Julie-Ann Campbell
Moreton · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“It was Steven Miles who introduced 50c fares, which go to making sure that people can have relief when they tap their card at the bus or to get on the train. And it was many energy workers who came together to make sure that publicly owned renewables could be back in state government hands.”
“We just heard during the MPI in this parliament every excuse that they could think of—every obfuscation that came to mind, every reason—to not back reform that protects our children. The news I want to give to those opposite is this: we will not lie down when it comes to ensuring that Australian children are safe.”
“It is important to remember that yesterday marked a tax cut, the fifth from this government, for every Australian taxpaying worker. It is important to remember that this government, unlike those opposite, backed in minimum and award wage increases which came into effect yesterday.”
“Yesterday didn't just mark the beginning of a new financial year, it marked the next step in the Albanese Labor government's crusade to ensure that cost-of-living relief is delivered to everyday Australians, and it sits in stark contrast to what we've seen from those opposite this week.”
“If you've ever sat in your car at the Coopers Plains crossing on Boundary Road, you would know that it can feel like an absolute eternity. It's been consistently named by the RACQ as one of the worst crossings in our entire state. Locals in my community have been waiting decades for the promised overpass to that rail level crossing.”
“But if you'd cracked open the LNP's budget last Tuesday, what you would have found as you sorted through the papers is that there was no commitment and no timeline to this important project being delivered, despite the state previously having committed $179.5 million to the project as well.”
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“My question is to the Prime Minister. What are the objectives of the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Indonesia? Why are our relationships in the region and the world so important for Australians at home? How has the government worked to improve those relationships since being elected?”
“It's a future focused step—like Labor's funding for more university places—and it is an example of our prioritisation of higher education.”
“To strengthen student life, higher education providers will now be required to direct at least 40 per cent of student services and amenities fees to student led organisations, ensuring funding goes where students need it the most. We've also expanded access by making demand driven Commonwealth supported places available for all First Nations students who meet entry requirements. Student safety and fairness are also priorities. A new national student ombudsman and a national code to prevent and respond to gender based violence will provide stronger protections and clearer standards. At its core, the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission is about acting now to set our tertiary education up to deliver what Australia needs in the future.”
“This includes doubling the number of university study hubs, with 20 new regional and 14 new suburban hubs, so more students can study close to home. At a time when we know that Australians are feeling the pressure of cost of living, this has never been more important. We've also increased the number of free university bridging courses to help people prepare for tertiary study and, for the first time, introduced paid prac for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students so that they are not financially disadvantaged while completing mandatory placements—mandatory placements that are so important to our education system and to our care system—making sure that, from our youngest Australians all the way up, every Australian is educated, is given support and is safe and healthy.”
“ATEC will collaborate with other key agencies across the education and skills landscape, including Jobs and Skills Australia, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, the Australian Research Council, the National Centre for Vocational Educational Research and state and territory governments. Limits are placed on the Minister for Education to safeguard ATEC's independence and integrity. The minister cannot direct ATEC's findings, influence the advice it provides or intervene in the decisions about individual providers. The establishment of ATEC follows on from the substantial investments that the Albanese Labor government has made in education since May 2022. We're making higher education more accessible and more supportive by expanding practical opportunities and strengthening student services.”
“The annual review will also assess whether the system is keeping up with Australia's skills and knowledge needs as industries evolve and new technologies reshape the workforce. We know the workforce is changing. We know that, each and every year, new technology emerges. We know that, to be able to use that, we need a productive workforce that is well trained and has the skills to drive the economic outputs of this country to make us better. That's what this bill contributes to. Finally, the report will monitor equity and inclusion, supporting the system to move towards genuine fairness and opportunity for all.”
“These agreements allow universities to focus on their own specialities and to focus on their own strengths, such as research, strong industry partnerships or serving a particular region. At the same time, the compacts mean that universities are aligned with national higher education priorities and, indeed, are responsive to the needs of the students and the communities that they serve day in and day out. ATEC will produce an annual state of the tertiary education system report, signposting emerging trends and challenges across the entirety of the system. It will also track headway on tertiary participation and attainment goals and outline progress towards the more connected and coordinated tertiary system.”
“Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, the system will include demand driven places for equity students right across the sector, as well as needs based funding that reflects the number of students from low-SES backgrounds, First Nations leaders and those studying at regional campuses. If more students from underrepresented groups can access and stay at university, they are more likely to thrive. They're more likely to complete their studies. They're more likely to have a pathway to a good, secure job. Higher education isn't just about opening the door; it's also about making sure students are supported along that journey. Finally, ATEC will be rolling out new mission based compacts with universities.”
“ATEC will guide the future of Australia's tertiary education system, focusing on policy direction, the real cost of delivering high-quality teaching, the kinds of courses students are demanding here and now and how Australia can build the skills and knowledge that we need in those years ahead. ATEC will also examine the barriers that are still holding some Australians back from accessing and succeeding in higher education and offer practical advice on how to improve participation and outcomes. On top of that, it will play a key role in helping government figure out how to bring higher education and VET closer together so that students can move more easily between the two. Another major responsibility for ATEC will be introducing a redesigned funding model.”
“This is necessary because the Australian Universities Accord outlined the qualifications targets we need to achieve, and the report recommends that, to meet Australia's future skills needs and drive improvements to national workforce participation and, indeed, productivity, the Australian government adopt attainment targets to set the ambition for the tertiary education system to deliver the recommended tertiary education attainment target of at least 80 per cent of the working-age population having at least one tertiary education qualification—that is, a certificate III or above—by 2050. This is 20 per cent more than in 2023, and the establishment of ATEC is the bedrock which we need to drive that ambition.”
“A big part of ATEC's role will be to plan the system's long-term direction, with additional responsibilities around setting pricing approaches and distributing funding across the higher education sector, making sure that resources are aligned with student needs and, importantly, with future workforce demands. Crucially, ATEC will also focus on supporting and strengthening First Nations representation and creating opportunities for broad engagement across the tertiary education system.”
“It will guide ongoing collaborative conversations about the future direction of tertiary education in this nation. ATEC will strengthen the development of a strong, cohesive system that encourages diversity and genuine choice for students, no matter their background and no matter their ambitions. The commission will also be tasked with monitoring progress towards goals around skills development and equity, while ensuring the regulatory load across the sector doesn't impede good teaching, good learning and innovation. Specifically, ATEC will shape policy across higher education and university research and work closely with the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council to develop joint initiatives that strengthen the whole of the tertiary education system.”
“It's supported by $54 million of funding for a decade. An interim ATEC has been in operation since July 2025 and was initially led by Professor Mary O'Kane, Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt and Professor Barney Glover. Professor Tom Calma and the Hon. Fiona Nash have recently been appointed as commissioners, and they join Professor Barney Glover, who has been appointed acting chief commissioner alongside his role as the Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia. Together, they have established the foundations for the permanent commission, and this legislation reflects their work. This bill establishes ATEC as an independent statutory authority. ATEC's overarching objective is to be a steward for Australia's higher education system.”
“Professor Mary O'Kane led the comprehensive year-long review of the nation's higher education sector and was tasked with focusing on the nation's knowledge and skills needs, both now and in the decades ahead. The review had to take into account access to tertiary education, affordability, governance and accountability. It had to examine pathways and connections between vocational education and training and higher education. Finally, the review had to sit within a wider framework of fostering the research, the innovation and the national capabilities that will drive Australia's growth. The final report was released by the government in February 2024, and it sets out 47 recommendations that this government has already implemented—31 of those in full or in part. This bill implements the recommendation to establish the ATEC.”
“She drove me to the local branch of the Labor Party because it is Labor who has always been the party of higher education. As I said before, the contrast between the two sides of this parliament could not be starker. The establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, ATEC, is in direct response to the Australian Universities Accord. This was a first-term Albanese Labor government initiative which acknowledged that, while Australia had a strong education system, there were clear opportunities to improve it and to make it more equitable, and that is what we are striving for here. That's what we're driving for—to look beyond the horizon and to make the system even better.”
“These students are motivated and excited about their futures, and I know I left the school feeling buoyed by their enthusiasm. Today I am speaking about the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025. Labor has brought this important piece of legislation to the House for the students we met last Thursday and for the hundreds of thousands of current and future higher education students who are working towards their future ambitions. I first joined the Labor Party when I was in high school, when I was 17 years old. The reason I joined was that at the time the coalition government was making deep, deep cuts into tertiary education. I went to my mum and I said, 'I want to do something about this,' and she drove me to the local branch.”
“It was the first time that I got to see equations being written up on the glass wall, with students gathered around to look; it was the first time I understood that BOMDAS could also be BIMDAS; and it was the first time that I've been able to throw paper in a classroom. The minister and I met with Principal Carmen Anderson and her team of dedicated teachers. They're focused on strengthening literacy and numeracy outcomes and on improving engagement for students who are at risk from disengaging. It's always inspiring to hear about such work, and it was equally as inspiring to talk to the student leaders of 2026. Those students spoke about their future ambitions. We met a future fashion designer, a future lawyer, a future firefighter, a future Australia Zoo animal handler and, yes, even someone who wants to be a politician.”
“You didn't want it to happen. When it comes to 20 per cent off student debt, it doesn't matter whether you're in the Liberals and doesn't matter whether you're in the Nationals. They didn't want it to happen. So, when the member for Goldstein talks about 'street cred' on higher education, they don't have one iota of it. Last week I had the great pleasure of visiting Sunnybank State High School with the Minister for Education. The small but mighty Sunnybank state high is one of the 50 schools in Moreton, and it really reflects our local community. Its 700 students come from 60 different cultures, and they're doing great work there.”
“The member for Goldstein talks about the divide between this side of the chamber and that side of the chamber. Can I tell you that, when it comes to higher education, whether you are going to university to get a degree or whether you are going to TAFE to get a trade, that divide is very, very clear. Labor invests in higher education, and all the opposition has ever done is cut. We know right now that there's a further divide, and that's a divide over on the other side of the chamber. Everyone has been talking about the division in the coalition, but it's clear that, whether you're in the Liberals or whether you're in the Nationals, there is no divide when it comes to higher education. The track record is clear. With free TAFE, it doesn't matter whether you're in the Liberals and doesn't matter whether you're in the Nationals.”
“When we talk about translating, making sure that services across the breadth and depth of our Commonwealth service system are available and accessible to everyone is important. Accessibility and availability of all services for all Australians is not just about equity; it's about who we are as a country. I'm so proud to represent a multicultural community that is backed by an Albanese Labor government that understands that, an Albanese Labor government that is not just talking about it but is putting its money—and its services and its legislation—where its mouth is, because we need to celebrate our multicultural community, but we also need to make sure that, as a country, we provide everyone, every Australian, with the support that they deserve.”
“As Minister Aly pointed out just a few short months ago, when we talk about multiculturalism in this country, we need to make sure that we go beyond food. We need to make sure that we go beyond colour and dance and movement. These things are incredibly important. They enrich who we are as Australians and they absolutely are part of the bedrock of our Australian culture of mateship, of a fair go, of looking after each other and of having each other's backs. But it is also important to go beyond that. It is important to go beyond the food and the colour. It is important to go beyond that vibrancy, because in this country what we value is making sure that everyone gets a guernsey and that everyone gets a go—and that everyone gets a fair go at that.”
“I spoke about being able to throw a rock, draw a line around it and see many, many small businesses. I can tell you that those small businesses are run by so many different people from diverse backgrounds. When it comes to small business and to our multicultural community, what is clear about Moreton is that our multicultural community drives the economy. It's an important driver of our community. It's an important driver not only of making sure that we have social cohesion but also of making sure that people have jobs. Whether it is economic or social, or whether it is community, it is all about making sure that every single person, regardless of their skin colour or their faith, is included in our society. This is something that we must practise every day.”
“This bill supports the aim of the Multicultural Access and Equity Policy, which is to ensure that all Australians have the opportunity to achieve their potential and to participate in the social, economic and cultural life of our nation, helping to drive our future prosperity and build stronger and more cohesive communities. The Albanese Labor government stands proudly with our migrant community. This is why the Minister for Multicultural Affairs was elevated to cabinet and it is why the Office for Multicultural Affairs was established in the first place. These measures, this bill and TIS National's vital role in all aspects of our community all contribute to Labor's commitment to our modern multicultural society. I spoke this morning about where my office is in Sunnybank.”
“When it's about your finances, this is important because it might mean the difference in how your family lives into the future. When it's about the law, this is important because it has a big impact on people's families. Research tells us that TIS National has had a positive impact in enabling people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to access mental health supports. TIS National supports NDIS participants to find providers. It supports them to have a plan. It supports them to undertake a review, to have meetings and to access required supports. In many of these cases, having an interpreter takes the pressure off a family member to interpret as well as fulfil their caring responsibilities.”
“Achieving this bolsters social cohesion and allows people to engage with government agencies and institutions in a way that offers safety and in a way that offers confidence. If English is your first language, you don't worry about how you will explain your symptoms to your GP. If English is your first language, you can seek legal advice easily on a hotline. If English is your first language, you can navigate government systems like Services Australia more easily. TIS National enables those with limited proficiency in English to have those conversations and to seek that advice. They can have those interactions freely in their preferred language, confident that the interpreter is understanding and expressing nuance and complexity. When you're sick, this is important. In fact, it could be life saving.”
“The government's Multicultural Access and Equity Policy outlines the obligation that Australian government departments and agencies have to ensure accessibility, responsiveness and equitable outcomes regardless of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. It is necessary because, as of the end of June 2024, there were 8.6 million Australians who were born overseas. This diversity enriches our society through a wide range of cultural backgrounds, traditions, foods and languages, and many tens of thousands of those 8.6 million Australians live on the south side in the seat of Moreton. Access means that barriers of culture and language should not impede the delivery of programs and services, and equity means that these programs should deliver outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse Australians on par with those for all Australians.”
“It will not change how TIS National currently operates and does not involve additional expenses. Specifically, the bill will enable the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs to provide or arrange the provision of translating and interpreting services to the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth agency, authority, body, organisation or office holder. This covers all the services I outlined, through the agencies and associated bodies and office holders of different government agencies across the country. It also covers the additional activities of TIS National, such as training and support for translators and interpreters. This is crucial to meet the needs of different phases of migration and humanitarian intakes.”
“They're not just important on this day; they are important every day. The purpose of this bill is to establish express legislative authority within the Department of Home Affairs for the services TIS National provides. This will create a statutory framework and ongoing support for TIS National. This measure was recommended by the Australian Government Solicitor and is a responsible and proactive measure. The Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025 will shore up constitutional support for TIS National's functions and establish clear legislative authority. This will remove any ambiguity and also significantly reduce the legislative authority risk. In short, it is about confirming comprehensive support for the vital services TIS National provides to millions of Australians.”
“There are also free-of-charge interpreting and translating services provided for non-government entities such as doctors and other medical professionals, trade unions, real estate agents and for us parliamentarians. TIS National further supports people new to Australia with free-of-charge translation of their personal documentation, which helps them in their new community with work, education and community participation. Another key focus for TIS is investing in workforce training to equip translators and interpreters to upskill in emerging community languages. There is also training for working in complex environments such as medical and legal settings. I'm incredibly proud to represent the most multicultural electorate in all of Queensland. In my electorate, these services are important.”
“So it is a good time to reflect on the importance of multilingualism and on the importance of translating in that context from where we have come. TIS National provides over 1.3 million translating and interpreting services annually to a wide clientele, including local, state, territory and federal government agencies, the private sector and individuals. Telephone interpreting services are provided around the clock, ensuring support for emergency services access and for crucial matters such as hospitalisation and legal proceedings. TIS National also offers face-to-face and video remote interpreting, bringing the service back from the original pioneering telephone service in the seventies all the way through to now.”
“It's a celebration of diversity. It's a celebration of multilingualism. For me, it's a time to reflect and contrast the difference between what it was like back then. My family immigrated to this country in the late 1800s. We emigrated from China, and my family is of Hakka ancestry. At that time, once the White Australia policy was put in place, people who looked like them, people who looked like me, people who looked like my mum and myPoh Poh and my Gung Gung weren't invited back to this country for some time. What happened in that period was that they lost their language, and, whether it was Hakka, Cantonese or any of the other languages spoken, they did not have the opportunity to maintain their multilingual presence within our family.”
“They're our support workers. They're our teachers. They're our bus drivers. And there are so many more across our nation! Providing translating and interpreting services is part of the government's commitment to our multicultural nation, ensuring access and equity and promoting social cohesion. Official translating and interpreting services have operated for more than 75 years. They began when the Australian government provided translation services for postwar migrants in 1947 and were enhanced when interpreting services were added in the 1950s. In 1973, Australia led the world with the establishment of a telephone interpreting service, and the translating and interpreting services have continued to evolve ever since. Times have changed since back then. In a few short weeks we will mark International Mother Language Day.”
“What do Shona, Pulaar, Sinhalese, Dinka and Zo all have in common? These are languages from southern Africa, West Africa, Sri Lanka, South Sudan and Burma. All are offered by the TIS, the Translating and Interpreting Service. They are part of the 155 different languages and dialects supported. The list also includes Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish and Urdu—all of which, among many, many others, are commonly spoken in homes, businesses and community groups in my electorate of Moreton in Brisbane's southside. In 2021, there were 5.6 million people in Australia—that's 22 per cent—who reported using a language other than English in the home. Those 5.6 million people are our families. They're our friends. They're our neighbours. They're our work colleagues. They're our doctors.”
“Our superannuation system, a proud Labor legacy, is internationally respected. Our banks weathered global financial crisis better than most, and our regulatory framework has driven innovation while maintaining stability. I grew up knowing the system had my back. Every dollar I saved was protected. Today's Australians deserve that same certainty, no matter how they choose to save, no matter how they choose to invest their hard earned money. Whether they're putting money in a piggy bank or investing in digital assets, they deserve to know that the system protects them.”
“The government proposes to provide a clear regulatory framework that is fit for purpose and considers these international standards, protecting consumers while supporting that innovation and providing a clear and consistent framework for businesses operating in Australia's growing digital sector. This reform will help attract investment. This reform will help create jobs. This reform will help us grow our digital economy. When businesses know the rules are clear, we know that they invest. When consumers know they're protected, we know that they participate. This bill creates the preconditions for both of those things, ensuring Australians can participate safely in the digital asset sector knowing the rules are clear and in force. Australia has long been a global leader in financial services.”
“This measured reform builds confidence in our financial system—confidence that Australians deserve—while establishing Australia as a credible centre for digital innovation. ASIC will oversee these platforms under clearer rules, bringing digital platforms under the same trusted oversight Australians already rely on for every other part of our financial system. This bill aligns us with those global standards set by the Financial Stability Board and the International Organization of Securities Commissions, keeping us competitive with jurisdictions like the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Singapore.”
“It reaches into the future to make sure that the tech of tomorrow doesn't mean Australians will be left stranded. Technology moves fast—we know that—and regulation needs to keep up. This bill gives us the tools to do that without needing to come back to this parliament every time technology changes. This adaptive approach lets us safeguard consumers without crushing innovation, positioning Australia to set the pace in digital finance, not to chase it. The government backs innovation, but innovation without protection is a recipe for disaster. This bill gets the balance right. The bill allows an 18-month adjustment window. Businesses already operating responsibly get time to meet those new requirements, and ASIC can grant temporary relief where it's needed.”
“Beyond that, they'll meet obligations designed specifically for digital assets with baseline standards for custody, segregation, reconciliation and how transactions settle. These requirements acknowledge what makes digital assets different: no central issuer in some cases and peer-to-peer movement in others. The old rulebook doesn't always fit the new technology, but the protections must. That's why this bill is flexible, equipping the minister and ASIC with powers to update requirements as technology shifts, addressing new risks and keeping the framework relevant. This bill is not just about protecting consumers from today's technology, from what is happening right now; it reaches out to make sure that we are safeguarding against technologies that could be abused in the future.”
“This government believes that Australians deserve those same protections, whether they're investing in shares, whether they're investing in property or whether they're holding those digital assets, and this bill delivers that. This bill requires operators to hold an Australian financial services licence, meaning they're obliged to act efficiently, honestly and fairly; handle conflicts of interest properly; and maintain dispute resolution processes. These aren't new concepts. These are the same requirements we place on every financial service provider in this country, because operating in Australia's financial system means a commitment to Australian consumers, a commitment to the values we hold so dear that mean Australians are protected.”
“Platforms must know, at all times, exactly what they're holding and when they're holding it. It also means clear rules on disclosure. Consumers deserve to know the risks before they invest. Australians deserve to know the risks before they invest. By extending Australia's financial services laws to better cover digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms, we're giving consumers and industry the certainty that the same consumer protections and licensing obligations apply to comparable custodial activities. If you're holding someone's assets, you're subject to the same standards—no excuses, no exceptions, no shortcuts, just accountability. These measures ensure that operators of digital asset businesses are held to those same high standards of fairness, transparency and integrity as other financial service providers are.”
“The key risks of digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms are ones that we already regulate in traditional finance: credit risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk, operational risk, fraud and cyber risks. What changes is the technology. What doesn't change, what should never change and what will never change under this government is our responsibility to protect Australians. Operators of these platforms will be required to meet new minimum standards for how client assets are held and how transactions are processed as well as to comply with disclosure obligations designed specifically for digital asset businesses. And that means clear rules on custody. Your assets must be held securely and separately from the platform's own assets. It also means clear rules on reconciliation.”
“We want small businesses to innovate. We want them to be more productive so that they can drive the economy. We want them to be successful so that they can employ more Australians, who can have a decent job and decent pay. And the principle is simple: if you hold assets for clients, you meet the same standards. It doesn't matter if those assets are in dollars or digital. The risks of digital assets are ones we have heard before—fraud, mismanagement and cyberattacks. These are the same risks we already regulate in banks and in finance, and this bill simply enshrines clearer rules, fair standards and proper oversight. We know how to regulate financial risk because we've been doing it for a really long time.”
“These amendments integrate these platforms into our existing, trusted framework rather than creating a parallel system, extending the protections Australians already rely on. It's about making sure that the tech you use isn't an out, isn't an excuse and isn't a reason for accountability and regulation to not keep you safe. This is not regulation for regulation's sake. We're building smarter safeguards on top of financial laws. Australians already know how this works. We're not starting from scratch; we're building on what already works, applying the same principles that have kept Australians safe over many years in the financial system—for decades. And we're giving businesses the certainty that they need to invest and innovate in Australia, knowing the rules are clear and globally aligned. That's what we want.”
“When exchanges like FTX crumble, we see the cost of platform failure in real terms to real people, to real life savings, to real families and to real Australians. The caretaker described it as 'real, old-fashioned embezzlement'. But, if it uses new tech, we must make sure that people still have protection, because the people who hurt the most every day are Australians who trusted the system. It's students, young workers, families and small-business owners trying to stay competitive. This bill amends the Corporations Act 2001 and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 to recognise two new financial products: digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms.”
“This is the future of finance, and Australians deserve to participate in that future with confidence. We want to be at the forefront of technology. We want to be at the forefront of productivity. We want to be at the forefront of service delivery, and we want to be at the forefront of innovation. But, when the rulebook is unclear, consumers face risks that we as a country simply cannot accept. We've already seen what happens when there aren't sufficient protections. Tens of thousands of Australians were affected by the collapse of FTX. Families across this country put their trust in a platform that collapsed overnight before their eyes. Billions were lost globally. Consumer trust was shattered, and innovation was undermined.”
“These businesses are important to the economy. In many ways for my local community these are lifeblood to the economy, and they employ people who live locally. We need to make sure that they too are protected when it comes to digital assets. The Albanese Labor government is updating Australia's financial laws to match the pace of technological change and international standards. Digital assets have moved from the margins into everyday finance and commerce. Australians use them. Businesses build with them. And the underlying technology, like blockchain, opens real opportunities to transform how our financial systems work. We're talking about faster payments, more efficient settlements and new ways for businesses to raise capital and for consumers to transact.”
“If these digital platforms fail, it's not the big corporations who hurt the most—it's our small businesses and the everyday Australians who are just trying to get ahead. The Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 is about closing that gap. It's about ensuring that, as our financial system evolves and changes, the safeguards that protect hardworking people evolve with it too. I have the great privilege of living in the very best part of Australia, on Brisbane's south side in the seat of Moreton. My office there is in a suburb called Sunnybank. If I took a rock and threw it as far as I possibly could and then drew a circle from that rock's placement around the office, it would encompass scores and scores of businesses—everything from services businesses to hospitality to retail to manufacturing.”
“Long gone are those days of piggy banks and cash deposits being the only way that young people invest their money. Today's young Australians aren't just saving pocket money; they are navigating NFTs, bitcoin and digital wallets. They're doing exactly what we tell young Australians to do. We tell them to adapt, we tell them to innovate, we tell them to try to get ahead, but they're exposed to a market without proper protections in that new landscape. What happens when digital currency platforms collapse overnight? Not to the executives, not just to the investors—what happens to the university student who put their part-time wages into what they thought was going to be a legitimate investment? Importantly, what happens to the small-business owner trying to keep up with how their customers want to pay?”
“When I was a little girl, I used to be incredibly excited to get my pocket money—like many other children across the breadth of this nation. For me, that was $5, and I would pop it into a little pouch. My grade 1 teacher would hold out a sack and we'd put it inside, and when it would come back, the money would be gone but I'd have a purple stamp. That purple stamp meant that those $5 were now in my bank account. That was how I was taught to save. That was how I was taught to make sure that my money was in a place that I knew was safe. That was how I was taught to protect myself when it came to money and finances. I had that confidence that my money was safe. The world has changed. It's different now, and the way that we deal with money is different too.”
“Somali House is unique, but it's not alone, because so many different community organisations come together from across the south side to build something bigger than the sum of its parts—to build our community. I congratulate the community leaders who made Somali House happen, and I welcome them to Acacia Ridge.”