Claire Clutterham
Sturt · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Some in this House have asked: how many cups of coffee can you buy with the Albanese Labor government's 1 July 2026 tax cuts? But I ask: how many cups of coffee can you buy with the money that you save from seeing a GP for free?”
“The eSafety Commissioner has identified serious compliance concerns and is actively investigating five major platforms due to their noncompliance.”
“But we need action from the entire parliament, in this place and in the other place, for that to happen. I call on all members and senators to walk together to take this action. I do that because this issue is also deeply personal for me. In my first speech to this parliament, I spoke about my own experience of bullying at school.”
“One of the early scenes in the 2010 movie The Social Network depicted young women at Harvard recoiling in disgust as they discover a website created by one of their peers that allowed male students to compare them based on their so-called 'hotness'. The website was a precursor to what would become Facebook.”
“Social media is a part of the world they have always known, yet they were remarkably forthright about its downsides. They spoke about algorithms that keep them scrolling, the pressure to seek approval through likes and followers, and the impact social media was having on their confidence, self-esteem and mental health.”
“That is why keeping children safe online should be a bipartisan issue. When the Albanese Labor government introduced the social media minimum age of 16 last year, we did so because we listened to parents, educators, experts and young people.”
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“Take, for example, the contraceptive pill Slinda, which was first listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on 1 May 2025—one of the first listings of contraceptives on that scheme for, incredibly, more than 30 years. That announcement was made by the federal health minister the Hon. Mark Butler in my electorate of Sturt in May 2025, when we heard from women that, for them, sometimes Slinda is the only option. Because of specific and unique medical circumstances, they cannot take other, more cost-effective forms of contraception. So this listing meant that the annual cost was reduced from more than $300, which is, frankly, prohibitive for some women. If you are a young woman or a low-income earner—perhaps a retail worker, a disability support worker or an aged-care worker—$300 is prohibitive.”
“The largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme was in 2023—again, on this government's watch—when the cost of medicines on the PBS was lowered to $30, from $42.50. As a result, as of 31 July 2025 the savings in my electorate of Sturt, in Adelaide's east, from the government's action on cheaper medicines has been just over $13 million. Sturt will also be a beneficiary of the Albanese Labor government's health initiatives in that a Medicare mental health centre and urgent care clinic will be delivered to the electorate. But now we go even further. Importantly, the reduced costs of medicine will include medication newly listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to help address women's unique health needs.”
“From 1 January 2026 the cost of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme general patient co-payment will reduce from $31.60 to $25. The last time PBS medicines cost no more than $25 was more than 20 years ago, in 2004. Under this government, we know that downward trends are becoming increasingly common. Inflation is going down. It had a six in front of it when we came to government; now it has a two. Interest rates are going down, the unemployment rate is going down and the cost of medicines is going down. We know that under this government some things go up, like wages for low-income workers, like paid parental leave and like superannuation on paid parental leave. But we know that the cost of medicines is going down. This reduction of the co-payment to $25 is a critical cost-of-living measure delivered by the Albanese government.”
“A good job, cheaper prices at the supermarket, lower energy bills and reduced education debt are welcome but cannot be leveraged by the average Australian if they are unwell. In a country such as Australia, everyone should be able to take advantage of the opportunity that this great land provides, the opportunity to live a productive and meaningful life. Having lived around the world, I can say that our healthcare system is the envy of the world, and this government is determined to protect it. Good health is everything, and a critical enabler of achieving good health is being able to access health care. That is why the Albanese Labor government is making cheaper medicines even cheaper by delivering on the government's 2025 election commitment in relation to the cost of medicines.”
“I am proud to rise today to speak on this legislation, the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025, which is part of the Albanese Labor government's dedication to more affordable and accessible health care for all Australians. It is also part of the extensive raft of cost-of-living measures that this government has initiated. The cost-of-living relief initiated by the Albanese Labor government is extensive. Tax cuts, more tax cuts combined with energy bill relief, reduced higher education and VET debt, a record and welcome investment in women's health and more bulk-billing are all part of the suite of measures designed to help Australians and their families. Nothing, however, is more important than affordable and accessible health care.”
“The Defence strategic review recognised the need to grow Australia's emerging sovereign space capability so that the Australian Defence Force can move beyond dependency on external providers.”
“These enabling capabilities have the potential to diversify and transform Australian industry across many sectors and include: … … … The role of space as a complementary defence capability was also recognised in the 2023 Defence s trategic r eview . Now a domain of its own alongside land, sea, air and cyber, space moved further into conventional thinking as a key component of a more integrated force, taking its place as a key consideration with respect to defence planning. No longer considered as a supporting act to the Australian Defence Force, the shifting of the space domain into the Joint Capabilities Group allows that group to lead the way in terms of ensuring that space capabilities feature in project development, particularly with regard to national and alliance requirements.”
“My state again stands out in the space sector as being the headquarters of Myriota, a South Australia based satellite telecommunications company that provides secure and private direct-to-satellite Internet of Things connectivity. Its satellite connectivity is critical for industries like mining that operate in geographically remote locations where connectivity is essential but can be limited. In reflection of the utility of this existing capability, as well as the capability's future potential, the federal government's National Reconstruction Fund Corporation made a $25 million equity investment in Myriota, noting that enabling capabilities of the type produced by Myriota form one of the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation's seven priority areas.”
“South Australia is also the proud home base of Fleet Space Technologies, and I recently met with the general counsel of Fleet Space Technologies, Ms Alicia Genet, to gain an understanding of the critical capability Fleet uses to discover and then create 3D subsurface models of critical mineral deposits. These are essential for Australia's sovereign capability as part of a future made in Australia. They use a fast and environmentally sustainable combination of artificial intelligence, wireless seismic sensors and low-Earth-orbit nanosatellites. The use of traditional exploration methods such as drilling and explosives is reduced, as the nanosatellites produce real-time evidence based insights to ensure critical minerals exploration is more targeted and accurate.”
“Since inception, the Australian Space Agency has delivered $171 million in grant funding to 91 projects, which has benefited over 200 Australian organisations. Importantly, the Australian Space Agency programs have delivered a seven-to-one return on investment on average, making the agency a key part of the Australian space sector. This sector has an annual turnover of $4.6 billion, with 17,000 full-time employees, and comprises some 620 organisations. Lot Fourteen is also the headquarters of the Australian Space Discovery Centre, which, since inception in 2021, has seen 165,000 visitors walk through the door, including 118,000 school students.”
“I am proud to rise today to speak about the significant part my home state of South Australia is playing in the government's space sector investment and development of sovereign space capability. Like my colleague the member for Adelaide, who spoke before me, I too am proud of Lot Fourteen, which is a seven-hectare site in the heart of Adelaide's central business district. Lot Fourteen is a growing research and innovation district that aims to shoot for the stars, and the district is home to a dynamic community working on cutting-edge technology in defence and space. The Australian Space Agency is an anchor organisation within the district, working to deliver programs that generate national space capability and infrastructure, unlock international space collaboration and build programs that inspire a future space workforce.”
“It also supports the Eastern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service and the Hutt St Centre, which works to reduce and support people experiencing homelessness. At a global level, the club supports the Lirhanzo Children's Village in Zimbabwe, which houses and educates children whose parents are unable to provide for them. Like so many clubs and community organisations, the Magill Sunrise Rotary Club relies on the generosity of volunteers like Pauline Hill and Lindsay Thomas, whose boundless energy and professionalism are always on display.”
“The Magill Sunrise Rotary Club, located in the east of Sturt, might have as its orthodoxy relaxation, inclusivity and informality, but when I recently attended a breakfast meeting at the club I also saw the professionalism, supreme organisation and dedication of club members to not only their local community but the global community. The club exists to serve others and to make the world a better place. Its vision is to take real action for lasting change in the community, and its values are people, community, compassion, openness, respect, commitment and fun. The Magill Sunrise Rotary Club supports a broad range of initiatives, including Operation Flinders, which is a program to support young South Australians to build optimism, belonging, hope, resilience and emotional wellbeing.”
“Corinne and her family are one of 30,000 Australian households that have installed solar batteries since 1 July 2025. That's 30,000 Australian households in just eight weeks. Australians are listening and they are acting. That 30,000 figure includes 574 in my great electorate of Sturt. With this rate of investment, by 2030 the data could tell us that one million Australian households have taken advantage of the Albanese Labor government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program. This will mean, when Australians continue to listen and continue to act, cheaper energy bills not just for homes with batteries but for the entire energy grid.”
“And Australians are listening and acting—like Dr Corinne Ang, who lives in my electorate of Sturt and who I met with in June this year to talk about her and her family's ambition to take advantage of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. A trained dentist as well as cofounder and chief executive officer of Asian Australians for Climate Solutions, Corinne also talked to me about her plans to electrify her household appliances, reducing reliance on gas and helping our planet. This will be done through the Asian Australians for Climate Solutions program Electrifying Everything for Everyone. Corinne is also passionate about educating her community on the importance of renewable energy and how to reduce energy costs as the same time as retaining traditional methods of preparing culturally important cuisine.”
“Households with existing rooftop solar are estimated to be in line to save up to $1,000 off their power bill every year, and those installing a new solar and battery system could save up to $2,300 a year. That is up to 90 per cent of a typical family electricity bill. Again, data told us that, although one in three Australian households has rooftop solar, only one in 40 have a battery. The government looked at that data and acted. Not only does a discount of 30 per cent off a typical home battery equate to a saving of around $4,000 once installed but also a household battery reduces reliance on the energy grid, which then helps to reduce prices for everyone.”
“In 2026, changes to benefit consumers will come into play, including banning unfair fees and card surcharges and ensuring that customers who are experiencing hardship are being offered the best and fairest deal by their chosen retailer. Further, and importantly, in 2026 the Australian Energy Market Commission will implement new rules that will prevent retailers from increasing prices more than once a year. In addition, the Albanese Labor government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program is acting to help households, businesses and community facilities slash their energy bills for good, with a 30 per cent discount on the upfront cost of installing a typical battery.”
“Education in relation to how and where to make the cheapest and most fit-for-purpose arrangements can be found on the government's energy.gov.au website, as well as the Australian Energy Regulator's Energy Made Easy website. Critical investments in renewable energy are also continuously being made, because the generation costs of solar and wind energy are next to nothing and because of the urgent need to decarbonise the economy and push forward with the sustainable transition to renewables. We all need energy. That means we all need a fair energy marketplace, and the Albanese Labor government is doing the reform work to ensure energy retailers are being fair to the Australian people.”
“Increases to minimum wages, new incentives for apprentice builders, cheaper medicines, and longer and fairer paid parental leave all form part of this cost-of-living regime as does energy bill relief. Energy bill relief has been delivered to Australian households and businesses over three rounds. But, equally importantly, education is being delivered to Australians to ensure that they are equipped to check that they are on the cheapest energy plan available. Data recently produced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission suggested that 80 per cent of Australian households were paying too much for their energy.”
“The start of the 2026 financial year, on 1 July 2025, heralded the continuation of the Albanese Labor government's determination to decarbonise the economy and make a sustainable transition to net zero, underpinned by a focus on renewable energy: wind, solar, small storage and large storage. It also heralded the continuation of the government's ambition to deliver cost-of-living relief to Australian households and businesses. Data tells us that inflation is continuing to trend downwards. We have evidence demonstrating the unemployment rate is at historical lows, and the proof is in the pudding with respect to interest rates, which are continuing to fall. The name of the game under this government is a stronger economy and cost-of-living relief for all Australians.”
“Travel in remote and very remote locations, as determined by the Modified Monash Model—which is the model used by the NDIA to classify the remoteness of a location—has price limits and is not subject to time caps. Additionally, remote loadings of 40 per cent and 50 per cent for remote and very remote locations, respectively, remain unchanged. This government will continue to work with regional, remote and rural communities to trial different ways of delivering services to make it easier for people in remote communities to receive the services they need.”
“What changed following the National Disability Insurance Agency's annual pricing review is that, from 1 July 2025, therapy providers, not disability support workers or other types of support providers, can claim half of the relevant price limit for their time spent travelling, which equates to around $90 per hour, up to the usual time-limit caps, depending on location. Other travel rules did not change, which means all providers may continue to claim non-labour travel costs, such as vehicle-running costs, parking costs and road tolls. It is also open to providers to negotiate with participants to include costs and accommodation associated with travel to remote and/or very remote and regional locations.”
“What this means is that the updated travel-claiming rules encourage more efficient scheduling by providers and provide clear cost expectations for participants, to help them get better value from their funding. A similar motivation exists for the changes to increment recording by providers. Displaying therapy price limits in 10-minute increments is intended to increase flexibility in billing and in service delivery. It aims to clarify that one hour is not a default or expected service length and that the length of service can vary, depending on the agreement between the participant and provider based on individual needs and circumstances, which may evolve.”
“The updated travel-claiming rules create clear cost expectations for those persons, helping them to get increased value and efficiency from the funding provided to them. The new rules also encourage providers to implement more efficient scheduling and to seek to ensure that travel costs are proportionate to the services being provided. Travel costs must be itemised separately on invoices so that participants can clearly understand where the funding provided to them, pursuant to the NDIS, is being used. The National Disability Insurance Agency learned during the annual pricing review that participants were finding that therapy travel costs were exhausting their funding faster than expected. In this respect, participants, whose needs the National Disability Insurance Scheme is designed to fulfil, were listened to and heard.”
“The NDIS currently supports over 700,000 Australians with disability to access the services and support they need. This includes approximately 80,000 children with developmental delay, ensuring they receive supports early so that they achieve the best outcomes throughout their lives. To be clear again, the services and support facilitated by the scheme are directed at persons with a permanent and significant disability. Supporting those persons is the purpose; it is the entire point. The Albanese Labor government is focused on making the National Disability Insurance Scheme the best and fairest it can be. The National Disability Insurance Agency's annual pricing review contained new recommendations with respect to the way travel is charged by those providing support and services to persons with a permanent and significant disability.”
“The National Disability Insurance Agency released its annual pricing review earlier this year, making recommendations designed to help refocus the National Disability Insurance Scheme on its primary purpose, which is to provide funding and support services to Australians with a permanent and significant disability. The provision of funding and support services is targeted towards helping those with disability live as independently and autonomously as possible, helping them to be able to spend more time with family and friends. It's also directed at helping people with a permanent and significant disability access new skills, access meaningful work or access a community volunteering opportunity. It is firmly aimed at delivering an improved quality of life.”
“Now, when Rachael goes out into the workforce, earns an income and starts to pay tax, she will benefit from another one of this government's addictions: lowering taxes for all working Australians—lower taxes for all working Australians, not higher taxes for all Australians as those opposite proposed. The Albanese Labor government's addiction to lowering taxes for all working Australians will see the delivery of two more tax cuts to every Australian taxpayer in 2026 and 2027, adding to the first round of tax cuts that Labor delivered in July last year. Every Australian taxpayer gets another tax cut from next year—all 14 million, not just some. Now, this addiction to lowering taxes was well observed, loudly and clearly, by the Australian people on 3 May 2025, and it's an addiction that was roundly accepted by the Australian people.”
“I saw this addiction play out when I visited the Gilles Plains TAFE in Sturt and met Rachael, who is studying to become an enrolled nurse. Married with four children, Rachael was in her mid- to late 40s and had spent the better part of 20 years caring for and raising her family. With her children at an age where they had more independence, Rachael wanted to do something for herself and for her community. Rachael told me she would not be able to study to become an enrolled nurse if it wasn't for free TAFE. She couldn't stop work to study full time and pay tuition. Free TAFE means that at the end of this year Rachael will qualify as an enrolled nurse and go out into the community to serve others. Rachael is being empowered by her education, and empowering people through education is something this government is proudly addicted to.”
“It is addicted to opening more urgent care clinics and Medicare mental health clinics, addicted to training more doctors and nurses, addicted to paid prac for students enrolled to study to become nurses, addicted to paid prac for students enrolled in study to become teachers. You cannot cure us of this addiction; we are very proud of this addiction. This government is addicted to the proposition that education lifts people out of poverty, affords them opportunities to contribute to their communities and to provide for their families. This addiction has manifested in the government's initiative to wipe 20 per cent off student debt, which the Prime Minister announced in my electorate of Sturt and which will benefit over 25,000 people living in that electorate. It also manifests in the government's addiction to free TAFE.”
“It is proudly addicted to continuing to invest in and strengthen Medicare so that more Australians have access to primary and preventive health care—and there is definitely no cure for that addiction. This government is addicted to making sure that women are heard when it comes to their health needs and is addicted to making investments to ensure that those health needs are adequately met. The Albanese Labor government is also addicted to cheaper medicines and addicted to reducing the cost of medications to just $25 for all Australians so that they can access the health care that they deserve without having to cut corners.”
“Today's matter of public importance is about the government's addictions. Today I proudly rise to share with this House the many, many addictions of the Albanese Labor government—and a word of warning: there is no cure for these addictions. There is no medication, no pill and no therapy that could cure these addictions, and I am proud of that. This government is addicted to providing cost-of-living relief to all Australians. It is addicted to creating an environment where the aspirations of working families are met. It is addicted to listening to the needs of young people as they take steps to educate themselves, start their careers, save to buy a home and raise a family. This government is absolutely addicted to improving health outcomes for all Australians in our cities and in our regions.”
“Together with her late husband, Peter, she began donating to See Differently a decade ago. In addition to her significant financial contribution, Valerie attends graduation events, visits the puppies in training and provides baked goods for the See Differently team. In recognition of her financial support, her loyalty and her spirit, Valerie is a life governor of See Differently, and I thank you, Valerie, from the bottom of my heart.”
“And they shared that they could not live their lives without them, that they would be lost without them, because a guide dog is a vision impaired person's eyes to the world. They open new doors to independence and opportunity. The guide dogs do not train themselves; they are trained over two years by teams of volunteers to prepare them for life with a vision impaired person or as an assistance dog for veterans. There are currently more than 160 clients living with a See Differently or assistance dog, with approximately 20 new teams graduating each year and around 60 puppies at various stages of training. As well as volunteers, the continuation of this service relies on donations. Ms Valerie Cameron, a resident of Sturt, is one of the largest individual living donors at See Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind.”
“See Differently imagines a world where people with low vision, blindness or emotional support needs live with freedom, confidence and purpose, supported by a caring community that values inclusion for all. At a recent ceremony to celebrate the retirement of 10 remarkable guide dogs and the graduation of five freshly minted, beautiful and intelligent guide dog puppies—Bixby, Bonnie, Vesper, Cookie and Zinni—I met several vision impaired people who described the freedom, companionship and independence their guide dogs give them, including Mike, a resident of Sturt—and his guide dog, Stirling, who was by his side. Mike, as well as Millie and Sarah, who I also met, described their guide dogs as their best friend, their loyal partner.”
“We often hear the phrase, 'ordinary Australians doing extraordinary things'. I rise today to share the story of Australians who volunteer for See Differently and Australians who benefit from that dedication. See Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind is one of South Australia's oldest charities, founded in 1884. The goal in 1884 was to assist Australians who are blind or vision impaired to achieve the quality of life to which they aspire. That goal has not changed but can only be achieved with the support of volunteers who donate their time and energy to train and develop guide-dog puppies to assist people with vision impairment. See Differently is now South Australia's leading provider of low-vision services and products and is headquartered in Gilles Plains, in the electorate of Sturt.”
“The club continually experiences success at junior and senior levels, with the under-11 side winning the Kanga Cup in Canberra on 18 July 2025 and the senior side claiming the 2025 Federation Cup a day earlier—the seventh time the club has won that championship in its 30-year history. When I attended the club's 30th birthday celebration in June this year, I saw a passion for success and a strong community, all with a foundation based on the dedication of volunteers. I also note the Metro United Womens Soccer Club, which has 13 teams entered in the Football SA competition for season 2025, has a strategic partnership with the MetroStars soccer club, and the 2026 season will see the two clubs reunite, ensuring further investment in the growth and publicity of the women's program.”
“I take this opportunity to share with this Chamber that the MetroStars soccer club, located in Klemzig in the electorate of Sturt, is taking on the Canberra Croatia Football Club in the Australia Cup on the evening of Wednesday 30 July 2025 at Deakin Stadium. Founded in 1994, the club's dream is to create the best soccer club in Australia and its vision is to nurture and promote a community college for all members and supporters. Thanks to the support of the Port Adelaide Enfield Council and the South Australian state government, the club is now home to state-of-the-art facilities that create a high-performance environment and recognise the athletes as the high performers they are.”
“Practical and constructive pathways are part of this imperative, including by reinforcing the role of the Rarotonga treaty in our region. The 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is a time to reflect on both the lives that were lost and the lives that were adversely and severely impacted. It is also a time to reflect on the position our country wants to take in the region and on the global stage for future generations. Those future generations deserve the strongest levels of dedication and commitment to nuclear nonproliferation to ensure a pathway to nuclear disarmament and a world without nuclear weapons.”
“The Australian government remains unwavering in its support of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the basis upon which the global nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament regime rests. Its existence has been decisive in promoting global security in the last half-century, and it stands as an instrument that is rightly directed to preventing the growth of nuclear weapons. The Australian government's commitment to a world without nuclear weapons remains as strong as ever. As long as nuclear weapons exist, Australia will continue to partner with the international community to work towards their elimination by curtailing their spread and reducing the risk both of their use and of nuclear conflict at all.”
“But the names live on and must serve as a constant reminder that the path to nuclear weapons is not the right path, not the path that the world should ever entertain. In addition to the 200,000 lives lost in August 1945, countless additional people suffered physical and psychological trauma. They too had their dreams and their purposes wiped out, or severely limited, in a similar vein to those who suffered because of nuclear weapons testing that took place after August 1945, including in our Pacific neighbourhood and, indeed, in our own country. The enduring effects of nuclear weapons testing continue to be profoundly felt in Australia, in our region and across the world. Nuclear weapons testing must be relegated to history.”
“We are supported in this endeavour by article 6 of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons treaty, which prescribes: Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. Over 200,000 people lost their lives when, on 6 and 9 August 1945, two atomic bombs were detonated on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—that is 200,000 people in addition to the millions of people who died because of the Second World War. Each had a name, a dream, a purpose. Those dreams were wiped out in an instant. Those purposes would never be realised.”
“The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, the treaty of Rarotonga, is one such regional treaty, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of its conclusion on 6 August 2025. It too begins by acknowledging that the treaty parties are 'united in their commitment to a world at peace' and outlines an 'obligation to make every effort to achieve the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons' because of 'the terror which they hold for humankind and the threat which they pose to life on Earth'. Eighty years on from the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war, both treaties remain as important and relevant as ever. We under the devastation that would be wrought by nuclear war and must make every effort to avoid these weapons being used or tested again.”
“The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was entered into force on 5 March 1970. The text of the treaty begins by acknowledging both the 'devastation that would be visited upon all mankind by a nuclear war and the consequent need to make every effort to avert the danger of such a war and to take measures to safeguard the security of peoples'. Equally, it begins with the statement that 'the proliferation of nuclear weapons would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war' and a declaration that the nuclear arms race must cease through 'effective measures in the direction of nuclear disarmament'. Article 7 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons recognises the 'right of group of states to conclude regional treaties in order to assure the total absence of nuclear weapons in their respective territories'.”
“So to my community, to the people of Sturt: it is a privilege to represent you. Thank you for trusting me and for giving me the honour of speaking up for you every day.”
“You still do this. I can only aspire to your integrity, generosity, courage and loyalty. Lisa, I dedicated my campaign to you, and I now dedicate my first term as the member for Sturt in this House to you. And to my Ben: Ben, you are the bravest person I know and my best friend. You are a beautiful dad to Niamh, and every day you show me how to move forward with purpose, no matter what adversity life brings. I will never forget the clarity I felt on our wedding day—the knowledge that saying, 'I do,' to you was the absolute best decision I could ever make for myself and for our little family. Ben, the second greatest privilege of my life is to stand here in this place. The greatest privilege is to do it knowing you are by my side. Your support gives me the courage to speak up for my community.”
“Mark Butler, ALP state secretary Aemon Bourke, and Josh Peak and his formidable team at the SDA. To Senator Marielle Smith, another incredible person: Marielle, what a journey! From that very first meeting on 6 April 2024 at the St Peters bakery, you believed in me. Your clear and sensible advice was always spot on, and I am so excited that we now share not only a workplace but a dear friendship. Finally, to the two superstars in my life—firstly, my sister, Lisa. Lisa, I'm wearing a little yellow sparkle today in your honour because yellow is your colour and I wanted a bit of you here in this place with me, even though you are all the way across the world in Washington, DC with Caitlin, Jack and Dom. 'Sparkle' is the only way to describe you. When we grew up together, you were always the one who spoke up for others, no matter the cost.”
“Cressida taught me what it means to be a grassroots campaigner and a true and strong local voice. Cressida, your persistence and effort are a credit to you. I'm so glad we met, and I truly value our friendship. As well as the incredible people who volunteered tirelessly on the Sturt campaign—particularly my team of Jason Byrne, Daisy Miller, Antonia Larizza and Ella Shaw—whose effort and dedication I now benefit from and can never repay, there are many other incredible people who strongly encouraged me to put my hand up to run for the seat of Sturt and who supported me not with judgement but with frank and full advice throughout that 11-month campaign. There are too many to list now, but these incredible people include Senator Don Farrell, Senator Penny Wong, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth, the Hon.”
“I particularly thank the Prime Minister for rolling his sleeves up at what turned out to be a working visit to a growing business called Nonna's Cucina in Holden Hill, where the Prime Minister was offered a job as an apprentice chef, just in case things didn't go well at the election. Under the leadership of Marco, Dario, Stef, Mel, Rebecca and Michael and their team of volunteers, Nonna's Cucina delivers Italian-style home cooked meals to and does welfare checks on 500 elderly households per day. That is truly an endeavour worth speaking up for. I am a volunteer delivery driver with Nonna's Cucina. I do home delivery runs as regularly as I can, happily sharing this time with one of the biggest influences on my political career and life, Ms Cressida O'Hanlon, the member for Dunstan in the South Australian parliament.”
“I have forged strong relationships with the Italian community in particular, and I now give a big shout-out to my dear friends at the Altavilla club, the Sicilia club, the Marche Club, the Fogolar Furlan Club, San Giogio la Molara club and to Nathaniel's Coffee and Panini on Payneham Road—all of whom I hold responsible for the transition in my wardrobe to almost exclusively elastic waisted garments! I also thank the Prime Minister for his multiple energetic visits to Sturt during the election campaign, and for the faith and trust he placed in me right from the beginning—faith and trust that never wavered, even when no woman had ever held the seat, and Labor hadn't held it for 53 years.”
“Sturt is in Adelaide's east, on the lands of the Kaurna people on the Adelaide Plains, to whom I now pay my respects. For the past two terms of government, Mr James Stevens ably served the people of Sturt. James, you're always classy and always professional, and I thank you for your service to your community. Stretching from Hope Valley in the north across Adelaide's vibrant green eastern belt all the way to Glen Osmond in the south, Sturt is home to the famous Norwood 'Redlegs' men's and women's footy sides; the brilliant Penfolds Estate winery; the Menz FruChoc shop, which is a South Australian institution; many home grown businesses in the industrial north of the electorate; and several growing and thriving multicultural communities, particularly Indian, Chinese and Italian.”