Renee Coffey
Griffith · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“He has also been a leader in sepsis advocacy, helping improve awareness, care and recovery for people affected by sepsis. Professor Hans Peter Soyer received his honour for distinguished service in dermatology, skin cancer diagnosis, medical research and governance.”
“His work aims to find skin cancers earlier, improve patient outcomes and address gaps in access to care, especially in regional, rural and remote Australia. Katarina Carroll AO APM received her honour for distinguished service to law enforcement, disaster management and the community.”
“This year's King's Birthday Honours recognised 14 Griffith recipients whose service reflects the best of our community. In my short few minutes here today, I want to acknowledge a few of them. Matthew Ames received his honour for significant service to community health, engineering, business administration and corporate governance.”
“Christine also contributed to the taskforce on domestic and family violence which delivered the landmark Not now, not ever report. She now serves on the board of DVConnect, continuing to work to support people experiencing violence and abuse. I also acknowledge the other Griffith recipients named in this year's honours.”
“Australia's strength has never come from sameness. It has come from the people who have built lives across difference, from our many First Nations communities with millennia of history and culture—the oldest continuous cultures on earth—to people who arrive with little English, little money and deep hope for their children, people who tur…”
“My friend the member for Reid said in this House in her maiden speech: In just over half a century, we have moved from an embrace of a White Australia policy to a country that is now a majority-migrant nation. But what is more remarkable is how this news was received—not with backlash but with a genuine embrace of modern Australia.”
The complete record
Every one of 576 lines we hold for Renee Coffey, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 12.
“A price that seems okay at first becomes more expensive at the final stage of the payment, a free trial unexpectedly turns into a paid subscription and cancelling something that should be easy becomes complicated, with run-around tactics, repeated prompts and pointless difficulties. These aren't just annoying; they are costing people money, time, effort and faith. When people are already dealing with work, family, bills, appointments and everything else, they shouldn't have to spend their free time battling systems that are deliberately designed to try and exhaust them. That is why this bill, the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026, is important.”
“Most Australians know what it feels like to keep a close eye on the household budget and make careful choices about where every dollar goes. We know that today in Griffith there is a parent comparing the cost of school shoes, groceries and sports fees before payday; a student looking for a cheaper phone plan between shifts; an older Australian checking direct debits on a fixed income; and a small-business owner reviewing every subscription service charge and renewal notice. People in my community and across Australia are doing the sensible thing—comparing prices, reading the details, considering their choices and trying to make good decisions for themselves, their families and their companies. But all too often the companies and systems they're dealing with aren't equally as fair.”
“It's about ensuring that the law does not inadvertently protect those who have caused profound harm while leaving victims and survivors without recourse. It is about recognising that justice must be more than words on a page. It must be felt in people's lives. It is about making clear that this parliament is committed to continuing this work, to listening, improving and building on this foundation.”
“They expect that, when a court says compensation is owed, the law will not then make the compensation impossible to recover. This bill aligns our laws more closely with those expectations. This bill has been shaped by the voices of people who know, far better than any of us, what it means when the justice system recognises harm but still does not deliver redress. To survivors who have advocated for this change, thank you. To the families and supporters who have stood beside them, thank you to you also. To the organisations who have kept this issue on the agenda, I also say thank you. And to the members of this parliament, from both sides of this chamber, who have worked constructively across party lines, I thank all of you. This bill is about restoring fairness and dignity.”
“It says that our financial system should not be misused to avoid accountability and that our legal system should not unintentionally protect those who have caused profound harm. This bill is a significant and necessary foundation. It closes a clear loophole, sends a strong signal about the direction of reform and creates a framework that can be built upon in the future. The bill also provides for a full review, after commencement, to assess whether the law is operating effectively for victims and survivors, and that review will be critical. We will need to know whether survivors can access the information they need, whether the court process is workable and whether legal costs or delays remain barriers. In communities like Griffith, and right across Australia, people expect the law to reflect basic fairness.”
“I thank Micah Projects, Lotus Place, every worker across our country and every advocate who supports survivors through this difficult and important work. When offenders retain substantial retirement savings while victims struggle financially, often as a direct consequence of the abuse they suffered, confidence in the justice system is undermined. It tells survivors that the system may recognise their harm in one breath and then protect the perpetrator's assets in the next. That's not fair. This bill helps shift that burden. It says that, if the perpetrator owes compensation and if they have used certain superannuation contributions to protect assets, there must be a pathway for survivors to pursue what they are legally owed. It's a practical reform, but it's also a value statement.”
“It is often tied to some of the most painful experiences in a person's life. It requires patience, care, trust and an understanding of trauma. It requires listening without judgement, supporting people at their own pace and recognising that every survivor's path is different. In our community, Micah Projects has long shown what survivor centred support looks like in practice. I want to acknowledge their team leader, Mark Reimers, and their entire team. When I went to meet with the team at Lotus Place recently, I was expecting a meeting with one or two of their team, but their entire team showed up and sat around the table because of the importance of the work they're doing and how passionate they are about representing and supporting the victims-survivors in our community.”
“I also want to acknowledge the extraordinary work of Micah Projects and their Lotus Place program based in Stones Corner in my electorate of Griffith. Lotus Place provides a safe and trusted place for people living with lifelong impacts of institutional childhood abuse, including forgotten Australians, former child migrants, care leavers and people seeking redress through the National Redress Scheme. They help people understand their options, navigate complex systems, seek redress, access support and rebuild connection, dignity and trust. For many survivors, that kind of support can make the difference between a system that feels impossible to face and a process where they are not left to walk alone. The team at Lotus Place understands that redress is not just paperwork.”
“The joint standing committee has a critical role in examining whether the National Redress Scheme is delivering what it was intended to deliver—acknowledgement, accountability and a small measure of justice for people who experienced institutional child sex abuse. As a member of that committee, I have heard firsthand from people who have carried the trauma of childhood sexual abuse for years, often for decades. I have heard harrowing accounts of abuse, of institutions that failed to protect children and of the systems that too often required survivors to keep proving their pain before they could be heard. Those experiences stay with you. They reinforce why redress must be more than formal recognition. It must be practical, accessible and grounded in the lived experience of survivors.”
“A justice system that asks survivors to come forward must also take seriously the risk of retraumatisation. It must not force people to give up their privacy in order to enforce their rights. I come to this debate informed by my work on the Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme. After joining this parliament about a year ago now, I asked to be nominated to serve on this committee because I believe deeply in its work. Before coming to this place, I worked with children and young people for more than two decades, and I know how important it is that every child is safe, supported and protected by the adults and institutions around them.”
“Unfulfilled historical compensation orders brought into existence before commencement will be eligible if they remain largely enforceable and were awarded in relation to a criminal conviction or finding of guilt for child sexual abuse. This reform is also for survivors who have already fought for recognition, endured the legal process and still have not received what they are owed. The bill also reflects a trauma informed approach by protecting the identity of victims and survivors. Certain courts must not publish the name of the victim in relation to these proceedings or related appeals. For a survivor, privacy can mean safety, dignity and control. It can be the difference between being able to seek justice and being deterred from taking another step.”
“Financial manoeuvring must not override moral and legal responsibility. The bill also amends the Bankruptcy Act to allow compensation debts to survive a perpetrator's bankruptcy. Bankruptcy should not become a refuge from accountability for such serious harm. A survivor should not finally receive a compensation order only to see that obligation disappear because the perpetrator enters bankruptcy. These are not ordinary debts. They arise from profound harm, from abuse and from conduct that has damaged lives. Allowing those debts to survive bankruptcy sends a clear message that accountability does not end because a perpetrator's financial circumstances change. The bill also recognises historical injustice.”
“This bill improves transparency, gives survivors more information and makes it harder for perpetrators to wait out their obligations while their financial position remains protected. This is not an unlimited or automatic access regime. The bill is targeted, and it is designed to address the misuse of particular superannuation contributions as a shield against lawful compensation. Superannuation and bankruptcy systems are highly technical, and changes must be carefully designed so they are effective, enforceable and consistent with broader legal principles. But the technical nature of the system should never obscure the human reality. If a person has been convicted of child sexual abuse and a court has ordered compensation, they should not be able to use complex financial arrangements to avoid responsibility.”
“Under these reforms, where a related court ordered compensation debt remains unpaid after 12 months, victims and survivors of child sexual abuse will be able to seek access, through a court order, to certain superannuation contributions made by the offender. This includes additional personal contributions and salary-sacrifice contributions, which have previously been able to operate as a vehicle for shielding assets from enforcement. Victims and survivors will also be able to apply to the Australian Taxation Office with appropriate safeguards to identify whether there may be eligible superannuation before deciding whether to seek a court order. Without visibility, a survivor may be left in the dark, facing cost, uncertainty and stress before they even know if a pathway exists.”
“Child sexual abuse can leave deep and lifelong impacts affecting mental health, physical wellbeing, relationships, education, employment, housing, trust and a person's sense of safety in the world. I do want to acknowledge all of the victims-survivors who have come to me since I have been elected as the member for Griffith to talk to me about their personal experiences with this in our community. Some survivors experience financial insecurity not because of any lack of effort or resilience but because abuse can reach into every aspect of a person's life. That is why compensation should not be treated as an abstract legal debt. We are speaking about the cost of therapy, medical care, lost opportunity, instability and years of navigating trauma without adequate support. We're speaking about dignity.”
“A survivor should not be forced to endure the trauma of legal proceedings, secure a court order in their favour and then find that the person responsible can avoid repayment by relying on protected financial structures. That compounds the harm and undermines confidence in the justice system. No law can undo the abuse that has occurred. No payment can erase the trauma or return the safety, peace or trust that may have been taken away. But compensation can still matter. It can help pay for counselling, health care, housing stability, education, work, care responsibilities and the long process of recovery. It can also provide practical recognition that the person responsible must not be able to walk away from their obligations.”
“It gives survivors a new avenue for enforcement, makes it harder for perpetrators to use superannuation as a shield and ensures bankruptcy cannot simply wipe away compensation debts owed to victims and survivors. This bill goes to a fundamental principle: perpetrators of child sexual abuse should not be able to hide behind financial structures to avoid accountability. For too long, a deeply unjust loophole has allowed convicted offenders to shield assets and superannuation while victims and survivors are left without the compensation that they are owed. That's not only a technical failure in the law; it's a failure in fairness. When a court has recognised harm and ordered compensation, that order should mean something in the real world.”
“We should also recognise that survivors are not a single group with a single experience. Some seek public advocacy, while others seek privacy. Some want court action, while others do not. Some want to speak, while some never will. All deserve respect and all deserve systems that are safe, fair and responsive. A survivor-centred response starts by recognising that the person who was harmed should not be forced to carry that cost alone. Justice can take many forms: being believed, a conviction, an apology, support to heal or compensation that is actually paid. No single bill can meet every need, but this bill meets a real and serious gap.”
“I also acknowledge those members across this parliament who have worked towards this reform, including the member for Boothby, the member for Eden-Monaro, the member for Lyne, members across the chamber and across parties and the crossbench who have supported this very important work. I thank the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and the Attorney-General for bringing forward this bill. When we debate laws like this, we are speaking about people's lives. We are speaking about the children who were harmed, the adults who carried out that harm and the families who have stood beside the victims-survivors. We must approach this debate with care and avoid language that diminishes, sensationalises or turns a person's story into a political point.”
“I also acknowledge the families, friends, advocates and supporters who have stood beside survivors through very difficult processes. I acknowledge the victims and survivors who spoke so powerfully before the introduction of this bill. Speaking publicly about trauma is never easy, and it can come at a personal cost. When survivors choose to speak, this parliament has a responsibility to listen with care, with respect and with a willingness to act. I acknowledge the organisations that have advocated for this reform over a long period, including Super for Survivors, Bravehearts, the Grace Tame Foundation, Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia and the Carly Ryan Foundation.”
“At the outset, I acknowledge victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, including those whose courage, persistence and advocacy have helped bring the Treasury Laws Amendment (The Survivors Law) Bill before parliament. Some survivors have spoken publicly. Many have not. Some have shared their experiences in courtrooms, in submissions, in media conferences, in meetings with members of parliament or in quiet conversations with people they trust. Others have carried their story privately for many years, often without the recognition, support or justice they deserved. To every survivor who has contributed to this reform, whether publicly or privately, I say thank you. Your courage has helped change the law and your advocacy has helped secure this. Parliament sees a gap that should never have been allowed to remain.”
“I would just remark that we recently heard from the member for Goldstein saying that he believes—and it is encouraging that he believes—that government should stand up and fight for the future of this country and that we need a government of strength, confidence and hope. I'm really proud to say that is exactly what we have here in the Albanese Labor government. We have a government of confidence, of real heart and of commitment to ensuring that Australians can receive the assistance that they need where they need it and that we're able to have a thriving philanthropic sector in the Australian community that is supported by government to do the important work that only they can do. I give a big thank you to all of the volunteers, workers and organisations in Griffith. Thank you for everything that you do to support Australia.”
“Tobacco- and gambling-related activities are associated with serious harm, including addiction and poorer health outcomes. Public resources should not be subsidising research and development in those areas through this program. These changes modernise patterns of generosity, support a broader and more inclusive culture of philanthropy and back charities and not-for-profits by making it easier for Australians to give in the ways that Australians give now. They sit within a broader commitment of this government to support a stronger, more responsive and more confident sector. For the charities, not-for-profits, workers and volunteers across Griffith and across Australia, this is a practical step towards a system that better reflects and supports the work that you do.”
“Schedule 2 modernises tax administration by streamlining how trustees of closely held trusts report the tax file numbers of beneficiaries so that this occurs at the same time the trust tax return is lodged. Schedule 3 makes minor and technical amendments to Treasury legislation. These kinds of changes rarely attract headlines, but they matter. Good government is not only about large reforms. Schedule 4 excludes activities related to gambling and tobacco from the research and development tax incentive from 1 July 2025. That's a sensible reform. Productivity is not just about supporting any activity that can be labelled 'research and development'; it's also about directing public support where it delivers the greatest long-term value.”
“It encourages microgiving with digital donations, supports modern fundraising tools such as round-up systems, helps mobilise private generosity towards social outcomes, and recognises that building a more productive nation also involves building a more connected and more generous one. This bill complements wider work the government is doing, including broader regulatory reform measures, tariff reductions and financial sector data streamlining. The common thread is simple: good systems should be fit for purpose, reflect how people and organisations operate now, reduce needless friction and support effort where it can deliver the greatest value. That same principle is present in other sections of this bill.”
“Complexity consumes time, raises compliance costs and slows down good ideas, and it affects not only businesses and investors but also communities and community organisations. Productivity growth depends on broad participation across the economy, including in the not-for-profit sector. A stronger social economy contributes to national wellbeing. It helps communities function better, helps people stay connected to support and opportunity, brings private capital into areas of social need and often delivers outcomes that are preventive as well as responsive. Removing the $2 donation threshold is one small but meaningful example of that broader principle.”
“It can divert time and energy away from service delivery, slow down fundraising, create confusion for donors and administrators alike, and place additional pressures on organisations that are already managing lean budgets and growing demand. Reducing unnecessary complexity is part of building a stronger social economy. It allows charities to focus more of their time on what they do best, which is supporting people, strengthening communities and delivering meaningful change. The broader frame for this bill is productivity, and that is worth speaking to directly. These reforms are not isolated technical fixes but part of a broader effort to lift productivity across the economy after a wasted decade of stagnation under those opposite. One of the clear lessons from that period is that excessive complexity drags down productivity.”
“It includes giving the charities commissioner greater discretion to comment on compliance activity. It includes expanding the ACNC Advisory Board so it is more representative of the sector and strengthens the network of charity regulators across the Commonwealth and the states and territories. It includes lifting distributions from giving funds so more philanthropic money reaches existing deductible gift recipients sooner. Each of these steps reflects a consistent approach to making systems easier to navigate, more responsive to the sector and better aligned with how organisations actually operate. Complexity carries a real cost.”
“By removing the $2 threshold, the law catches up with today's healthy culture of giving. It also broadens participation, reaffirming that giving is not reserved only for those with really substantial means. And in a time when many households are feeling pressure, it recognises that small contributions are still meaningful contributions. Since coming to government, there has been a clear commitment to supporting charities and not-for-profits through practical reform. That includes streamlining the deductible gift recipient system by returning four key categories to the Australian Taxation Office. It includes creating the new community charity category to encourage more local and place based giving and broaden the pool of regular Australian donors.”
“Today, charitable giving often takes place while we are in the middle of something else. It happens when the cashier at the checkout asks whether we would like to round up our groceries by 80c for a local charity. It happens when a parent is booking tickets online for a community event and sees the option to add a small donation before checking out. It happens when someone, buying a coffee, paying for school raffle tickets, registering a local fundraiser or finalising an online order, chooses to add a dollar or two to support a cause that they really care about. These are not grand gestures. They're quick, quiet choices made in the rhythm of everyday life. But across a community, across thousands of transactions and across thousands of Australians, these choices add up to real support for organisations doing important work.”
“Reaching that goal will not come from one dramatic change alone. It will come from a series of practical reforms that make giving easier, more accessible and more suited to the way Australians live now. Removing the $2 threshold is one of those measures. It is sensible, contemporary and overdue. There is something important in recognising the small acts of generosity. Philanthropy is sometimes spoken about in terms of large donations and major foundations, both of which I have been incredibly grateful to be on the receiving end of in charities. They can be absolutely transformational gifts. Those contributions absolutely matter, and they should be encouraged. But a strong culture of giving also depends on everyday participation and on a system that recognises how people actually give now: in the small moments woven through ordinary life.”
“That threshold has been in place since 1927, reflecting a very different era, when issuing receipts and keeping records was a manual process and the mechanics of giving looked nothing like they do today. That world has changed, and these changes enable our laws to catch up with that reality. They treat donations equally regardless of size, support innovation in fundraising and remove a threshold that no longer reflects how Australians contribute. It also forms part of the government's response to the Productivity Commission's Future foundations for giving review, which examined the opportunities and barriers in Australia's philanthropy system. One of the ambitions flowing from that work is to double giving by 2030, a goal that I have been a very passionate supporter of for a very long time.”
“It was a great opportunity where we talked about delivering frontline services, building sustainable funding models and working through administration, compliance and workforce pressures while continuing to meet the rising need in our community. I want to thank the assistant minister for joining me and the Griffith community for this event and for the consultative way that he has engaged in this area. His work has helped ensure that policy conversations about charities, philanthropy and civil society are informed by evidence, experience and genuine respect for this sector. Schedule 1 of this bill is a clear example of practical support for the charity and not-for-profit sector. It removes the requirement that a gift to a deductible gift recipient must be valued at $2 or more before a taxpayer can claim a deduction.”
“In Griffith, I had the great pleasure of hosting a charity and not-for-profit roundtable last month alongside the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, the member for Fenner. The roundtable brought together representatives from dozens of organisations and around 80 participants in total, all working within Griffith. I want to sincerely thank each of those organisations for taking the time to be part of the conversation and for the work they do in our community every day. These organisations covered a wide range of sectors, including health, arts and culture, multicultural affairs, environment, legal and community services.”
“Charities and not-for-profits mobilise volunteers, attract private giving, deliver trusted local services, innovate in response to need, identify gaps early and connect government with communities and lived experience, often while working under intense pressure with very limited resources. They really do a lot of the heavy lifting. So, when systems make it easier for Australians to give, easier for charities to raise support and easier for not-for-profits to navigate the rules around them, that strengthens not only the sector itself but the broader social economy. It helps direct time, effort and resources to where they can do the most good.”
“They support people in moments of vulnerability, create opportunity, advocate for fairness and strengthen social cohesion, all with remarkable creativity and commitment. I also want to express my sincere thanks to the workers, volunteers, leaders and board members across our charity and not-for-profit sector. I say to you all: the work you do is valuable, demanding and deeply community minded. You support people through crisis, build stronger foundations long before crisis arrives, and create connection, trust and possibility. Thank you. When we talk about productivity and the strength of the economy, we should remember that a healthy society depends on more than markets and institutions alone. It depends on participation, social trust and people being able to contribute, connect and find support when they need it.”
“The FIA, as the national peak body for professional fundraising, sets the standards that ensure integrity, transparency and accountability across the sector. Their training, accreditation and advocacy support thousands of fundraisers to do their work ethically and effectively, building confidence among donors and strengthening the impact of every dollar raised. I want to acknowledge their important work in this sector. Working across these organisations gave me a close understanding of what purpose-driven leadership looks like in practice—balancing mission and management every day, stretching every dollar while keeping sight of the people behind the numbers, and building trust with communities, team members, volunteers and supporters. Charities and not-for-profits are part of how Australia works at its best.”
“Before coming into this place, I spent around 20 years working across the not-for-profit sector alongside another seven years grounded in the public service, and that experience has shaped how I understand the role which charities and community organisations play in Australian life. My work in this space has taken different forms but has always been driven by a commitment to fairness, opportunity and, really importantly, community. I was most recently the CEO of the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation, supporting young people impacted by family mental illness. I've also led Reconciliation South Australia, and I worked for more than 13 years with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. Just prior to coming into this place, I also served on the board of directors for the Fundraising Institute Australia.”
“They provide practical assistance, but they also build trust, dignity and a sense that people are not facing life's challenges alone. Seen in that light, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Delivering an Efficient and Trusted Tax System) Bill 2026 takes on real significance. It contains a number of measures, but for me the most significant are the reforms that support charities, not-for-profits and philanthropy. If we want a more generous, connected and resilient Australia, we need a framework that makes it easier for people to give, easier for good organisations to attract support and easier for the sector to keep doing the work that it does so well. This is an area I speak about with a deep personal connection.”
“One of the strengths of our national life is the quiet, steady work done every day by charities and not-for-profits in communities right across Australia. They are there in the local service helping a family get back on its feet; in the organisation supporting someone to navigate housing, legal support or mental health care; in the volunteer-run group creating connection and belonging; and in the community organisation stepping in early to provide practical help before problems deepen. These organisations are woven into the life of our communities in ways that can be easy to overlook if we focus only on formal institutions or headline economic indicators, yet they make an enormous contribution to the strength, resilience and generosity of Australian society.”
“So, the little people sitting at their desks today at Bulimba State School and Buranda State School and our impressive young adults opening their laptops at Cavendish Road State High School and Coorparoo Secondary College continue to get a world-class education, and our young people continue to receive the support they need to learn, belong and thrive.”
“It took me a couple of years of working and saving to return to university and finish my teaching qualifications. Too many students have told us that they could manage the study but struggle to afford the placement component of their degree. Now, for the first time, eligible teaching students can receive financial support of $338 per week while undertaking their mandatory placements. That might sound simple, but it addresses a very real barrier. This is what a better and fairer education system looks like. That is what the Albanese Labor government is delivering, and I am proud to support it.”
“We are investing $160 million in Commonwealth teaching scholarships. We're funding 4,000 additional university teacher-training places, supporting more places in the High Achieving Teachers Program and investing to reduce workload pressures so teachers and school leaders can spend more time on teaching and learning. This government is also delivering the biggest changes to teacher training in a generation. We're delivering paid pracs. More than 20 years ago, I completed the coursework for my teaching degree, but, when it came time to do my final practicum, there was no way I could afford to give up work for that period of time and still pay my rent and other costs, so I had to make the very difficult decision to graduate with an arts degree and leave my education degree on the shelf for a little longer.”
“This is a program that is providing thousands of early reader books, decodable readers, to primary schools across our community. That's why I am personally funding up to $1,000 worth of decodable readers for each eligible primary school in our electorate of Griffith. None of the important work that happens in our classrooms happens without our amazing teachers, who do some of the most important work in our community. They build skills, shape confidence, spark curiosity and help young people imagine what is possible for their future. The Albanese Labor government is taking action on teacher shortages through a national plan focused on improving teacher supply, strengthening initial teacher education, retaining the teachers we have, elevating the profession and planning for the future.”
“That includes phonics checks, numeracy checks, evidence based teaching and small-group tutoring for students who need extra support. That literacy focus is especially important to me. Reading is not simply one subject among many; it's the foundation that helps children engage with every other part of their learning. When children get a strong start in literacy, they are better able to participate, keep up and see themselves as capable learners. I have seen that also in my own community through my Griffith Little Readers program. Coming into this role, it was important to me that any initiative I undertake within our school communities be sustainable, responsive to identified needs and focused on building the capacity and resources of the schools themselves.”
“Through the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, we are delivering the biggest new investment in Commonwealth funding for public schools ever. Nationally, that means an additional $16.5 billion over the next decade, with a further $50 billion in the decade after that. For Queensland, it means an extra $2.8 billion in Commonwealth funding over the next 10 years. This is a substantial investment in our state schools, our teachers and our students. Most importantly, it puts every public school on a path to full and fair funding. What makes this agreement so significant is that it is not only about funding levels on paper; it's about linking funding to practical, evidence based reforms that will improve student outcomes.”
“Education is very close to my heart. My passion for education led me to complete my teaching qualification, and I later spent many years working at the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, where I saw firsthand how education can open doors and change lives. I'm also a parent of two school-aged children, so, like many parents, I know the rhythms and realities of school life. I know the joy that comes when a child grows in confidence. I know how much families value a great teacher, and I know how important it is that every child in every Queensland classroom has the support they need to learn, belong and thrive. I'm proud that the Albanese Labor government is building a better and fairer education system.”
“Labor has brought the Commonwealth back into the work of building homes, backing buyers and supporting renters, and communities like mine are already seeing a difference. I'm proud to be part of a government approaching this challenge with ambition, care and a clear commitment to delivery for the people of Griffith and for Australians across the country. This government is getting on with the job. We're building more homes, and we're making it better to rent and easier to buy.”
“For people who have felt locked out for too long, that kind of support can change the direction of their lives. At the same time, we know many people in Griffith and across Australia rent, and they deserve support as well. For 7,270 renters in Griffith, we have delivered back-to-back increases for maximum rates of Commonwealth rent assistance, amounting to an increase of almost 50 per cent since we came into government. Renters deserve not only assistance but also a housing system that offers greater stability and even better options. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. In Griffith, that hope is shared by young renters, growing families, older residents, key workers and people doing their best to get ahead. They deserve a government willing to meet the scale of that challenge with energy, investment and purpose.”
“John told me that it was the first time in years that he had been able to sleep soundly. That stays with you. Behind every housing statistic is a person, a family, a life made more stable and the quiet relief that comes with finally having a place to call home. Alongside the work to increase supply, we're making it easier for people to buy their first home. More than 50,000 Queenslanders have now bought their first home with help from Labor's five per cent deposit scheme, including more than 1,140 in my electorate of Griffith since February. That is practical support that helps people get into the market sooner. At a mobile office in West End recently, I spoke with Mitchell, a young man in my electorate who finally has a genuine chance to enter the housing market through Labor's Help to Buy Scheme.”