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.”
The complete record
Every one of 368 lines we hold for Carol Berry, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 8.
“The plan is backed by $218 million in funding over four years, with an immediate investment in a national network of up to 40 Aboriginal community controlled organisations to deliver community led support services that help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families who are experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence. This new funding is in addition to the record $262 million the Albanese government has already invested in addressing immediate family, domestic and sexual violence safety needs, particularly in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities, through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan and our investment of $367 million to more than double funding for the family violence prevention legal services, as part of the National Access to Justice Partnership 2025-30.”
“This morning at Parliament House, I joined the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Minister for Social Services, the member for Lingiari and many other members of parliament and representatives from the First Nations community for the launch of Australia's first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander national plan to end family, domestic and sexual violence. The plan is entitled 'Our Ways—Strong Ways—Our Voices', and it has been developed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and state and territory governments to address the disproportionately high rates of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.”
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocates have long called for the establishment of a legislated national commissioner, and, as I mentioned earlier, there is very strong stakeholder support for a national commissioner right across Australia. The Albanese Labor government is focused on improving the lives of First Nations peoples through economic empowerment, job creation, health improvements and housing. We are resolutely committed to reconciliation and celebrating the profound contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to our nation.”
“The role will work with relevant counterparts, including all state and territory children's commissioners, guardians and advocates as well as other Commonwealth roles like the National Children's Commissioner and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. I note the national commissioner will not duplicate other existing roles. They can make and receive referrals where required, to ensure issues raised are addressed by the most appropriate bodies. So why is this standalone legislation needed? It is needed to ensure the national commission is an independent voice to drive accountability and better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, to advocate for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and to drive important systemic change.”
“Importantly, these bills support Closing the Gap targets related to children and young people. The national commissioner will have the functions and powers required to drive accountability and influence issues that disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, such as out-of-home care and youth detention. An empowered, independent commissioner at the Commonwealth level that is solely focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people will drive national coordination and accountability to address these important systemic issues.”
“The bills enable specific functions and powers for the national commissioner to promote and enhance the coordination of effort among Australian government entities and officials; provide advice to the Commonwealth on the development and delivery of relevant policies, programs and services that affect children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent; undertake research into systemic issues and barriers that affect the rights, interests, development, safety or wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people; provide educational programs for young people and children to empower them to promote and advocate for their views, needs and experiences on the matters that affect them; publicly advocate to promote the rights, interests, development, safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and to amplify their voices and strengths; engage with a broad range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to support them to assert their own rights, agency and leadership; conduct research and inquire into matters and to make recommendations; accept referrals; refer matters to another entity; contribute to inquiries; provide advisory services; collaborate with the Australian Human Rights Commission and other organisations and entities; and, importantly, engage with international human rights mechanisms, including relevant United Nations bodies and processes.”
“The national commissioner has the potential to make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of more than 400,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people across Australia. These bills will enable the national commissioner to: (1) promote the rights, interests, development, safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and acknowledge and build on their strengths; (2) improve development, safety and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people; (3) identify systemic issues and barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people's development, safety and wellbeing; (4) support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to assert their own rights and interests and to raise awareness of their views, needs and experiences; (5) increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people's rights, interests, views, needs and experiences, and the importance of these factors in developing and delivering policies, programs and services that affect their lives; and (6) drive greater accountability to improve government policies, programs and services to deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.”
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people face high and persistent levels of disadvantage. They are 11 times more likely to be in out-of-home care and 27 times more likely to be in youth detention than non-Indigenous children. This bill will provide an independent, dedicated agency focused on the systemic failures affecting outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people across Australia. The National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People will drive accountability to support all governments to better achieve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.”
“The national commissioner established by these bills fills a gap and will ensure the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are strongly reflected in advice to government. This is critically important. I note the bills make it clear that the national commissioner will always be an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander and that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are involved in designing a merit based process for the selection of the national commissioner that has regard to the interests and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. This is a strategic, nationally coordinated initiative that is critically important, because the scale and urgency of system failures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people is profound.”
“They've been informed and shaped by in-depth consultations which began in 2023 and have included state and territory children's commissioners, guardians, advocates, peak organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth advisory groups, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations. Consultation has also taken place with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, numerous government departments, the Australian Public Service Commission and the Commonwealth Ombudsman. These bills support the Albanese government's ongoing commitment to improving life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.”
“As the current and ongoing national commissioner, Sue-Anne Hunter has been consulted in relation to these bills, one of which will transition the office of the national commission from an interim executive agency to a permanent statutory agency that is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led and independent from government. In 2019, over 70 organisations united to call for a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander commissioner to hold systems and services accountable, and there remains strong stakeholder engagement and support for these bills.”
“The inaugural national commissioner, Sue-Anne Hunter, began her term on 1 September 2025, and since her appointment she's held many meetings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations and leaders and with state and territory and national commissioners, guardians and advocates to build strong relationships and identify opportunities for collaboration and change. She has been providing advice to government on policy reform that affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and she's been developing systems and policies such as establishing a child-safe framework for the national commission to properly engage with children and young people in a safe, culturally appropriate and trauma informed way.”
“Today I'm proud to support the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026 and the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026, which deliver on the Albanese government's commitment to establish a legislated, independent and empowered national commissioner and national commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. The Prime Minister announced the establishment of the national commissioner in 2024, and the national commission commenced its operations on 13 January 2025.”
“Aunty Lindy is highly respected across the Illawarra, including in my electorate of Whitlam, for her wonderful work across many areas, including mental health, cultural education and mentorship. I met Aunty Lindy while working at the Illawarra Women's Health Centre, and I saw firsthand the value of her work in defending, valuing and celebrating her people and her culture.”
“As CEO of the Illawarra Women's Health Centre, I was proud to lead consultation and engagement with Aboriginal women in the community of Warilla and in my electorate of Whitlam. Creating culturally safe spaces and recognition and valuing culture is critical for the wellbeing of First Nations Australians, and I was proud to support their work and honoured to work with local First Nations women who were advocating for stronger recognition of culture, for better services, for economic opportunities and for better support in the community. Earlier this week, I was proud to rise in parliament to recognise Aunty Lindy Lawler, an Aboriginal elder, Yuin woman and survivor of the stolen generations. Aunty Lindy was stolen from her family when she was just five months old.”
“I acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands across Australia, and I pay my respects to their elders past and present. I acknowledge and celebrate that First Nations Australians are the custodians of the oldest living culture in the world. As an Australian, I am deeply proud of our 65,000 years of First Nations history. As a young lawyer, my first case was representing the Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy in the Land and Environment Court, supporting their fight for recognition of important First Nations history on local Illawarra land that went on to become a housing development. I saw firsthand how local elders felt about their history being undervalued and unrecognised. I felt their desire for self-determination and the deep pride they felt in their culture.”
“The app includes a map of PFAS affected areas in Australia, news updates and a petition calling for mandatory labelling of PFAS in products. The students entered their app in the New South Wales government's Game Changer Challenge in 2024 and won the teamwork award. Chloe has been heavily involved with Rotary Interact, raising funds for local charities, coordinating environmental programs and leading Clean Up Australia Day activities. She also serves on the Future Council international advisory board, contributing to global, youth led sustainability work. I congratulate and thank Chloe for achieving so much at such a young age, and I wish her all the best for the future.”
“I rise today to recognise Chloe Ward, who, last month, was named young citizen of the year by Wingecarribee Shire Council for her leadership in environmental sustainability, community service and youth advocacy. Chloe is school captain at Bowral High School. She, along with four other Bowral High students became very concerned about levels of PFAS chemicals in the Wingecarribee River, particularly after a researcher discovered elevated levels of PFAS chemicals in platypus found in Berrima, not far from their school. PFAS, known as forever chemicals, describes a group of thousands of chemicals used in a range of household products, including non-stick cookware and food packaging. Chloe and her fellow Bowral High School students developed an app to detect PFAS in everyday products by scanning a product's barcode.”
“Dr Tolani was named Shellharbour's 2025 Citizen of the Year for being an exceptional professional and community volunteer and an excellent example of an admirable leader who has selflessly dedicated himself to various dental health initiatives in the local community. In announcing the award, Shellharbour City Council noted that Dr Tolani had opened the doors to offer free dental treatment to more than 3,000 people in need, and he was an encouraging role model for young modern-day professionals aiming to make a difference in the community. I thank Dr Tolani for using his professional skills to have such a positive impact on our community.”
“I rise today to recognise Dr Mohit Tolani, a dentist who serves the Shellharbour region in my electorate of Whitlam. Dr Tolani graduated as a dentist from Griffith University on the Gold Coast and subsequently completed his Master of Public Health and Master of Health Management degrees at the University of New South Wales. He also holds a Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) from the University of Sydney. He is deputy chair of the Australian Dental Association NSW advocacy committee. In addition to his daily dental work, Dr Tolani dedicates time to various community initiatives. He has volunteered with the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section and supports Project Smile, which aims to provide free dental care for people in the community experiencing financial hardship.”
“While some people can live a long life with MND, the average life expectancy is 27 months from diagnosis. About 2,700 people in Australia are affected by MND, and every day two Australians die from this awful disease while another two are told they have it. Gill Truman has described her journey as a testament to the enduring power of friendship, purpose and community. I thank Gill and all those involved with MotorOn for their advocacy and hard work to find a cure for this terrible disease. Thank you.”
“Gill was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2012, when she was just 30 years old. She was on maternity leave at the time, nursing a four-week-old baby and looking after her two-year-old son. Three years later, a group of her high-school friends established MotorOn in a collective effort to show their love and support for Gill. Gill has turned her personal tragedy into highly successful advocacy. MotorOn has raised over $2 million for research into motor neurone disease over the past decade, with all funds raised going to Macquarie University for MND research. Motor neurone disease is a progressive neurological disease with no known treatment or cure. Messages from motor neurons gradually stop reaching the muscles, causing them to weaken and eventually stop working.”
“Her community engagement skills have been critical to fostering collaboration between hospitals, schools, donors and service providers. Skye is widely respected and admired for her strategic leadership, her extraordinary energy and enthusiasm, her great generosity, her compassion and her smiling face and sense of humour. I had the great pleasure of meeting Skye in October last year, at the iconic Bowral Long Lunch, a major fundraising event for the Bowral District Children's Foundation, and also at this year's Australia Day celebrations in Berrima. I thank Skye for her wonderful work that has delivered and continues to deliver widespread and long-lasting benefits for families in her community. I rise today to recognise Gill Truman, a woman who lives in Bowral and who runs the not-for-profit organisation MotorOn.”
“I rise today to recognise Skye Leicester, who last month was named Wingecarribee Shire Council Citizen of the Year for her 16 years of service improving outcomes for local children and young people. Skye's dedication to these causes is driven by her personal experience with youth mental health challenges and a commitment to early intervention. As President of the Bowral District Children's Foundation, Skye has been an outstanding leader. She has transformed the volunteer-run charity into a professionally managed organisation, and she has played a key role in the foundation, raising and distributing over $2 million to support children's health and wellbeing. Skye has led initiatives that have reduced hospital wait times, created permanent clinical roles and expanded school based mental health programs.”
“I thank Barb for her 25 years of service to her community and for doing this with such warmth, compassion and generosity of spirit.”
“Barb looks after every aspect of the boutique's day-to-day functioning, including sorting donations, organising tip runs, maintaining cleanliness, supervising volunteers and liaising with partnering organisations, and she volunteers 40 hours a week. Importantly, Barb doesn't just manage the store; she's cultivated a space of connection, care and community, and she's achieved this through her integrity and compassion. She remembers people's names, their stories and what they're going through in life. She takes time to check in on customers and community members, offering a kind word, a cup of tea, a message of support or a reminder that they're not alone. I had the great pleasure of visiting Born Again Boutique a few weeks ago and meeting Barb and her wonderful team of volunteers.”
“Aunty Lindy has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and dedication to community healing. Aunty Lindy is widely loved and admired, and, on behalf of the Whitlam electorate, I thank her for her leadership and her service to our community. I also rise today to recognise Barbara Gibb, a highly valued member of the Warilla and Shellharbour communities. For the past 25 years, Barb, as she's known, has worked as a volunteer with Assist Shellharbour, managing the Born Again Boutique and op shop in Warilla. Born Again Boutique opened in 1998, providing a place where people in the community can have access to clean, preloved and affordable clothing and goods. Many items can be purchased for just a few dollars, and Born Again Boutique is popular and has a great reputation.”
“Aunty Lindy was also recognised and awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Educational Achievement by an Aboriginal Community Member at the 19th annual Nanga Mai Awards, in 2024. Aunty Lindy has endured great hardship in her life, enduring emotional turmoil and abuse after she and her twin sister were stolen from their parents when they were only five months old. Aunty Lindy and her identical twin sister were born in David Berry Memorial Hospital, at Berry, on the New South Wales South Coast, in December 1958. In May 1959, their parents were told to take the twins back to the hospital for a check-up, and, when they returned, the girls were gone. When they were 18, the sisters were able to meet their mother for the first time. Aunty Lindy never got to meet her father.”
“Aunty Lindy is highly respected across the Illawarra for her inspiring qualities of strength and resilience and her generous work in the community supporting organisations such as the Illawarra Women's Health Centre, Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, Shellharbour Council, the United Koori Social Club and the Wollongong Cultural Centre. This important work covers so many areas, including mental health, cultural education and mentorship. I was honoured to be at the Shellharbour Civic Centre when Aunty Lindy received an Outstanding Contribution to Reconciliation award, at the 2025 regional NAIDOC awards, for her tireless advocacy, creating spaces for young Aboriginal people and promoting education and healing within the Illawarra community.”
“Jenny has not only been CTC's president for the past 14 years, but her enthusiasm and drive have been critical to the organisation establishing itself as a thriving community hub. Her dedication has been essential to CTC becoming a vital space for education and connection and is an extremely valuable community asset. Jenny also writes for the Robertson News and Robertson E-News , manages the village website and represents CTC on the Robertson Community Association. I thank Jenny Kena today in the Australian parliament for making such a longstanding and valuable contribution to her community. I rise today to recognise an incredible woman from my electorate of Whitlam, Aunty Lindy Lawler, an Aboriginal elder, Yuin woman, community leader and survivor of the stolen generations.”
“I rise today to recognise the extraordinary contribution made by Jenny Kena to the community of Robertson, a beautiful village in the Southern Highlands region within my electorate. In 2025, Jenny was named the Wingecarribee Citizen of the Year, and she has performed her role admirably over the past 12 months. Jenny is widely admired and respected for her integrity and character, as well as her hard work in the local community. For over 20 years, Jenny has been a very active member of her community in Robertson. She played a key role in founding CTC Robertson in 2004. CTC Robertson is a not-for-profit organisation that enriches the local community through arts, education and social programs. The initials 'CTC' represent the organisation's three core areas of focus: community, technology and creativity.”
“My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government providing more opportunities and delivering for first home buyers? What other approaches to housing has the government been asked to consider?”
“Last week I had the pleasure of joining Narelle and several of my parliamentary colleagues, including the Minister for Social Services, at the Southern Youth and Family Services awards night in Warilla, which is in my electorate of Whitlam. In particular, the organisation's accommodation service in Warilla provides transitional housing to people aged between 18 and 23, supporting their move to independence and improving their chances of completing education, accessing training and gaining employment. We heard wonderful accounts of how this service—one of many offered by Southern Youth and Family Services—has changed lives. I thank and congratulate Narelle, an extraordinary leader who I've admired for many years, and all those involved with Southern Youth and Family Services for the life-changing work they do for our community.”
“I rise today to recognise Narelle Clay, the outstanding CEO of Southern Youth and Family Services, an organisation that has had a transformative impact on the lives of many people in my electorate and across southern New South Wales. Narelle has spent her entire career supporting vulnerable people in our community, and she's incredibly passionate about social justice. Narelle was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005 for 'distinguished service to the community in the areas of direct service delivery and advocacy for vulnerable people'. In 2017 she received a premier's award for public service. Narelle has held many leadership roles, including President of the Australian Services Union, New South Wales and ACT; and chair of Homelessness Australia.”
“They're in the national interest and they are firmly in the spirit of the Samuel review. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build on Labor's legacy by reasserting the federal government's leadership role in protecting our shared heritage and placing the protection of the environment at the centre of our decision-making, not just for our generation but for generations to come. I commend this package of reforms to the House.”
“The Environmental Protection Reform Bill, combined with a range of amendments to the EPBC Act, will build on this legacy by delivering reforms that benefit both the environment and business. These reforms incorporate a balanced package featuring: (1) stronger environment protection and restoration laws that won't just deliver better protections for our environment but restore and regenerate these special places for future generations; (2) more efficient and robust project assessments and approvals that allow us to better respond and deliver on national priorities, like the renewable energy transition, a Future Made in Australia, and the housing we need; and (3) greater accountability and transparency in decision-making to give all Australians confidence in these laws. These reforms are long overdue.”
“And we've increased funding for national parks and Indigenous rangers. Under the Albanese government, renewable energy generation has reached new Australian records, up in volume by around 30 per cent since we came to government and reaching 46 per cent of the national market at the end of 2024. Last month, around half of all electricity in the national grid came from renewable sources, the highest monthly rate on record. On 11 October, for part of the day, nearly 80 per cent of electricity was generated by renewables. We are making strong progress to deliver 82 per cent renewable electricity by 2030, driven by our Capacity Investment Scheme, our Rewiring the Nation Fund and our Cheaper Home Batteries Program. I've outlined just the highlights of the Albanese government's environmental achievements.”
“Since winning government in 2022, the Albanese government has passed strong laws to enforce big polluters to cut emissions so Australia gets to net zero carbon pollution by 2050. We've committed to 82 per cent renewable energy electricity by 2030 and approved 111 renewable energy projects, producing enough electricity to power more than 13 million homes. We've protected an extra 95 million hectares of Australian ocean and bush and expanded marine parks around Macquarie Island as well as the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, increasing the proportion of Australia's marine waters under protection to 52 per cent. We've invested over $600 million to better protect our threatened plants and animals and tackle feral animals and weeds that are devastating our native species.”
“The key to achieving this outcome is the establishment of Australia's first national environmental protection agency. This will be a proud Labor legacy, delivering on our election commitment. The new National Environmental Protection Agency will be a strong, independent regulator with a clear focus on ensuring better compliance with and stronger enforcement of Australia's new environmental laws. The reforms also introduce new emissions disclosure requirements that require major emitting project proponents to disclose estimates of scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions as part of gaining federal environmental approval. Proponents will be required to disclose their plans to reduce those emissions and explain how those measures are consistent with government laws and policies.”
“The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has calculated that the streamlined assessment pathway reforms alone will deliver annual savings of at least half a billion dollars and potentially up to $7 billion to the national economy. The bills before the House adopt Professor Samuel's recommendation that the EPBC Act should include a specific power to be used in rare circumstances that are in the national interest for one minister to make a decision that is inconsistent with the national environmental standards. Any such decision would be accompanied by a statement of reasons which includes the environmental implications of the decision. The third and final pillar of this package enshrines greater accountability and transparency in environmental decision-making.”
“Central to the Samuel review were recommendations around reducing duplication between state and territory processes and Commonwealth processes, and this package of reforms seeks to improve the operation of bilateral agreements with states and territories, making the framework more responsive to change and more durable in the long term. Another way in which productivity will be boosted is through a new streamlined assessment pathway. This significantly reduces the assessment timeframe for proponents who provide sufficient information upfront and design their proposals in line with the environmental requirements and other requirements of these reforms.”
“It will increase transparency, consistency and certainty of decisions and provide a safeguard against impacts that cause the irreversible loss of Australia's biodiversity and heritage. There will be higher penalties for the most significant breaches of environmental law as well as environment protection orders for use in urgent circumstances to prevent and respond to major contraventions of the law. Overall, the reforms under the first pillar deliver more protection for the environment and, importantly, also focus on restoration and recovery. The second pillar underpinning these reforms relates to productivity and efficiency. The system requires navigation of multiple assessment and approval processes across federal, state and territory jurisdictions. This creates lengthy delays while delivering no benefit for the environment.”
“The Samuel review stressed that reforms to the law must not just protect our precious natural environment but also restore it. That's why, under these reforms, projects will be required to avoid, mitigate and repair damage to protected matters wherever possible. Any residual, significant impacts on nationally protected matters must be fully offset to achieve a net gain for the environment. This is an important improvement on the existing policy of no net loss. The reforms will also clearly outline in legislation what is an unacceptable impact on the environment. The new definition of 'unacceptable impact' is specific to each protected matter. This will set clear and upfront criteria for impacts that cannot be approved unless the project meets the national interest test.”
“These reforms are underpinned by three key pillars: (1) stronger environmental protection and restoration, (2) improved productivity through more efficient and robust project approvals and (3) greater accountability and transparency in decision-making. The first pillar, stronger environmental protection and restoration, includes the creation of a new ministerial power to make national environmental standards. These standards were the centrepiece of the Samuel review, and they set the boundaries for decisions to ensure they deliver improved environmental outcomes. Importantly, they also provide certainty and guidance for business by setting clear and enforceable expectations and uplifting the quality and consistency of decision-making.”
“I'm therefore proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government and to have the opportunity to speak in support of the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 and the suite of amendments to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Five years ago, Professor Graeme Samuel AC delivered his independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to the then minister for the environment, Sussan Ley. This review concluded that our national environmental law is fundamentally broken and outdated and that it's failing both the environment and business. Professor Samuel laid out a blueprint for reform, and this package is faithful to the review's recommendations. It is not a case of choosing one or the other, the environment or the economy; we can deliver for both.”
“This leadership role was confirmed when the Hawke government stopped the damming of the Franklin River in Tasmania in 1983. This was a defining environmental decision that cemented Australia's commitment to safeguarding wild rivers and World Heritage landscapes. This landmark decision also set an important precedent for the leadership of the federal government regarding environmental protection and enshrined in the Australian consciousness that some places are too precious to lose. Since Gough Whitlam—and for every Labor prime minister since—protecting the environment has been core to Labor's promise, and we owe gratitude to these former leaders for their foresight and courage.”
“This includes the establishment of Landcare, saving the Franklin River, protecting the Daintree and Kakadu, protecting the Great Barrier and Ningaloo reefs, building the largest network of marine parks in the world and taking meaningful action to address climate change. As the member for Whitlam, I'm particularly proud of Gough Whitlam's legacy in relation to environmental conservation. The Whitlam government was one of the first governments in the world to support and ratify the World Heritage convention in 1974. This was a seminal moment which confirmed the role of the Commonwealth government in protecting the immense natural and cultural heritage of Australia. Whitlam recognised that protecting the environment was part of a global responsibility that required courage and leadership on the part of the federal government.”
“I was extremely fortunate to grow up in the magnificent Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. During my childhood I spent countless hours with my parents and sisters bushwalking, camping or just being outdoors in nature. These experiences cultivated in me a lifelong love of nature and a deep desire to protect it. Australia's national parks, rivers, creeks, beaches, forests and incredible wildlife and landscapes are so unique and breathtakingly beautiful. It's never been so important for us to act swiftly to protect our natural environment, and I've heard from thousands of people in my electorate asking our government to act decisively to protect nature for current and future generations. Labor has delivered all of Australia's major environmental reforms.”
“Learning to read well is not only valuable for self-esteem; it's critical to future education, training and employment. Earlier this month I had the great pleasure of meeting Luciana De Michiel, the founder of Reading Friends Australia, as well as several volunteers. I was delighted to be able to listen to children practise their reading and to see how rewarding this was for both the children and the volunteers involved. I commend all those involved with Reading Friends Australia for making such a valuable contribution to our community and our future.”
“I'm proud to say that Reading Friends Australia is based in my electorate of Whitlam and that it organises scores of volunteers to assist children at 25 schools across New South Wales to practise reading. Reading Friends Australia trains volunteers and works with each school to tailor its service to suit the individual students at that school. Recent research has found that one in three children in Australia struggle to read well. Reading Friends Australia try to address this problem and, since 2019, they have been working hard to improve the reading skills of Australian children. All this is powered by volunteers. Helping children improve their reading to increase their confidence and enable them to reach their full potential is an extremely valuable contribution on the part of these generous volunteers.”