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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“Women deserve to be believed when it comes to their health, and the Albanese Labor government understands this and is delivering for all women.”
“The other important thing that we need to do is raise awareness and support. Last week, I was so pleased to see the Albanese Labor government's $8.4 million commitment to Jean Hailes. Through trusted online health information, practical resources, webinars, research and national initiatives like Women's Health Week, Jean Hailes is helping millions of women and girls better understand health and access through evidence based information they can trust, including on issues like endometriosis and pelvic pain, both in our cities and of course in the regions. Alongside endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, better information and awareness can help women access care sooner, feel more informed and know they are not navigating these experiences alone.”
“Each endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic provides expert multidisciplinary care for women and girls living with endometriosis and pelvic pain conditions. Importantly, they operate within existing general practices. Keeping care close to home and connected to community is so important. That means that women can access earlier diagnosis, improve pain management, have stronger referral pathways and get better support from professionals who understand the complexity of these conditions. Our local clinic that has opened in Oxley is helping women from my community in Bonner, and it is servicing the Brisbane south region. Across Australia, the clinics have already supported more than 10,000 women and girls and delivered more than 28,000 services for those living with endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain.”
“It can also cause heavy periods, bloating, pelvic pain and fatigue, and it is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 30s and 40s. That was part of my diagnosis. Pelvic pain is also a complex, often debilitating, condition that carries enormous personal, social and economic impact, costing the Australian economy an estimated $6 billion each and every year. Behind all of these statistics are, of course, women whose lives have been disrupted—a young woman who might be missing school because the pain is unbearable, people struggling to remain in the workforce, women sitting in emergency departments desperate for answers or women who have spent years wondering if their feelings are normal or if this is somehow their fault. Women deserve better than that. That is exactly part of what these clinics deliver.”
“I know that my experience is far from unique. Many women and girls in my community of Bonner have shared their stories—stories of pain being dismissed, symptoms being normalised and years spent waiting for answers. Too many still suffer in silence. That is why I am proud that the Albanese Labor government has delivered 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics right across our country. Women and girls now have access to specialised care in every primary-health-network region right across our country. Endometriosis affects one in seven Australian women. It is a condition that can cause severe chronic pain, fatigue and fertility challenges, yet women still face an average seven-year delay in diagnosis. The lesser known adenomyosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows into the muscular wall of the uterus.”
“Women experiencing endometriosis and pelvic pain have, for too long, been overlooked, dismissed and left waiting years for answers—not weeks, not months, but years. This is not just bad period pain. This is a serious health issue. As we've heard today from every single speaker, I think everyone is in fierce agreement that it needs to be taken seriously and that we need to deliver the services. I know that this is an issue that is deeply personal for many women. I was one of those women. From the age of about 15 years, I personally experienced very heavy periods, debilitating pain and ongoing pelvic health concerns that continued well into adulthood. Like too many women, it took years for my concerns to be taken seriously. I was eventually connected with the care I needed, through an understanding GP, after the births of my three children.”
“We've got 135 Medicare urgent care clinics now operating right across the country, including two servicing my community of Bonner. The Carina-Carindale and the Capalaba Medicare urgent care clinics have already treated over 8,000 patients since they opened in December. I'm so excited that these urgent care clinics continue to deliver free health care for my local community. They are just such a wonderful addition. I'm proud to see them continue to be funded in our budget.”
“The project will deliver a series of community conversations right across the country, bringing together the public and organisations working to support men's health and wellbeing as well as those engaged in family, domestic and sexual violence prevention. It's about healthy masculinity, positive role models, respectful relationships and making sure men know it's okay to talk, connect and seek support. Next week, Assistant Minister Ged Kearney and Special Envoy for Men's Health Dan Repacholi will travel to my electorate of Bonner to speak with organisations, and together we are going to host the very first Healthy Men and Boys Forum at the Wynnum Manly and Districts Men's Shed. It will form part of the national Healthy Men Community Conversations project. I encourage everyone in Bonner to get along and support this wonderful event.”
“Finally, Michael Stubbins was recognised for more than 20 years of volunteer leadership with Bayside Community Legal Service supporting vulnerable residents, including women and children escaping domestic and family violence. We also had our under-18 winners. Ava Costa was recognised for her advocacy through the Walking with Ava Foundation and the Sharing Shed, helping people access essential disability and mobility equipment. Also Vinudi Wijesinghe was recognised for her leadership in volunteering and fundraising initiatives supporting people experiencing homelessness. I congratulate all of our finalists and winners and thank everyone who continues to make Bonner such a special community. The Albanese Labor government has launched the national Healthy Men Community Conversations Project.”
“I recently hosted the Bonner Electorate Awards in my community, recognising some truly outstanding local community members. This year's winners represent a different part of what makes Bonner such a special community. Our over-18 winners were truly inspiring. Laura Garside was recognised for years of volunteer service supporting local families through the Wynnum and District Rugby Union Club, Wynnum Ladybugs netball and of course the Iona College community. Joyce Huang was recognised for creating intergenerational programs connecting kindergarten students, special school students and elderly 'grandfriends' to build inclusion and community connection.”
“When it comes to health care, we are investing $1.8 billion to make Medicare urgent care clinics permanent, providing certainty for Queensland's network of 25 clinics, including the two clinics that service my community in Bonner, with over 8,000 people already seen. Bulk-billing is increasing, with 663 fully bulk-billed practices in Queensland, and the number in Bonner has doubled. This is a budget focused on helping Queenslanders now while building a stronger future for our state.”
“This budget delivers for Queensland and for my community of Bonner. It delivers cost-of-living relief, stronger health care, more housing and a more resilient economy for the future. Queensland will receive $42.3 billion in Commonwealth funding. This budget is taking real pressure off Queenslanders with tax cuts for working Australians, including a new $1,000 instant tax deduction and a $250 working Australians tax offset. That means more money back in people's pockets when they need it most. This budget is also focused on boosting housing supply—$2 billion through the new Local Infrastructure Fund to help deliver the roads, water and essential infrastructure needed to unlock more homes. For Queensland, that means access to more than $395 million in funding.”
“Through this bill, we are ensuring that the creators whose work fills those shelves—Brisbane authors like Trent Dalton, Nick Earls and Rebecca Sparrow—are properly recognised and supported. This bill strikes a vital balance. It preserves free public access to books and literature through our libraries while ensuring Australian creators and publishers receive fair compensation for their work. It modernises an important framework, it supports Australian storytelling and it reflects the way Australians engage with literature today. It continues Labor's proud legacy of supporting Australian arts and culture. I commend this bill.”
“Labor understands that supporting Australian literature means supporting Australian voices, and we understand that if we want Australian stories to continue being told, we must support the people who create them. In communities like mine in Bonner, in Queensland, libraries continue to play an incredibly important role. They are welcoming community spaces used by families, students, seniors and local residents each and every day. The Wynnum Library and Carindale Library are spaces that I and my family enjoy visiting regularly. They provide access to education, technology, information and literature regardless of a person's income or background. Local libraries host children's reading programs, community activities, study spaces and lifelong learning opportunities. They are places of inclusion and places of connection.”
“They help illustrators, translators and editors continue contributing to Australia's literary sector. Importantly, they help ensure Australian voices continue to be heard. This bill is also part of the Albanese Labor government's broader commitment to supporting Australian arts and culture. That commitment is reflected through Revive, the government's national cultural policy, which recognises the importance of supporting the Australian creative industries and Australian cultural identity. It is also reflected in the establishment of Writing Australia within Creative Australia to become a dedicated hub supporting writers, publishers and the broader literature sector.”
“This government is committed to ensuring Australian writers, publishers and creators are supported not only to preserve our culture but also to continue telling the stories that shape our national identity. This bill is part of that commitment. In 2024-25 alone, more than 17,000 payments totalling over $28 million were made to eligible creators and publishers through these schemes. That included more than $14.7 million in public lending right payments and more than $13.3 million in educational lending right payments. These are not abstract numbers. These payments help Australian creators continue doing the work that they love. They help support authors writing their next novel. They help educational publishers continue producing Australian educational content.”
“The ability to read, learn and engage with literature shapes educational outcomes, employment opportunities and lifelong wellbeing. This legislation is also about recognising that creative work has economic value. Too often we speak about the arts purely in cultural terms without recognising that writers, illustrators and publishers are workers too. They deserve fair remuneration for the contribution they make to our economy, our education system and our national culture. Writing is absolutely work, publishing is work, illustration is work, editing is work, translation is work, and these creators deserve to be supported. Labor has always understood this. We know that strong arts and cultural sectors do not happen by accident; they require investment recognition and support for the people who create and share Australian stories.”
“This legislation supports and embeds that modernised framework, and this is important because Australians do not engage with literature in the same way they did decades ago. Technology has changed the way people read, learn and access information. Students increasingly access educational material digitally, families borrow audiobooks for long drives and school drop-offs—I aspire for mine to be one of those families!—and older Australians use ebooks with adjustable text and accessible technology. People are engaging with literature in more ways than ever before, and our legislative framework should reflect that reality. This bill helps ensure the lending rights framework keeps pace with this modern publishing and library environment. Literacy and reading remain absolutely fundamental to opportunity in Australia.”
“It clarifies the committee's advisory role and transfers some operational decision-making processes to the secretary, formalising arrangements that are already occurring administratively. These reforms are about ensuring the scheme remains effective, accountable and fit for purpose into the future. Another important aspect of this legislation is that it reflects the changing ways Australians engage with literature. Australians are increasingly reading digitally, whether through ebooks or audiobooks borrowed through local libraries and educational institutions. Consistent with the Albanese Labor government's national cultural policy, Revive, the schemes were expanded in 2023 to include ebooks and audiobooks.”
“When these stories are shared through our libraries and educational institutions, it is only fair that the creators behind those works are recognised and supported. This bill consolidates the public lending right and educational lending right schemes into a single legislative framework, creating a more modern, streamlined and coherent system. Importantly, it also establishes the Educational Lending Right Scheme and legislation for the very first time. Currently, the Educational Lending Right Scheme operates administratively without a legislative basis. This bill changes that. The legislation also modernises governance arrangements. It establishes a new public and educational lending rights committee with a more modern appointment process and disclosure requirements.”
“Whether it is fiction, poetry, educational resources, historical writing or children's literature, Australian writers help Australians see themselves and their communities reflected in literature. These works are not just entertainment; they help preserve culture. They build empathy and understanding. They strengthen literacy and education. They challenge ideas and encourage curiosity. And, of course, they connect our communities. Australian children deserve to grow up reading Australian stories written by Australian authors about Australian experiences. They deserve to see Australian suburbs, humour, landscapes and voices reflected in the books they read because, when young people see their own communities, landscapes and voices reflected on the page, it tells them that their stories matter too.”
“The Public Lending Right Scheme was first established by the Whitlam Labor government in 1974 to ensure more support made its way into the pockets of Australian authors, publishers and illustrators. It reflected an important principle then, and it remains an important principle today—that creators deserve fair recognition and fair compensation for their work. This bill continues that proud Labor legacy of supporting Australian arts, culture and storytelling. Australian literature matters, Australian stories matter, and Australian creators matter. Australia's literature sector is home to some of the country's greatest storytellers—people who help shape our national identity, reflect our communities and tell uniquely Australian stories.”
“But, while books may be borrowed freely through public and educational libraries, the work behind those books is not free. Behind every novel, textbook, audiobook or children's story is an Australian creator whose work, talent and time deserve to be recognised. This bill does exactly that. The public and educational lending right schemes ensure Australian book creators and publishers are compensated for the loss of income that can occur through the free multiple use of their work in Australian public and educational lending libraries. This includes authors, illustrators, editors, translators, compilers and publishers, all of whom contribute enormously to Australia's cultural and literary landscape.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Public and Educational Lending Rights (Better Income for Authors) Bill 2026, legislation that recognises the value of Australian storytelling and the people who bring those stories to life. Libraries are one of the great public institutions in our country. They open doors to imagination, education and opportunities for Australians of every background and every generation. They are places where children discover a love of reading for the very first time. They are places where students access knowledge and learning resources regardless of their circumstances. They are places where older Australians stay connected to their communities and where people can access information, ideas and stories freely and openly.”
“There's also $6.1 million from July this year to support the ATO to prosecute parents who repeatedly fail to submit their tax returns, and there's $12.4 million to improve income data checking so that income changes can be flagged. About half of the 70,000 income estimates each year are incorrect. There is more to come. Labor is making the child support system safer and more effective, delivering accountability and justice for those who need it most.”
“Last night, Labor announced we are investing almost $183 million to make the child support system safer and fairer. There is currently $2 billion in unpaid child support debt in Australia, and women make up around 83 per cent of recipient parents. These historic reforms will help prevent the weaponisation of child support and protect parents and children from financial abuse. These are the most significant changes to the child support system in nearly 20 years. They include $3.6 million to ensure that when Services Australia identify systems abuse they have the power to stop it. From 1 July next year, the Child Support Registrar will be able to refuse applications made for the purposes of harassing the other parent.”
“It leaves lifelong scars—physical, emotional and psychological—and is committed against those who are least able to protect themselves. It demands a response that is compassionate, practical and strong. No law can undo the harm of child sexual abuse. No legislation can restore what has been taken. But this parliament can decide whether our system protects perpetrators or supports survivors. This bill makes that choice clear. It closes a loophole that never should have existed, it strengthens accountability and, most importantly, it tells survivors that this parliament has heard them and that their voices matter. I commend the bill to the House.”
“They must have real consequences for the lies that they destroy. It takes us all and it starts with these laws. I want to acknowledge advocates like Edan who transform deeply personal pain into a campaign for change that will benefit others. I also want to acknowledge organisations in Queensland, like Bravehearts and the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, who do extraordinary work advocating for victims-survivors for legislative change over not just years but decades and who continue to work every single day to keep our kids safe. The Albanese Labor government will not stop until we are confident that our systems are delivering for survivors and protecting the most vulnerable members of our community. Child sexual abuse is the most abhorrent crime imaginable.”
“I want to again acknowledge the persistence of survivors, advocates, community leaders and organisations who brought this issue to national attention and whose stories were told, again and again, in the hope that someone would finally listen. I particularly acknowledge those who stood alongside the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Dan Mulino, when this legislation was introduced. I was proud to stand there on that day and hear the words of Edan Van Haren, who said: As a survivor of child abuse, I stand here not just for myself but for every child who hasn't found their voice yet. This is not just a personal issue; this is a community responsibility. … … … As a country we need to do better. We need stronger laws and we need longer sentences for offenders.”
“Likewise, the look-back provision for contributions was extended because we know financial manipulation often occurs over a longer period of time. These changes matter because they reflect the lived experience of survivors and the practical reality of how perpetrators act. They will help ensure this reform is not merely symbolic but actually effective. I also want to say clearly to victims-survivors that this legislation is an important milestone, but it is not the final destination. There are further issues requiring consideration, and there may be additional reforms needed in the future. Parliament must continue to listen to survivors, continue examining how systems can be weaponised against vulnerable people and continue identifying opportunities for reform. That is our job in this place.”
“There are complexities in this legislation, particularly regarding civil findings and broader retrospective application. These issues must be worked through carefully and responsibly. That is why this legislation includes mechanisms for review and ongoing assessment of how the law operates in practice. In developing this legislation, the Albanese Labor government listened closely to survivors and advocates. In January 2023, the government released a discussion paper exploring options to better support victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. The government listened to feedback and acted on it. As a result, the bill was strengthened, the scope of accessible contributions was expanded, and certain defined benefit accounts were brought within scope in appropriate circumstances.”
“Requests will only be available where there is a relevant connection to the child sexual abuse claims, and the information released will be limited to what is necessary to indicate whether eligible superannuation contributions may exist. These technical measures matter. They ensure survivors are not forced to pursue costly and retraumatising legal action without knowing whether assets are actually available. They provide transparency and they reinforce the principle that our legal and financial systems must not be capable of being manipulated to avoid accountability. Together, these amendments transform this reform from principle into practice, delivering a system that is fairer, more transparent and more firmly on the side of survivors.”
“Alongside these changes is a carefully designed mechanism involving the ATO. For many survivors, a key barrier has been the absence of information—whether superannuation assets exist and whether pursuing legal action is likely to result in any meaningful outcome. This bill also addresses that gap. Victims-survivors will be able to apply to the ATO for limited information about a perpetrator's superannuation interests for the purpose of informing a decision about whether to seek a court order. Importantly, this is not an unrestricted disclosure regime. It is tightly controlled, subject to strict eligibility and supported by safeguards.”
“Under existing settings, superannuation is largely protected during bankruptcy proceedings, even where an individual has substantial outstanding liabilities. This bill makes clear that such protections must not extend to circumstances where they are being used to avoid paying court ordered compensation to victims-survivors of child sexual abuse. Specifically, the amendments enable trustees and courts to identify and recover certain superannuation contributions that would otherwise remain shielded. These are funds that in many cases were deliberately channelled into superannuation to place them beyond reach. By bringing their contributions within scope, the bill ensures that the true financial position of a perpetrator can be considered and that bankruptcy cannot be strategically used to frustrate justice.”
“This bill ensures that, where there is a valid court order for compensation relating to child sexual abuse and where the compensation remains unpaid, victims-survivors may seek access to certain superannuation contributions made by the perpetrator. Specifically, this includes additional contributions such as voluntary contributions and salary sacrifice amounts paid into superannuation accounts. This is a targeted reform. It does not dismantle Australia's superannuation system, nor does it undermine the broader principle of retirement saving protections. What it does do is ensure that superannuation can no longer be weaponised as a shield against accountability. Importantly, the bill also amends the Bankruptcy Act to deliver practical and enforceable change.”
“The problem we are addressing is clear: under existing arrangements, superannuation has, in many cases, been treated as an untouchable asset, effectively beyond the reach of civil compensation processes. Perpetrators have exploited this reality. They have structured their finances to minimise visible assets while transferring wealth into superannuation accounts. In some cases, millions of dollars have been shielded. Some offenders have even declared bankruptcy while significant funds remained in superannuation accounts and out of the reach of the very people they harmed. The law has not kept pace with the reality of how these individuals operate. That is the loophole, and we have a duty to close it. Through this legislation, we will be doing exactly that.”
“It is the product of years—indeed, nearly a decade—of tireless advocacy under this government and the former government. It built on the voices of survivors, the determination of advocates and the courage of individuals who refuse to accept that the system should work against those it was meant to protect. I want to acknowledge those survivors who shared their stories publicly, often at enormous personal cost—those who relived trauma in pursuit of reform, those who persisted despite setbacks, delays and disappointment. Their courage has driven this legislation, their advocacy helped shape it, and their voices will continue to guide future reform.”
“As a former lawyer, I have seen that happen over and over again through our court systems, not just in circumstances of child sexual abuse but also in domestic violence and criminal cases. And after all of that, after finding the courage to come forward and after enduring the retraumatisation that legal processes can involve, survivors should not have to discover that their entitlement to compensation can be defeated through financial engineering. That is why the Albanese Labor government has introduced this legislation known as the survivors law, a reform that sends a clear and unequivocal message: there is no place in our system for perpetrators to exploit legal and financial structures to evade responsibility for the harm they have caused. This reform did not emerge in isolation.”
“We know from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that many survivors do not disclose abuse for years—sometimes decades, sometimes never—not because they are unwilling to speak but because trauma does change people, and shame also silences people. Many survivors have been manipulated into believing that what happened to them was somehow their fault. For many survivors, pursuing civil action is not about financial gain; it is about acknowledgement and accountability and having a court formally recognise the harm that was done to them. That process can take years. It can involve reliving trauma repeatedly through court proceedings, medical evidence and cross-examination.”
“For too long, many survivors have carried something else as well: the knowledge that, even after finding the courage to come forward, even after fighting through the courts and even after securing a judgement in their favour, they could still be denied that compensation—denied because perpetrators manipulated the system and offenders hid their assets in superannuation accounts, denied because bankruptcy protection was used in calculated ways to avoid paying compensation owed to those survivors. That is not justice; it is injustice compounded. Survivors should never have to fight for justice twice.”
“For too long, perpetrators of child sexual abuse have been able to hide assets in their superannuation—shielding wealth, evading accountability and denying survivors compensation they are owed. That is not simply a loophole; it is a profound failure of our system. Justice must be more than words on paper. Justice must be real, enforceable and meaningful. It must be felt by those who have already endured the unimaginable. Survivors of child sexual abuse carry with them a burden that no person should have to bear. We've heard many accounts in this chamber over the last day and today about the trauma and the grief they carry as well as the lifelong impacts they carry of crimes committed against them when they were at their most vulnerable.”
“These numbers are confronting and very sobering, but behind every statistic is a person—not just a person but a child, a child whose trust was violated, a child whose safety was stolen, a child who was failed by adults and by systems that were supposed to protect them. Legislation like this is one of the reasons I came to this place. Legislation like this, supported in a bipartisan way, reminds us of the power of this parliament to affect meaningful change for some of the most vulnerable in our society. This reform should remind us all in this chamber that some issues rise above politics. Protecting children, supporting survivors and ensuring accountability for perpetrators are not partisan values; they are national values.”
“The Australian child maltreatment study estimates that around one in four Australians aged 16 years and over have experienced child sexual abuse, with females twice as likely to have experienced child sexual abuse than males. These estimates are conservative because they do not include many online forms of child sexual abuse. The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation has reported that online child sexual abuse and exploitation have grown exponentially in recent years. We must also acknowledge that child sexual abuse rarely occurs in isolation: 78 per cent of victims-survivors of child sexual abuse said the abuse occurred more than once, 42 per cent said it occurred more than six times and 11 per cent said it occurred more than 50 times.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How has the Albanese Labor government acted to secure additional fuel for Australia? What actions will the government take in this budget to ensure we are better placed for any future uncertainty?”
“We have begun to release 20 per cent of Australia's fuel reserves and updated fuel standards to increase supply into our market. We are also cracking down on misconduct, with new laws that double the penalties for petrol price gouging. We have also acted to ensure fair pay for truck drivers when fuel prices spike. Australians expect their government to step up in moments like this, and that is exactly what it is doing. We are acting with urgency, with coordination and with purpose to protect households, support industry and secure our nation's supply. Because, when global shocks hit, Australians should not be left to face them alone. The Albanese Labor government is delivering for all Australians. (Time expired)”
“This government has taken decisive action to safeguard Australia's security and protect Australian households during a time of global uncertainty. In response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on global fuel supply, we now have a comprehensive national fuel security plan. Labor has acted to ease cost-of-living pressures by halving the fuel excise for three months, which directly reduces prices at the bowser. We have also reduced the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero and deferred its next increase, which supports our freight sector and keeps goods moving right across our country. We have taken unprecedented steps to secure essential supplies. Legislation introduced this week allows the Commonwealth to underwrite shipments of fuel, fertiliser and other critical goods.”
“This includes $20 million from the financial wellbeing grants for four food relief providers, including OzHarvest, to increase the supply of affordable food. I say to OzHarvest: great work. You are planting the seeds for a more secure and less wasted food future. And, through the Albanese Labor government's commitment, we will continue to ensure you are able to ensure all Australians get their fair share.”
“Every Australian family should have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food. Recently, I caught up with Michaela from OzHarvest, who are cooking up plans to further improve food security and reduce food waste in my community of Bonner. They're also supporting some of the most vulnerable in our community. In 2025 alone, they've delivered over 118,000 meals to those in need right across my electorate, saved nearly 135,000 kilos of food from landfill and prevented the equivalent of 134,000 kilos of carbon emissions. They're also working with five charity partners and five schools locally to deliver their FEAST program to help educate our next generation about food sustainability. I'm proud of the Albanese Labor government, who is backing food security for those who need it most.”
“During the roundtable we also heard from local organisations already making a difference, like the IJ Group in Hemmant building modular homes; from charities like Beyond DV, with their Hope Hub in Carindale, who support women and children escaping family and domestic violence to find safe housing; and from community housing providers such as Gateway Housing in Murarrie, who are crucial in delivering homes under the Housing Australia Future Fund. Only Labor is backing the first home owners five per cent deposit scheme. Already, 458 people in Bonner have bought their first home with a five per cent deposit or less. Only Labor has strengthened housing by increasing the Commonwealth rent assistance by almost 50 per cent, and 6, 785 people in my community of Bonner have already benefited. Labor is delivering housing for all Australians.”
“Can I start by acknowledging my beautiful kids in the gallery today and welcoming them to Parliament House. To improve housing and housing security, governments must listen to those on the front line. That's why the Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Clare O'Neil, and I recently held the Bonner housing and homelessness roundtable, bringing together 19 local organisations, from housing providers and builders to crisis support services and not-for-profits. We discussed how we can unlock more housing, especially for those most vulnerable and for first home buyers.”