Emma Comer
Petrie · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Today I want to celebrate three examples of what makes Petrie such a special place: creativity, community and confidence in the future. First, Redcliffe is fast making its case as the art capital of the world. Across the Peninsula, creativity is everywhere.”
“I also want to acknowledge the Redcliffe Art Society and its Exhibition of Excellence. For decades, the society has supported local artists, encouraged new talent and helped make Redcliffe a genuine cultural hub. To every artist, organiser, volunteer and supporter involved: thank you for adding so much life and colour to our community.”
“They help young people understand that their voices and ideas count and that democracy is strongest when people are informed and engaged. I thank the staff and students and the school community at Bracken Ridge State School, including the principal, Robyne Harris, deputy principal, Ben Laws, and the head of curriculum, Jess Edwards, for t…”
“Quantum computing has the potential to transform industries like medicine, energy, agriculture, logistics, materials, science and more that we can't even fathom today. For our community, it means new opportunities, new skills and a place at the centre of this exciting technology.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. What has been the impact of the Albanese Labor government's world-leading social media ban for under-16-year-olds, and what is standing in the way of strengthening them so that we can better protect Australian children and back Australian parents?”
“We have delivered Medicare urgent care clinics across the country, we are investing in our public hospitals in partnership with the states, and we are ensuring that general practice remains viable and an attractive profession for future generations of healthcare workers. These are not isolated initiatives.”
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“Quantum computing has the potential to transform industries like medicine, energy, agriculture, logistics, materials, science and more that we can't even fathom today. For our community, it means new opportunities, new skills and a place at the centre of this exciting technology. From local artists in Redcliffe to students learning about democracy in Bracken Ridge to world-leading quantum technology being built right in our region, Petrie is a place of talent, ambition and possibility. I am incredibly, incredibly proud to represent this community.”
“They help young people understand that their voices and ideas count and that democracy is strongest when people are informed and engaged. I thank the staff and students and the school community at Bracken Ridge State School, including the principal, Robyne Harris, deputy principal, Ben Laws, and the head of curriculum, Jess Edwards, for their warm welcome and embracing this opportunity. Finally, I recognise a historic moment in our region—the ground breaking of PsiQuantum world-first utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer. This is not just a major scientific milestone; it is a statement about Australia's future. It says world-leading technology, advanced manufacturing and the jobs of tomorrow can be built right here in our region.”
“I also want to acknowledge the Redcliffe Art Society and its Exhibition of Excellence. For decades, the society has supported local artists, encouraged new talent and helped make Redcliffe a genuine cultural hub. To every artist, organiser, volunteer and supporter involved: thank you for adding so much life and colour to our community. The second thing I want to celebrate is bringing parliament to Petrie. Recently at Bracken Ridge State School, I hosted Parliament in Schools program with the Speaker of the House. It was an opportunity for students to learn about democracy, representation and how decisions are made here in this building. Not every young person gets a chance to travel to Canberra, so programs like this matter. They show students that parliament belongs to them too.”
“Today I want to celebrate three examples of what makes Petrie such a special place: creativity, community and confidence in the future. First, Redcliffe is fast making its case as the art capital of the world. Across the Peninsula, creativity is everywhere. We see it in our galleries, our community groups, schools and in the people who give their time and talent to make our community brighter. The Redcliffe Floral and Art Show is a beautiful example of that spirit. It brings together colour, care, creativity and community pride. It reminds us that art is not distant or exclusive. It belongs in our neighbourhoods, community halls and in the hands of people who love creating something beautiful. This event has been organised by the fantastic Liz Peters, and it has gone from strength to strength.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. What has been the impact of the Albanese Labor government's world-leading social media ban for under-16-year-olds, and what is standing in the way of strengthening them so that we can better protect Australian children and back Australian parents?”
“This bill ensures that programs all across the country are able to build on the great services they provide. It strengthens the partnership between the Commonwealth and the hardworking general practitioners. It supports clinics to continue bulk-billing, and it helps ensure Australians can continue accessing high-quality healthcare regardless of their circumstances. For my community of Petrie, these reforms are already making a measurable difference. I support this bill and commend it to the House.”
“I've spoken with local doctors who welcomed the government's commitment to supporting general practice and strengthening Medicare. Most importantly, I have seen growing confidence in our healthcare system. That confidence has not happened by chance. It has been built through action. It has been built through higher bulk-billing rates, more fully bulk-billing clinics and the opening of the Deception Bay Urgent Care Clinic. Above all, it has been built by a government that has made health care one of its defining priorities. The thing about this bill is that the increases in funding don't discriminate based on area, nationality, income or any other factor. This bill ensures that we are able to support any GP practice that wants to go bulk-billed no matter where it is.”
“It must continue to respond to the changing healthcare needs of Australians, and it must continue to be properly funded. That is why we have made the largest investment in Medicare's history. Strengthening Medicare is not an expense; it is an investment. It is an investment into healthier communities, preventative care, reduced pressure on hospitals and the confidence that every Australian deserves that health care will be there when they need it most. As the member for Petrie, I've already seen what these investments mean on the ground. I've spoken to parents who no longer have to worry about the cost of taking a sick child to the doctor. I've met older Australians who tell me they can once again see their GP without delaying appointments because of the cost.”
“We have delivered Medicare urgent care clinics across the country, we are investing in our public hospitals in partnership with the states, and we are ensuring that general practice remains viable and an attractive profession for future generations of healthcare workers. These are not isolated initiatives. They form part of a comprehensive plan to rebuild Medicare after years of decline. Labor has always believed that health care should never depend on your postcode or your bank balance. That belief led the Whitlam government to begin the journey towards universal healthcare, and it was the Hawke government that delivered Medicare. Today, the Albanese Labor government is ensuring Medicare continues to meet the needs of Australians for the 21st century. We understand that Medicare cannot simply be preserved. It must continue to evolve.”
“That is exactly what the Albanese Labor government is doing. This bill provides certainty for the primary care incentive programs that support general practice. It recognises that strong general practice is the cornerstone of a strong healthcare system. When people can access affordable care early, illnesses are diagnosed sooner, chronic conditions are managed more effectively, and unnecessary hospital admissions are reduced. Every dollar invested into primary care strengthens our entire healthcare system. This government's record investment into Medicare extends well beyond bulk-billing alone. We are training more doctors and nurses. We are making medicines cheaper through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.”
“It is about ensuring local families can access affordable health care when they need it, and it is about building a stronger Medicare that will continue serving our growing community well into the future. The bill is about more than improving the health system today. It is about ensuring Medicare remains strong for generations to come. As Australia's population continues to grow and age, the demand on our healthcare system will only increase. More Australians are living longer, and more Australians are managing chronic conditions. Communities like Petrie continue to grow rapidly, with thousands of new families choosing to call our region home each year. That means we cannot afford to stay still. We need a government that is prepared to invest today so Australians continue to receive world-class health care tomorrow.”
“That tells us two things: first, that there was clearly an unmet demand for affordable urgent health care in our community, and second, that when governments invest in healthcare services when people need them, communities respond. Petrie is one of the fastest-growing parts of Queensland. Every year, more families choose to call our wonderful community home. That growth brings opportunity, but it also brings increased demand for health care. As our population grows, our healthcare system must grow with it. That is why the government's investment into Medicare matters so much. It is ensuring that communities like Petrie receive the healthcare infrastructure and services they deserve, not just today but for many years to come. For me, this bill is about delivering on the promise I made to the people of Petrie.”
“Today, local families have another choice: the Deception Bay Medicare urgent care clinic provides free, bulk-billed urgent care seven days a week with no appointment needed. Whether it's a child who needs stitches after falling off their bike, a suspected fracture, an ear infection or another urgent-but-non-life-threatening condition, people can now receive the treatment closer to home without worrying about the cost. Since opening, the clinic has already cared for thousands of local patients. That means thousands fewer presentations to busy hospital emergency departments. It means families getting treatment sooner. It means better health outcomes for our community. The clinic has been such a success that its opening hours have already extended to better meet the local demand.”
“That means local families have more choice, greater confidence and better access to affordable health care close to home. It demonstrates that, when governments properly support general practice, doctors respond by bulk-billing more patients. That is exactly what this legislation is designed to achieve. Our commitment to health care in Petrie extends well beyond bulk-billing. One of the achievements I am most proud of is opening the Medicare urgent care clinic in Deception Bay. Before the clinic opened, too many local families forced the impossible choice. They could wait days or weeks for a GP appointment, spend hours in a busy emergency department for a non-life-threatening condition or pay hundreds of dollars at a private urgent care clinic. None of these options are good enough.”
“I promised that strengthening Medicare would be one of my highest priorities, and, today, I am proud that we are delivering on that promise. Since October 2023, the GP bulk-billing rate across Petrie has increased from 72.8 per cent to 78 per cent. That might seem like a simple statistic, but behind that increase are thousands of local GP appointments where families have been able to receive health care without reaching for their wallet except to grab out their Medicare card. Behind that increase are pensioners who can once again visit their regular doctor with confidence. Behind that increase are parents who can take their sick child to a GP without wondering how they're going to pay the bill. I'm equally pleased that the number of fully bulk-billing clinics across Petrie has more than doubled.”
“When I first stood as a Labor candidate for Petrie, health care was one of the issues I heard about the most. Whether I was doorknocking in Deception Bay, speaking with the young families in North Lakes, meeting retirees in Kippa-Ring or talking with the residents in Mango Hill or Carseldine, people consistently raise the same concerns. They told me it was becoming harder to find a bulk-billing doctor. Parents spoke about delaying trips to the GP simply because they could not afford another medical bill. Older Australians told me the rising healthcare costs were placing increasing pressures on fixed incomes. These are not isolated stories; they reflect the reality facing families across our community. I made a commitment that, if I were elected, I would fight for better health care close to home.”
“It is why we introduced an additional 12½ per cent practice incentive payment for clinics that choose to bulk-bill every patient for every visit. These reforms are providing greater financial certainty for practices while ensuring patients receive affordable care. I'd call that a win-win. This bill provides the legislative certainty needed to ensure that these important incentive programs continue supporting Australia's primary healthcare system well into the future. It strengthens Medicare not through slogans but through practical policy. It supports doctors, it supports clinics, and most importantly it supports Australian patients. As the federal member for Petrie, I measure the success of government policy by one simple question: is it making life better for the people I represent?”
“There are now more than 3,800 fully bulk-billing practices across Australia, with over 1,400 clinics fully bulk-billing after previously operating as a mixed billing practice. As a result, about 97 per cent of Australians now live within a 20-minute drive of a fully bulk-billing practice. That is a remarkable improvement. It reflects a government that understands health care should be available close to home and is prepared to make the investments necessary to rebuild Medicare. Importantly, these improvements have not happened by accident. They are the direct result of deliberate policy decisions. The Albanese government recognises that, if we want to increase bulk-billing, we need to properly support general practice. That is why we've expanded bulk-billing incentives to every Australian.”
“The state's bulk-billing rate has increased to 79½ per cent, which is an increase of four percentage points over the last year. That means hundreds of thousands more Queenslanders are seeing a doctor without paying an out-of-pocket fee. It means families are receiving care sooner, people are managing chronic illnesses before they become more serious and fewer Queenslanders are delaying health care because they are worried about the cost. These outcomes matter because every visit to a GP is an opportunity to detect illnesses earlier, prevent avoidable hospital admissions and improve long-term health outcomes. Primary health care is not simply the front door of our healthcare system. When we invest in general practice, we strengthen the entire healthcare system. These reforms extend well beyond the national statistics.”
“That matters because supporting bulk-billing is not simply about asking doctors to bulk-bill more patients; it is about recognising the pressures facing general practice and ensuring clinics have the support they need to continue providing affordable care. Expanding the incentive recognises that every Australian, no matter your situation, deserves the best care possible. It also ensures that the doctors that do that work receive a fair incentive for the often critical work that they do. These reforms are practical and responsible, and most importantly they are already delivering results. Across Australia, the latest quarterly data shows that the national GP bulk-billing rate has increased to 81.9 per cent, which is up 4.6 percentage points compared to the same period last year. In Queensland, the results have also been encouraging.”
“It is helping to restore bulk-billing, strengthen primary care and train the next generation of doctors and nurses, who will care for Australians well into the future. This is not simply about spending money; it is about rebuilding confidence in Medicare. It is about ensuring Australians know that, when they become sick, they can see a doctor without worrying about whether they can afford it. The Albanese government expanded the bulk-billing incentive from 1 November 2025 so that every Australian is now eligible. At the same time, practices that bulk-bill every patient receive an additional 12.5 per cent Medicare bulk-billing practice incentive payment.”
“If we want a stronger health system, we must ensure that general practice remains viable and affordable, and this is exactly what this bill helps achieve. The legislation establishes a clear legislative framework for Commonwealth primary care incentive payment programs, including the Medicare Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program. These payments provide certainty for general practices while encouraging bulk-billing and ensuring Australians continue to have access to affordable, high-quality health care. Importantly, this bill underpins one of the Albanese Labor government's biggest investments in Medicare. Our record $8.5 billion investment is the largest investment in Medicare since it was created.”
“The Albanese Labor government was elected with a clear commitment to strengthen Medicare after years in which Australians saw bulk-billing rates decline and out-of-pocket costs rise. Families told us that they were finding it harder to get an appointment. Pensioners were delaying visits to the doctor because they were worried about the cost. Parents were making impossible decisions about whether they could afford to take their sick child to the GP. Those are decisions Australians should never have to make. This government understands that strengthening Medicare means supporting both patients and the doctors who care for them. General practice sits at the centre of Australia's healthcare system. Every day, GPs diagnose illness, manage chronic disease, provide preventative health care and keep people out of hospital.”
“I rise today in strong support of the Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026. This bill goes to the very heart of what Australians expect from their healthcare system and from a strong Labor government. It is about ensuring that every Australian, regardless of where they live and what they earn, can see a doctor when they need one without worrying about the costs. That is what Medicare has always stood for. For more than four decades, Medicare has been one of Australia's greatest achievements. It reflects a simple but powerful belief that access to health care should be determined by your health needs, not by the size of your wallet. It is a principle Australians overwhelmingly support and a principle Labor has always defended.”
“The default market offer shows progress is being made. Now retailers need to do their part. Cost-of-living relief only matters if it lands in the household budgets. A lower benchmark only matters if it reduces real bills, and a fair energy system only works if people can trust that the savings will be passed on. That is what I will fight for, that is what the people of Petrie expect and that is why any provider that fails to give our community a fair deal should expect to be named and shamed.”
“My job is to stand up for Petrie, to make sure households in my community are not ignored, to make sure small businesses get a fair deal and to make sure that, when a price drop is announced, people actually see it. So let me be clear. Retailers should not expect silence if they fail to pass along savings. Complicated bills are not an excuse. A lower benchmark price must lead to lower local bills. Loyal customers should not be treated as easy targets. The message from Petrie is clear. Energy providers need to do the right thing. They need to pass along savings, explain changes clearly, treat existing customers fairly and support small businesses, and make sure the lower energy prices reach the people they're meant to help. The Albanese Labor government is working to bring energy prices down.”
“Energy bill relief matters, tax cuts matter, cheaper medicines matter, strengthening Medicare matters and making sure power price reductions are actually passed on matters. This is about fairness. When government action helps bring costs down, families and small businesses should not be left waiting while big companies protect their margins. When the market improves, ordinary people should feel that benefit. When retailers are doing the wrong thing, they should be held accountable. I welcome regulators looking closely at retailer behaviour, I welcome scrutiny of pricing practices and I welcome this government's actions that will make the energy market fairer and easier for consumers to understand. But local members of parliament have a role to play too.”
“A pensioner who has been with the same energy company for 15 years should not be paying more simply because they did not spend hours shopping around online. A busy family should not be left on a worse plan because they missed the notice buried halfway through their bill. A small-business owner should not have to spend half a day trying to decode energy tariffs just to make sure they're not being ripped off. If prices are coming down, bills should come down. It really is that simple. The Albanese Labor government understands that the cost of living is still the biggest pressure facing many households. We know that people have had to deal with higher grocery bills, higher rents, higher mortgage repayments and higher insurance costs. That is why every bit of relief matters.”
“They're the difference between a small business putting money into new equipment and it putting it aside for electricity costs. That is why this issue needs close attention. Over the coming months, I'll be encouraging people in Petrie to check their bills and compare their offers on energymadeeasy.gov.au and ask their provider one simple question: am I getting the benefit of the price drop? If the answer is no, they should ask why. If that answer is not good enough, I'll want to know about it. Retailers should be able to explain exactly what they're going to do to pass along the savings to customers in Petrie. They should be treating existing customers as fairly as new customers. Small businesses should be seeing the reductions they are entitled to. Loyalty should not be punished.”
“When wholesale costs fall, when benchmark costs fall and when the independent regulator says prices should be lower, people should see that clearly and fairly on their bill. This matters in Petrie because our community is full of people who are already doing their best. We have families with young kids, pensioners on fixed incomes, students, shift workers, small-business owners and community organisations. For them, energy prices are not some abstract policy debate. They are part of the weekly budget. They're the difference between feeling like you're getting ahead and feeling like you're falling behind. They're the difference between using the air conditioner on a hot Queensland night and worrying about what the next bill is going to look like.”
“They'll prevent customers from being charged more than the standing offer price if the initial low-cost offer changes or expires. They'll ban excessive retailer charges, like late payment fees, for all retail contracts and ensure all customers will be entitled to a fee-free payment method. From later this year, they will ensure vulnerable Australians are receiving the best offer from their retailer, placing a stronger onus on the retailers to assist hardship customers. The government is even committed to making energy free for three hours a day. With the solar sharer offer, energy will be free between 11 am and 2 pm in south-east Queensland. I look forward to actually using that myself.”
“Daily supply charges, usage rates, time-of-use tariffs, controlled load and solar feed-in tariffs can make it hard enough for a person to work out what they're actually paying, let alone whether they're on the best deal. People should not need a law degree or a background in energy policy to know whether they're getting a fair price for electricity. That complexity can work against consumers. It can make it harder to compare offers. It can punish people who have stayed with the same provider for years. It can allow savings to disappear before they ever reach a household budget. That's not good enough. This is why the Albanese government has put more protections in place for energy users. From this week, new rules for retailers will stop sneaky price hikes, preventing retailers from increasing prices more than once a year.”
“If a company offers a better deal to new customers while leaving loyal customers on worse plans, that should be exposed. If providers refuse to give people in Petrie a fair go, I will name and shame them. People deserve transparency. They deserve honesty, and they deserve the full benefit of falling energy prices. This is not about having a go at the providers that are doing the right thing. If retailers pass along savings, explain changes clearly and help customers move onto better plans, they deserve credit for that, but any company that uses complexity to avoid giving customers a fair deal should expect scrutiny. We all know energy bills can be confusing.”
“We're seeing electricity prices in south-east Queensland starting to come down through that default market offer, but here is the issue: a price drop only helps people if it actually reaches them. A lower benchmark does not mean much to the pensioner in Redcliffe if their bill stays the same. It does not mean much to the family in North Lakes if the savings are swallowed up by higher fixed charges. It does not mean much to the small businesses in Deception Bay if they're stuck on a bad plan. That is why energy providers are on notice. If companies operating in Petrie do not pass on these savings to local households and small businesses, they should expect to be called out. If retailers' prices are falling, they should be passed on to the consumer.”
“For a long time, the debate around energy has been dominated by fear campaigns and slogans directed by the other side, but the truth is the work the Albanese Labor government has been doing is starting to show results. Trigger warning for those opposite—more renewable energy, more storage, more investment in the grid, a more sustainable wholesale market and a solar share offer are all helping to take pressure off of power bills. That is what we've been working towards. We have delivered energy bill relief, backed cheaper and cleaner energy, invested in renewables, batteries and transmission, and supported households and small businesses through a difficult cost-of-living period.”
“Local cafes, hairdressers, tradies, shops, manufacturers and community clubs are all watching their costs closely. For them, electricity is not a luxury. It is not optional. It is one of the basic costs of keeping the doors open. So, when the independent Australian Energy Regulator says the default market offer is coming down in south-east Queensland due to the reductions in wholesale electricity costs, people in Petrie should feel that across the retail offers. It should mean lower bills. It should mean real cost-of-living relief. The default market offer matters because it is the benchmark price that protects customers on standing offers and helps shape pricing across the market. In south-east Queensland, that benchmark is heading in the right direction. That is good news for households and small businesses.”
“I rise today with a pretty simple message on behalf of households, pensioners, families and small businesses across Petrie: when energy prices come down, people should see that reflected in their bills, not buried in fine print, not cancelled out by new fees and certainly not delayed for months while energy companies work out how much savings they can keep. Those savings should be passed on to the hardworking women and men of Australia. People in our community are doing everything they can to manage their household budgets. They are checking their bills. They're switching off at the wall. They're running appliances at different times, and they're trying to make every single dollar stretch that bit further. Small businesses are doing the same.”
“My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government's investment in defence providing critical capability for Australia's defence force as well as creating export opportunities for well-paid, secure jobs? Why is this better than the other approaches for Australia's defence?”
“Over the past month, I have met with every veteran who has asked for a meeting, and time and time again I've heard stories that outline just how incredibly important it is that we get these reforms right. Debates like this matter, because the Albanese Labor government is a government that listens to the concerns of communities such as veterans and acts on them. We are a government that will always back our veterans. This is why we have delivered record investment. We are clearing the backlog that we inherited from those opposite, strengthened health care, improved claims processing, implemented the royal commission's recommendations and reformed the veteran support system to better meet the needs of those who served our nation.”
“Veterans with critical or acute health needs that would take them over the $5,000 annual monetary amount will continue to be supported. These new arrangements have received a lot of attention in and out of this chamber—rightly so. That is why members of the government, like me, are consulting with the veteran community to ensure veterans are getting the best out of these reforms. In the electorate of Petrie, which I am proud to represent, I have already started meeting with veterans about these reforms. Petrie has over 5,500 veterans, one of the largest groupings of veterans in any one electorate, and this is something that I am honoured to have. These veterans served our country, and I have the honour of representing them in this building.”
“These increases respond directly to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and to the feedback from veterans who told us that it was becoming increasingly difficult to find providers willing to offer treatment. Better funding means better access to care. Instead of requiring veterans to obtain a new referral every 12 sessions—something the former coalition government introduced—our reforms introduce an annual mandatory limit of $5,000, providing better flexibility and meaning less time going to a GP for what is ultimately an unnecessary tick of a box. Veterans with acute and complex needs will continue to receive treatment beyond that amount where clinically appropriate. These reforms reduce red tape; they do not add to it. I want to make something very clear.”
“During the first three years of the Albanese government, spending on veteran compensation and treatment reached $37.9 billion, compared with the $31.1 billion over the final three years of the former coalition government. This financial year alone, spending is expected to exceed $15 billion—almost $5 billion more than in the final year of the former coalition government. Now, it is clear that there are people trying to create concern and panic about allied health services, but the facts tell a different story. This government is delivering the biggest increase in allied health fees in more than two decades. From 1 July 2027, physiotherapy consultations will increase to $110, podiatry consultations to $110 and longer psychology consultations to $260.”
“The previous secretary of DVA, Major General Liz Cosson, made it clear that, under the previous coalition government's resourcing, that backlog would never have cleared. Veterans deserve better, and this government has acted. We invested in DVA, employed additional staff and properly resourced the department so veterans could receive the health care, compensation and support they deserve. As a result, all cases have been allocated, and the backlog is being cleared. Today, new claims are allocated within 14 days and many common claims under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act are now processed within months. That is what happens when the government chooses to invest in veterans rather than leaving them waiting. Our commitment is backed by record funding.”
“There is no greater responsibility than ensuring we honour the commitment and sacrifice that men and women have made to defend our nation. Every Australian who has ever worn the uniforms of the Australian Defence Force has answered the call to serve something greater than themselves. Not only have they earned our gratitude; they also deserve our unwavering support. That support must be reflected not just in a speech but in the decisions we make and the investments we deliver to veterans services. When the Albanese Labor government came to office, the Department of Veterans' Affairs was under enormous pressure. Years of underresourcing had left almost 42,000 claims sitting unallocated. Imagine serving your country and then waiting months, if you're lucky, but more often years for someone to simply begin looking at your claim.”
“Our role as a government is to ensure they have the tools, supports and market access they need to continue thriving and contributing to Australia's economic success. The choice before Australia is not between supporting families and supporting businesses, or between helping communities and growing the economy; the choice is whether to build an economy that works for everyone, and that is what this government is doing. The budget recognises that economic strength comes from investing in people, supporting businesses, backing Australian industry and creating opportunities for future generations.”
“This government, led by the amazing work of the trade minister, Senator Farrell, has opened Australia's export markets across the world, including the new European Union trade agreement, which means consumers all across the globe will be able to enjoy some of the best-quality produce in the world provided by our farmers—including Tasmanian farmers. We understand that farmers face real challenges, from natural disasters to global market volatility. That is why our focus is on practical support and long-term resilience rather than cheap political point scoring. Strong agriculture requires strong infrastructure, strong export markets, strong workforce participation and strong environmental stewardship. Australian farmers have shown incredible resilience through floods, droughts and global disruptions.”
“Whether it's a family owned cafe, a local tradie, a retailer or a manufacturer, they need a government that is focused on helping them grow and succeed, and that is exactly what we're doing through our investments in skills, infrastructure and economic opportunity. Australian agriculture is one of our nation's great success stories. Whilst we don't have many farmers in the electorate of Petrie, the vital work our Aussie farmers do benefits every member of the community. Our farmers feed our nation, contribute billions to exports and support regional communities right across the country. This government recognises that, and we'll continue to always support our farmers. We continue to invest in agricultural productivity, biosecurity and export opportunities.”
“When families have more financial stability, local businesses benefit too. This government is also directly supporting small businesses by making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent from next year so small businesses have the confidence to invest in themselves. This will make a world of difference for the thousands of small businesses in my community. It means more certainty, more cashflow and less compliance costs. Small businesses are the engine room of our economy. They sponsor our local sporting clubs, employ local people and help build the character of our communities.”
“They tell me about the rising costs, workforce shortages, energy prices and challenges of operating in a changing economy. They want practical support, and that is exactly what this government is delivering. This budget provides tax relief for every Australian taxpayer. That means more money in peoples' pockets and more customers walking through the doors of local businesses. It continues our investments into skills and training, ensuring businesses can find the workers they need. It supports apprentices with free TAFE, which is encouraging workforce participation, and it is helping address one of the biggest concerns raised by employers across the country. Importantly, it continues our work to ease cost-of-living pressures through cheaper medicines, energy bill relief and a stronger Medicare system.”
“I am glad that the member for Gippsland has given me the opportunity to talk about the two backbones of not only our economy but our country—small business and farmers. The government knows just how important small business and Australian farmers to our economy, our communities and our national success. I'd also ask the member for Gippsland to stop interjecting at me, considering I didn't do it to him during his direction. The reality is that this government is focused on helping Australians with the cost of living while building a stronger economy for our future, and our budget proves it. The government understands just how vital it is that we back small businesses that employ millions of Australians and support the industries that keep our nation moving. In Petrie, I speak with small-business owners every week.”