing.”
“In today's world, it is notoriously hard to attract people to referee in any sport, yet under Jarrad's leadership, the number of referees in group 7 has grown from 80 members in 2022 to 175 in 2025. Last year, he became the youngest life member in the referees association's 100-year history, and he also received the New South Wales Rugby League Referees Association's Denis Braybrook Award for his outstanding contribution to refereeing and culture. I was delighted to meet Jarrad in January when he was named Citizen of the Year at the Shellharbour Community Awards and Australia Day Awards. I congratulate and thank Jarrad for his contribution and the contribution he will continue to make to his community. I rise today to recognise Tahlia Bonanno, who was recently named Shellharbour City Council's 2026 Young Citizen of the Year.”
“I rise today to recognise Jarrad Borg, who in January this year was named Shellharbour City Council's Citizen of the Year. Jarrad received this award because he has transformed the landscape of refereeing in the Shellharbour region through his role as President of the South Coast Group 7 Referees Association. Group 7 covers the southern Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales, which includes many areas in my electorate of Whitlam. Jarrad attended Warilla High School, which is in the heart of the Whitlam electorate, and began refereeing when he was just 13 years old. His commitment to developing junior referees, securing major sponsorships and creating strong pathways has set a new benchmark for excellence.”
“Finally, Labor is delivering something that can't be measured in dollars but matters just as much: integrity and decency in government. We will remain focused on what we have been elected to do, which is to not fight amongst ourselves but to focus on getting the job done. Australians deserve leaders who respect democratic institutions, tell the truth and take responsibility when things go wrong. Labor believes in accountability and respects the public service. We believe in building relationships with local governments, with states and territories and within our local communities and around the world. We have shown that governing can be calm, serious and focused on outcomes, and that matters, because trust, once lost, is hard to regain and democracy depends upon it. Labor is delivering for Australians.”
“These projects are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 70 million tonnes of CO2 each year, which is the equivalent of emissions from about 22.7 million passenger cars. Together, the projects will generate more than 43.5 gigawatts of renewable energy and storage around the country—enough to power every household in Australia. Renewable energy is the cheapest and cleanest form of energy available and will help us meet our ambitious and achievable 2035 target and achieve net zero by 2050. This is about seizing opportunity, not fearing change. Renewable energy isn't good just for the planet; it's good for power bills, regional development and national resilience. Labor is ensuring Australia competes in the industries of the future rather than clinging to the past.”
“This matters because strong public finances aren't an abstract concept. They are what allow governments to invest in health, education, infrastructure and social services when Australians need them most. Labor understands that compassion and competence are not opposites; they depend on one another. Australians also expect their government to act on climate change, not with slogans but with solutions. Labor is delivering a responsible transition to cleaner, cheaper energy—creating jobs, attracting investment and lowering emissions without leaving workers or communities behind. The Albanese government has now approved 132 renewable energy projects: 54 solar farms, 28 onshore wind farms, 20 energy storage systems, 17 infrastructure and exploration projects and 13 transmission projects.”
“Free TAFE has seen 725,000 enrolments and more than 210,000 course completions around the country since the start of the program, putting hundreds of thousands of Australians on pathways to jobs in sectors including nursing, construction, aged care, the tech sector and early childhood education and care. This is about dignity, and it's about choice. It's also about making sure Australia has the workforce it needs for the future, not just today. One of Labor's greatest achievements has been restoring trust in economic management. Over 1.2 million jobs have been created since we won government in 2022. At a time of global uncertainty, Labor has chosen responsibility over recklessness: paying down debt, improving budget outcomes, making tough decisions where necessary and always keeping an eye on the long-term health of the economy.”
“Skill shortages were ignored, training was underfunded, young people were told to take on a debt for education that didn't always lead to secure jobs. Labor is turning that around by expanding fee-free TAFE places, investing in apprenticeships and rebuilding respect for vocational education. Labor is opening doors, not just for young Australians but for workers of all ages who want to retrain, upskill or change careers. This year marks the three-year milestone of free TAFE since its introduction Australia-wide by the Albanese Labor government.”
“It sits alongside a 15 per cent pay increase for early childhood educators and investment in new centres through the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund. This isn't just good social policy; it's good economic policy because when parents can work, businesses grow. When women's workforce participation rises, productivity improves. When kids get quality early education, outcomes improve across their whole lifespan. This is what smart government looks like: policies that support families and strengthen the economy at the same time. Labor is also delivering for Australians by investing in skills and opportunity. For too long, Australia relied on short-term fixes rather than long-term planning.”
“That's why Labor has made child care more affordable and accessible, helping parents, especially women, return to work if they choose or increase their hours without being punished by impossible fees. For example, the Albanese Labor government has introduced the three-day guarantee, which means that every child is eligible for three days of subsidised early learning each week, no matter what their parents do. And First Nations families will be eligible for five days a week of subsidised early learning. About 100,000 families who previously were eligible for fewer than three days are expected to benefit from the three-day guarantee, and most of these families are low-income households. This reform is part of the Albanese government's broader plan to give every child access to quality early learning.”
“I note that last Sunday was International Women's Day, and I'm proud that, just over a year ago, the Albanese Labor government announced its landmark $792.9 million women's health package, an investment that is delivering more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women and girls. When health care works properly, it doesn't just save money; it saves lives. It reduces stress, it keeps people at work, it strengthens communities and families, and Labor understands that investing in health isn't a cost; it's one of the smartest investments we can make. If you want to know what kind of country we're building, look at how we treat families and children. Labor knows that raising kids has become harder, not just because parents aren't working hard enough but because the system hasn't been working for them.”
“In my electorate of Whitlam, a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opened in Dapto in 2024 and another opened in Shellharbour just last month. A significant benefit that flows from opening an Urgent Care Clinic is that it takes pressure off our local hospitals. In my electorate, that includes Shellharbour and Wollongong hospitals, where around 55 per cent of presentations are non-urgent and semi-urgent. Data from the New South Wales bureau of health shows that semi-urgent presentations to New South Wales emergency departments have dropped by 5.1 per cent since Medicare Urgent Care Clinics began opening, while non-urgent presentations have dropped by 8.7 per cent.”
“Our investment in bulk-billing is extremely important because it means people can see a doctor when they need to, not just when they can afford to. The Albanese Labor government's rollout of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the country has also been extraordinarily successful. These clinics are open for extended hours, seven days a week, and you do not need to make an appointment. Importantly, Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are fully bulk-billed, which means there are no out-of-pocket expenses. This means an enormous amount for people across the country and this means an enormous amount for people in my electorate. There have been over 2.5 million presentations at Medicare Urgent Care Clinics since the first sites opened in June 2023.”
“For Australians aged between 16 and 64, there has been a 6.9 percentage point increase in the bulk-billing rate, the largest quarterly increase on record. There has been an increase in the bulk-billing rate in every state and territory, and there are more fully bulk-billing practices in every state and territory, which is a fantastic outcome. The Albanese Labor government's reforms mean over 95 per cent of Australians are now within a 20-minute drive of a registered Medicare bulk-billing practice. In October 2023, before the Albanese Labor government tripled the bulk-billing incentive for GPS who bulk-billed children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders, the bulk-billing rate was just 75 per cent.”
“The Albanese Labor government is making the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago, with an $8.5 billion package that is delivering on our commitment to more bulk-billing and more doctors. The latest data shows that Australians can now access over 3,400 Medicare bulk-billing practices across the country. In my electorate of Whitlam, we now have 25 practices that are fully bulk-billing, up from nine, a huge increase since the government's incentive programs began. In the three months to the end of January 2026, the bulk-billing rate for all Australians jumped to 81.4 per cent nationwide. This is the largest quarterly jump in bulk-billing in 20 years outside of the COVID pandemic.”
“Wages are growing again, job security has been restored, casualisation has been reined in and working Australians are getting a fairer share of the prosperity they helped to create. That's what fairness looks like in modern Australia. Health care is another area of investment where Labor's values translate into delivery. Australians believe deeply that health care should be based on need, not wealth. But after years of neglect, bulk-billing was in decline. GP clinics were under pressure and people were putting off care because they simply couldn't afford it. The Albanese Labor government has stepped up and reversed that trend. By strengthening Medicare, expanding bulk-billing incentives and making essential medicines cheaper, we are restoring confidence in a system that defines who we are as a country.”
“Crucially, Labor understands this truth: the cost of living isn't just about prices; it's about wages. For too long, Australians were told that wage stagnation was inevitable, that insecure work was the new normal—and that, if you wanted flexibility, you had to give up security. Labor has rejected that false choice. The Albanese Labor government has worked to get wages moving again by backing pay rises for low-paid workers, supporting collective bargaining and restoring fairness to workplace laws that have been deliberately weakened. Labor has stood with aged-care workers, early childhood workers, cleaners and hospitality staff—people who keep this country running but have not always been appreciated for it. And what's the result?”
“These pressures show up at the supermarket checkout and in rental increases, power bills and the things that you end up going without. We're working hard to relieve some of those pressures through practical measures. That's why we've delivered tax cuts, cheaper medicines, subsidised child care, targeted help for renters, increased bulk-billing, reduced HECS debts, help for first home owners, more support for apprentices, fee-free TAFE, and pay rises, particularly for those workers that need them the most, reducing unemployment and protecting penalty rates. That's to name just a few of our achievements. Responsible economic management focuses on tackling inflation rather than fuelling it, and Labor is making investments in our future while also maintaining spending discipline.”
“We're not wasting time infighting or focused on our own internal dramas. We are a united, functional and effective government focused solely on delivering for the Australian people. The Albanese Labor government is delivering for Australians against that test that matters most: real-world delivery. Australians believe in fairness, and our victory at last year's election was so resounding, in large part because of Labor's unwavering commitment to fairness. This focus on fairness is the mandate that Labor was given, and it's the mandate that Labor is honouring. Cost-of-living pressures are still occupying the minds of many Australians, and Labor understands that cost-of-living pressures place enormous difficulties on individuals and families. We know that many people are already doing it tough.”
“I rise to speak in support of the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026 and the related bills because I am proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government, which is delivering on its commitments across the country, including in my electorate of Whitlam. I am proud because our government is focused on delivering real outcomes for the Australian community. We aren't a government of empty promises. We don't hide behind empty slogans. We're not engaged in fearmongering or culture wars. We are focused on delivering real outcomes for the Australian people. Australians are a pragmatic people, and we don't judge people just on what they say; we judge people on what they do. Australians like governments that get things done, governments that have the best interests of all Australians at their core, which is what our Labor government is all about.”
“My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government making it easier for all Australians to see a doctor when they need urgent care? Why does government investment in health, including in urgent care, make sense after a decade of cuts and neglect? Have any alternative approaches been proposed?”
“In 2023, Tori was part of the New South Wales SES Shellharbour unit's inaugural internship program, which involves students working alongside SES mentors and volunteers. She received the commander's commendation award at the completion of her internship for her outstanding contribution to the program and subsequently decided to join the SES as soon as she could when she turned 16. Tori has been an active member of the New South Wales SES Shellharbour unit ever since, regularly attending meetings and call-outs. I thank Tori for her significant and ongoing contribution to her community and for being an outstanding role model, and I wish her all the very best for her future.”
“I rise today to recognise Tori Henderson, who recently completed her one-year term as Shellharbour City Council's 2025 Young Citizen of the Year. Tori received this award for her extraordinary work as a volunteer across a number of areas in her community. While completing year 12 as captain of Lake Illawarra High School, Tori spent many hours volunteering with the Roo Theatre Company and also the New South Wales State Emergency Service. The Roo Theatre Company is a community based, not-for-profit organisation that is based in Shellharbour. It produces professionally staged theatre, including musicals, comedies and dramas. Tori's contribution to Roo Theatre Company has included performing on stage, participating as stage crew and running the canteen.”
“Ethan began coaching other skiers and then he heard that Paralympic skier Patrick Jensen needed a guide for the 2022-23 World Cup season. A year later, Ethan began guiding Georgia and their partnership has blossomed. Georgia and Ethan achieved their first podium result at a World Cup event in Switzerland in 2024 and repeated that result again in 2025. I wish Georgia and Ethan all the very best as they proudly represent Australia at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.”
“I rise today to congratulate Ethan Jackson, who lives in Kanahooka in my electorate of Whitlam, for being selected to represent Australia at the upcoming 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. This weekend, Ethan will be making his Paralympics debut as a sighted guide for vision-impaired para alpine skier Georgia Gunew, who is also making her Paralympics debut. Georgia and Ethan will compete in the para alpine skiing, giant slalom and slalom events, which involves the pair skiing together at almost 100 kilometres per hour down a steep course. This requires not just great athletic ability but an extraordinary amount of courage and trust. Ethan began training as a skier when he was just 10 years old. He was a national-level slalom and giant slalom skier about a decade ago, however repeated injuries in this tough sport led to his early retirement.”
“Today, through these bills, the Albanese Labor government is delivering on its commitment to establish a legislated, independent and empowered national commissioner and national commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. I commend these bills to the House.”
“We are making this significant investment to address family, domestic and sexual violence, because it is a crisis in our nation. Our government recognises this, and we are investing in action plans to ensure that we start to address these issues in a very profound way. There is so much more work that needs to be done to improve the lives of First Nations people in this country, but the 'Our ways—Strong Ways—Our Voices' plan is yet another example of the Albanese government's action to close the gap. It was almost 18 years ago, on 13 February 2008, that the Labor government, led by Kevin Rudd, made a formal apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations whose lives had been blighted by past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation.”