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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“This includes frustrating a consumer's ability to exercise legal rights or seek legal remedies; failing to disclose material information to the consumer; disclosing material information to the consumer but in a way that is complex, ineffective, unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous, untimely or overwhelming; and creating an environment, including by using design elements in online platforms, that places unreasonable pressure on a consumer or that obstructs the consumer from making or fulfilling their decision. This list is designed to assist businesses to understand the parameters of what may qualify as a contravention. The list can't be absolutely exhaustive, because of the unique nature of businesses, the uniqueness of consumers and the incredible breadth of products and services available in the marketplace, particularly online.”
“In this context, a supply or offer to supply may occur in an online setting, such as on an app or a website, or an offline setting, which means your traditional in-store retail setting. The prohibition is intended to be flexible and capable of adapting with evolving commercial practices and rapid technological advances. Offers of supply are intended to include the promotion, advertising or marketing of a relevant good and service. A non-exhaustive list of unfair trading practices in the context of this general prohibition is included in the bill.”
“Firstly, it introduces a general prohibition on unfair trading practices. The bill does this by introducing the new part 2-4, with new section 28B(1) prohibiting a person from engaging in unfair trading practices—a defined term—in trade or commerce. In practical terms, this provides that a person engages in unfair trading practices if, and only if, in connection with the supply of goods or services to a consumer or an offer to supply goods or services to a consumer, the person engages in conduct that does or is likely to do either or both of the following: firstly, 'manipulate the consumer' or, secondly, 'unreasonably distort the environment in which the consumer makes, or is likely to make, a decision' and that 'causes, or is likely to cause, detriment, whether financial or otherwise, to the consumer'.”
“If consumers are not getting a fair go or are being taken advantage of, then either they won't participate in certain marketplaces or they will make choices that they otherwise wouldn't if the trading and market conditions were fair. This is particularly important given the rapid and significant shift to the online marketplace. We're now almost on autopilot. People enter their credit card details into online platforms to purchase goods or sign up to services because they are there and it is easy. The ease of access to the consumer marketplace that the online world provides and the online world's prolific reach mean that it's more important than ever to act to ensure fairness for the consumer. This bill does three things to make the marketplace fairer to the average consumer.”
“All of that being said, business must operate in a way that is fair to the consumer, and I'm confident there would be very few businesses that would argue against that proposition. I suggested earlier that most Australian businesses would never dream of participating in unfair trading practices like unconscionable conduct or misleading and deceptive conduct, but there is some conduct, which falls far short of these thresholds but that may take place, sometimes inadvertently, that is unfair to the consumer. Just as we need private enterprise to prosper and to produce the products and services we need, we also need a fair marketplace that encourages consumer participation.”
“Australian private enterprise is the engine room of our economy, providing investment capital, innovation, secure employment and opportunities for thousands of people and, most importantly, providing the products, goods and services that we all need. We can't afford to paralyse business. Private enterprise must be provided with the right settings to grow, to increase revenue and to make money. If they can't do that consistently, then they can't supply products and services. The private sector in this country is an indispensable force for sustainable development because it operates to spark the innovation we need, to improve productivity and to improve the economic efficiency we need. And, as I said—this is worth repeating—it creates the jobs and growth needed to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.”
“It is, for example, where a business knowingly targets consumers who are experiencing a vulnerability, such as people who are going through something difficult, like the death of a loved one, domestic or family violence, homelessness, or the impact of a natural disaster; who are sick and have disabilities; who are too young to make informed decisions; who have difficulties reading and writing; who live in remote areas; who do not speak English as their first language; who are uncomfortable with using what is now considered very basic technology, such as the internet or smartphones; and who clearly have difficulties understanding and using basic financial skills. By and large, Australian businesses would never dream of engaging in unconscionable conduct or any of the other unfair trading practices I have described.”
“It's also unfair contract terms. It's making false or misleading statements about a product or service. It's a pyramid scheme. It's a referral scheme which does not result in discounts or other benefits to consumers despite a promise to do so. And it's unconscionable conduct, which is hard to define but which may involve behaviour so harsh that it goes against good conscience. Under consumer law, businesses are prohibited from acting unconscionably towards consumers or other businesses, and this is something that is more than just unfairness. It is something that makes the circumstances especially harsh.”
“It does so by introducing a general prohibition on unfair trading practices towards consumers, strengthening protections against drip pricing by requiring transparency of transaction based charges and introducing protections against subscription practices that are detrimental to consumers and small business. What do unfair trading practices actually look like? They relate to how businesses promote, sell and deliver products and services, how contract terms operate and how businesses take payments from consumers. It's things like accepting payments for products and services that a business does not intend to supply; using coercion or undue harassment against consumers; or exploiting known facts, circumstances or statements made by a consumer to coerce them into buying something or signing up to something or to enforce a debt.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026. This bill is designed to complement existing Australian consumer law legislation, increase consumer trust in the marketplace and encourage fairer trading amongst businesses. The bill operates to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, including the Australian Consumer Law, which is set out in schedule 2 to that act, with a lens on improving protections against current unfair trading practices and emerging unfair trading practices.”
“My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. How is Australia engaging with other countries in relation to the Strait of Hormuz? How will last night's budget improve capability for the Australian Defence Force, and how does this compare to other approaches?”
“Its purpose is to grow the highly skilled workforce needed to deliver and sustain Australia's nuclear-powered submarines, the SSN-AUKUS class boats, which will be so critical to our maritime defence capability. Over the coming decades, 20,000 highly skilled jobs will be created across Australia in aid of the nuclear-powered submarine program, including almost 10,000 at various stages across the program in my home state of South Australia. That we need a pipeline of qualified and motivated workers is an understatement, and the Propel program will help to shore up and ready this workforce capability. Greater degrees of self-sufficiency is all about the Albanese Labor government's deliberate policy agenda of a Future Made in Australia.”
“Last week, the Albanese Labor government launched the Propel: Australian Submarine Scholarship program, a $15.8 million initiative to support the development of Australia's future nuclear-powered submarine workforce. Under this program, up to 3,000 scholarships will be offered to students studying priority STEM subjects at Australian universities. As well as financial support, the program will provide opportunities for the students to learn from accomplished Australian scientists and engineers. The program is being delivered through a partnership between the Australian Submarine Agency and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.”
“It's also a poignant reminder that the effects of conflict linger long after the completion of peacekeeping missions, with these effects felt by those whom Australian peacekeepers went to assist but also by the peacekeepers themselves. For some, the memories of what they saw and what they did are painful. So to all Australians who have served in defence and peacekeeping missions I say: Thank you. You deserve to have your contributions honoured by the educational and beautiful displays in Anzac Hall. I encourage all Australians to take the time to schedule a thorough visit, allowing time to learn and reflect. Thanks must also go to Minister Keogh and the co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Veterans, the member for Spence and Senator Andrew McLachlan, for organising the event.”
“This morning I had the privilege of gathering with a small group of colleagues and friends from this place and the other place and from all sides of politics to tour the outstanding new Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial. It is dedicated to sharing the stories of Australia's involvement in defence and peacekeeping operations. The display in Anzac Hall is both beautiful and meaningful. It's worth noting that, from a peacekeeping perspective, there has not been a day since 1947 that Australians have not been involved in a peacekeeping mission. The display shares the stories of the over 45,000 Australian police and military personnel who have made real, sustainable contributions to global peace and security.”
“So, at a time when many of us are feeling upset and worried about what is happening around our world, what we can always do is come together in shared humanity, a love of family, friends and strangers, and our commitment to the community. This is what the people who attended the iftar and the opening of the Andrew Steiner Education Centre were doing. They were practising humanity, and all those who practise humanity and kindness belong in a modern, multicultural Australia.”
“They were good people of different faiths, cultures and backgrounds, but all Australians—not fearing each other or being angry with each other or being suspicious of each other but just having a meal together or having a drink together, reflecting on life and having a chat. All levels of government were represented as well, which was really pleasing to see from a federal perspective. I chatted with friends from my own party and also with friends from the coalition that I have gained since being elected to parliament. The word that everyone was living by, and the word that I want my 2026 to be shaped by, is 'humanity'—humanity for everyone. It can be done. I saw it. It was happening easily. It is much easier to practise humanity than to practise anger, resentment and hatred.”
“I had the opportunity to reflect deeply on many occasions throughout the event as the speakers—including Andrew Steiner himself; the then South Australian state education minister, the Hon. Blair Boyer; and the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal—all shared their thoughts about what the centre meant to them. The speeches were, of course, different, but they all had one central and clear theme: hope—an unquenchable hope that we can simply accept each other for who we are, act with kindness and compassion towards each other and promote human rights for everyone. I raise these two events that I attended in support of this motion. The events were very different in terms of the attendees, what was being acknowledged and where they were held. But, in another sense, they were the same.”
“Leaders from all faiths were present, including my friend Rabbi Frankie Salzman from the Beit Shalom Synagogue in my electorate of Sturt. At dinner, I sat with people I'd never met before, and we had a lovely evening of connection, good conversation and fantastic food, especially the chickpea curry. Faith or no faith, everyone was welcome. I thank Sharif and his team for an excellent evening. Two weeks earlier, on 19 February 2026, I attended the opening of the Andrew Steiner Education Centre at the Adelaide Holocaust Museum, which is dedicated to educating visitors by telling stories of the Holocaust to create a fairer and more compassionate world. I was greeted with the same warm welcome by Annetay Henderson-Sapir, the museum director and chief executive officer.”
“During the month of Ramadan, life would slow down as people took the time to connect or reconnect with their friends, families and faith. Work did not stop, but it took a back seat as people observing the holy month prioritised family over the office. What always struck me, every year that I lived in the UAE, was that Ramadan was not just for people observing it or for people of certain backgrounds and faiths or from certain countries. It really was for everyone. Everyone was invited to share, participate and collaborate together in an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality. This warmth and hospitality was no different to what I experienced from the community, from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, who hosted me at an interfaith iftar in early March this year at the Mahmood Mosque.”
“I start by thanking my friends the member for Monash and the member for Barton for their contributions and beautiful stories of connection, reflection and the dedication of volunteers. These are stories of good people doing good things for others and standing together while they do it. I do encourage the member for Monash to indeed rock and roll this Friday. It's been a busy couple of months for volunteers, particularly volunteers who give up their time to cook iftar meals for those breaking their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan. I lived in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, for eight years during the early part of my prepolitics legal career, and I recall with fondness how the holy month was embraced by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”
“At the party, we reflected that so many big things go on around us. The world is frequently changing and moving, sometimes incredibly rapidly, so small wins—the little things, things that promote the small parts of our community to help it thrive and be a place of belonging—are more important than ever. The Campbelltown rotary club's vision is to be progressive, inclusive and innovative in its approach to creating positive social change while having fun and expanding networks. I offer a heartfelt congratulations to President Gail Casey and all Campbelltown Rotarians who continue to serve their community every day.”
“I recently attended the 60th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Campbelltown, held at the San Giorgio La Molara Club in my electorate of Sturt. This 60th anniversary celebration was a celebration of 60 years of service to others and service to the community. To give context of just how long the club has been contributing to the community, its charter was entered into in 1966, which is the year we moved into decimal currency, away from pounds, shillings and pence to dollars and cents. The club has been around for 21 constitutional referendums and has seen 16 prime ministers and 13 South Australian premiers, so it has seen significant social change and political change. But, throughout all of that change, one thing has remained constant, and that is the club's dedication to community and to serving others.”
“This will be dedicated to developing resources to help prevent and address bullying and funding a national awareness campaign. The more awareness and attention we can bring to this issue and the more we call it out for what it is, which is completely unacceptable, the better placed we will be to ensure that kids can go to school and that parents can send their children to school confident that bullying will be identified and addressed. There is no place for bullying in schools, and I'm proud to stand with the education minister as he seeks to address the causes and ensure that bullying is managed appropriately across the education spectrum.”
“But, for some affected kids and their families, that word is an understatement. So I commend the Minister for Education and his commissioning of the Anti-Bullying Rapid Review, and I also personally thank him for briefing me on the review's progress and recommendations. The review attracted over 1,700 submissions from teachers and from students and their families, and education ministers around the country quite rightly adopted the review's recommendations in October 2025, with a key recommendation being that schools commence action within two school days of becoming aware of a bullying complaint or incident. In addition, we have made a $10 million investment to help fast-track the implementation of the review's findings.”
“So, for the first time ever, the Australian government is delivering paid prac for nursing, teaching, midwifery and social work students while they do their mandatory placements. So far, this $338.60-per-week payment has helped just under 60,000 students. Finally, on bullying in schools, in my first speech in the House of Representatives I shared my experience of being bullied in primary school. Although, after years and years and years, I was able to move forward from it, the scars and damage to confidence and self-esteem have never quite left me completely. We know that now, with the internet and social media, bullying is getting worse, not better. Kids are suffering all day at school and then after school and on weekends, often very publicly. That suffering is sometimes catastrophic and irreparable, which I describe as a tragedy.”
“I was fortunate that, when I did these pracs I was employed as a lawyer, so I had access to annual leave from my job, which I took at half pay to cover my living expenses whilst I was out on placement. I also had a very supportive employer—a shout-out to ASC. But not everyone is in that position. Placements are full time, and they run for weeks. Until now, students on placement just had to fend for themselves, and, when you stop work to do your placement, the bills don't stop. If you do a rural placement, which many students do, not only do the bills keep rolling in but you probably have to fund extra costs for your time away, not least of all accommodation. The feedback from students was that they could afford their degree but they couldn't afford a placement.”
“Through the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, we're delivering an additional $16.5 billion in Commonwealth funding to public schools over the next decade. The member for Grey claimed this was just a funding announcement, which is wholly incorrect. This funding arrangement is linked to outcomes, to improving literacy and numeracy standards, to increased mental health support for students and to school attendance. We've seen that school attendance is increasing. In 2025, it was 88.8 per cent. Secondly, almost 10 years ago, I completed a master of teaching in secondary education as one of those pesky mature aged students who sits up the front and asks too many questions. I did a number of pracs as part of this degree.”
“I rise in support of this motion, which is deeply personal for me on a number of levels. It's also personal for every Australian because it speaks to this government's deliberate policy agenda that is directed at strengthening Australia's education system—making it fairer, more affordable, more accessible and more attractive as a career option. We need more teachers, and this government, led by the PM and the Minister for Education, want to see this happen. Firstly, I went to many different public schools around South Australia. Frankly, I found it disappointing that, prior to 2022 when we came to government, no public school outside the ACT was fully funded. But this has changed with a 180-degree turn.”
“It is not only a reflection of the Albanese Labor government's determination to address the harms caused by the robodebt scheme but an illustration of this government's approach to integrity and transparency with respect to the provision of public services.”
“Recognising and reflecting this is critical to ensuring the fairness and adequacy of services, because, if services are provided but they are inadequate or not appropriately tailored, then they don't advance, improve or eliminate the adverse position of the affected individual. It leads to repeat inquiries, the use of duplicate resources and, ultimately, more unnecessary cost to the Australian taxpayer. Finally, the government has also reached agreement on what will be the largest class action settlement in Australian history if approved by the Federal Court. This would see the Commonwealth pay $475 million as compensation for the harms caused by the robodebt scheme. The size of this settlement reflects the harm caused to vulnerable Australians by the heartless and disastrous policies of the former Liberal government.”
“Another recommendation was having Services Australia staff, including executive staff, trained in and spending time in frontline roles so they can interact with vulnerable Australians and gain a greater appreciation of the social safety net and why people access it—the human stories. This was another key recommendation because, for a system to work fairly, it must be accurate and adequately resourced with properly trained staff and high-quality services that are responsive to an individual's need. 'Computer says no' must not be the default way every time. Improved safeguards, transparency and oversight must keep the social security system in check and include human led oversight mechanisms for any automated decision-making processes. This is because humans are unique. Their needs are unique.”
“The Albanese governments 'tell us once' policy is, for example, designed to streamline government interactions for individuals who are accessing the social safety net. Other critical recommendations include having improved and clear dispute resolution and complaint processes so that affected individuals understand the decisions being made and have a much greater awareness of their rights and how to activate them, with Services Australia now required to refer them to adequately resourced legal and non-legal services as necessary and also to financial counsellors and community legal centres and legal aid commissions.”
“One of the recommendations from the report of the royal commission touched on the effects of robodebt on individuals and recommended that policies and processes under the auspices of Services Australia have a primary emphasis on the recipients the services are meant to support. This recommendation speaks to the human element of needing support, including the need to avoid language and conduct that reinforces feelings of stigma and shame associated with the receipt of government support when it is needed, including explaining processes clearly and in plan language and taking all practicable steps to avoid the possibility that interactions with the government might exacerbate those stresses or introduce new ones.”
“This required them to hunt down old payslips and bank statements, which was a time-consuming and stressful process, rife with confusion and anxiety—heightened when Centrelink sent debt collectors or garnished their payments without their knowledge. Beyond the burden of repaying debts, the scheme caused an incalculable amount of stress and hardship for thousands of Australians, created by a government system that was meant to support and protect them. Following the royal commission into the robodebt scheme, the Albanese Labor government accepted all 56 of the royal commission's recommendations for reform and has so far implemented 52 of them, with the implementation of the final four underway and noting that three remaining recommendations require legislative reform.”
“But seeking help when help is genuinely needed is not rorting, is not dodgy; it's the human story. As the royal commission found, robodebt was a crude and cruel mechanism, neither fair nor legal, and it made many people feel like criminals. In essence, people were traumatised on the off-chance that they might owe money. It was a costly failure of public administration in both human and economic terms. From 2016 to 2019, the robodebt scheme raised more than half a million inaccurate Centrelink debts through a method of income averaging, which has since been ruled unlawful. Debts were imposed on Australians who then had to prove that they didn't owe them.”
“An effective social safety net can help to break the poverty trap by providing resources and support to individuals and families, enabling them to access opportunities and improve their economic situation, because, even in this great and successful country, not everyone has the same opportunity to contribute, to access paid work or to work as much as they want to. Illness, disability, accidents or acting as a carer for others—things no-one wishes for—sometimes intervene to limit the contribution an individual can make. Sometimes it's simply a case of lightning striking, meaning that access to a fair and effective social safety net is critically important. It's also important, however, to strike that balance between the optimal level of government intervention to provide support and the promotion of agency and individual self-reliance.”
“This can never happen again and, thanks to many stakeholders, but especially the countless victims who tirelessly advocated for themselves and others, it won't. The reality is that the social safety net is designed to provide a basic level of financial and social support to individuals and families in need, helping to alleviate poverty and prevent economic hardship. Social safety nets play a critical part in reducing income inequality by helping to ensure a minimum standard of living for low-income individuals and families.”
“That is what robodebt did. It was lazy budget control—'No other ideas to reform the budget? No problem. Vulnerable Australians are available.' Robodebt found a group of vulnerable people that were considered easy targets, and the architects of the scheme hoped that they wouldn't say anything or speak up. Now we know that some of them can no longer speak up because they are no longer with us. People's lives have been destroyed, in many cases irreparably. The human impacts of robodebt look like this—families struggling to make ends meet receiving a debt notice at Christmas, young people being driven to despair by demands for payment and, horribly, the account of a young man's suicide.”
“It also always considered those who used the social safety net to be rorters—people who were lazy, actively avoiding work and looking to take advantage of public funds just because they could, like new mothers, who were accused of being 'double dippers'. People using the broad social safety net in this country and who were victims of robodebt were treated like criminals. Budget control and debt reduction are important, but there are ways to achieve this without grouping together individual Australians using the social safety net under the umbrella of 'rorters', 'dodgy welfare recipients' or 'bludgers'. Finding savings in the budget doesn't have to exclusively mean cutting services, reducing support and targeting vulnerable Australians in the hope that they lack sufficient agency and resources to challenge what has happened to them.”
“I'll just start by acknowledging the contribution of my friend the member for Forde, who spoke before the member for Kooyong, and thank him for his courage in sharing the moving and horrific story of Jarrad, which illustrates the significant harm that was caused to Australians through the robodebt scheme. As we heard from the member for Forde, some of that harm cannot be undone. Lives were lost or destroyed because of robodebt. To say it was a gross failure of public administration is an understatement. It was a catastrophic failure. Its design and implementation meant it was always going to be a failure because of the lens through which it was created. It always considered the social safety net to be a problematic burden, a burden on the economy and something to be eliminated.”
“Returning to Nilufar, she's now a citizen of Australia, an island country where the values she would fight for every day are the values she gets to live under. Now, more than ever, is our moment to stand together as a chamber and as a country to ensure this never changes. House adjourned at 17:01”
“First and foremost, the need to continue to generate, maintain and then further build regional security is an imperative, and this has been rightly recognised with this government's facilitation of both the Jakarta treaty with Indonesia and the Pukpuk Treaty with Papua New Guinea. Regional security and stability lead to the creation and maintenance of circumstances in which the aspirations of the Indo-Pacific can be best realised, steering economic development and prosperity for all countries in the region. Stable regions have stable, resilient and fair economic environments that can grow and thrive, which is good for citizens and, importantly, good for the preservation of liberal democracy.”
“This government's 'A Future Made in Australia' speaks to sovereignty and strategic resilience because it is rightly focused on a diversified economy that facilitates and welcomes private sector investment from both large businesses and from SMEs across industry rewards risks taken in innovation, technology, quantum computing and clean energy and, importantly, attracts more global capital. The fifth S is sustainability, which speaks to the importance of sustaining productive and mutually beneficial relationships with our regional partners, our traditional allies and our European, Asian and Canadian middle-power friends.”
“The third S is space, to support our Defence Force and to contribute to satellite communications and operations, missile warning, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, environmental monitoring and space control, all of which is needed to ensure access to space to counter emerging space threats and to enhance space domain awareness. The fourth S is sovereignty—to gradually reduce the volume of seaborne supply we require for a functioning and prosperous economy and for a capable and effective defence force. If it is made in Australia, it is here in Australia for the benefit of Australia and for our region.”
“The absence of ships bringing in critical supplies, including the fuel and fertiliser that power our economy and power our defence capability, means—if they don't arrive—Australia's national and economic security is put at risk. The five Ss form the backbone of protecting this: ships, submarines, space, sovereignty and sustainability. The first S is ships—ships to protect our maritime borders and trade routes and Australian flagged ships to conduct strategic supply as part of a dedicated maritime industrial base. The second S is submarines—nuclear powered submarines to act as a credible and effective deterrent to any adversary that would seek to challenge our expansive maritime trade routes, which are of existential importance.”
“The freedoms, democracy and human dignity that we enjoy here in Australia—and that Nilufar so passionately expressed support for—go hand in hand with national and regional security, sovereign capability and economic and energy self-resilience and can only flourish when these things are assured. Equally, we will only be invested in assuring these things when we are deeply invested in the merit and protection of the values that underpin them. So this is Australia's moment to say, 'Yes, we will continue to do the work to put our country in the best possible position to be able and willing to protect those values.' Now, a fundamental feature of this work must lie in recognising our geography. As an island continent, seaborne supply is our lifeline.”
“On 17 March 2026, I attended a citizenship ceremony, where I met Nilufar from Iran. She handed me a letter in which she had expressed how she felt about becoming an Australian citizen. She wrote: … becoming an Australian citizen is a profound honour. Australia represents values that many people across the world deeply admire freedom, democracy, equality before the law, and respect for human dignity. These principles form the foundation of a just and compassionate society. I couldn't agree more, and I suggest that there has never been a clearer moment to undertake, as Australians, to walk forward together in pursuit of maintaining these values. There has never been a clearer, more urgent moment to do this.”
“Do these residents know that the coalition went to the last federal election with a policy of higher taxes and bigger deficits, that they voted against Labor's measures to increase wages for low-income workers and that their voting track record illustrates a repeated pattern of voting against Australian workers earning more and keeping more of what they earn? On this side of the chamber, we listen to residents of our electorates who are doing it tough, but we don't just listen; we act, and we deliver meaningful cost-of-living relief for Australian families. Labor is the party of lower taxes, higher wages and bigger surpluses.”
“There is much that I love about this place—the chance to represent my community, to meet interesting people and to be part of a government that is delivering for working Australians. As much as I love this place, though, there are things I find pretty strange and sometimes downright confusing, such as when members on the opposite side of the House share stories of hardship from people in their electorates—stories of people telling members opposite that they are struggling to pay bills, struggling to make ends meet or struggling to fill a script. The reason I find this so perplexing is that members on the opposite side of the House voted against tax cuts for all 14 million Australian taxpayers—tax cuts which would help the very residents who are telling the members opposite that they are doing it tough.”