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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“Discussions focused on scaling up research and development, building domestic capability, and on the importance of strong partnerships between government, industry and universities to turn innovation into reality, at the same time as reducing the costs of production and all costs throughout the supply chain, which is critical if sustainable aviation fuel is to be feasible. Importantly, industry understands that decarbonisation and economic growth go hand in hand. Sustainable aviation fuel supports regional connectivity, national productivity and supply resilience, while reducing emissions and reliance on imported fuel. This is exactly what a future made in Australia looks like—more energy and manufacturing sovereignty, stronger industries and a more resilient economy. This is an Albanese Labor government key priority.”
“This includes sustainable aviation fuel, which has an important role to play in decarbonising aviation, whilst strengthening fuel security. In a world of fuel shocks and price spikes, sustainable aviation fuel is no longer just an environmental choice; it's an increasingly economic proposition. In my role as chair of Parliamentary Friends of Aviation, I recently attended the GreenSkies sustainability summit at Qantas headquarters in Sydney. That summit brought together leaders from the aviation industry, businesses and academia, all focused on the future of sustainable aviation. A clear message came through: the aviation sector sees the benefit of sustainable aviation fuel and is already moving in that direction.”
“This coordinated national leadership began when this war began, and Australia was better prepared because we had already strengthened our fuel security settings. We will continue to act in the national interest because delivering for Australians is our priority. But these global events also point to a bigger truth. Every global fuel shock reminds us why Australia must become less reliant on imported fuels that are vulnerable to conflict and international volatility. The long-term answer to that is energy self-resilience. That means continuing the transition to cleaner, more secure energy made here in Australia—renewables, electrification, batteries and cleaner fuels that reduce exposure to global shocks and put downward pressure on costs over time.”
“The Prime Minister convened national cabinet to deliver a truly national response, so states and territories can distribute fuel to where it's needed most, particularly regional Australia, while the Commonwealth focuses on supply. We've appointed a national Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator. We've begun releasing 20 per cent of Australia's fuel reserves, courtesy of our minimum stockholding obligation. We've changed petrol and diesel standards to get more fuel flowing quickly, and we've backed Australia's oil refineries so they can keep producing fuel here at home. We've made sure that all the fuel we are making in Australia is used in Australia, and we're engaging closely with our international trading partners to keep supply chains open.”
“So we've introduced the Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill, which operates to double penalties for serious misconduct, lifting maximum penalties for false or misleading conduct to $100 million per offence. Let me be clear: the conflict overseas is not an excuse to profit from Australians, so we're putting the fuel sector on notice. We will not accept big corporates treating Australian motorists unfairly, and that's why we're empowering the ACCC to ramp up fuel price monitoring and issue on-the-spot fines. We are calling on those opposite to support this legislation and stand with Australian consumers. But accountability is only one part of the picture. The government is also taking strong action to secure fuel supply during a period of global instability.”
“What we are dealing with right now is global in nature and scale but is being felt domestically right here at home. The war in the Middle East is seriously impacting supply chains and pushing up the cost of fuel around the world. Australia is not immune to that volatility, and we know that higher fuel prices are putting real pressure on households, small businesses, farmers and transport workers across the country. We recognise that, and that is exactly why the Albanese Labor government is taking decisive, coordinated action. At the centre of that response is protecting consumers from being ripped off.”
“To the community: lock your doors; use the alarm; don't leave the engine running as you go into the shop; don't leave your phone, wallet and other valuables lying around; take sensible precautions; take simple actions of deterrence. This helps police, and these deterrence actions that you can take make it harder for an opportunistic or deliberately motivated perpetrator to commit an offence, which means police resources can be directed elsewhere, to where the need is greater—and we know the need is great. This underscores the need for constant examination and measurement of the effectiveness of the criminal law system, which underscores the importance of this bill. I thank the Attorney-General for her work and commend the bill to the House.”
“But we in the community all play a role, too. For the average Australian individual or business, there are things we can all do to deter both opportunistic and deliberate crime. Some may say it's a shame that things are not as they were 40 years ago, when you could leave the keys in the ignition as you popped into the shop. But things aren't the same. The South Australian police commissioner made this very salient point last week when he asked fuel retailers to implement easily available and effective prepay systems to avoid people driving off without paying for fuel, an offence that has spiked given current market conditions. Prepay eliminates this. So retailers: please implement it. Commissioner Stevens quite rightly warned that police would stop responding to call-outs about this issue, because resources are so stretched.”
“The amendments provide that, once a person waives extradition, they are to remain in custody until they are physically surrendered to the requesting country or released under an appropriate order, saving time and money. The Extradition Act will also be amended to provide police officers with the power to enter premises and use reasonable force when executing an extradition arrest warrant, reducing operational risks to the police and to the community. The final schedule is schedule 5, which is a technical amendment to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act. This is required in order to update terminology to reflect changes in Victorian legislation in relation to Integrity Oversight Victoria. Criminal law is complex. It must be constantly examined to ensure that these complexities are being appropriately managed.”
“The current purity approach, which does not reflect how drugs are typically trafficked, will be replaced with mixed quantity requirements. Schedule 3, another safeguard, contains amendments that streamline the process for managing an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest identified by the Director of Public Prosecutions, meaning that a sufficiently senior person can exercise powers and functions in lieu of the director where it is not appropriate for the director to do so because of a conflict of interest. The Extradition Act will be modernised by schedule 4 to the bill to improve not only the efficiency of the extradition process but also its safety.”
“And it will modernise the way law enforcement agencies can apply search warrants and assistance orders to better align with today's digital operating environment, but without affecting the substantial thresholds and safeguards that are already in existence around these processes. Secondly, in schedule 2 to the bill there are critical amendments to the Criminal Code directed at ensuring that the prosecution of serious drug offences is efficient and effective. This includes the implementation of an evidentiary certificate which allows prima facie evidence of specific facts, normally technical or formal in nature, to be provided and approved without calling a witness. The amendments also change the way drug threshold quantities are measured.”
“This bill, containing all the safeguards and thresholds as it does, with its five schedules, speaks to the purposes of criminal law and also speaks to the idea that it's important to continually examine whether the criminal law in this country remains true to those purposes, whether it is contemporary in its approach to societal changes, and whether it provides adequate powers and resources to ensure that the criminal justice system operates effectively. Going to the five schedules, schedule 1 deals with police powers and warrants. The bill will amend the Crimes Act to enable the Australian Federal Police to exercise critical powers at the new Western Sydney International Airport, ensuring a consistent policing and security framework at major airports nationwide.”
“As difficult as this sometimes is to accept, it is better to let a guilty person go free than to convict an innocent individual. It is this notion that underpins the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. With such a high threshold, the likelihood of a potentially guilty individual walking free increases, but it also makes it that much more difficult for an innocent individual to be wrongly convicted of a crime.”
“The minute we start picking and choosing who is entitled to the benefit of this principle is the minute we turn our backs on core legal principles and core human rights and invite false accusations and invite the state, as the prosecuting authority, to punish individuals without justification. Our criminal law system, including the measures in this bill, guards against this. Equally, the appellate process, where decisions of courts of first instance are appealable on certain grounds, operate in order to correct mistakes or injustices where they have occurred. The standard of proof in criminal offences beyond reasonable doubt is the right standard when punishment may involve the deprivation of liberty. No other standard is appropriate.”
“That is why implementing punishments and making them publicly known as a form of education is an equally important part of deterrence, because it sends the message that all criminal acts will be punished, that authorities are motivated to catch offenders and punish them and also that Australians, quite rightly, expect this and deserve this. Finally, the criminal law, particularly the way it operates in this country, is complete with safeguards, thresholds, clear processes, and an emphasis on procedural fairness and the protection of the rights of individuals. Innocent until proven guilty, or the presumption of innocence, is a fundamental principle of the criminal justice system in Australia, and it must remain forever so, no matter what the alleged offence is.”
“Through rehabilitation, the criminal justice system is motivated to break the cycle of crime and promote meaningful and sustainable positive change for individuals and for communities. Fourth is deterrence and punishment. The goal of deterrence is to discourage members of society from committing criminal offences, and the fear of punishment is the general deterrence and discouragement mechanism. However, deterrence is effective only if a person has the capacity to reflect. Because many people commit crimes in the heat of the moment, this is one of the major obstacles for deterrence in criminal justice.”
“When victims do not feel heard or feel that nothing was done in response to what happened to them, there is a loss of trust and confidence in the police, the courts and all operators in the justice system, and issues and offences are less likely to be reported, potentially leading to escalation and this sense amongst perpetrators that it is possible to get away with offending. In this respect, the third key purpose of the criminal law is the rehabilitation of offenders. This is important because it offers opportunities for offenders to reintegrate into society and once again become productive members of the community. If the underlying causes of criminal behaviour can be addressed through rehabilitation then the prospects of reoffending are lowered, which is a good thing for the entire community.”
“It demonstrates that everyone is subject to the same rules and also limits people taking justice into their own hands, which is a very dangerous approach on many levels. Ensuring victims receive justice is the second key purpose of criminal law. I recently met someone in my electorate of Sturt who had been the victim of a very serious crime. She had two main drivers going forward. The first was justice for herself—to be heard and to have the effect that the serious crime had on her to be soundly understood. The second driver was to share her story so that lessons could be learned and strategies put in place to minimise the prospects of what had happened to her happening to anyone else.”
“Firstly, however, I'll go to criminal law. There are many different purposes to criminal law. First and foremost is the maintenance of social order. Criminal law plays a critical role in keeping things in order within a society. As society changes, which it does regularly, clear definitions surrounding what behaviours are harmful and disruptive—and thus off limits—are important. This helps to set boundaries and acts as a deterrent against committing crimes or aiding in the commission of crimes. This makes communities safer and more predictable. It also helps to hold people to account for their actions by ensuring that people who commit crimes face consequences. This also facilitates trust and confidence in the criminal law system because it demonstrates fairness to the wider population.”
“Opportunistic crimes committed randomly and without preplanning cause fear within communities, reducing connection, increasing scepticism and undermining cohesion. Deliberate, targeted crime does this too, just on a much more significant scale. Cost-of-living pressures, social issues that are still lingering from the pandemic and the development of technology that facilitates, for example, car theft or the duplication of garage remote codes means that opportunistic and deliberate crime is happening and police resources are stretched. Australians do not want police resources to be so stretched that difficult decisions about which call-outs to attend, which offences to investigate and which offences to prosecute need to be made any more than is absolutely necessary. No-one wants that, and this bill contains measures to assist with this.”
“I rise to speak in support of the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No.1) Bill 2026. At its heart, this bill is about supporting law enforcement agencies to provide efficient and effective services to Australians to keep them safe. Law enforcement agencies play a critical role in the functioning of our communities and of our country and they need to be appropriately equipped to carry out their functions, with appropriate, reasonable and proportionate safeguards as well. When out and about in my community, I've received some feedback of a general nature that crime, particularly opportunistic crime, is on the rise and that people feel just that little bit less safe generally. Car theft, petty robbery, low-level property damage and general antisocial and threatening behaviour are on the rise.”
“The assembly day is hands on, purposeful and deeply rewarding. In just a couple of hours, you can directly contribute to a project that improves health outcomes for women and children around the world. Events like these highlight the strength and generosity of volunteers in our community. Their willingness to give their time without expectation of reward shows just how powerful collective community action can be in improving lives beyond our own borders. To every volunteer at the fair, through Rotary and with St John, I say thank you.”
“Their calm professionalism gives all of us the confidence to enjoy community events safely, knowing help is on hand if needed. I'm deeply grateful for their ongoing contribution to the wellbeing of our community. Another group that continues to lead with generosity is the Rotary Club of St Peters. The Rotary team not only played a role at the fair but continue throughout the year to run projects that make a meaningful difference both locally and globally. For example, on Sunday 12 April 2026, the Rotary club will be hosting a birthing-kit assembly day, and they're seeking volunteers to join them. Birthing kits are small, low-cost packs that provide clean, simple tools to support safe births in developing countries. For mothers and babies who lack access to basic medical resources, these kits can literally save lives.”
“Events like the fair simply don't happen without an enormous amount of planning and effort behind the scenes, and I want to acknowledge the incredible volunteers from the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters council, who brought the day together. Their planning, coordination and quiet dedication often go unseen, yet they and the staff are the backbone of community events like this. From organising stallholders and entertainment to setting up early in the morning and packing down after everyone has gone home, these volunteers and staff embody what service to community truly looks like. I also want to recognise the presence of paramedics from St John Ambulance, whose volunteers provided medical support throughout the day.”
“I rise today to speak about the St Peters Fair held on 14 March in my electorate of Sturt. It was a wonderful event that once again showcased the strength, warmth and spirit of our community. It brought neighbours together, celebrated our volunteers and highlighted the local groups who work hand in hand to make our community thrive. The fair has long been a highlight on the calendar for the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, and this year was no exception. One of the stand-out attractions was the hugely popular petting zoo, which drew families, children and plenty of enthusiastic adults. I will happily admit that I joined in and had the pleasure of patting a very cute goat. Small, joyful moments really do remind us why community events matter.”
“Our economic policy agenda is underpinned by a focus on good jobs, higher wages and increased productivity. This must always be at the heart of decisions we make in the course of the fight against inflation.”
“In this respect, we are seeing results, with the overwhelming story being one of stronger wage growth and rising living standards. Annual nominal wages have grown above three per cent for 14 quarters in a row, the longest streak in more than a decade and a half. The national accounts for the December quarter showed that real incomes per capita grew two per cent through the year to the December quarter and are growing at more than twice the average of other comparable major advanced economies. We have also seen more than 1.2 million jobs created under the Albanese Labor government. This is stronger growth than any major advanced economy, with more than four out of five of these jobs having been created in the private sector, which has been and always will be the engine room of our economy.”
“A focus on low unemployment, sustainable wages growth, stimulating private sector growth and investment, and a continued emphasis on a framework where governments, business, unions and workers partner and walk forward together to ensure these goals are not only met but met in a way that benefits all stakeholders as much as possible is the Albanese Labor government way. These goals are complicated and challenging, but it is necessary to strive towards them. The country needs people who are working hard to boost productivity and to contribute to the economy. We need policies that are designed to increase wages sustainably—not a deliberate policy of low wages, which was the policy agenda of the previous government.”
“The policy mistake of only cutting services and only cutting support in order to improve the bottom line means that the first objective of structural budget repair and economic reform must be carefully balanced against the second, which is to help working Australians, individuals, families, young people and retirees—a complex web—deal with the cost-of-living challenge that inflation can present. The government acknowledge that people are under pressure, and we're doing something about it, with tax cuts for every taxpayer, more bulk-billing and cheaper medicines, and by backing higher wages and slashing student debt. The third lever is the labour market.”
“The MYEFO illustrated that we are $233 billion better off than when we came to government, and $144 billion in savings were found in the budget through finding more-efficient ways to provide services and do business. Budget savings cannot just be implemented by cutting services and cutting support to Australians who need it. Finding more-efficient ways to provide services and support, more-efficient ways to do business, is what our policy agenda is focused on, such as asking APS departments to examine their operational discipline in order to find five per cent of savings.”
“We haven't just started the work on meeting the inflation challenge because of the recent conflict. We've been doing the work and implementing policy to support Australians through this inflation challenge since we came to government. There are a number of parts to the Albanese Labor government's response—firstly, the forthcoming May budget, which will be underpinned by restraint, reform and measures to increase productivity. The Treasurer has been absolutely clear on this. We must take steps to reform in order to put a bomb under productivity growth, to encourage it to further stimulate the private sector, to encourage investment and innovation, and to cement and then further grow our economic prosperity. The budget bottom line has also been improved through the finding of efficiencies.”
“Inflation is a huge challenge. There is no doubt about it. We have not shied away from this at any stage. We have an inflation challenge in our economy, likely to be exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East, and that requires action. It has a three in front of it now, but without a dedicated focus on utilising all available mechanisms it is likely to increase. It may increase anyway because of the myriad factors that are beyond the control of the government and beyond the control of business, of the RBA, of industry and of individual Australians. The volatility in the global economy and the escalation of tensions in the Middle East could add further pressure to inflation in the coming months. We know this. We've been clear with the Australian people about this.”
“We often hear that young people have no hope for the future and they're despondent about work and life. These young Australians were not despondent. They were excited about their career prospects. They are young enough that in their late 20s and early 30s they will literally build the nuclear powered boats when submarine construction begins in the 2030s. The opportunities underscored by this investment are immense—an economic opportunity but, more importantly, a sovereign defence capability imperative. (Time expired)”
“New and innovative ways to reward innovation and risks taken by the private sector in supporting this endeavour will be required, with a particular focus on speed to capability. Again, however, none of this is possible without skilled workers, which is why, in addition to the $3.9 billion investment, the Albanese Labor government invested $480 million in the Skills and Training Academy campus at Osborne to train the skilled workforce for constructing and maintaining nuclear powered submarines, providing young Australians pathways in the AUKUS submarine industry through these skills and training programs. I recently met two young Australians who were working as apprentices for BAE Systems at the shipyard at the same time as completing their studies at the Regency Park TAFE.”
“Most importantly, we are quite rightly on a pathway with our allies to a greater deterrence capability. At the submarine construction yard at Osborne, where I proudly used to work, the $3.9 billion investment means support for the creation of thousands of jobs, numbering approximately 4,000 for the construction phase and 5,500 for the peak submarine production phase. Those workers will be highly skilled. We need them to be. This underscores the government's commitment to ensuring Australia has both the capability and the skilled workforce needed, as outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy. Importantly, the government has called for and supports partnerships with the private sector. AUKUS, as I said, is a national endeavour and cannot succeed without the government's support or the support of private industry.”
“Well-paid, meaningful, secure and highly skilled jobs for decades—that is what is on offer for kids who haven't even been born yet. This national security and economic opportunity is what underpins the Albanese Labor government's initial $3.9 billion down payment investment in the submarine construction yard at Osborne in South Australia to deliver the infrastructure needed to build at least eight nuclear powered SSN-AUKUS class submarines. AUKUS is a national endeavour. It may have its heart in South Australia, but the opportunity is there for all states and territories to contribute to Australia's national security and to embrace that economic opportunity. Small, medium and large businesses are already benefiting. People are moving to South Australia for the work opportunities on offer.”
“What it means is acting every time in Australia's national interests by shoring up our own national security and sovereign capability in partnership with our allies when appropriate. No rational person wants conflict or war—no-one. But we are an island nation and we need a capability that is effective as a deterrent, and we need to continue to prosecute strategies that shore up our seaborne supply now more than ever. Just as no reasonable person wants war, no reasonable person could possibly argue against self-sufficiency, conflict deterrence and protection of our maritime supply chains that are so critical to the security of this country. Secondly, the opportunity before us as we embark upon that sovereign capability journey is also an economic one.”
“This motion speaks directly to the huge opportunity before us. It's an opportunity with many parts, but principally it's an opportunity that speaks to the Albanese Labor government's deliberate decision to build a future made in Australia. First and foremost, this motion is about our sovereign capability and defence industrial base, which means a sovereign supply chain and skilled workforce. There has never been a clearer moment to argue in favour of efficiently and effectively entrenching our sovereign defence capability. I want to be clear that, in doing this, it doesn't mean turning our back on our allies or reacting impulsively because of shifting international relationships and the changing approaches of the world's great powers.”
“I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government's initial $3.9 billion investment in the Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne in South Australia, to deliver the infrastructure needed to build at least eight nuclear-powered SSN-AUKUS class submarines, meaning: (a) record support for the creation of significant direct employment opportunities, numbering approximately 4,000 for the construction phase and 5,500 for the peak submarine production phase; (b) opportunities for small and medium sized businesses to contribute to, and benefit from, this significant investment over a period of decades; and (c) confidence for industry and workers of significant and durable opportunities for partnership and growth through the construction and build phases; and (2) notes the Government's commitment to ensuring Australia has both the capability and the skilled workforce needed as outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy, through measures like: (a) calling for and supporting partnerships with the private sector; (b) investing $480 million in the Skills and Training Academy Campus at Osborne to train the skilled workforce for constructing and maintaining nuclear-powered submarines; and (c) providing young Australians pathways in the AUKUS submarines industry through skills and training programs.”
“Whilst the grounds, rooms and facilities at the RSL care home are lovely, what really makes it special is the standard of care that is being provided to residents. Jacko knew the residents by name, including Angas, Wilf, Wes and Nance—all of whom I met and all over 100 years old or getting close. Jacko really is illustrative of the wonderful Australians who not only served our country but who are now working in aged care, supporting our veterans and giving every part of themselves to ensuring that dignity and kindness are afforded to older Australians every single day.”
“The RSL care home is a war veterans' home located in the quiet, leafy eastern suburb of Myrtle Bank in my electorate of Sturt. It was officially opened on 24 March 1917, following 18 months of community fundraising by the Soldiers Home League. Shortly thereafter, it became known as the War Veterans' Home Myrtle Bank. Now accommodation in the War Veterans' Home at Myrtle Bank is offered as a priority to veterans, war widows and their dependants. It is home to 95 residents. When I recently visited the RSL care home, I met Jacko. A veteran herself, she was very much running the show, although I'm sure she would deny it. The care, empathy and dedication that Jacko showed not only to the residents but also to her colleagues is something I'll never forget.”
“We firmly believe that every Australian should have the opportunity to develop the skills and receive the training that they want and that we need in order to prosecute our policy of a Future Made in Australia and so that working Australians can meaningfully participate in a changing workforce in order to earn a fair wage, contribute to the economy and provide for their families. This is why we have a National AI Plan, which has a deliberate AI vision for Australia, where AI is used to build a fairer, stronger Australia and where every person, especially working Australians, benefits from this technological progress.”
“We will support working Australians across a range of industries through all facets of AI—the growth, the disruption, the challenges. And we will do this by ensuring that worker protections remain a core policy driver, meaning that we'll consistently review and measure them to make sure AI is working for businesses and workers. We will also ensure that productivity gains from AI are shared fairly and not just concentrated. But, in doing that sharing, we will insist that the gains are real and measurable. We'll also invest in lifelong skills and training programs. As well as being the party of working Australians, Labor is the party of education.”
“There is no greater need for balanced regulation than in the industrial and workplace space. This government will always protect jobs and working families—always. Our track record speaks for itself, with a consistent policy platform of protecting conditions for working Australians, growing wages sustainably, budgeting for continued rounds of tax cuts for every taxpayer and deliberately creating a pathway for collaboration and partnership between industry, unions and workers. The Labor Party will always stand with workers, and we believe that, by working together with unions, businesses and skills organisations, the interests of workers can be advanced. Our consistent approach to conditions and support for working Australians will not change in the face of the disruption that AI poses in the workplace.”
“If companies or governments or individuals are looking for a new or creative solution to a problem, humans are better at providing that solution, and humans, being human, will always inherently consider the emotional ramifications of decision-making. So there will always be that gap with AI, and there will always be a role for the Australian worker. There is also a role for government and regulation in AI. It's the role of government to regulate without paralysing innovation and technological development. The role of government is to avoid overregulation because, as well as paralysing development, overregulation can create unnecessary fear and uncertainty. Governments have a difficult job of regulating to ensure that AI, which is not going anywhere, improves the lives of Australians in a way that is safe, sustainable and cost effective.”
“AI is here to stay, and it has boomed in recent years. It has become commonplace in both business and everyday life. People use AI every day to make their lives easier, interacting with AI-powered virtual assistants or programs. Companies use AI to streamline their production processes, make unbiased projections of gains and losses and predict when maintenance will have to occur. AI can also help the Australian worker by reducing the risk of human error, and it can complete particularly difficult or dangerous tasks, meaning humans can mitigate or avoid the risk of injury or harm. So there are many benefits. But, like anything, of course there are negative aspects. Although AI can create original and unexpected ideas, it just can't overtake humans in the ability to be creative, which means that it may be prohibited in its decision-making.”
“To put the concerns of the member for McPherson at rest, the government does have a national AI plan. There are three pillars. The second is to spread the benefits, and that has a dedicated goal of ensuring that Australian workers are not left behind in the AI transition. It also has a secondary goal of ensuring that Australian workers are appropriately upskilled and trained so they can meaningfully participate in the AI transition and share in the benefits. So the suggestion that the government doesn't have a plan for workers during the AI transition is incorrect. In December 2025, the National AI Plan was launched, and, as I said, it includes a direct goal of ensuring that Australian workers are upskilled and can share in the benefits that we will all enjoy through the AI transition.”
“Of those thousands of additional workers, some of them will be trained at the Skills and Training Academy being built at Osborne, following a $480 million investment into Australia's naval shipbuilding and submarine construction workforce by the Albanese Labor government. The STAC will be supported by Australia's sovereign build partners, BAE systems and ASC, and is critical to growing our skilled workforce so that we can build our defence future. The re-election of the Malinauskas Labor government last weekend means both state and federal Labor will continue to work together to encourage effort, collaboration and investment across our country as we upgrade and expand our defence capability in the interests of our national and regional security.”
“Following the recently announced $3.9 billion Albanese Labor government investment at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide's north, they are building, preparing and planning for the greatest security partnership in this country's history—AUKUS. By the end of this decade, Australia will begin building its first SSN-AUKUS class boats in Osborne, the beating heart of this national endeavour. To support the planned construction and operation of the submarine construction yard, enabling works have commenced to optimise access routes and traffic flows around the site, because thousands of additional highly skilled workers will need to access the site to build the boats.”
“One day, maybe some players from the Norwood Netball Club will even play for the Australian Diamonds, and if they are at the peak of their career in 2032 when Australia hosts the Olympics in Brisbane, maybe we'll even see the Norwood Netball Club representing Australia in the 2032 Olympics. Let's get netball into the Olympics 2032. I know that, under the leadership of co-captains Sienna Burns and Millie Cordy and coach Lee-Anne Cummins, the team will do their utmost best for the Norwood Netball Club in their inaugural season. So bring on the season! Good luck players. Let's win the flag.”