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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“This measure applies to all current and former VSL providers and their officers who handled tax file numbers between 1 January 2017 and 30 September 2025 as well as the secretary of the department, the Commissioner of Taxation and the relevant Commonwealth officers. By clarifying this legal authority, we protect both students and providers from uncertainty about past administrative processes and we reinforce confidence in the ongoing integrity of the system. Importantly, there have been no student complaints about the handling of tax file numbers under the program since its commencement in 2017. This bill simply ensures that the administrative reality of the past eight years is now aligned with the law and that the program continues to operate smoothly and securely.”
“Since early 2025, updates have been made to the department's IT systems. These updates now mask students' tax file numbers and automate the secure transfer of data between student interface and government systems. This means VSL providers no longer need to directly handle tax file numbers at all. The bill before the House today therefore does two things. It retrospectively authorises VSL providers' past handling of student tax file numbers for the purpose of administrating VET student loans and it authorises the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations's past disclosure of those tax file numbers to providers for the same purpose.”
“Under the current law, students applying for a VET student loan must provide their tax file number. This is essential because, like university HECS style loans, repayments are made through the Australian tax system. The tax file number ensures that the student's loan details align with Australian Taxation Office records. However, due to a recent review of how VET student loans are administrated, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations identified a legislative grey area: the VET Student Loans Act 2016 did not explicitly authorise providers to handle tax file numbers, even though this has been a practical necessity since the beginning of this program. The department also identified that improvements could be made to better align legislation, IT systems and privacy safeguards. We have acted to fix that.”
“I'm proud to speak in strong support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025. This bill goes to the heart of something that Labor believes in: building the skilled workforce Australia needs now and into the future. The VET Student Loans program makes vocational education and training more accessible to Australians by providing opportunities for students to undertake a VET course and defer their tuition fees through an income-contingent loan. It's a system that gives Australians from all walks of life a chance to gain qualifications in high-demand fields, from engineering and project management to occupational trades like plumbing, carpentry and electrical work. This bill ensures the system remains fair, transparent and secure.”
“I also want to acknowledge the contribution to these reforms by the previous minister for environment, Minister Tanya Plibersek. Our natural environment is one of the greatest gifts we can pass on. The next generation deserves to inherit clean rivers, thriving forests and protected coastlines. They also deserve to inherit cities and towns where they can afford to live, to raise a family and to build a life. We can do both, we must do both, and we will do both. As with nature, everything is connected, and this government believes that good policy is not choosing one priority over another but finding a way to advance both. That is what these reforms will do. We need to get this done. It's time to act, to deliver on what Australians put us here to do. Every day we delay is a day the environment is degrading further.”
“Climate change, biodiversity loss and population growth demand a more integrated approach that will help unlock the homes and communities that Australians need to thrive. I want to acknowledge the people who have fought tirelessly to see these changes come to life. Back in 2018, more than 500 Labor branches voted for stronger national environmental laws. In my electorate, branch members are tireless in their environmental advocacy. I want to thank the rank-and-file branch members who have pushed for this legislation, the people who know that real reform starts in communities, not in Canberra. This is community led, ground-up policy. They recognise that our environment is not a political issue but a shared responsibility. I want to thank the environment minister, Senator the Hon. Murray Watt, for his tireless work on this reform.”
“We are getting on the job of fixing a system that has failed for too long. We are rebuilding the foundations of a fair and sustainable housing market and restoring integrity and accountability to environmental decision-making. Communities should trust that projects meet the highest standards. Industry should know that if they do the right thing they will be treated fairly and efficiently. That is why establishing the National Environmental Protection Agency is so important. For too long, decisions have been clouded by uncertainty and mistrust. The new agency will provide independent oversight, ensure that standards are applied consistently and enforce the law when breaches occur. Australians deserve confidence that our environment is being protected and that our laws are being upheld. We are living in the era of unprecedented change.”
“The opposition have shown that they are only interested in saying 'no' to progress, to solutions, to responsibility and to each other. They have a choice this term: continue to play political games or work with us to tackle this generational challenge. Australians have seen through opposition for opposition's sake. The coalition should heed the message and work constructively with the government to reform Australia's environmental laws and help fix the housing crisis. The same goes for the Greens. When it comes to housing, the Greens too often choose politics over progress. Australians are tired of slogans; they want solutions. The Greens should heed the same message as the coalition and work with the government to deliver these long overdue environmental reforms. For our part, the Albanese Labor government has been clear and consistent.”
“These bills are not a tug-of-war between protecting nature and addressing our housing shortage; they are about designing a system that does both, protecting our most precious natural assets while unlocking the homes and infrastructure Australians need. The coalition have made it clear that they are not interested in how these reforms will help solve the housing shortage. In fact, they're not interested in housing at all. They checked out of housing for nine years in government. For most of that time they did not even have a housing minister. In opposition they have voted against new homes at every opportunity. Just this week the member for Wright said they didn't have a housing problem back when the coalition was in government, further proving how out of touch they are.”
“By working cooperatively with states and territories while maintaining strong Commonwealth standards, by adopting landscape-scale approaches to environmental restoration and approvals, and by streamlining assessment pathways so that good projects move forward quicker and bad projects are stopped early, these changes together will create a system that is faster, fairer and more predictable without compromising environmental standards. We reject the idea that we must choose between a strong environment and a strong economy. Our natural environment underpins our long-term prosperity. A well-designed regulatory system can and must deliver both.”
“Assessments under the EPBC Act are unpredictable, take too long and create uncertainty across the economy. That is not good for builders, buyers, workers or investors and is not good for the environment. The slow and inconsistent system does not protect nature; it leaves projects proceeding without the strategic planning and restoration frameworks that these reforms will deliver. These changes address the challenge head-on.”
“That is why this government has gone back to first principles to build a system that protects nature while supporting reasonable growth. These reforms rests on three pillars: firstly, stronger environmental protections and restoration not just to look after our special places but to regenerate them for future generations; secondly, more efficient and robust project assessments and approvals, enabling faster, better decisions on national priorities like renewable energy, manufacturing and housing; and, thirdly, greater accountability and transparency, delivering on our election commitment for a national environmental protection agency. Delivering on these pillars is critical to building the housing we need. We have heard loud and clear from industry, communities and experts that the current system is not working.”
“The measures in this bill tackle the underlying cause of delay while delivering greater protections for nature. The reforms before the House are the most significant overhaul of our environmental laws in nearly 25 years, which were first introduced when I was five years old. It is time for reform. When the EPBC Act was first introduced in 1999 its aim was to protect matters of national environmental significance while supporting sustainable development. Over time the system became bogged down with complexity, duplication and delay. Assessments drag on for years, proponents face uncertainty and communities lose trust that environmental protections are enforced. In that vacuum, homes and habitats both suffer.”
“That is why the Albanese Labor government is reforming Australia's national environmental laws to make them stronger, fairer and more effective—because protecting our environment and building the homes Australians need are not competing priorities; they are connected goals. Healthy environments create healthy communities, and thriving communities need affordable, sustainable housing. Both depend on good planning, clear rules and a system that delivers outcomes rather than obstacles. In August this year the government announced that it would fast-track 26,000 homes currently under environmental assessment. That builds on our ambitious $43 billion housing agenda—the most comprehensive housing plan in a generation. But, on its own, fast-tracking only treats the symptom.”
“They make our cities more liveable and resilient to heat. Our beaches are a quintessential part of our identity as Australians. Ensuring that we can continue to enjoy these spaces is vital. That is why restoring and protecting nature must go hand in hand with building homes and infrastructure for the future. That is the principle at the heart of these reforms. For far too many homes in Australia, it takes longer to get an approval than it takes to build. That captures one of the biggest challenges our nation faces. A system meant to balance growth and environmental protection has, instead, become a barrier to both. It is holding back housing supply, making it harder for Australians to own a home and slowing the renewable energy infrastructure needed for our future.”
“Without wetlands filtering and storing water, our rivers would run dry. Without our riparian zones, urban and agricultural run-off would pollute our waterways, leading to algal blooms and species loss. Without forests absorbing carbon, our climate would be harsher and more volatile. Without forests, our climate is further dysregulated and our soils are poorer. These ecosystem services are the quiet workhorses of our economy. They save us billions of dollars every year by doing what no technology can fully replicate. Protecting them is not just good environmental policy; it is sound economic policy. We also know the benefit of natural spaces to our mental and physical health. Parks, trails and gardens give people places to connect with nature, to exercise and to find calm. They bring shade and lower the temperatures of our suburbs.”
“Australia's biodiversity is one of the richest and most extraordinary on Earth. From our ancient rainforests and our vast deserts to our coastal wetlands and coral reefs, we are home to species and ecosystems found nowhere else. This diversity is not just a source of national pride but also the foundation of our national strength. Healthy ecosystems support our economy, our communities and our way of life. They filter our air and water and protect our coastlines from erosion. They provide the natural resources and services that sustain agriculture, tourism and industry, and, for many of us, keep a steady flow of water from our taps, whenever we need it—something that's often taken for granted. Without birds, and bees and insects transferring pollen from one plant to another, our crops would fail.”
“My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting first home buyers into their own homes sooner, and what other approaches to housing is the government being asked to consider?”
“This is a government committed to ensuring Australia's construction industry is one we can all be proud of. The Albanese Labor government will continue to take strong, coordinated action to stamp out corruption and criminality wherever it occurs, and we will continue to stand up for the thousands of honest workers who deserve a clean industry, decent pay and safe workplaces.”
“The appropriate response to criminal activity is not political theatre; it is a police response. That is exactly what the government has delivered—coordinated enforcement through the AFP, state and territory police, and regulatory agencies, all working alongside the CFMEU administrator to restore integrity. Our government will not politicise ongoing investigations, nor will we allow anyone to be above the law. It was on the opposition 's watch that organised crime elements infiltrated the construction industry. They had nine years to act, and they failed. By contrast, this government has acted decisively, transparently and effectively. We are empowering whistleblowers, supporting law enforcement and working with the industry to change its culture from the ground up.”
“There are no quick fixes, but the government is committed to the task. That is why we have established the National Construction Industry Forum. The NCIF meets at least twice a year and has endorsed a blueprint of reform that includes immediate work on the Joint Construction Industry Charter, setting shared goals and expectations for all construction industry participants. This is long-term work that is needed to make sure the industry is not only free from corruption but also productive and sustainable. It stands in stark contrast to the years of neglect under the coalition, who turned a blind eye while those problems took root. Every major allegation of criminality in the sector occurred while the ABCC was in operation. The ABCC was ineffective, politicised and a waste of public funds.”
“Mr Irving has taken proactive action in response to these reports including: disciplinary measures; dismissals and expulsions of individuals from the union; issuing new contracts that set out clear standards of behaviour; establishing cultural change programs; and issuing notices to produce. This is what real reform looks like. We have full faith in Mr Irving's integrity and independence. Matters regarding the appointment of officers and staff of the union are for him to determine, not for politicians to interfere with. The government's actions are already delivering results, but we also know that the problems are not confined to the CFMEU alone. Other parts of the industry, including employers and contractors, will have a significant role to play in cleaning up the construction sector.”
“So far, the administrator has: removed or accepted the resignation of more than 60 staff; developed a national code of conduct and statement of expectations for all staff; made absolutely clear where the union stands on gifts, organised crime and menacing behaviour and the consequences of breaching those standards; and established several inquiries into state branches of the CFMEU. The administrator, respected barrister Mark Irving KC, is undertaking complex and often dangerous work. He regularly acts on credible information received through a confidential whistleblower complaints process which has already received more than 500 complaints. He has initiated numerous investigations into the New South Wales, Queensland and Victorian branches of the CFMEU as well as into the union's finances and the Building Industry 2000 fund.”
“Following multiple referrals from the Albanese Labor government, regulators and law enforcement agencies are now working in a coordinated manner through the joint agency working group to stamp out corruption and violence within the construction industry. These include the AFP, state and territory police forces, the Fair Work Commission's general manager, the Fair Work Ombudsman, ASIC, the ATO and AUSTRAC. We have also taken tangible action to address misconduct within the CFMEU's construction division by placing it under a scheme of administration for up to five years. This administration has achieved more progress in 15 months than the failed ABCC managed in a decade.”
“Let's be absolutely clear. The Albanese Labor government does not tolerate corruption, criminality or violence in any part of the construction industry. Meaningful reform requires collective, ongoing efforts by all stakeholders. These problems are deeply embedded in the industry and have been decades in the making. They will not be solved overnight. The coalition and its failed and discredited ABCC utterly failed to deal with these problems. In fact, the appalling culture in the construction industry flourished under their watch. Multiple individuals involved in corruption, criminality and violence were allowed to retain their positions and continue their unlawful activities. Now, we are cleaning up the mess.”
“Whether it's keeping the lights on, keeping the fridge full or keeping a pint affordable, the message is the same: Labor is focused on easing the pressure, supporting communities and helping Australians get ahead. Let's take a moment to raise our metaphorical glasses to the pubs, the bowls clubs and the local bartenders. Cheers to an affordable cold beer on a hot day. Without further ado, I'll conclude my contribution to this debate and tap out!”
“It's about balance and doing what's right for households today while keeping our economy in good shape for tomorrow. Freezing the draught beer excise is one of those smaller targeted actions that shows how we can make smart decisions to support both people and businesses. We want people to enjoy a meal out without worrying about prices creeping up again and to know their local pub can keep its doors open without cutting staff. That's what this freeze helps protect—the simple pleasures and social connections that mean so much to so many Australians. This is what good Labor policy looks like—responsible economic management combined with fairness and compassion. We're backing working Australians, supporting small business and ensuring everyone gets a fair go.”
“For the everyday Australian, it means one less price rise at the bar. It means the local pub can keep prices steady instead of passing on another increase. It's a small, sensible way of taking pressure off while helping local businesses stay afloat. But this measure is part of something bigger. Labor's plan for cost-of-living relief is comprehensive and targeted, focused on areas that matter to most families, workers and small businesses. We've delivered tax cuts for every taxpayer so Australians are keeping more of what they earn. We've provided energy bill relief to help households manage rising power costs. We've made child care more affordable, we've cut the cost of medicines and we're building more affordable housing to give more Australians security and stability. When we put all this together, it adds up to real tangible support.”
“The freeze on the draught beer excise and customs duty is just one part of the Albanese Labor government's broader plan to make life easier for Australians. It sits alongside a range of measures designed to ease cost-of-living pressures, boost disposable income and keep our economy strong. Across the country, people are feeling the pinch. Families are managing higher grocery bills and rents, and small businesses are balancing tighter margins. In times like this, we need practical, responsible steps that make a real difference in everyday life. That's exactly what this government is doing. By freezing the indexation on draught beer excise for two years, Labor is preventing another automatic increase in cost for pubs, clubs and breweries. These are costs that often flow straight through to consumers.”
“For beer drinkers, that means more certainty when you order at the bar. Your favourite schooner, pint or jug is less likely to go up in price. It's a small but meaningful way to ease the cost-of-living pressures that hit home in everyday moments. But it's not just about the money; it's about preserving the ritual that brings Australians together. When prices climb too high, that experience becomes less accessible. By freezing the indexation, we're helping make sure that catching up with friends over a draught beer remains part of Australian life and not a luxury. In short, this is policy that people can feel in their wallets, in their communities and in everyday moments that make life in Australia a little bit better.”
“The Albanese government's decision to hold off on increasing the tax on beer poured from the tap will help keep prices steadier, protect local jobs and make it a little easier for everyone enjoying a night out. You can buy a round without copping too much damage to the hip pocket. This is about slowing the constant creep in prices that Australians have been facing on every bill, every grocery store visit and every drink purchased. For years, the excise on draught beer has gone up every February and August, quietly adding cents to every pint. Those few cents might not sound like much, but over time they add up. For venues under pressure, that often meant passing on the cost to consumers. By pausing those increases for two years, the government is giving both venues and customers a fair go.”
“Over at the Redcliffe Leagues Club, home to the mighty Dolphins, you can grab a cheap meal with your membership card; I always keep mine on hand. The Bramble Bay Bowls Club is always full of locals enjoying barefoot bowls, and Scarborough Brewery is a place to enjoy a weekend pint. It's always a treat to have a drink at the Aspley Memorial Bowls Club—who also just opened a brand new green—and, of course, the Mango Hill Tavern remains a local favourite. These are the venues where stories are shared, friendships are made and the community comes alive. Freezing the draught beer excise isn't just about saving a few dollars; it's about backing the places that bring people together every single week. The next time you head to your local for a cold beer, you are less likely to feel the sting of another price hike.”
“By easing the tax burden on draught beer, this bill helps those 10,000 venues and 160,000 workers weather the rising costs and uncertainty. It means pubs and clubs can reinvest in their staff, upgrade equipment or simply keep the prices steady for their patrons. This bill means that more money stays in local communities instead of being lost to compounding costs. It's about preserving spaces that bring people together, because, when small businesses stay open, workers stay employed and locals stay connected. It's not just good policy; it's good community. I want to give a shout-out to some of the great local venues in Petrie that keep our community buzzing. There's the Scarborough Bowls Club, where the post-game schooners always hit the spot.”
“Many of them are students, part-timers, parents or long-term locals whose livelihoods depend on the continued viability of these venues. When we talk about freezing the excise on draught beer, we're not just talking about economics or taxation; we're talking about protecting local jobs and giving small businesses a bit of breathing room. We're talking about keeping the doors open on venues that are often the heart and soul of their community: the home of trivia nights, charity raffles and community fundraisers. Each of those 10,000 venues is more than a business. When we help them stay viable, we're helping keep 160,000 Australians employed. That's what this bill is about: giving our hospitality industry the fair go it deserves.”
“By freezing the indexation on draught beer excise and customs duty, we're taking pressures off pubs and brewers and helping sustain 160,000 jobs in the hospitality sector. This is about backing small businesses, protecting local jobs and strengthening the communities that bring Australians together. Let's talk about who this bill really is for: the people in places behind every pour. Pubs and clubs have been under pressure, and any extra cost hurts. Across Australia, there are around 10,000 hospitality venues that serve draught beer. Around three-quarters of them are small businesses. Behind every tap and counter stands a small army, around 160,000 workers across the hospitality sector, pouring beers, cleaning glasses, greeting guests and making sure that their customers feel at home.”
“This is a commonsense measure, part of our government's broader plan to ease cost-of-living pressures on Australians and to help small businesses stay full strength. Alongside this freeze, the government is delivering further tax relief for Australian distillers, brewers and wine producers. The annual excise remission cap for eligible alcohol manufacturers will increase from $350,000 to $400,000, and the wine equalisation tax producer rebate will rise to $400,000 from 1 July 2026. We know that every bit of relief matters. Whether it's a tax cut for every taxpayer, help with energy bills or support for local businesses, our government is doing everything we can to make life a bit easier.”
“Unfortunately, the price of a cold pint has been rapidly rising in the past years. The Albanese Labor government has introduced legislation to freeze indexation of excise and customs duty on draught beer for two years, a practical step that will deliver real relief for beer drinkers, brewers and local pubs right across Australia. This is a win for small business and supporting venues that are the hearts of so many towns. It's a win for our pubs, clubs and hospitality workers. It's a measure that will help keep prices steady and give business owners some breathing room as they continue to manage rising costs. For decades, excise and customs duties on draught beer have been indexed to the consumer price index twice a year. This legislation will lock in a freeze.”
“The bill is 'lager' than life. Constant price hikes leave a 'bitters' taste in the mouth. We're helping with the cost of living whether you buy one beer or Tooheys. If you don't support this bill, you don't have a keg to stand on. But, at the end of the day, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. Don't feel 'Coopered' up; get out there and support your local business. Quench your thirst with a hard-earned cold beer. In Queensland, the weather is heating up. As the temperatures rise, there is one thing on everyone's mind: a cold beer at the local pub. A beer culture has long been essential to the Australian social life, for catching up with mates, celebrations or a stop on the way home from work. The local pub or club is not just a place for drinking; it's part of our culture.”
“The price of a cold beer has been rising, and our pubs and clubs are struggling. Labor always hops at the opportunity to support venues, workers and consumers. Local businesses poured their hearts out, and, to help them get ahead, we've introduced a freeze in the draught beer excise. Just like the bubbles in a freshly poured beer, Labor is rising to the occasion. The Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 is not mid strength and frothy; it's full strength, perfect pour. This has been brewing for a while. Many venues are 'barley' surviving—forgive me! Much like the WA emu, we run at great speeds to support our hospitality industry. We give a XXXX about supporting small business. From the great northern Australia to Carlton to the Cascades in the bottom of Tassie, the draught beer excise will support everyone.”
“Fifty new Medicare mental health centres are now open across the country. I spoke to the team at the new Redcliffe centre today, and they are thrilled by how many locals will now be able to access the health care that they need. Finally, I'm delighted to announce the Deception Bay Staying Deadly headspace centre will open in December this year. This will be the first headspace service in Australia designed for First Nations people, their families and their friends. Operated by the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, this centre will offer culturally appropriate community led support. We're investing in your health, your community and your future so that every Australian can get the care they need when they need it.”
“Labor built Medicare, and we'll always fight to strengthen it. When you're sick, seeing a doctor shouldn't be a struggle. That's why our government is delivering the single largest investment in Medicare ever, expanding bulk-billing so more Australians can see a GP for free. For the first time, we're boosting payments to practices that bulk-bill every payment, helping deliver 18 million bulk-billed visits each year. From Saturday, locals in Deception Bay will be able to access fully bulk-billed care thanks to the Deception Bay doctors taking up these incentives. I'd like to thank this clinic for its commitment to providing the community with accessible health care. By 2030, nine in 10 GP visits will be bulk-billed. This means affordable and accessible for every Australian, right where they live. We're also delivering on mental health.”
“You never know, there just might be a little kid watching Question Time the way same I used to, dreaming up her future. And trust me. Her perception of her government's progression is everything. It is our future.”
“Perhaps attending a tertiary institution isn't a key step in breaking generational burdens for everyone- but for me, and many more it is. That is only one example of backwards policy changing my perspective, as a young person, of what my future will look like. Parties making shameful statements about my rights as a women, division over the rights of First Nations people, over the correct way to handle children who have turned to crime. It isn't the progressive Australia that lifted me up as a child. So, to the Government, I put this to you: please do not shy away from progressive policy. Do not go backwards in the ways we have seen our foreign neighbours regress. Australia was built on progress, innovation, and lifting up those who need it most.”
“Today I have the pleasure of reading visions of the future from 21-year-old Mia, as part of our Raise Our Voice campaign: As a child, I saw the government making true progress. It was progressive policy, people-focused policy that allowed a kid born into an abusive and uncertain living situation to dream of bigger and better things. I was proud of my country because I knew as a whole, we were progressing towards a greater and brighter future for everyone. However, as I got older, I suppose my rose-tinted glasses were cracked slightly. When I was in high school, particularly in the pandemic period, the progressive policy appeared to falter. Decisions to increase the fees of certain degrees had me questioning my future.”
“Their generosity and hard work make a real, tangible difference in the lives of patients and staff every single day. At the recent Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary AGM we heard from Kerry and the incredible team at Bright Bags. Bright Bags supports vulnerable children and young people in the Moreton Bay region and surrounds. They link with schools and child safety and foster care services to provide a range of bags filled with essential items and goodies to children in need. The way that Kerry speaks about spoiling these children simply because they deserve to be spoiled and loved is heartwarming. In one year alone Bright Bags delivered almost 4,000 bags to children in need. With Christmas around the corner Bright Bags is on track to deliver the much needed, much loved Christmas bags to even more children.”
“I want to take a moment to recognise the incredible work of the Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary, which is a group of dedicated volunteers who have been the quiet heroes of our hospital community for decades. Last financial year the volunteers clocked up 1,596 volunteer hours at the gift shop, where they sell handmade goods, and almost 2,000 hours in the workroom undertaking various tasks to support the wards. These tireless volunteers have raised over $1 million under the dedicated leadership of President Liz Hancock. These funds go directly towards improving the care of hospital patients. Whether it's fundraising for vital equipment, supporting patients and families or bringing a friendly face to the wards, the auxiliary reminds me that the community spirit is alive and well in my community.”
“On this side of the House, we believe that the best way to protect our forests is to value them, not just as resources but as living systems that sustain our planet and our people. Through record investment, genuine collaboration and a deep respect for nature, we are ensuring that the forests we pass on to our children will be stronger, healthier and more resilient than the ones we inherited. That is Labor's vision: a sustainable, thriving forestry industry built on science, shaped by partnership and guided by the care of the land that sustains us all.”
“We're investing in forest restoration, supporting new plantation projects and backing advanced manufacturing that adds value right here in Australia. A strong forestry sector doesn't just mean strong exports; it means strong regional communities, good local jobs and a healthy environment for generations to come. Working together with industry, workers and First Nations custodians, we can ensure that Australia's forests remain a source of pride well into the future. The Albanese Labor government is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the forestry sector because this is an industry that doesn't look backwards. It grows forward, it grows jobs, it grows innovation and it grows hope—hope for a future where sustainability and prosperity walk hand in hand.”
“Australia's forestry sector supports thousands of jobs and contributes billions to our national economy, but, beyond these figures, it supports communities, towns and families that depend on the land and who understand the importance of caring for it. Our latest State of the forests report shows that the total area of Australia's forests continues to grow, proof that sustainable management and environmental protection go hand in hand. Forestry also plays a vital role in keeping our community safe. The industry's equipment, skills and experience are essential to fire management, from hazard reduction burns and firefighting to recovery after disasters. Our approach to forestry is rooted in balance—balancing conservation with jobs, sustainability with growth and tradition with innovation.”
“We also recognise that forestry is more than just timber; it's about country. Over half of Australia's forested land lies on the Indigenous estate, a living testament to tens of thousands of years of stewardship. We are committed to working in partnership with First Nations peoples, learning from cultural knowledge that has sustained these ecosystems and prevented catastrophic fires for thousands of years. We continue to work closely with states, territories and industry through the Forestry Ministers' Meeting to ensure a stable and sustainable national framework that gives certainty to workers, businesses and communities alike.”