Kara Cook
Bonner · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“That is Labor making a real difference to everyday Aussies. Building Australia's future also means backing the small businesses that keep our communities and local economies strong.”
“Tresiba is now listed for people living with type 1 diabetes, benefiting around 14,000 Australians, while reducing costs by up to $500 per pack. Rystiggo is now listed for adults living with generalised myasthenia gravis, with almost 5,000 Australians expected to benefit from treatment that otherwise costs up to $10,000 per pack.”
“In my electorate of Bonner, Labor's cheaper medicines policy has delivered 2.7 million cheaper scripts, putting more than $19 million back in the pockets of locals.”
“It is 1 July, and, from today, millions of Australians will be seeing the benefits of the Albanese Labor government's cost-of-living plan come into effect. Australians are receiving another tax cut.”
“One hundred and thirty-seven Medicare urgent care clinics will now be permanent, ensuring Australians can receive access to free health care close to home where all they need is their Medicare card, not their credit card.”
“Through Parent Pathways, he received support to obtain his drivers licence and began flexible work that allowed him to support his family while continuing with his caring responsibilities.”
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“More than a quarter of those who benefit will be under the age of 30, and more than half of them will be women. For many people, that might mean helping cover school costs, paying a bill, buying groceries or simply taking some pressure off. For those with more than $1,000 in work related expenses, they can still claim those as they usually would. That includes things like charitable deductions, superannuation contributions and union and professional association fees. This reform is practical and reduces red tape. These bills are also about one of the biggest challenges facing Australians today: housing affordability. Too many people feel locked out. Too many young Australians feel like homeownership has become something to aspire to rather than something realistically achievable.”
“Combined with the measures in these bills, the average Australian worker stands to receive up to $2,816 in tax relief by 2028. That is meaningful support. These bills also introduce a $1,000 instant tax deduction for the 2026-27 income year. Tax law is not always exciting, but I think most Australians can agree that making tax time simpler is a good thing. Millions of Australians are currently keeping receipts, logging expenses and navigating complicated claims for relatively small deductions. Under these reforms, eligible workers will be able to claim a standard deduction instantly. It will be simple and straightforward, involve less paperwork and less complexity and, importantly, put money back in their pockets. For the average worker, that means hundreds of extra dollars at tax time.”
“It will make a real difference to working Australians, including the nurse in Carindale working long shifts, the teacher in Tingalpa, the tradie in Murarrie travelling between jobs, the truck driver in Hemmant keeping goods moving and finally, down to the southern end of my electorate, the office worker in Mount Gravatt who might be trying to balance the rising costs of a mortgage or rent. People who work hard deserve to earn more and keep more of what they earn. This government believes that, when it is responsible to do so, we should reduce the tax burden on working Australians. We have already delivered tax cuts to every Australian taxpayer by lowering rates and lifting thresholds, and the relief does not stop there. Another round of tax cuts will begin on 1 July, with further reductions commencing again the following year.”
“They understand that, if working Australians feel like the system is stacked against them, confidence in the future begins to erode. That is why these bills deliver practical tax relief for workers, including the new working Australians tax offset of up to $250 each year for more than 13 million Australians. This includes many people working across Bonner, where there are more than 80,000 people employed. This is permanent tax relief directed at working people. It's not temporary support or a one-off payment. It's permanent relief.”
“There's a new $250 working Australians tax offset for more than 13 million Australians, and a $1,000 instant tax deduction to make tax time simpler and put more money back in workers' pockets because Labor wants you to earn more and keep more of what you earn. It also reforms future negative-gearing arrangements so they better support new housing supply from 1 July 2027, and it makes changes to capital gains tax that restore its original purpose, ensuring that Australians are taxed only on real gains rather than on both the real and inflation driven gains. One of the clearest messages I hear in Bonner is that people want a system that rewards effort. People understand that success should be encouraged but also understand that fairness matters.”
“I rise to speak on the Treasury and income tax bills. At the heart of these bills is fairness. It's about recognising that, while Australia has changed, too many parts of our tax system have not changed with it. It represents the first stage of the most significant package of tax reforms Australia has seen in a generation. These bills are making sure aspiration and opportunity are not reserved for a fortunate few but remain within reach for every Australian prepared to work hard and build a future. These bills have three clear objectives: to deliver more tax relief for Australian workers, to make it easier for people to buy their first home and to better balance the way our tax system treats income earnt through work and income earnt through assets. It does this through four key reforms.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government making sure that Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn? How does the recent budget help to deliver aspiration for all, not just some? And what are the risks to this approach?”
“From Edith Street Espresso in Wynnum to the IJ Group in Hemmant, these businesses reflect something really important about Bonner: local people creating jobs, backing their communities and, of course, growing our local economy. I know many small businesses are doing it tough, but that's why there is practical support in this budget for small businesses, with $3.5 billion in new business tax relief measures. That includes making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent, giving businesses more certainty to invest; around 830,000 Queensland businesses are eligible.”
“We visited Wynnum State High School and heard firsthand from students about their aspirations and, of course, the needs of the Wynnum State High School community. I want to thank the minister for his commitment to hearing firsthand from my community and for the additional $20 billion in this budget, which is a wonderful outcome and extremely welcomed by my community back home. May is also Queensland Small Business Month, an opportunity to recognise the contribution small businesses make in my community of Bonner and right across the country. I've had the chance to visit so many businesses since I came into this role 12 months ago.”
“There are things like year 1 phonics and numeracy checks to make sure children are getting the foundational skills that they need earlier; small group tutoring to help students who fall behind catch up, keep up and finish school; and practical support to help teachers focus on what they do best—teaching. Every parent wants their child to have the best start in life, and every child deserves the opportunity to succeed—no matter where they grow up or what challenges they face. When we invest in schools, we invest in opportunity. And when we invest in young Australians, we invest in the future of our country. I also had the honour of hosting the Minister for Education, Jason Clare, in my community of Bonner.”
“Every person, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity, deserves to live free from violence, to be seen, to be heard and, of course, to be believed. Today is also Public Education Day, an opportunity to recognise the incredible role our public schools play in communities like mine in Bonner and, of course, right across Australia. Schools are not just places of learning; they are places where young people build confidence, discover their strengths and shape their futures. That is why this budget delivers an additional $20 billion investment into our public schools. We are fixing the funding of our schools and tying it to real, practical reforms that will help students succeed.”
“Many victims-survivors fear discrimination or not being believed or worry their experiences will be misunderstood, creating real barriers to reaching out for help or accessing mainstream services. Today I was so proud to join the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, who work towards creating change for this community through practical tools, education and free resources, including their See, Hear, Believe campaign. They are helping workplaces, frontline services and communities to better recognise abuse and support victims-survivors. These resources are available for free through the foundation's website, helping more people to access support and information when they need it. No-one should feel invisible when seeking safety.”
“Heard, seen and believed—these three words should be the experience of every victim-survivor of domestic, family and intimate partner violence, yet, for many LGBTQIA+ Australians, it is not. Today marks LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence Awareness Day—a day that began here in Australia and is now recognised across the world. It was created to shine a light on violence and abuse occurring within LGBTQ+ communities, an issue that is often hidden from direct view. Research does show that more than 60 per cent of LGBTQ+ people will experience domestic, family or intimate partner violence in their lifetime, yet many victims-survivors remain invisible within our systems. LGBTQ people are less likely to identify abuse, less likely to seek support and less likely to report it.”
“This builds on the government's broader investment in the budget of $87 million to continue specialised support for stolen generations survivors and will support the important work of the Healing Foundation and Link-Up services—organisations that provide trauma informed, community led support to survivors and descendants while connecting and helping to reconnect families with culture, country and kin. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Bringing them h ome report next year, this investment recognises that healing is ongoing and that there is still more work to do, because reconciliation will not happen by itself, and it cannot solely rest on the shoulders of First Nations people, who have carried this work for far too long. Reconciliation requires all of us to be all in.”
“I also want to thank the Wynnum Manly & Districts Men's Shed for hosting us at their shed and for the delicious barbecue that included not just a sausage sizzle but also kebabs for a lovely surprise. It is also National Reconciliation Week, and this year's theme, All In, is a reminder that reconciliation is not passive. It requires all of us to keep listening, learning and working towards meaningful change. But reconciliation is not only about reflection; it is also to be backed by action. This week, as Australians reflect on the truth of our history and on the ongoing impact on the stolen generations, the Albanese Labor government has announced an additional $2.6 million to support stolen generations survivors.”
“We spoke about the kind of community we want to build for men and boys—one where help seeking is encouraged, connection matters, respectful relationships are modelled and young boys grow up with positive role models around them. We know many men are facing challenges, from loneliness and mental health struggles to social isolation and disconnection. Conversations like these encourage connection, support help seeking and, importantly, help shape future government policies and better programs to support men and boys. I'm so pleased that we were able to host the very first of these community conversations in my community in Bonner, and I know that the rest of Australia will benefit from these conversations as they travel right across the country.”
“Recently, I had the privilege of hosting Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Ged Kearney and Special Envoy for Men's Health Dan Repacholi, as part of the National Healthy Men Community Conversations project. We began with a local roundtable bringing together service providers, community organisations and frontline workers to hear directly about the challenges facing men and boys in our community. Later, we were joined by over 100 community members at the Wynnum Manly & Districts Men's Shed for a broader conversation about what it means to support healthy men and boys.”
“It can help thousands with cost-of-living pressures while supporting cleaner, more reliable energy for the future. That is why Labor is backing these practical solutions that help families save money and strengthen Australia's energy system at the same time. In my community of Bonner, local families are already seeing the benefits. Climate action should not feel out of reach; it should feel practical. It should make life easier, and it should leave the next generation with a cleaner, stronger future. Healthy men and boys are built in communities not in isolation. They are built through connection, positive role models, belonging and support.”
“I'm really proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government, delivering practical health care right across Bonner and of course across the country, because, when people need care, help of course should be there. Good climate policy should not just be good for the planet; it should help families save money too. That's exactly what the Albanese Labor government is doing with our Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Already over 3,000 home batteries have been installed across Bonner, helping local households cut energy bills by storing cheaper, cleaner power at home. For families doing it tough, lower power bills do matter, and practical action on climate matters too. For too long these conversations have been framed as an either/or, but the truth is that good policy can be both.”
“Your hard work, dedication and getting things done have made a real, positive impact on your constituents and wider community.' Thank you, Zoe, for providing that feedback about our urgent care clinics. It is wonderful to see that they are now a permanent feature of our Medicare system. Across the country, of course, these clinics have already seen more than three million presentations since opening in 2023, helping Australians get free urgent care when they need it most. As I said before, our local clinics have had over 8,000 people through the doors since December. This is also building on our agenda to strengthen Medicare with more bulk-billing GPs. In Queensland, the bulk-billing rate has now increased to 79.5 per cent. In Bonner, GP clinics that are bulk-billing have doubled.”
“Zoe said: 'Thank you so much, Kara, for your amazing service and amazing outcomes in such a short period of time. I'm so grateful for the urgent care clinic you made happen. My youngest son was very unwell on a Sunday in early March, and we could not get a GP appointment. I remembered seeing your post about urgent care clinics, so we presented there. We were taken care of by a wonderful nurse and GP and didn't have to wait more than an hour. We were then redirected to the children's hospital because our little one ended up having scarlet fever and required a hospital stay of three nights. But the ability to access the urgent care clinic was such a great relief to me, my sanity and the wellbeing of my youngest. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Recently, the Albanese Labor government announced support for more than 50,000 new homes in Queensland, including more than 20,000 that will be exclusively for first home buyers. That is helping to unlock housing supply and get people into their own homes sooner. We are also making sensible changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax arrangements to better support new housing supply and help level the playing field for first home buyers, because aspiration should not be reserved for those who already own property; it should be available for the next generation as well. I want to share a story today of a local mum, Zoe, who shared with me exactly why Medicare urgent care clinics matter in her experience at one of our two clinics servicing my community of Bonner.”
“This is a budget helping Australians with the pressures they face today while building a stronger future for tomorrow. When you work hard, save your money and do all the right things, you should have a fair shot at owning your first home, but for too many Australians homeownership feels out of reach, and that is exactly why the Albanese Labor government is taking sensible action to make housing fairer. We are backing first home buyers through the five per cent deposit scheme, helping more Australians buy a home sooner without the need for an enormous deposit. Over 500 people in my community of Bonner have already accessed the five cent deposits and are now in their very first home. And we are helping build the homes Australia needs.”
“It makes Medicare urgent care clinics permanent. I now have not one but two Medicare urgent care clinics servicing my community of Bonner. The Carina-Carindale and Capalaba clinics have both seen over 8,000 people through their doors since they opened in December. And it builds on Labor's historic investment in women's health, making contraceptives cheaper, expanding menopause support and backing endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. There are now 33 right across the nation. The closest in Brisbane's south side is in Oxley, and that also is servicing my community of Bonner. This budget backs skills and opportunity through fee-free TAFE, supports apprentices, strengthens child care through Labor's three-day guarantee and continues making housing fairer for first home buyers.”
“This budget builds on the work of the Albanese Labor government, delivering more cost-of-living relief, stronger health care, more housing and greater opportunities for all Australians. While Australians are working hard, we know many are still doing it tough. This budget responds to that challenge. It delivers more tax cuts for every taxpayer, putting more money back into people's pockets when it matters most, benefiting millions of workers right across the country, including more than three million Queenslanders. It keeps medicines cheaper. We know that PBS scripts are now costing just $25. That's making a difference not just for people in my community of Bonner but right across the country. People don't have to choose between whether or not they can receive lifesaving medication or can purchase their groceries that week.”
“There's record women's participation in the workforce, a shrinking pay gap, six months of paid parental leave, tax relief in millions of women's pockets, 33 endometriosis clinics now open and over 10,000 domestic violence survivors given the help they need to leave. These are not talking points; they are lives changed. This Labor government will continue to put women first.”
“On average, women retire with significantly less superannuation than men. They live longer. They earn less over their lifetime, and they've had their super cut off every time they have paused to raise a child. Labor is fixing this as well. Superannuation is now paid on government funded paid parental leave. The superannuation guarantee is increasing. We've reformed the low income superannuation tax offset, and we're ensuring that super is paid on payday so that employers can no longer delay payments that belong to you. I want to close with this. No budget can be perfect, but this budget is proof of something powerful—that, when a Labor government is in office, women's lives are better for it.”
“Women in Australia carry a disproportionate share of unpaid care work, and that has a direct cost to their careers, their wages and their retirement savings. Labor is changing this. From 1 July 2026, the Paid Parental Leave scheme reaches six full months—six months to bond with your baby without being forced back to work before you or your child might be ready. We're investing $4.7 billion into cheaper child care and have introduced the three-day guarantee. So far, 80,000 more children are now enrolled in early childhood education, and 52,000 more educators are working in the sector, supported by a 15 per cent pay rise. Childcare workers, who are overwhelmingly women, have been undervalued for too long. Labor is fixing that. There is another statistic that should make every Australian woman angry.”
“More than 380,000 women have accessed new, cheaper contraceptives for the first time since their PBS listing, and 430,000 women have now accessed new menopausal hormone therapies. This budget continues to invest in bulk-billing, Medicare urgent care clinics and mental health support. Good health is not a privilege. It is absolutely a right. Two clinics service my community of Bonner—the Carina-Carindale clinic and also the Redlands clinic. Over 8,000 people have already been through those doors since they opened in December. This week we also launched the first-ever national menopause awareness campaign, because it is long past time that we talked about menopause and perimenopause in an open and honest way, without shame.”
“In February this year, we launched the first-ever standalone First Nations led national domestic, family and sexual violence prevention strategy, titled 'Our Ways—Strong Ways—Our Voices', developed in genuine partnership with the First Nations community. It is backed by $218.3 million in new funding, investing in a national network of Aboriginal community controlled organisations to deliver specialist, community led family safety services. Lasting change must be driven by First Nations communities. This government listens, and then it acts. For too long, women's health was treated as a footnote. Conditions that affect millions of Australian women were underresearched, underfunded and too often dismissed. Labor changed that. Today, 33 specialist clinics for endometriosis and pelvic pain are open right across Australia.”
“In this budget, we are investing $182.6 million to fix the Child Support Scheme and stop it being weaponised as a tool of financial abuse and control. We are making it easier to move to agency-collected arrangements, where there are greater protections. We are giving Services Australia the power to stop vexatious and harassing behaviour, and we are making sure that perpetrators cannot hide their income to minimise what they pay. This will protect 478,000 women receiving child support and around one million children. These are real families and real lives, and they deserve a government that has their back. I also want to speak directly about the disproportionate burden of violence faced by First Nations women, because any serious plan to end gender based violence must start with them.”
“Over 10,000 victims-survivors have been supported through the Leaving Violence Program in just its first five months. We've added 496 frontline workers to the domestic and family violence and sexual violence sector right across the country, and we've provided nearly $1 billion to the states and territories for service delivery. Every woman deserves to feel safe in her home, on the streets, online and at work—everywhere. Ending violence is not just about physical safety. It is also about financial safety. Right now, across Australia, there is $2 billion in outstanding child support debt—$2 billion owed to single parents, the vast majority of them women. Former partners refuse to pay what they owe to their own children.”
“And critically, our tax cuts are designed to particularly benefit part-time and lower income earners, which means they are designed to benefit women, because we know that women disproportionately work part-time, often because they're carrying the weight of caring responsibilities. Our tax policies recognises that and makes sure that we're levelling the playing field. There is one issue in this budget I want to speak about with the weight that it really does deserve. Every week in Australia, women are being killed. Every week, women are trapped in homes that are not safe. This is an absolute national emergency, and this Labor government is treating it like one. Since 2022, we have invested over $4.4 billion to deliver the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children—the most of any government ever.”
“We got here by choice, and the choice was to put women first. Let me talk about every woman's pay packet because this budget delivers real, meaningful tax relief that will be felt by millions of Australian women. We are introducing a new $250 working Australians tax offset. Around 6.3 million women will benefit from this ion the 2027-28 financial year alone. But that's not all. Combined with the three tax cuts we've already legislated and the $1,000 instant tax deduction, the average Australian female worker earning around $68,000 a year will be up to $2,494 better off per year compared to where she was under the old tax arrangements. That is more money towards groceries, rent, kids' expenses or simply having a little bit of financial breathing room for the first time in years.”
“This is a budget for every Australian woman—every mum, every nurse, every teacher, every engineer, every woman working two jobs to keep the lights on. To every woman who has ever been told that politics doesn't speak for her, this budget is for you. Before I talk about where we are going, let me take a moment to acknowledge where we have come from, because the numbers tell a powerful story. Women's labour workforce participation is now at a record high—63 per cent. The gender pay gap has fallen to a historic low of 11.5 per cent. Women's full-time wages have grown by almost $300 a week since May 2022, an 18 per cent increase. And on the world stage, Australia's international gender equality ranking has jumped from 43rd to 13th. That is not an accident; that is the result of deliberate, sustained Labor policy. We didn't get here by luck.”
“Four years ago, the Albanese Labor government made a promise to the women of Australia: your economic security, your safety, your health would be at the centre of every decision we made, not as an afterthought, not as a sidebar but as core economic priority. Today I stand here to tell all of the women in Australia that we kept that promise, and, with this budget, we are going further, because here is what we know to be true: when women thrive, Australia thrives; when women are paid fairly, our economy grows; when women are safe at home, our communities are stronger; and when women have access to health care, our nation is healthier. This is not just the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do.”
“Today, Australia has more fuel than before the war in the Middle East began—43 days of petrol, 38 days of diesel and 31 days of jet-fuel reserves. Thanks to the Albanese Labor government and facilities like the Ampol Lytton refinery, Australia is stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the future.”
“My community in Bonner is home to the Ampol Lytton refinery, one of only two refineries in the country helping to keep Australia moving and supporting almost a thousand local jobs. At a time of global uncertainty, Australians rightly want confidence that the fuel they rely on every day to get to work, run businesses and transport goods will be there when they need it. That is why the Albanese Labor government has taken practical action to strengthen Australia's fuel security. We have introduced the National Fuel Security Plan, strengthened fuel reserves, backed additional fuel cargoes and delivered fuel excise relief to ease pressure on households. We are also investing more than $10 billion to strengthen domestic fuel supply and boost Australia's preparedness during disruptions.”
“We've increased rent assistance by more than 50 per cent for nearly 7,000 locals, protected penalty rates, backed construction apprentices, expanded child care and delivered cheaper energy through more than 3,000 home batteries. This is what delivering for local communities looks like, and I will continue to fight every single day to ensure my community in Bonner gets the investment, opportunity and support they deserve.”
“It has been just over a year since I was elected to represent the incredible community of Bonner, and in that time the Albanese Labor government has been delivering for my community. In Bonner, people want practical action on health care, housing, the cost of living and opportunity. In just over a year, more than 23,000 people in Bonner have had their student debt cut. More than 3,000 locals have enrolled in fee-free TAFE. Over 515 people have been supported into homeownership through Labor's five per cent deposits. We've doubled bulk-billing clinics in Bonner, delivered cheaper medicines through more than 2.5 million $25 scripts locally and families can now access not one but two Medicare urgent care clinics, at Carina-Carindale and Capalaba. More than 8,000 people have been through those doors since December.”
“An estimated 2.3 million Australians have experienced some form of domestic and family violence in the last year alone. That is the size of the Greater Brisbane population. I'm proud of what this Labor government has delivered, but there is much more work to do. The women who have been killed need us to continue this work. They need us to fully fund frontline services, to strengthen responses and to ensure that no-one is left without the support they need.”
“Importantly, these consultations are being coordinated so people are not forced to repeatedly relive their trauma across multiple processes. I encourage victims-survivors, frontline organisations, advocates, researchers and community members to have their say, because ending violence against women requires all of us. I would be doing a disservice if I didn't acknowledge all of the women and children who we have seen murdered in this country, not just in the last few weeks but over the last 10 years in particular. I want to acknowledge the work, through Australian Femicide Watch, of journalist and researcher Sherele Moody, who has documented 3,000 deaths of women and children over the past decade. She herself has said that this count is incomplete because our systems still fail to capture every life lost.”
“This is the kind of reform you see when women's safety is treated as a national priority, not as an afterthought, and it's what happens when lived experience informs policy, when frontline workers are listened to and when governments understand that violence against women is not just a justice issue; it's a housing issue, a health issue and a workplace issue. And, fundamentally, it is a national crisis. That is why the next phase of this work matters so deeply. Consultation is now underway on the second National Action Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. At the same time, consultation is occurring across several related frameworks, including the next action plans under Our Ways - Strong Ways - Our Voices, Safe and Supported, and the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse.”
“We've boosted funding for the 500 frontline workers program by more than 70 per cent. And, for the first time in Australia's history, we launched a standalone national plan for First Nations women and children, 'Our Ways—Strong Ways—Our Voices', backed by a $218 million investment in this year's budget. In my electorate of Bonner, organisations like the Red Rose Foundation, home to Australia's only strangulation trauma centre, continue their life-saving work supporting victims-survivors because of sustained investment in frontline responses.”
“That is why I am proud that this government has made the single largest investment of any Australian government in tackling violence against women and children—more than $4 billion across frontline services, prevention programs, early intervention, behaviour change initiatives, housing, and supports for children. These are not symbolic announcements. They are practical reforms that are changing lives. This government made the leaving violence payment permanent because no woman should have to choose between violence and homelessness. We legislated 10 days of paid domestic and family violence leave, recognising that safety should not cost someone their job or income. We invested $1.2 billion in emergency and transitional accommodation because escaping violence means little if there's nowhere safe to go.”
“I've sat with women making impossible decisions, women trying to protect their children, women trying to find somewhere safe to sleep and women trying to navigate systems while living in fear. I've also seen their extraordinary resilience. I've seen women rebuild their lives after unimaginable trauma, and I've seen frontline workers go above and beyond to keep people safe, often with limited resources and under immense pressure. Those experiences are one of the reasons that I came to this place. Violence against women is not inevitable. It is preventable, and governments have a responsibility to act.”
“I rise today to acknowledge Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, a time when we come together as a nation to raise awareness, support victims-survivors, honour those we have lost and reaffirm our collective commitment to zero tolerance for violence against women and children. I also rise to speak about the Albanese Labor government's National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, our government's record investment in this work and the important consultation now underway to shape the next phase of reform, including the development of the second action plan and the continued implementation of the First Nations action plan. As a former domestic violence lawyer and as someone who has sat across the table from countless women at the most terrifying moments of their lives, I've seen the courage it takes to leave.”
“I move: That this House: (1) notes that during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month we raise awareness, support victim survivors and promote zero tolerance for violence in our country; (2) commends the Government's National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32; (3) recognises the Government's record investment to end violence against women and children and work undertaken under the First Action Plan 2023-2027; and (4) supports the Government as it develops the second action plan towards its goal to end violence against women and children in Australia in one generation.”
“Walking together across communities reminds us that reconciliation is not passive. It is something that we must actively choose and work towards every single day. Truth-telling is not about division; it is about respect. When we understand the full story of this country, the strength of the oldest continuing culture on this earth, the injustices endured and the resilience shown through generations, we create the foundation for a stronger and more united future. Meaningful reconciliation begins with the truth, and the truth must be heard.”
“On National Sorry Day and at the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, we reflect on the truth of our shared history and the responsibility we all carry to walk forward together. Sorry Day is about acknowledging the pain, trauma and injustice experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly the stolen generations, and recognising that the impacts are still felt today across families and, of course, communities. Reconciliation asks more of us than symbolism. It asks us to listen, to learn and to have the courage to tell the truth about our nation's history, even when the truth is uncomfortable. That is why the Walk for Truth that arrives at Parliament House this week, led by Travis Lovett, is so important. It is a powerful act of truth-telling, healing and connection.”