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 part of the Queensland Department of Education's biennial state schools festival for vocal ensembles. It was wonderful to see them represented in the top five in the state. Congratulations to the teachers and the students.”
“The AHEAD project does a few things: it advances proton exchange membrane electrolyser technology and onsite hydrogen production systems; it contributes to driving down the cost of hydrogen and improving production effectiveness; and it establishes strong capabilities in hydrogen technology innovation, advanced manufacturing and operational knowledge. It's a real shot in the arm for sustainability, a shot in the arm for hydrogen, a shot in the arm for my community, and a shot in the arm for jobs. Well done. On Friday, 15 August, I had the great pleasure of attending Griffith's 'Con'. The Con is a place where so many fantastic musical performances take place every single day. I was there because MacGregor State High School's a cappella choir, MACappella, was in the finals for the Choral Fanfare 2025.”
“They are putting those wreaths together so that, when I go to those ceremonies on behalf of the community, we can lay them, and they are a meaningful way to continue the community work that the CWA does every day in our community and to expand on the opportunities for connection and friendship that craft groups bring, particularly to older Australians in my electorate. I want to congratulate Endua. Endua is a local company in my electorate of Moreton, on the south side, and it does renewables and low-emissions technologies. They're experts in the field and they're in Archerfield. I want to congratulate them today because they have just received a $4.8 million grant for industry growth. It's called the AHEAD project.”
“Sewing, knitting, crocheting—these are all things that are most certainly not in my bailiwick. But I'm incredibly lucky, in my seat of Moreton in Brisbane, to have people who are experts at them. And they are experts because they are the CWA—a set of really strong community groups in my area, including the 99-year-old Annerley Yeronga CWA, the Oxley CWA, and the Sunnybank-Coopers Plains CWA. The reason that I raise these fantastic community organisations today is because these groups are working hard right now, as we speak, crocheting wreaths for Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, and any day where we commemorate, recognise and remember those who have served our country.”
“What the coalition needs to do is take a long, hard, cold look in the mirror, because the only people who have failed to back in Australians at every turn are sitting right there.”
“If you think climate change isn't real, it's good news, because they don't want net zero to be a policy of this government. All of those things demonstrate very clearly that this is an opposition and a coalition that doesn't care about everyday Australians. If you're a young person, if you're an apprentice, if you're a manufacturing worker, if you're an older Australian, if you're a person on a minimum wage, if you're a person who cares about the environment or if you are a taxpayer, this is a coalition that will not back you in. When it comes to this question, the member for Gippsland and the members opposite do not need an MPI. They do not need to go back to their offices and get out a pen and write out a question or a motion for this House to consider.”
“If you're an older Australian who relies on health care, the coalition does not want you to have better health care and cheaper medicines. If you are on a minimum wage, the coalition does not want you to have a pay increase. If you are a taxpayer, the coalition wants you to pay higher taxes. So, if you are any of those people—if you tick any of those boxes—what we know is that the coalition does not support you. But perhaps I've been a little too harsh, because I know that there are a number of groups that the coalition really does support. Are you a boss who enjoys a long lunch? Good news! The coalition will back you in. Are you not a fan of working on a laptop? Good news! The coalition doesn't want you to work from home.”
“It gives me the opportunity to talk about everyday Australians and to examine—not through their words but through their actions—what the opposition thinks about them. If you're a young person looking to get into your first home, the coalition does not want you to have a five per cent deposit. If you're an apprentice looking to start your trade, the coalition does not want you to be able to access free TAFE. If you're a manufacturing worker, the coalition does not want your job to be in this country. We know that the coalition has offshored again and again and again—the car manufacturing industry, the shipbuilding manufacturing industry, the train manufacturing industry—particularly those workers in regional Queensland. That is what the coalition's vision for manufacturing workers is.”
“It doesn't matter whether you are from the regions, it doesn't matter whether you are from rural Australia, and it doesn't matter whether you are from remote Australia. Every single everyday Australian plays a critical role in our society and plays a critical role in our economy. It doesn't matter who you are; we all do that. Labor stands up for every single one of those Australians. I want to take the opportunity to thank the member for Gippsland, because this is an incredibly important question. It certainly is, and it bears repeating because this question goes to the failure to govern for all Australians. I think it's an interesting question and, indeed, an ironic question, given that what we've learned about the coalition in the last few months is that they are completely incapable of governing themselves, let alone a country.”
“As I have said in this place before, I'm incredibly proud to represent the most multicultural electorate, the most multicultural community, in all of Queensland. I myself have an ethnically diverse background. My family immigrated to this country from China in the late 1800s, my last name is Campbell—obviously of Scottish heritage—and my grandma on my dad's side was born and raised in Canada. What I have come to learn as an adult is that the diversity of my background is a strength and that the diversity that exists in the backgrounds of all of our communities continues to be a strength. It doesn't matter what the colour of your skin is. It doesn't matter what your faith is. It doesn't matter what your postcode is.”
“By 2030, we expect nine out of 10 GP visits to be bulk-billed, tripling the number of fully bulk-billed GP practices to nearly 5,000 nationally. I'm also really proud of Labor's urgent care clinic program. Many constituents in my electorate of Moreton, on Brisbane's southside, have benefited from both the urgent care clinic in Oxley and the Buranda urgent care clinic, across the road at the PA. Fundamentally, we know that Labor will always prioritise health, and this week we acknowledge that women's health is an important part of that priority.”
“They also build the primary care workforce to manage this chronic condition. Of course, all these initiatives come on top of Labor's enormous investment in Medicare—an investment that has not been matched since Labor introduced Medicare all those years ago. Labor is making the largest investment in Medicare since we created it over 40 years ago. It bears repeating, because, when it comes to Medicare, when it comes to health care and when it comes to making sure that health care is affordable and accessible, it is in our DNA. Our DNA has always meant that Labor prioritises health, and making sure that that health support extends to women's health is so important. With the aim of delivering an additional 18 million bulk-billed GP visits annually, we are investing $8.5 billion to expand bulk-billing.”
“I want to specifically mention Labor's initiative in supporting those women with endometriosis, because endometriosis is complex, debilitating and chronic, and it can be hard to diagnose. It takes an average of six to eight years to diagnose this progressive condition. At least one in nine girls, women and those assigned female at birth suffer from endometriosis. In February this year, the Albanese Labor government announced an expansion to the number of endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. This includes 11 new clinics, bringing the national number to 39, the largest number we have ever seen. These are clinics that provide multidisciplinary care with a focus on improving diagnosis timelines and promoting access to intervention, care, treatment options and referral services for endometriosis and pelvic pain.”
“What this means is significant financial relief for women. At a time when the cost of living is the number one issue facing our community, that is more important than ever. When you consider that, from 1 January 2026, the co-payment for PBS medicines will decrease to $25—and never any more than $25 per script—the savings just keep adding up, particularly for women. Around 8,500 Australian women suffering from endometriosis could save more than $2,300 a year. Additionally, women who use Yaz and Yasmin contraceptive pills will pay nearly one-quarter of the original amount from 1 January 2026. The opening up of more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics only bolsters the support that Labor is delivering for women in this crucial space.”
“Labor has provided funding to train health professionals and supported the development of the first-ever clinical guidelines and a national awareness campaign, making menopause an open conversation. This is really relevant because, for so long, when many women have walked into their doctors' offices and consulted with their clinicians, they have simply not been taken seriously. This work makes it clear that they deserve to be taken seriously and, when they are taken seriously, that that work is backed up by funding. That's what Labor's done. There is also more affordable and earlier access to Pergoveris, a fertility treatment for Australian women undergoing IVF. It was added to the PBS, and the number of pens per script was doubled to four. A new endometriosis treatment option, Ryeqo, was also added to the PBS.”
“This includes the first PBS listing for new oral contraceptive pills in more than 30 years. Women who rely on Yaz, Yasmin and Slinda—there are 150,000 of them across the country—are now saving hundreds of dollars a year. Additionally, two national trials for contraceptives and uncomplicated UTIs will benefit 250,000 concession card holders. Under that trial, users will be able to consult a trained pharmacist at no cost, and, if medications are required, they will pay only the usual medicine cost. An additional 150,000 women are benefiting from the addition of new menopausal hormone therapies to the PBS for the first time in a long time. There are further supports for women going through menopause, with over 20,000 women undergoing a Medicare funded menopause health assessment since they became available on 1 July.”
“Importantly, the Albanese Labor government has boosted this with more funding and more services for women's health. I want to acknowledge the fact that the contingent from Queensland parliament was here earlier today. As a sign of how much our things have changed when it comes to misrepresentation, not very long ago there were more people in the Queensland parliament with the name 'Mark' than there were women in the Liberal Party. That is a pretty stark example of how, by ensuring that in this place women's representation is front and centre, women's voices are more likely to be heard and indeed are heard. In February this year, Labor announced a historic half-a-billion-dollar investment in women's health. A crucial part of this was adding medicines to the PBS.”
“I had the great pleasure this morning of standing at a press conference with the member for Lyons and many, many women across Australia coming together to talk about not just Women's Health Week and the women's health package that Labor has put forward but also the many thousands of women that this is impacting every single day, in many different ways for all different ages. That's what Labor reforms have done in the space. We've made the biggest investment in women's health ever, and it is changing lives. Women's health is now part of the national conversation, and it is timely to reflect on that this week, during Women's Health Week. Women now feel empowered to discuss their health concerns, to talk about them and to advocate for change.”
“I'm pleased to say that this is starting to change under a Labor government. Labor has listened to Australian women and is delivering more choice, lower costs and better health care for women and girls right across their life span. It is not surprising that this movement comes at a time when, in this place we are standing in right now, the House of Representatives and the Senate have more women's representation that we have seen in generations—the most we have seen ever. Ensuring that women's voices are heard in parliaments and ensuring that women are represented so that our parliaments and democracy are reflective of our communities is critical to ensuring that women's health is brought to the forefront and that it is given the funding and attention that it truly deserves.”
“It wasn't very long ago that women's health was completely taboo. It wasn't very long ago that, when health issues were spoken about, they were spoken about quietly, in hushed tones, secretively and privately. When it comes to women's health issues, women's voices weren't heard, because words like 'miscarriage', words like 'endometriosis' and words like 'menopause' weren't shared and their experiences weren't shared. Women dealing with medical issues often felt like they faced stigma and were coping alone. Many of them still do to this day. Many women suffered from delayed diagnosis for their conditions because the issues were not spoken about, or they had their pain dismissed. Many struggled to receive the support, care and medical attention that they desperately needed.”
“We were holding an economic roundtable, an economic roundtable that was designed to address these very points: intergenerational equity, a fair go for working people, and including intergenerational equity terms on top of the three—not one, not two, but three—tax cuts for every Australian. Labor is taking this seriously, and the opposition is only against intergenerational fairness.”
“Did they talk about intergenerational unfairness? Did they talk about tax reform? They didn't. I'll tell you what they talked about. They talked about removing welcomes to country, they talked about lifting the ban on gay conversion therapy and they talked about abandoning net zero. That talkfest really demonstrates what the opposition have in mind when it comes to their priorities. They're about ripping down our pathway to net zero and about ripping down our pathway to making sure that future generations are protected when it comes to the environment. In contrast, what were Labor doing?”
“They don't support free TAFE—a policy that is only in place to make sure that young people, people going to get skills and build a trade, can access something to build their future on. And we know that they don't support 20 per cent off student debt either. When it comes to intergenerational fairness, we know that the opposition have again and again voted against every single measure designed to create a better life for the future. In terms of tax reform, can I tell you that those opposite, the Liberal and National parties, talked a lot in this place about a talkfest that happened a couple of weeks ago. I don't often agree with the opposition, but I agree that there was a talkfest a couple of weeks ago. But it wasn't in Canberra—it was in Brisbane. In Brisbane, the LNP conference was held, and my goodness it was a talkfest!”
“It is not just about warming. It is not just about the environment. It is about the mental health of our young people. I think that when we talk about the opposition's position on each of these things, it becomes very clear. On housing, we know what they don't support. They don't support five per cent deposits for first home buyers—a policy which is designed only to allow it to be easier for young people, for people who are purchasing their first home, to get into the housing market. We know what they don't support. They don't support reforms to housing that, again, will make housing more accessible and more affordable—and we saw them team up with the Greens to vote down and to block housing policy, again and again. When it comes to the cost of living, we know what they don't support.”
“Housing is at the heart of the concerns that young people have when it comes to being able to not only put a roof over their head but also set up for their future, set their family up and make sure that they get a flying start to life. The second is the cost of living and making sure that when they think about their hip pockets, when they think about paying the rent, they have enough money to get by—and not just to get by but also to be able, once again, to set up for the future. The final thing is the environment, because the environment is so crucial not only in terms of making sure that people have a good environment to live in going forward and looking towards their future but also in terms of mental health. We know that young people are facing significant mental health challenges when it comes to the climate crisis.”
“I want to thank the member for Curtin very much for bringing this important topic to the House today. It's an important topic because taxation is very important to both the social fabric of our country and also the economy. When it comes to this particular matter of public importance, there are two key parts to it—and I want to talk about both of them today. Firstly, I want to talk about tax reform, and I want to look at the difference between our position as a Labor government and the position of those opposite. Secondly, I want to talk about intergenerational unfairness. When you talk about intergenerational unfairness with young people in my local electorate on Brisbane's south side, it is incredibly clear that they bring up a few core things, over and over and over again. The first thing they bring up is housing.”
“The measures support the government's key principles for the payment system: it is to be trustworthy, accessible, innovative and efficient. At their heart, what these laws are about is keeping up with the times. Because payment systems are something that we might not think about every day, but they are something that we use every day. Making sure that, as technology advances, we continue to protect consumers, to protect the national interest, to protect families who go about their day not thinking about payment systems but using them is incredibly important, because we don't want people to be scammed, we don't want new technologies to remain unregulated and we don't want families not to have the confidence to be able to pay for their groceries, their fuel and their health care every single day.”
“Consultation partners included industry participants, government agencies and regulators prior to the release of the strategic plan. The Treasury also received 30 submissions from banks, payment-service providers and industry associations. Further stakeholder meetings were held with organisations such as the Australian Banking Association, the National Retail Association, PayPal, Google and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia to work through feedback on the text of the new definitions and the scope of the new powers proposed for the Treasurer. The measures outlined in this bill are necessary to ensure that the RBA can not only regulate new and emerging payment providers but also combat risks to our national interest by expanding these powers to designated regulators.”
“They also directly respond to recommendations in the payments systems review that the RBA should be better-positioned to regulate new and emerging payments systems that are part of the changing and growing payments ecosystem. The recommendations also state that there should be a greater role for the government, through the Treasurer, in setting the strategic direction of the payments ecosystem in collaboration with regulators and industry. That is what this bill does. As I mentioned, one of the drivers of these reforms is for Australia's regulatory framework to facilitate competition and innovation while upholding financial stability and decreasing risk. To achieve this, the Albanese Labor government embarked on a comprehensive consultation process with stakeholders regarding this bill.”
“This isn't just about protecting everyday consumers, this isn't just about protecting people in our community and families in our community, this is also about protecting our country from risks of national significance. These designations will give appropriate regulators additional oversight powers. This is a sensible and responsible approach from the forward-looking Labor government. Under the new legislation, the Treasurer will only be able to give general directions. The Treasurer will not be able to direct the regulator on how to exercise functions or how to enforce regulations. This ensures the ongoing independence of the regulator in assessing and exercising their regulatory powers. These measures are key steps outlined in A strategic p lan for Australia's payments s ystem .”
“This includes facilitating seamless cross-border payments and exploring the policy rationale for introducing a central bank digital currency. This background is useful to explain the broader work the Albanese Labor government is undertaking in this area, and this bill is an important part of that work. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Payments System Modernisation) Bill 2025 provides expanded definitions for 'payments system' and for 'participant' so that the Reserve Bank of Australia can regulate new and emerging payments systems and participants. These include digital wallet providers and buy-now pay-later service providers. As part of the risk management protocols, the legislation will also enable the Treasurer to designate payment services or platforms that present risks of national significance.”
“The next priority area is in uplifting competition, productivity and innovation across the economy. We've recently seen that the Treasurer hosted a roundtable focused on productivity. With our laser focus on ensuring that productivity increases and that we have reform in the productivity space, this is another layer to that work. This means aligning the payment system with broader economic and digital transformation goals. These include the Consumer Data Right framework, supporting wider adoption of digital ID and investing in digital and technological skills development. Finally, the government aims to establish Australia itself as a leader in the global payments landscape, by creating a regulatory environment that encourages innovation and investment.”
“Key initiatives include establishing a comprehensive licensing framework for payment services providers and promoting competition through transparent access to payment systems. Thirdly, there is a need to modernise the payments infrastructure by implementing the phased removal of cheques, the enhancement of existing systems and the continued provision of access to cash, to ensure that no community is left behind. This purpose is designed to make sure that, whether you like to tap your phone as you get on the bus, you like to put cash in a card to your grandchild on their birthday or you like to use a debit card, it doesn't matter; you will be protected, you can have confidence in that payment system, and you will have a regulated system that works for everyone.”
“This involves reducing the prevalence of scams and fraudulent activity, strengthening cybersecurity measures to guard against attacks and maintaining robust oversight of systematically important payment infrastructures. When it comes to scams, everyone in this chamber knows someone who has been hit by a scam, whether it be digital or online. Making sure that we as a government prioritise protecting those vulnerable people who are the target of scams is an important part of what we do. The secondary focus is on ensuring the payments regulatory framework keeps pace with technological and market developments. That is what we're talking about particularly in this bill today.”
“As of mid-2023, nearly 13 million PayIDs had been created, over 25 per cent of account-to-account transactions were being processed via the NPP, and more than 100 payment providers were offering NPP services to approximately 90 million consumer accounts. We are hugely reliant on the robustness and security of this digital infrastructure, and we must take into account the necessity of safeguarding against outages, against technological failures and against cyberattacks. This bill is part of Labor's commitment to the Strategic Plan for Australia's Payment System, which was released in June 2023. The strategy lists five priorities for the government. The first is promoting a safe and resilient payment system.”
“There is also the need to balance this with maintaining the more traditional methods of payment, to meet the needs of consumers who rely on those systems. Those consumers are often some of the most vulnerable in our community. That's why, as we expand the regulatory framework for payment systems, we need to make sure that those consumers who use more traditional forms of payments are still protected, particularly older Australians. The New Payments Platform, NPP, underpins the modern payment system, enabling fast and secure transactions. Services such as PayID and PayTo have changed the way consumers and businesses interact.”
“The sector is a rapidly evolving sector, and, as a result of the digital revolution, teenagers today make purchases instantly and seamlessly with their watches or their phones. They've never had to learn how to write a cheque, and the only cash they see is in birthday cards from their grandparents. We now have a payment system that is large and complex, one that is continually adjusting to new technologies and processes. As the transactions become easier and more convenient for consumers, there are opportunities for growth and also increased risk. Where there is increased risk, we need to make sure that people in our community are protected, without stifling growth that will be critical to our economy.”
“A well-functioning payments systems bolsters the development of the financial sector through inspiring consumer and business confidence in their transactions. It also links Australians to the global marketplace. We know that consumers, everyday people in the community and in our society, need to have that confidence if they're going to put their hard earned money across the table to buy goods and services. Ensuring that our payments systems are up to date with technology and are well regulated is what drives that confidence for consumers. The components of the payments system are the nuts and bolts of our financial system. That's why it needs to be safe, that's why it needs to be trusted and that's why it needs to be accessible. And that is what this bill delivers.”
“Updating the payments system regulatory framework is necessary to ensure Australia has a fit-for-purpose, modern and efficient payments system. This is crucial because the smooth operation of the economy rests upon it. You use the payments system when you dash to the servo to buy that milk late at night, you use it to transfer money to your mate at a restaurant after a shared dinner, and it's used to put your wages into your account. Every single day we use a payments system. None of us probably think very much about it when we're tapping our phones to buy our Pepsi Max, but it is the foundation of our financial system. The payments system supports the stability of the financial system by minimising risks associated with transactions and by facilitating the flow of payments.”
“It's not something that we think about very often, but we use payment systems more than we do anything else that we will talk about today in this House. We use them to buy things every single day. But the technology is changing, and we have to change with it. To make sure that we protect consumers when it comes to payment systems, we have to make sure that the RBA can regulate them, and that is what this bill is all about. While the Treasury Laws Amendment (Payments System Modernisation) Bill 2025 might not be the subject of intense water-cooler discussion in offices across the country, it is a very important piece of legislation. At its core, what it addresses is the risks that new and emerging technologies pose to the way we pay for goods and services. In 2025 you do that more often than not with just a tap of your phone.”
“I think it's fair to say that, when most people hear the words 'payments system modernisation', their eyes might glaze over. They might not be particularly excited. They might lean back in their chair and get ready for a snooze. They might put in their earphones and settle in to watch something on a streaming service—but not me. I am excited by payment systems because, while they might not seem sexy, they are something that we use every single day. If you are writing out a cheque to someone special on their big birthday, if you are going to the corner store and swiping your debit card to buy milk when you are on your way home, if you are tapping your digital wallet at the supermarket when you're off to buy nappies, if you are paying cash when you are at the petrol station—each and every one of those things is a payments system.”
“What this motion is about at its core is what Labor believes in. We believe in a renewable energy future because it is cheaper, it is better, it is more resilient and it means that we have cheaper energy for everyone. What we believe as a Labor government is that we should make things in this country. In order to do that, we need initiatives that call out and drive the skills that we need to manufacture, and we need to back in renewable energy at every moment. That is what this motion calls for, and that is what Labor does every day.”
“Australian researchers and companies are at the forefront of battery technologies, and showcasing that R&D excellence with practical industry application is what Labor is all about. We've been backing projects that firm supply chain resilience as well as contributing to emissions reduction. This combined focus benefits vital climate goals, as well as boosting economic growth. Companies such as Li-S Energy, based in Brisbane, and Sicona, in Wollongong, are collaborating with CSIRO, with universities and with Defence to help develop advanced battery components and systems. The Battery Breakthrough initiative builds on Labor's $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia agenda, which includes major investments in solar, in hydrogen, in green iron, in aluminium and in critical minerals.”
“In the manufacturing space, for many years I worked representing manufacturing workers, whether they were fitters and turners, boilermakers or working in the vehicle industry as vehicle builders—and we know that there aren't too many of them around anymore, because those opposite systematically moved their industry offshore and we lost jobs. But what we know in the manufacturing industry is that we have an opportunity to make things here again. We have an opportunity to make sure that, when we come up with ideas at universities and we drive technological advancement, we in this country can have the benefit of that scale-up. But we have to invest in the jobs, the skills and the industries that make that possible.”
“This is part of the Community Batteries for Household Solar program, which is installing 400 batteries across Australia. The batteries will store excess solar energy for households to use during peak times, and Southside residents will benefit from lower electricity bills, support to install rooftop solar and access to renewable energy. Let's talk about the Battery Breakthrough initiative. It's worth $500 million and is one of the most significant investments in battery manufacturing in our history in this country. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency, ARENA, will administer the funding, providing access to capital grants and production incentives. The initiative was designed by a consultative progress with ARENA and industry stakeholders, ensuring it will be fit for purpose and have a positive impact.”
“We know that only weeks ago they said at the LNP convention up in Queensland, in my city of Brisbane, that they want to move away from net zero. It's because, when it comes to sustainability and climate change, those opposite are people who simply don't believe. So I want to take the opportunity, in opening today, to really thank and congratulate the member for Swan for moving this motion. I'm pleased to have the opportunity today to talk about the Albanese Labor government's Battery Breakthrough initiative, a significant and forward-thinking investment that is a key part of building a future made in Australia. But first I would like to acknowledge a battery on a local rather than a national scale. It's the upcoming launch of the community battery in my community in Moorooka.”
“It does not surprise me one iota that the member for Forrest does not support this motion. It doesn't surprise me, because this motion is fundamentally about two things. Firstly, it is about the creation of manufacturing jobs, and, secondly, it is about renewables and sustainability in our energy space. What we know about those opposite is that, in terms of manufacturing, at every opportunity they have had, they have sent manufacturing jobs overseas. They have sent shipbuilding overseas and they have sent train manufacturing overseas. At every moment, every opportunity, every choice and every point, that is what they do. The second point, in terms of renewables, is that we know that this is an opposition that despises renewables.”
“There are over 1,000 supporters in the Brisbane network alone and over 3,000 in Queensland. Their mission is to ensure that, when it comes to climate, we take it seriously and action is taken. I am incredibly proud to be part of a Labor government that is investing in batteries, that has set the first target when it comes to warming and that has been working to get renewables to over 40 per cent of the grid. Parents for Climate are working to support strong targets but also strong, science aligned action, and science aligned action is what Labor has been doing when it comes to climate.”
“On the Friday just gone, I had the great privilege of meeting Parents for Climate in my electorate. I met with my constituent Kate Smolders, who lives just down the road from me in Chelmer. In 2022, in the flood, she had to evacuate her house with her children, a terrifying prospect and something that people in my electorate—whether it be in Oxley, in Yeronga, in Fairfield, in Corinda, in Graceville or in Sherwood—have had to do. We know, when it comes to significant and serious weather events, that this is something that is driven by climate change, and Parents for Climate is a climate advocacy organisation for parents, carers, families and all who care about a safe future for our kids. It has 25,000 supporters, with supporters in every federal electorate in Australia.”
“Labor is investing $20 million over five years to create the TAFE Queensland Batteries Centre of Excellence at the Acacia Ridge campus, and I want to thank Minister Giles and the Deputy Prime Minister for visiting there with me recently. In addition to that, we have seen so many local community groups again and again receive support from this Labor government. Whether it's women's hockey, Meals on Wheels, neighbourhood community centres, Girl Guides, the RSL, horse and pony clubs, basketball clubs, P&C or sailing clubs—and so on—this is a Labor government that supports the community every day. This budget delivers real results for Moreton: lower bills, more access to health care, more homes and stronger community support.”