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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“It's breathing space that they really need, and it reduces the pressure on venue managers and owners to pass on rising costs to customers. It helps them to plan ahead. It helps them to retain staff. It helps them to reinvest in their businesses, because, much like a household and much like any business, planning is what allows local business owners to keep their businesses sustainable for our community. In short, it's a lifeline for small publicans and club managers who have been doing it tough. It means more affordable nights out for families, friends and communities. Returning to our brewers, and particularly small and independent producers who supply draught beer to local venues, many of them depend on keg sales as a vital source of income. It helps them maintain steady cashflow and keep their teams employed.”
“They protect jobs. It also works to ease the cost-of-living pressures without compromising public health goals or the integrity of our alcohol taxation system. Around 10,000 venues across this country will benefit directly from this decision from this bill. That includes pubs, bars, taverns and clubs, many of which are small, family-run businesses. In fact, about 75 per cent of these venues are operated by local families who employ local people, sponsor local community events supporting local sporting clubs and contribute to local charity. These are local hubs. These are businesses that have faced wave after wave of economic pressure, from lockdowns during COVID-19 to supply chain challenges, rising import costs and inflation. This measure gives them some breathing space.”
“Recently, at Sunnybank Community & Sports Club, I went to a rugby match celebrating the Pasifika community. They host events with many different multicultural community groups across the breadth and depth of my electorate. These places also contribute to our economy. They drive local economic growth. They employ approximately 160,000 people across the country. That's 160,000 workers who rely on these venues to stay open and sustainable every day so that they can afford their mortgage, their rent and their groceries. That's why the Albanese Labor government is taking real action to support these community institutions. At its core, this bill is designed to support small businesses. Small businesses are, in so many ways, the beating heart of our economy. They employ so many Australians. They are in every nook and cranny of our community.”
“As mentioned, these places are more than just venues; they are part of the social fabric of towns and suburbs. We gather at them for birthday parties, to have fierce trivia contests, to mark the passing of a family member or to simply spend time with our mates. In short, pubs and clubs are places of community connection and places of belonging. I always appreciate the very warm welcome I'm given at the Salisbury Community Sports Club; at WestsideHQ in Corinda, just down the road from my home; at the Sunnybank Community & Sports Club; and at so many more across Brisbane's south side. These are not just clubs; as I said, these are places and venues that host things so important to our community. They commemorate Anzac Day, when people come to play a bit of two-up.”
“This freeze on indexation applies to beer in kegs, specifically to those individual containers of between eight and 48 litres that hook up to gas or pump systems like the ones used in pubs and in clubs. It also applies to larger containers of over 48 litres that are used in commercial hospitality. The freeze does not apply to bottled beer, spirits or other excisable drinks, ensuring that the benefit flows to hospitality operators as opposed to retailers. What I'm incredibly pleased about with this bill is its recognition of the importance of our local pubs and clubs in the Australian way of life. Like so many things we've talked about today, these are part of who we are. They're part of our culture. They're part of what makes us us.”
“As I said, the Labor government understand that these times are tough and, from the very start, this is a government that has talked about being focused on delivery, and we have seen it. We have seen it with 20 per cent off student debt, and many Australians are about to receive a text message to confirm that that has been done. We've seen it with free TAFE being introduced to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to upskill in a TAFE setting with absolutely no money to pay, and we know that that's already happening. We've seen it with cheaper medicines, and on 1 January people will never have to pay more than $25 for a PBS medicine. We know that is happening. This is another notch in the belt of making sure that life can be a bit cheaper for every Australian.”
“We know that it is not just these breweries that are doing it tough; Australians are doing it tough, too. Now is the time that we need to do something about that. The Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill, which accompanies the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 is good news for our independent breweries and it is good news for Australia's pubs, clubs and hospitality workers as well. Labor's 2025-26 budget included a measure to press pause on the automatic CPI indexation of excise and customs duty on draught beer for two years. Beginning on 1 August this year, these duty rates currently increment based on inflation two times a year—in February and in August.”
“Independent breweries are an important part of the local economy. They source ingredients and services from local suppliers and engage food trucks for family nights. They employ local people and they offer pathways to good jobs. In fact, the Independent Brewers Association states that independent breweries employ 51 per cent of all people directly working in Australia's brewery industry despite holding less than eight per cent of market share. 'We contribute 40,400 jobs and total wages of $1.88 billion each year,' is what they have said. Independent breweries and the industry at large have been doing it tough. The average price for a 425 millilitre glass of beer at a venue has increased by 6.2 per cent in the 12 months to February 2025. Since the start of 2022, beer prices have increased by 10.5 per cent.”
“In Moreton, the names Ballistic, Hiker, Slipstream, Helios and Blind Boy are synonymous with quality, synonymous with unique flavours, synonymous with craftsmanship. In fact, I have had that great pleasure of visiting Slipstream on a number of occasions recently, first with the member for Fremantle and second with Senator Farrell to enjoy a good brew in a Queensland beer, sometimes on a hot summer day. It doesn't really matter what the season is; it is always good. I want to take the opportunity to congratulate Slipstream, who were awarded the best beer in Queensland right there on Brisbane's southside. These breweries are also absolutely loved for being relaxed, casual and enjoyable venues for all the family. They are social hubs and they host a variety of community events. They are so much more, too.”
“The member for Bruce is right; this bill is all about cost of living. It doesn't matter whether we're talking about medicines, it doesn't matter whether we're talking about child care, it doesn't matter whether we are talking about student debt, it doesn't matter whether we are talking about medical bills, and it doesn't matter whether we're talking about beer. This is an Albanese Labor government with its eye fixed, with its clear focus, on making sure that cost of living is the thing we address every day, not through talk but through delivery of key initiatives that make life cheaper and easier for everyday Australians. In recent years, my community, like many others around the country, has benefited from independent breweries setting up shop.”
“This built on the 2023 bulk-billing incentive that focused on children under 16 years of age and Commonwealth concession cardholders. We are already seeing the impacts of this. We're seeing them in our local communities, we're seeing them at our GPs and we're seeing them in our suburbs. And it's not only in Medicare bulk-billing GP practices. There's another type of place where all you need is your Medicare card, and that's your local urgent care clinic. We've got one in Oxley at the Canossa, we've got one at the bottom of the PA and there are 90 in operation across the country, with another 47 on the way. This is not about politics; it's about health care. And it's about the importance of every Australian having access to it with just their Medicare card. Debate adjourned.”
“The headline news is that Labor is delivering the single largest investment in Medicare since it was created by a Labor government four decades ago. The coalition may think health care is political fodder, but we believe it is essential. We believe that a strong healthcare system is an absolute pillar and foundation of a strong society. That's why Labor built Medicare, and it is why Labor continues to fund and invest in Medicare to make it better, not just on one day but every single day. The foundation of this investment is the $8.5 billion being directed to delivering an additional 18 million bulk-billed GP visits. The first of this month was a special date, because it was when Labor expanded bulk-billing incentives for all Australians.”
“I'd like to thank the member for Bowman for giving me another chance to speak about the Albanese Labor government's commitment to Medicare. I'm a little surprised, however, to be given this opportunity, because after all the coalition's record on Medicare is absolutely dismal, and it's indefensible. In fact when I talked about freezing funding to Medicare, it was the opposition leader who, when she was health minister, did not increase Medicare rebates by even one dollar. The member for Bowman would have you believe that Medicare is being used as, in his words, 'a political football'. Well, I can assure you that the Albanese Labor government is not here to play games. Instead, we are a government that is utterly focused on easing cost-of-living pressures, and our initiatives to strengthen Medicare are doing just that.”
“We don't have to be Nostradamus, because not only do we know what they did when they were in government but we also know what their plans were to get into government when it comes to health care. We know that those opposite wanted a copayment. They want people, when they walk through the doors to get health care in their local suburbs, to have to put down money, not just use that green card. We know that those opposite wanted and indeed cut billions of dollars from the healthcare budget. We know that they had the distinction of having the worst ranked health minister in over four decades, and we know that they extended a two-year Medicare freeze to six long years without an increase to Medicare. It was only at the start of this month that I stood in this chamber and spoke about Medicare.”
“I want to be really clear on what the member for Forrest is arguing here—really clear on what the member for Forrest and members opposite, members of the Liberal Party and members of the National Party, are arguing for here. What they are arguing is that we should not fund GPs to have every patient that walks through their door be bulk-billed. The members opposite are arguing that, when people walk through a GP's front doors, they should not just need their Medicare card. The members opposite are arguing that, when people walk through those GP's front doors, they need to have a copayment. We don't have to imagine what the coalition's policy would be when it comes to health care. We don't need a crystal ball to find out what the coalition's policy would be when it comes to health care.”
“The second organisation I want to talk about today is the Chinese Ethnic Broadcasting Association of Queensland. Just this Saturday gone, we celebrated their 45th anniversary at a dinner. Their president is Elsa Shuay. The organisation started up in 1980 and began broadcasting in Chinese on 4EB, the very same year. 4EB is the only full-time local ethnic broadcaster based in Brisbane. It brings language to so many parts of our community and is important to social inclusion and the way in which we communicate.”
“Today I want to talk about two very important community groups in my local electorate, both from the multicultural community. They're absolutely stellar and they have one thing in common: they are both celebrating anniversaries this year. The first is FC Old Bridge, a great football club. On 26 October we celebrated their 30th anniversary. Their president, Amer Sadikovic, is a wonderful bastion of our community and a pillar of our community. He, along with the Balkan community, puts on a big show every time we go out there. The club was founded in July 1995 by a group of athletes and football enthusiasts. They've got about 150 senior players and a strong junior program, but, fundamentally, the club is a focal point of our local community.”
“By strengthening local content rules, we are not only protecting the jobs and fostering innovation within that creative sector. We are also investing in the social and cultural fabric of the nation. We are investing in us. We are investing in our families. We are investing in our neighbours, in our mums, in our dads and in our workmates, along with their very important stories. This is why the introduction of this legislation is both significant and deeply welcome. It is a decisive move towards a future where Australian voices remain strong, where Australian voices remain diverse and where Australian voices are visible in an ever-changing media landscape. It signals a renewed commitment to ensuring our stories are told.”
“This network has grown steadily over the past five years, creating thousands and thousands of jobs for writers, directors, actors, technicians and other skilled professionals. The economic ripple effect extends far beyond the screen itself, stimulating tourism, regional development and innovation in important digital technologies. In short, the screen industry is not only a cultural powerhouse but also a critical driver of economic growth and employment in this country. This bill is about so very much more than regulation. It is about safeguarding our cultural identity and supporting the many thousands of Australians who work in our screen industry by ensuring that streaming platforms invest in Australian stories. We are investing in and reflecting our people and creativity and our economy. And that's what this bill aims to do.”
“The legislation also reinforces the principle that Australian content is vital, while providing certainty for creators, producers and investors alike. The Australian screen industry is a significant contributor to the national economy. It's a vital source of employment for Australians. In 2025 the market is projected to reach approximately $3.3 billion, underscoring its scale and its influence within the creative sector. In the 2023-24 financial year alone, total expenditure on screen production reached $1.7 billion. Beyond production budgets, the sector supports a vast ecosystem of over 10,000 businesses. Many of those are small businesses, ranging from production companies to post-production facilities to technology providers and creative service firms.”
“Audiences would lose the opportunity to see and hear their own voices, Australian voices, and Australian values and Australian experiences reflected up there on the screen. Screen Producers Australia insists that, to ensure these stories are told, a clear cultural mandate from government is absolutely essential, and this is what the bill provides. The Australian Writers' Guild also backed this bill in, with the president and Logie-Award-winning showrunner Peter Mattessi saying: World events move fast and impact our industry in many different ways. Meanwhile, streaming platforms are taking billions of dollars out of the country in subscription fees from Australians—Australians who tell us over and over again that they want to see more Australian content on their screens.”
“This bill has been welcomed by Screen Producers Australia, who recognise that the legislation represents a very critical step toward restoring confidence in the Australian screen sector and lays the groundwork for a more substantial future for production. Screen Producers Australia view the Australian content requirements as far more than regulations. They see them as the cornerstone of Australia's screen industry, noting that, as a relatively small English-speaking nation operating within a global market dominated by larger players, Australia faces a unique challenge. And this bill is designed to help our industry with it. Without the content quota safeguards, Australian stories would struggle to be financed and would struggle to be produced.”
“The bill adopts the definition of 'Australian content' from the Broadcasting Services (Australian Content and Children's Television) Standards 2020. These are the definitions which currently apply to free-to-air and subscription broadcasters. These new requirements do not apply to services that primarily host user generated content, have no paying subscribers, rely solely on advertising, operate on one-off transactions or cater to niche audiences or special events. These exemptions ensure that the framework targets the major players in the market without imposing unnecessary burdens on smaller or specialised services.”
“These programs include drama, documentary, arts, educational formats and children's content. Children's content is so important. It's something that we can't forget. In my home the children's content of choice is Bluey , but I must warn you the opening credits have been altered in my household. Mum, Dad and Bingo still get a guernsey, but Bluey's name is regularly replaced by Margaret's. Importantly, this requirement covers the Australian portion of globally commissioned or licensed programs, ensuring that our creative sector benefits from international productions as well. The bill provides flexibility. Streaming providers may choose an alternative compliance option by investing an amount equivalent to 7.5 per cent of their gross Australian revenue.”
“This bill means that, whether you're watching a show on commercial television or accessing a program via streaming, you will be able to watch Australian stories being told. It means that, whether you're picking up a channel changer, pressing a button on your phone or swiping, Australian stories can still be told no matter what the screen looks like. To achieve this, the bill amends the Broadcasting Services Act and makes consequential changes to the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005. The changes apply to streaming services with one million or more subscribers. These services will be required to invest at least 10 per cent of their total program expenditure in new Australian commissions or first-release acquisitions of eligible programs.”
“Indeed, there are rules regarding broadcasting Australian content on commercial television, and this is monitored by ACMA. The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 sets out the requirements. These are that 55 per cent of content must be Australian between 6 am and midnight on primary channels, and there must be 1,460 hours of Australian content between the same hours on non-primary channels. There are also requirements around first-release Australian program quotas. Up until now, there have been absolutely no Australian content requirements for subscription video-on-demand or streaming services. This bill resolves that astounding problem. It's important that, while our viewing habits may be changing, our access to the stories that reflect who we are as a nation is unaffected.”
“To quote from Revive: Australia's people and their stories are our greatest cultural asset. Stories communicate shared identities and a sense of belonging to place and each other, and can be shared through an artwork, narrative, dance, screen content, music or an idea. Stories bring people together and enable the exchange of experiences, ideas and perspectives. Stories give us a voice. All Australians benefit when they are represented by and in the nation's stories and that they can hear their own voices resounding in the national narrative. Our stories are shaped by histories, places, identities, languages, cultures, families and communities. The importance of sharing and celebrating our Australian stories is absolutely clear. I think that is widely agreed upon.”
“Not only that but these are the stories that are reflective of who we are, our culture and, fundamentally, who we as a country want to be. Not only are they reflective of that; they also have a practical and tangible outcome too, because they drive economic growth, they create important skills and they create jobs that we need for our country. In January 2023, the Prime Minister launched Revive, a five-year plan to revitalise Australia's arts sector. Revive focuses on five main pillars which encompass putting First Nations front and centre, having a place for every story, celebrating the artists, building a robust cultural infrastructure and engaging the audience both at home and overseas. I want to talk a little bit more about pillar 2—a place for every story—because it puts into context what the heart of this bill is all about.”
“… … … Netflix alone has more than 16,000 titles that "live practically in perpetuity, even as they are slowly entombed by new shows, new movies, new documentaries". Professor Schultz not only has a great name; she has a point. That's just Netflix. Think about the thousands and thousands of hours of programs that exist on all the platforms I listed. With this in mind, it is now more important than ever to protect and, indeed, to amplify our stories—Australian stories. With the Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video On Demand (Streaming) Services) Bill 2025, Australians will be guaranteed to see more Aussie content on their streaming services. These are the stories that deserve to be told.”
“The estimated earnings of streaming services in Australia in this period were over $2.4 billion. All these services give us myriad entertainment options on demand, an immense volume of content that is readily available at our fingertips—for the price of a subscription, of course. Streaming services offer programs from all over the world, but, as the national cultural policy stated, this risks drowning out the voices of Australian storytellers, and those voices are important. That's what this bill's all about. As Professor Julianne Schultz wrote: Some of the largest, richest, most concentrated companies in the world have built streaming repositories that make the grand libraries of the past look like a child's Lego building.”
“In recent years, it has become commonplace to ask your mates, 'What are you watching on Netflix?' Enthusiastic conversations follow, with people bonding over the shared enjoyment of a show, recounting late-night binge watches and noting recommendations of the next must-see series. You could substitute 'Netflix' in this question with Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO, Apple TV, Kayo Sports, Stan, Binge, Paramount+—and the list goes on and on. Australians have taken to video subscription on demand with absolute gusto. Mediaweek cites figures that show that Australian households subscribe to an average of 3.7 streaming services. This is up over 60 per cent since 2021. In fact, in 2020 to 2021, Australians were for the first time more likely to watch an online subscription service than free-to-air television, whether that be live or recorded.”
“When I was growing up, watching TV was a shared experience. We'd sit around the television with our TV trays full of food, and we'd catch up on the latest Australian television, whether that be McLeod's Daughters , Blue Heelers or The Secret Life o f Us . After we'd go through that experience, we'd go to school or go to work the next day and we'd talk about that Australian television. It was a cultural experience that we had collectively. That's not how TV works anymore because, nowadays, when we watch television, our faces are aglow with the light reflecting off a mobile phone screen. It's a very different experience. But the way that we watch TV shouldn't stop the presence and the persistence of Australian content.”
“As the Minister for Skills and Training said: Our investment in Free TAFE and getting more apprentices into the workforce is testament to our commitment to ensure every Australian has an opportunity to attain higher education which leads to good, secure jobs. When we look at what the Albanese government has been doing in the vocational education space and compare it to what we've seen from those across the chamber, the contrast couldn't be starker. We are investing in VET. We are investing in the future skills our country needs. And they, the opposition, have only been focused on taking down the cost of living.”
“I'll start where I finish—with network embedded storage at large and small scales and with electric vehicles. I am so proud to be part of a Labor government that is backing Australians to get training, to get jobs and to build their skills—the skills that our economy and our nation need. I am very proud to be part of a Labor government that is backing not just employment but good, secure employment. It's setting people up for jobs in those priority areas, so that people can make the things that we need to make, care for the people that we care about and build the houses that we need to make housing more affordable in this country. This bill supports the administration of a VSL program, which is making vocational education and training more accessible to all Australians.”
“This includes developing better student pathways by clarifying recognition of prior learning and streamlining regulation for dual-sector providers. Through the National Skills Agreement, the government has partnered with states and territories to establish nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence. These partnerships among TAFEs, university and industry will deliver the skilled workers and the skilled workforce for critical industries. An example in Queensland is the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries. The focus will be on targeted training solutions in renewable energy batteries, intermittent renewable energy source storage, grid connectivity—”
“Across the country, thousands of students have flocked to courses such as the Cert IV in Building and Construction, the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, the Cert IV in Cyber Security, the Cert III in Individual Support, the Diploma of Nursing and the Cert III in Horticulture. A February 2025 report from Jobs and Skills Australia, Opportunity and productivity : towards a tertiary harmonisation roadmap , indicates that a more integrated and coordinated tertiary education system has the potential to enhance workforce productivity, elevate skill levels across the industries that we're talking about and support the development of a future-ready workforce that meets the industry demands. Our government has invested $27.7 million dollars to support the development of a more aligned tertiary education system.”
“While we're focused on delivering, the only thing that the opposition has done when it comes to students is to say no: 'No, we cannot give you that cost-of-living relief,' and, 'No, you cannot have 20 per cent off your student debt that will help set you up for the future.' We've made TAFE free and we've made that permanent nationwide. This provides cost-of-living support to more Australians to get the qualifications they want for the jobs our economy desperately needs. Free TAFE will boost Australia's workforce by training more tradies and construction workers to build more homes, and more nurses and more healthcare workers to look after our loved ones. From January 2023 to June this year, 128,231 people in Queensland alone had taken up the opportunity to upskill for free.”
“The result is, of course, that three million Australians with student debt will have 20 per cent of their debt wiped, gone. This includes students with VSL program debts. When we think about the contrast between the Albanese Labor government and those opposite, what becomes clear is that, when it comes to TAFE and vocational education and training, we are focused on delivering for students—not just through this bill but through taking 20 per cent off people's debt and through free TAFE. We know that those opposite do not support free TAFE.”
“Importantly, the data protection standards that have historically governed the handling of TFNs by VSL providers will remain in effect following the commencement of the new bill. These ongoing safeguards reinforce the government's commitment to maintaining high levels of privacy and data security within the VET student loans framework. The Albanese Labor government has invested $42 million over four years from July 2023 to help develop a fit-for-purpose VSL IT system. This means that, from 2026, the VSL program will be bolstered by a new assessments and payment system. This is just one way that Labor stands behind the VET sector. One of Labor's key election promises was to cut student debt by 20 per cent. In fact, we promised it would be the first piece of legislation we brought to this parliament, and it was.”
“Before being granted approval to administer VSLs, providers must complete comprehensive vetting procedures, ensuring that only qualified institutions are permitted to participate in the program. Providers are required to adhere to several key obligations. These include strict compliance with legislation. Providers must follow stringent rules regarding the use and disclosure of information as outlined in the VET Student Loans Act. VSL providers are also subject to mandatory breach reporting. In the event of any data breach involving student information, providers are obligated to promptly notify the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. This requirement supports transparency and enables swift action to mitigate potential harm.”
“By streamlining the handling of tax file numbers and removing the need for providers to process them, the department has strengthened data privacy protections while maintaining the integrity of the loan management process. Importantly, these system updates do not affect the way students apply for a VET student loan. The application process through the electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form remains unchanged, ensuring a familiar experience for students seeking financial support for their training. VSL providers are subject to a range of robust scrutiny measures and integrity protocols embedded within the relevant IT systems. These controls are designed to safeguard students' personal information and ensure that providers operate within a secure and compliant framework.”
“This will also give providers and government alike certainty that the administration of the loans between 1 January 2017 and 30 September 2025 was lawful. Since early 2025 the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has implemented a series of enhancements to its IT infrastructure aimed at improving the security and efficiency of handling sensitive personal data. One of the key changes involves the automatic masking of tax file numbers from VET student loan providers. This update ensures that providers no longer have access to, or need to, manage tax file numbers directly. The transfer of this information between relevant government systems is now fully automated.”
“They may be TAFE institutions or private providers. Tax file numbers are necessary for the administration of student loan programs such as VSL. They're used to accurately link loan accounts to individuals within the taxation system, enabling precise tracking of loan balances and repayments over time. It is important to note that there is no knowledge of tax file number misuse throughout the administration of the VSL program. Similarly there have been no student complaints in regard to the tax file number administration. Nonetheless the Albanese Labor government is taking swift action to resolve this challenge. We want both students and VET providers to have certainty and to have confidence in the administration of their loans. The bill enables the retrospective authorisation of VSL providers' handling of students' tax file numbers.”
“This program supports eligible students to cover tuition fees for approved higher level—such as diplomas and above—VET courses at approved providers. The aim of the program is to promote courses and to grow the workforce in areas that align with industry needs, with what our country needs and with what business needs. The VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 concerns the administration of these loans. This bill addresses an issue with the administration of VET student loans which was identified during a recent review. It concerns the handling of students' tax file numbers and the fact that the VET Student Loans Act 2016 does not authorise VSL providers to handle tax file numbers. VSL providers are registered training organisations which are authorised by the Australian government to deliver VSL approved courses.”
“What that means is that we have more Australians—in my part of the world, more southsiders—who have pathways to skilling, pathways to a future, pathways to job security and pathways to ensuring that they not only have jobs but have good jobs. Of this number 3.5 million students studied standalone subjects. Over 2.1 million gained full qualifications and 230,000 completed short courses. This is about the skills that our country needs and, contrary to what you might hear, it is working people—particularly those who have been trained just as in Acacia Ridge—who drive our economy. It is the working people who grow our economy. It is the working people who make sure that our economy is moving forward. Many of these students were able to study thanks to the VET Student Loans, VSL, program.”
“We're supporting people to learn, we're supporting people to train, we're supporting people to work and we're supporting people to gain skills that will make their lives better and that will make our country better. We're supporting them to be the people who make the things that we need, we're supporting them to be the people who build the homes and houses that we need and we're supporting them to be the people to care for our loved ones in an ageing population. Data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research from September 2024 indicated that 5.1 million students took part in nationally recognised training in 2023, which is a 10.8 per cent increase from 2022.”
“The Acacia Ridge campus is 22 hectares of purpose-built, state-of-the-art training facilities. I always enjoy visiting there because it's a hive of activity. It offers a wide range of trade related courses in automotives, building construction, electrotechnology, engineering, manufacturing and design, resources and mining, transport and utilities. It's all about making sure that we are giving people, many of them young people, access to the skills that we as a nation need for the future. The VET sector delivers vital industry-specific skills and qualifications across all of these fields and many more—helping to boost economic development, helping to enhance business efficiency and helping to tackle workforce skills gaps. The Labor government is supporting people to do that.”
“I am always delighted and pleased to be able to have the opportunity to talk about vocational education and training. That's not just because in my electorate on Brisbane's southside we are home to the flagship Acacia Ridge TAFE, but it does give me a little bit of an opportunity to brag about it, because it's something we are very proud of in the electorate of Moreton. It's the largest trade training centre not just in Brisbane, not just in Queensland and not just in Australia but in the entire Southern Hemisphere. I had the great pleasure of being able to host the Deputy Prime Minister when we tried out dino chassis behind the wheel of a car. I've had the great pleasure of hosting Mr Giles, working through how battery technology works and talking to the students about their experiences at their TAFE.”
“They lost their rectory in a fire in early August—a 120-year-old Queenslander, which provided accommodation for community members in need. The community, with Reverend Rebecca King, ran a 'phoenix' event to raise money so that they could rebuild. The volunteers that came together are rebuilding that place, because our community will always help each other when times are tough.”
“In my local community, the Hindu Council of Australia hosted celebrations at Rocklea. Over 7,000 people were there. I want to thank Rajesh Verma, the president of the Hindu Council of Australia, with the Hindu Council supporting our community for over 25 years. In my community, there was also the Brisbane Diwali Sports Carnival and Kabaddi Cup. If you've never watched kabaddi, it's a combination of wrestling and rugby and it's a great watch. Thank you to the FICQ and its president, Dr Preethi Suraj, and the Tamil Association of Queensland and its president, Karthick Elangovan. I thank everyone for enjoying and celebrating these events and the volunteers for organising those celebrations. Lastly, I want to pay tribute to the Anglican Parish of Yeronga, also known as Christ Church Yeronga.”