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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“This week the Albanese Labor government has again demonstrated its commitment to improving outcomes for victims and survivors of sexual violence, with the expansion of specialised trauma informed sexual violence legal service pilots in New South Wales and Queensland. The pilots are a critical part of the government's $21.4 million response to the Australian Law Reform Commission's report into sexual violence. In Queensland, this investment will support a state-wide legal advice service delivered by Caxton Legal Centre, ensuring victims and survivors, particularly young people, can access clear legal information and advice when they need it most. During my career as a lawyer, I had the privilege of volunteering at the Caxton Legal Centre.”
“Our economy remains strong and resilient, and this government is focused on providing real cost-of-living relief through tax cuts, cheaper medicines, reduced student debt and more affordable child care. Fuel security, energy affordability and economic stability are too important for political pointscoring. The antics that we've seen today in question time and this MPI and the shameful and inflammatory comments from the Queensland LNP Deputy Premier today cause panic, and they misrepresent the actual facts. We are committed to telling Australians the facts and being honest with them about their future.”
“By 2050, this sector could be worth $36 billion to the Australian economy, creating jobs from farms to refineries and strengthening our supply chains for the fuels that power our trucks, ships and planes. It's about energy security, it's about economic opportunity, and it's about making sure Australia benefits from the global transition to cleaner energy. Back home in Bonner, we're already seeing how smart energy policy supports households. More than 1,941 cheaper home batteries have been installed right across my electorate. That's families cutting energy bills. That's households becoming more resilient. And that's what practical energy policy looks like. The global economy is facing uncertainty. The conflict in the Middle East is adding pressure. But Australia is well positioned to weather this disruption.”
“Importantly, this government strengthened those laws, increasing the maximum penalty fivefold, up to $50 million, and also extending petrol price monitoring for five years and enabling on-the-spot fines for misleading fuel price statements. Fuel security is not only about today; it is also about the future, and this government is investing $1.1 billion to help build Australia's low-carbon liquid-fuel industry, supporting the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels right here on Australian soil. I joined the Treasurer and the energy minister at the Ampol Lytton Refinery last year for that announcement, and we made clear that Australia has the ingredients to lead this industry—world-class agriculture, access to renewable energy and feedstocks, such as canola, sugar and waste products.”
“Our reforms mean that our fuel supply chains continue to operate, and petrol companies have confirmed their fuel shipments are arriving in Australia on time and in expected quantities. Put simply, our nation is fuel secure, and it's fuel secure because of this government. This global crisis should not be a commercial opportunity, and it should not be a political opportunity either. That is exactly why the Treasurer wrote directly to the ACCC asking them to ensure fuel retailers do not use international events to price gouge Australians. Fuel retailers have been put on notice. The ACCC has said that it will not hesitate to act if companies break the law.”
“But Australians should know this: we entered this period of uncertainty well prepared. Today, Australia holds 1.5 billion litres of petrol and three billion litres of diesel in our national stockpile. These strategic reserves are held right here in Australia, including at the refinery in my electorate. That was not the case before. When Labor left office in 2013, Australia had six operating refineries. By the time we returned to government in 2022, only two remained. The closure of refineries like Altona and Kwinana didn't strengthen Australia's fuel security; it weakened it. That is the legacy we inherited, and that is why the Albanese Labor government has acted.”
“When it comes to fuel security, Australia is more prepared today because this government has acted decisively, responsibly and in the national interest. I say that not only as a member of this government but as the proud federal member for Bonner, home to one of Australia's two remaining oil refineries, the Ampol Lytton Refinery. This facility is a cornerstone of our national fuel supply. It supports almost 1,000 jobs, strengthens local industry and plays a critical role in ensuring Australians have the fuel they need to keep our economy moving. Australians are understandably concerned about global instability, particularly the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. Conflict in that region affects global fuel markets, global inflation and global growth. Australia is not immune to these pressures.”
“All of the measures I've talked about that we have delivered—they were intent on cutting them. I can just say that our approach is clear—strong economic management and practical cost-of-living relief. We are delivering for all Australians.”
“And we're helping more Australians into their own homes with five per cent deposits for first home buyers. We're supporting housing apprentices with $10,000 bonuses. I'm running out of breath, because we've done so much. Cheaper home batteries are expected to support more than two million installations by 2030. Already in Bonner, over 1,800 batteries have been installed. These measures were not accidents; they were policies we took to the election and promised to deliver for all Australians, and we are delivering. What would those opposite have done? We know that they made a commitment to cut 41,000 frontline workers. They would have cut student debt relief. They would have cut free TAFE. They would have cut Commonwealth prac payments. They would have cut cheaper home batteries.”
“Thousands of patients have already been through the doors. From 1 January, we delivered the next stage of our biggest cut to the cost of PBS medicines—$25 or less—making medicines the cheapest they have been in more than 20 years. We've cut student debt by 20 per cent. We've also raised the income threshold at which student debt repayments start to $67,000, giving graduates more breathing room. We've introduced paid prac for nursing, teaching, social work and midwifery students so people can train for essential professions without going backwards financially. For families, we've expanded paid parental leave to 24 weeks and, through Labor's three-day guarantee, every child who needs it will be eligible for three days of subsidised early learning each week, meaning a hundred thousand more families can access affordable child care.”
“Minimum and award wages have increased by more than $9,000 under Labor. Since we formed government, more than 1.2 million jobs have been created. Unemployment rates remain low and workforce participation is near record highs. This is a recovery built on people working, earning and participating. We have delivered tax cuts for every taxpayer, with another round of relief on its way and further cuts already locked in for next year. These tax cuts increase take-home pay and help Australians manage cost-of-living pressures. We are also cutting the cost of essentials like health care so more Australians can see a GP for free. We've opened over 130 Medicare urgent care clinics, including two in my community of Bonner in recent months—the Carina-Carindale urgent care clinic and the Capalaba urgent care clinic, both servicing my community.”
“Australia's economy grew 2.6 per cent through the year, the strongest pace in almost three years and faster than every major advanced economy. The growth is being driven by the private sector, not unsustainable public spending. That matters because it means we can deliver cost-of-living relief responsibly while keeping inflation under control. In a world facing serious global uncertainty, Australia is approaching the future from a position of genuine economic strength. But the statistics alone do not tell the whole story. We know that Australians are doing it tough, and that is why, each and every day since we have been in government, we have been working to ensure Australians are seeing improvements, and they are. Real disposable income per person has grown 2 per cent over the past year. Wages are rising again.”
“Can I start by saying how great it is to see more women than men on the opposition benches. It is a wonderful sight; I hope it long lives on. But, unfortunately for them, those on the other side are still at it again, talking Australia down. Let us talk about the facts of what has been brought to the chamber today. When this government came to office, we inherited an economy under real pressure. There were massive deficits, there was almost a trillion of Liberal debt, there was higher inflation, and real wages were going backwards. Living standards were already under strain because of the economic mess left behind. Our task was clear: repair the economy, restore wage growth and provide cost-of-living relief in a responsible way that doesn't fuel inflation. The latest national accounts show that that approach is working.”
“There have been almost 8½ thousand vendors since the Big Issue started in 1996. When they visited parliament this week, they shared with me some really wonderful statistics. Seventy-one per cent of their vendors have found more stable housing, 48 per cent participated in education or training and 88 per cent have maintained stable work at the Big Issue for three or more years. I encourage all people in this place and certainly back in my community of Bonner to support the Big Issue . There are over 600 vendors right across our country. Thank you to the Big Issue for all of the work that you do, and thank you to Grant for the joy you bring to our community.”
“Most Sundays, locals in Manly in my electorate of Bonner are welcomed by the kindness and big smile of Grant, who is one of our Big Issue sellers. Grant is also known as 'Polite Grant', and has worked with the magazine now for the second time in his life when he has fallen on harder times. Grant has also made a difference in helping others in need. He was asked to give clothes to those sleeping rough on the street and turned that into a charity called Signal Flare in Brisbane which is still going today. The Big Issue is more than a magazine; it is a key to opening new doors through creating work opportunities for those experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. It is helping people like Grant earn a meaningful income, build their confidence and connect with their community and support networks.”
“And, finally, our institutions must move from control to care. When someone in crisis calls for help, they should be met with compassion, not judgement. Safety is a right, not a privilege.”
“The commission's report also calls for us to deepen our engagement with lived experience to ensure we genuinely listen, learn and embed voices at every level of decision-making. It highlights five critical insights. Firstly, prevention must begin in childhood through education. We now have 80,000 educators being trained in trauma informed models. It also talks about how effective solutions come from those most affected. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ communities and multicultural communities must be consulted and included in making the decisions that impact them. Thirdly, our systems must stop working in silos. We need all of our systems—child protection, family law, health services—to interact in a way that makes women and children safe.”
“Men are also embracing hateful views towards women, word for word from the manosphere handbook. I know every female MP in this place faces daily hate on social media platforms, and many women escaping violence are also confronted with online harms. Gender based violence is now extending into online spaces through predatory technologies, deepfakes, nudify apps and undetectable stalking tools. That is why we must take more action to address online harms, like banning predatory technologies, restricting access to tools that are used to harass, control and degrade women and children, because women and children deserve to be safe everywhere in their homes, in their communities and, of course, online.”
“We've also taken bold steps to audit Commonwealth systems so they cannot be weaponised by perpetrators of abuse, including reforms under the Social Security Act to make sure perpetrators cannot use the social security system to leave survivors with tens of thousands of dollars of debt. We've also reformed the family law system. We've partnered with states and territories to deliver stronger justice responses to sexual violence. We've committed an extra $800 million for family violence legal services across the country. These are real, tangible steps, but this report makes clear they are only the beginning. We must recognise that violence evolves, and so must our response. I've been inundated by stories of women whose phones are being tapped and controlled by their former partners.”
“We made permanent the leaving violence payment, which offers $5,000 in financial support to those fleeing intimate partner violence, along with referrals, risk assessments and safety planning. We've also delivered $1.2 billion for new crisis and transitional accommodation, ensuring older women, younger Australians and those fleeing violence have access to safe and stable housing. In my own electorate of Bonner, 24 new homes are currently being built through these programs. We've legislated 10 days of paid domestic and family violence leave, ensuring that no-one in the workplace loses out when they reach out for help.”
“It is estimated that 2.8 million Australians have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. That is one in every four women in this country. Violence disproportionately impacts First Nations Australians, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 33 times more likely than other Australian women to be hospitalised due to family violence and seven times more likely to be homicide victims. Rhukaya Lake, who was murdered on 31 October last year, was a First Nations woman. I'm proud to stand in a government that is not just acknowledging this crisis but actually doing something about it. Through the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, we have invested more than $4 billion since 2022. That is the largest investment by any government in Australia's history.”
“Micah Projects and Brisbane Domestic Violence Service assist those experiencing homelessness, poverty and violence with compassion and respect right across Queensland. Of course Community Legal Centres Queensland continue to stand beside some of the most vulnerable, ensuring access to justice with 34 centres across the state. Last, but certainly not least, our police force do the heart-wrenching work each and every day on thousands of police callouts in Queensland. Our vulnerable persons unit has done incredible work over the years—a really big shout out to all of those officers who are on the front line. To all who dedicate their lives to this work, thank you. You are the quiet heroes of this national effort, and your resilience, compassion and commitment absolutely save lives. The commission's report reveals overwhelming truths.”
“Women's Health and Equality Queensland advances gender equality and trauma-informed health services over the phone statewide in Queensland and in person. Lucy's Project champions the protection of animals and domestic violence situations, recognising that pets are often victims too or used to prevent women and children from leaving. The StandbyU Foundation creates innovative technology solutions to help women and children leave safely through their Shield Watch and in-person support services. DV Safe Phone collect and repurpose mobile phones to give survivors a safe line to help, and many MPs in this place have collection boxes for DV safe phones. Safe Steps lead crisis response and 24/7 support for women and children across Australia.”
“This includes organisations like Beyond DV, with their Hope Hub located in Westfield Carindale and now expanding across the state; 54 Reasons and Save the Children, who are ensuring children impacted by violence are seen, heard and believed; the Red Rose Foundation, which is raising awareness of non-lethal strangulation and the red flags of escalating violence—the only organisation of its kind nationally; and Wynnum Manly Rotary and Rotary clubs right across the country, where community compassion drives local prevention and supports those efforts. Locally, Pete's Pantry and Rosie's in Wynnum provide food support and friendship. Work Haven offers refuge and pathways to empowerment for women fleeing violence.”
“Domestic, family and sexual violence is not confined to one postcode, one income bracket or one culture; it is an abuse of power and it thrives in silence. We cannot stand by or be silent. Ending domestic, family and sexual violence is not optional; it is a moral and national imperative, and the Albanese Labor government takes it very seriously. I recognise and thank the extraordinary people and organisations who confront this reality every day—the frontline domestic, family and sexual violence workers. Since my election, I've made it a priority to meet with those doing the life-saving work of prevention, response, recovery and reform—many of whom I've had the privilege of also working alongside over the years.”
“I extend my deep thanks to Commissioner Micaela Cronin and her dedicated team—and the Lived Experience Advisory Council, whose powerful call to action in this report ensures that lived experience is front and centre and continues to guide our national response. As a former domestic violence lawyer, I have seen firsthand the deep and enduring impact of violence—not just physical violence but emotional, financial and psychological control that isolates and dehumanises. Most Australians would be shocked to learn that our courts deal with thousands of domestic violence matters each and every day. This is the pointy end of the cycle; thousands more are impacted behind closed doors and on police callouts each and every day.”
“The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission's 2025 annual report is the second look at the progress of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. It is both a tribute to the work already done and a sober reminder of how far we still must go as a government to end family, domestic and sexual violence in our country. I acknowledge the victims and survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence—the women, children and men who have lived through trauma and who, tragically, did not survive it. Everything we do must be in memory of them and in service of ensuring no more lives are lost.”
“I first prepared this speech following the release of the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission's yearly report to parliament on 30 October 2025. The very next day, on Friday 31 October 2025, Rhukaya Lake was murdered. It's understood that a child raised the alarm by running around 400 metres down the road to alert passing motorists. She was the 58th Australian woman murdered this year. Since her murder, 32 more women have been murdered, including 12 women murdered this year. The Australian Institute of Criminology tells us that, on average, one woman is killed every nine days by a current or former partner in this country. But last year it was almost two a week. Seventy-eight women killed last year, 12 killed this year—this is absolutely a national emergency.”
“The walk is an open invitation to all Australians to walk the path of truth-telling so we can share more stories like Uncle Bob's not just in this place but right across our nation.”
“Truth-telling is essential in our country, and in that spirit, I also want to acknowledge the work of Travis Lovett, Executive Director of the Centre for Truth Telling and Dialogue at the University of Melbourne, who next month will lead the Walk for Truth, a 500-kilometre walk from Victoria's parliament to this place, Parliament House in Canberra, arriving on Wednesday 27 May. Travis has said: Walk For Truth is a shared journey that says, with our feet and our voices, that our country needs healing. He has also said that truth-telling is not about blame; it is about 'finally listening to those who have too often been treated as a problem to be handled, rather than as sovereign peoples who deserve respect'. Truth-telling is 'an act of national repair' so we can walk a true path forward together.”
“While he was with them he learned to speak Spanish although he never had the opportunity to learn his own language, Kamilaroi. When he grew up, my cousin walked the streets of Redfern and Central barefoot. Everyone knew him. He asked for two songs to be sung at his funeral: Seven Spanish Angels and Spanish Eyes. People say his presence is still felt at the Redfern AMS, the Aboriginal Medical Service. My cousin was Harold Young. He was number 23. Robert Young 29 October 2019 It is an honour to share Uncle Bob's story in this place. I told him at the morning tea that if I had the opportunity to share his words I would, and I'm proud to have delivered that promise to him today.”
“The manager said, don't worry about that, 24, we'll send you in to Kempsey to the dentist. The dentist said what do you want silver or gold. I said, "Put the gold in!" It'll be with me all my days. If you came last in your class in school (my cousin and I came last), they would cane both your hands about three or four times and then take you across to the dormitory where there was a boxing ring. They would stand you in the middle of the ring. They would throw a medicine ball at you, then throw gymnastic mats over you and jump on top of you. When we left the boys' home in 1965, my cousin walked out barefoot. We got on the train at Kempsey. We had to go to Central Station in Sydney to meet our foster parents. We were separated again. My cousin went to live in Riverwood with a Spanish family.”
“If you got caught with whatever fruit or vegetable you had, you had that for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I haven't touched beetroot since. We planted our own vegetables and kept chooks. The manager lived off our hard work, taking the produce to sell for his own profit. We worked barefoot on the farm. To treat our cracked feet, we would step in the cow manure to heal the wounds. In the winter frosts, if we complained about our cracked toes, they would turn the water hose on us. It was freezing cold in the winter time. The way they taught you how to swim was they threw you in clothes and all. I was thrown into the pool clothes and all. I went head first, breaking my top front tooth at the bottom of the pool. One of the older boys, Alan Murray, dived in and brought me up.”
“He was a German Shepard and belonged to the manager. If we didn't call the dog by his name we'd be sent down the line. He had a name; we were only called by our numbers. If you ran away from the home, they would send you back to the home, strip your shirt and trousers and leave you in your singlet and underpants. They shaved your hair off, they put you in a butter shed with a sugar bag over you with cut out sleeves. It was itchy sackcloth. You were on bread and water for two weeks. At breakfast time, they would shake the sugarbag over your porridge so that little like weevils would fall in your porridge and they made sure you ate the porridge with the weevils. If you didn't eat it, you had it for breakfast, dinner and tea. I used to love beetroot. I'd peel off the leaves and wash it under the tap.”
“This document is titled, 'I am number 24': I am number 24 ex-KBH. I went to Kinchela Boys Home in 1954 when I was five years of age. I came out in 1965 when I was 16. My mum found me in a TAB in Redfern in 1969. My dad was living in Moree. I'd been told that my mum and dad were dead. My nickname at the boy's home was Bullfrog. The first thing when we walked through the gate, we were told to take our shoes and clothes off. Our clothes and shoes were burnt in the fire. We were left standing in the nude and they threw white powder over you. You walked across the grass bare foot on bindis. If you played up they would tie you to the fig tree overnight. There were many other punishments. You would be sent down the line and if your brother or cousin didn't hit you, they would get sent down the line too. There was a dog at the home called Prince.”
“It lives on in families, in communities, in overrepresentation in out-of-home care and the justice system, in poorer health outcomes and in the grief that is carried forward. The apology mattered, and its anniversary is a reminder to all Australians of our true shared history. I want to use my time today to tell the truth in this place and to share the words of a member of the stolen generations—Robert Young, known as Uncle Bob, a proud Gamilaroi man who I met here at parliament during the stolen generations morning tea last month. Uncle Bob told me he had come to parliament to share his story, and he handed me this piece of paper, written in his own words, about his removal and growing up in the Kinchela Aboriginal Boys Training Home, known as KBH, which operated for almost 50 years from 1924 to 1970.”
“(): I start today by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather, and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. My husband, Josh, is a proud Waanyi and Kalkadoon man, and I am the proud mother of three First Nations children. It's a great privilege to speak today on this statement. Eighteen years ago, then prime minister Kevin Rudd delivered the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. It was a moment of truth-telling that shifted the nation. It acknowledged the profound wrong of removing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, communities and culture. The damage done is not confined to the past. Intergenerational trauma is real.”
“In my community of Bonner it means that organisations like the Red Rose Foundation, who are the only strangulation trauma centre in the country, can continue to save lives. This is what happens when you have a majority-women government, when women's safety is not an afterthought and when lived-experience survivors and frontline workers inform policy and decision-making. I am proud to be part of a government that is delivering safety for women and children.”
“As a former domestic violence lawyer, I have represented women and children at the most terrifying moments of their lives. I have seen the courage it takes to leave, and I've seen firsthand that, when a woman finally reaches out for help, the response she receives can mean the difference between life and death. That is why I am so proud of today's announcement of $292 million to boost our frontline domestic and family violence workforce. This increases our election commitment where we have already delivered 500 frontline workers for every state and territory. This is not just a budget measure; it is a statement of values. This funding secures the future of workers who are the advocates securing safe housing, the counsellors helping children process trauma and the specialists guiding women through safety planning and the legal system.”
“More than 1.2 million jobs have been created since May 2022, with more than four in five in the private sector. The private sector is recovering. Growth is picking up. Investment is strengthening. We are focused on higher living standards, secure jobs and responsible economic management. Those opposite stand for higher taxes, lower wages, bigger deficits and more debt. Labor stands for stronger Medicare, better schools, housing security and cost-of-living relief. I hear those opposite sighing. If the member for Fairfax and those opposite want to see actual reckless spending, they don't need a private member's motion in this place; all they need is a mirror.”
“That is what responsible investment looks like. We are also delivering for people with disability. Labor has reduced waiting times for the disability support pension from an average of 96 days to 34 days—and that is because we invest in frontline services. We recognise Australians are under pressure. That is why we are delivering tax cuts, cheaper medicines, more bulk-billing, higher wages and housing support while still improving the budget. Those opposite talk about spending, but when they were in government low wages were a deliberate design feature of their economic architecture. Real wages fell for five consecutive quarters before we came to office, and inflation had a six in front of it. Real wages are now growing. Living standards are rising.”
“We are delivering real, practical cost-of-living relief. In my community of Bonner over 6,000 families receive Commonwealth rent assistance. Those opposite failed to keep it in line with inflation. Labor has increased rent assistance by almost 50 per cent. We are strengthening Medicare. Thousands of residents in my community have already benefited from our brand-new Medicare urgent care clinics—the Carina-Carindale and Capalaba Medicare clinics—which are open seven days a week and are fully bulk-billed, with not a cent to pay. There are now 130 Medicare urgent care clinics right across our country. There are over 3,400 GP practices now fully bulk-billing right across the nation, including 13 in my electorate of Bonner. More than 95 per cent of Australians now live within 20 minutes of a bulk-billing practice.”
“While we've repaired the budget, we've also delivered for all Australians. It is Labor that has cut taxes for every taxpayer so Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn. If those opposite had won the last election, income taxes would be going up for more than 14 million Australians. They had plans for higher taxes. They had a plan for more debt. They had a plan for lower wages. If they had their way, Australians would be earning less and paying more. That is not economic responsibility; that is economic recklessness. Labor's spending is responsible, is targeted and is fixing years of neglect. Through our Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, we are delivering the biggest new investment in public schools by an Australian government because every child deserves the opportunity to fulfil their potential.”
“The member for Fairfax and those opposite want to lecture this place about government spending with this private member's motion today. Let's talk about government spending. Under those opposite, spending ballooned, debt ballooned and deficits were entrenched. What did Australians have to show for it? Higher inflation, real wages falling and a trillion dollars of Liberal debt. On this side of the House we've done the hard work. Labor has paid down Liberal debt. Labor has delivered two budget surpluses. Labor has overseen the biggest budget turnaround in a parliamentary term. We've improved the budget position by more than $233 billion compared with what we inherited. Debt is $176 billion lower in 2025-26, saving $60 billion in interest costs alone. We've got the budget in much better nick than what we inherited from those opposite.”
“Last week, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride and I toured headspace in Capalaba, a federally funded youth mental health service providing free support to young people across Redland City and across my electorate of Bonner. I'm so proud to say that, as part of the government's additional $72.7 million investment to strengthen headspace nationwide, headspace Capalaba is receiving an almost $800,000 funding boost. No-one should suffer in silence. I will continue to advocate for the mental health supports in our community that our young people deserve.”
“There is no greater investment we can make in Australia's future than investing in the mental health and wellbeing of our young people. When young Australians are supported early and close to home, they thrive, and so do our communities. In my electorate of Bonner, there are over 2½ thousand young people under the age of 25 experiencing ongoing mental health conditions. It is critical that we have local services that can meet this growing need and support our growing population. That is why the Albanese Labor government is delivering new, enhanced and expanded free mental health services for young people, including in Bonner.”
“Your experiences deserve recognition, research and reform. Labor is here for you and delivering for you.' I'm proud of this package, and I'm proud to stand here as part of the Albanese Labor government.”
“Of those, 30 are already operational, improving access in both regional and metropolitan communities. In my community, we are also set to benefit directly from this investment. A new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic opened in Oxley in late January. It already has active patients, and is continuing to grow. This clinic will support more women in my community of Bonner to get the diagnosis, treatment and multidisciplinary care they need closer to home without the long wait times and financial strain. These clinics are not only treating endometriosis; they are also improving health care and education around perimenopause and menopause. These reforms represent more than a funding announcement; they represent a cultural shift. They say to Australian women: 'Your health matters. Your pain is real.”
“The years of pain, the dismissal, the delayed diagnosis and, most recently, the appalling treatment of women at the hands of medical professionals. On average, women wait seven years for a diagnosis. Hospitalisation rates among young women aged 20 to 24 have doubled over the past decade. These are not just statistics; they represent disrupted education, interrupted careers and diminished quality of life. For too long people with endometriosis have suffered in silence and that is simply not good enough. Early intervention is critical, evidence based care is essential and access should never depend on your postcode. That is why the Albanese Labor government has expanded endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics nationwide, delivering 11 new clinics and taking the national network to 33 clinics across Australia.”
“Women undergoing IVF are receiving earlier and more affordable access to fertility treatment, with 46,000 women supplied 273,000 scripts that significantly reduce the cost of care. And, of course, since January we have seen PBS script prices drop to just $25—the lowest medicine prices since 2004. That is real cost-of-living relief for all Australians, but particularly for Australian women and their families. March is also Endometriosis Awareness Month. It is a time to shine a light on a chronic and often debilitating condition that affects one in seven women. More than one million Australians suffer from endometriosis. Recent national coverage has once again highlighted the lived experiences of women battling this condition.”