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.”
The complete record
Every one of 475 lines we hold for Kara Cook, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 9 of 10.
“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a powerful reminder of how far we've come in the fight against breast cancer and how much more we must do to ensure that no-one is left behind. Recently, I met with Rachelle and her incredible team from So Brave, a young women's breast cancer charity doing outstanding work to raise awareness, build resilience and empower women under 40. Their message is clear and urgent: breast cancer doesn't wait until you are 50. Routine screening in Australia starts at 50. So, for younger women, early detection relies heavily on knowing your symptoms and family history. The Albanese government has been acting on breast cancer. We've listed lifesaving breast cancer medicines on the PBS, reducing costs that could otherwise reach over $100,000 per treatment to just $31.60, or $7.70 with a concession card.”
“This striking new hub for Quandamooka arts, storytelling and truth-telling received funding from the Australian government's Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and is a must-visit for anyone travelling to Minjerribah. QUAMPI takes its name from the oyster and its pearl shell, a sacred and sustaining food for the Quandamooka people for thousands of years. Now it will also nourish culture and committee through art. Congratulations to QYAC and chair Cameron Costello and to all the volunteers who made the festival such a success. I cannot wait to return next year. October is also Indigenous Business Month. It was fantastic to see all the stalls at the festival showcasing incredible Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs, including renowned artist Delvene Cocaktoo Collins.”
“Firstly, can I say that I'm proud to be a Queenslander every day of the week, but particularly this week following the back-to-back victories of the Brisbane Lions and the incredible win on Sunday of the Broncos NRLW and, of course, the mighty Broncos' win after 19 years. Go, the Broncos! I recently had the privilege of attending Quandamooka Festival on beautiful Minjerribah, also known as North Stradbroke Island. It was a celebration of living culture, with First Nations singers, dancers and artists coming together to share tradition, culture and identity. This year's festival was especially significant as it was the first to be held beside the newly opened QUAMPI Arts and Cultural Centre.”
“So today I speak in memory of Amy and in honour of every woman whose voice has been silenced too soon. We owe it to them to keep raising our voices. I am proud to be part of the Albanese government, which is helping put women's health first, and I'll continue to do all I can to make sure every woman is seen, heard and supported.”
“Her name was Amy Cullinan. She was just 39 years old, and she was one of the funniest and most caring people I've ever met in my life. She was also a loving auntie, sister and daughter. From her diagnosis to her passing, it all happened so quickly. In just a few weeks we will mark the anniversary of her death. Amy was someone who loved politics. She would have been so proud to see me standing here, and I know she would want me to use my voice to speak up for women's health—not just during this week but every week that I have the honour to be here. Amy's story is a painful reminder of why this work matters. It's about real people—our friends, our sisters, our mothers and our daughters—and making sure their health concerns are never again ignored or dismissed, particularly if they live in a regional part of our country.”
“I encourage people in my community back home in Bonner to check out Her Health Check online. It's a valuable resource and takes only a few minutes to use. Labor's investments into health seek to make health care more accessible and equitable for all women, right across their lives. It means women and girls get appropriate assessments sooner, ensuring they aren't waiting for critical diagnoses and treatments. Sex and gender bias in the health system is real. Women shouldn't be going go back and forth between doctors to be taken seriously. Labor is righting that wrong. This year Women's Health Week's theme is 'Say yes to you.' For Labor, this has been about more than just awareness; it has been action. For me, it is also personal. Almost 12 months ago, I lost a dear childhood friend from Yeppoon in Central Queensland to uterine sarcoma.”
“The new PBS items will help by giving Australian women more treatment options for pain management, and will deliver better healthcare services for Australian women and girls to support them during pivotal life stages, particularly with their gynaecological health. Four in 10 Australians don't know what health checks they need, and one in three are overdue. Jean Hailes, for women's health, is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving women's health across Australia through every stage of life. This week I had the pleasure of attending the Jean Hailes launch of Her Health Check. It is a free digital tool for women in Australia outlining which health checks and screenings women might need, and the tool is based on current medical guidelines and reviewed by clinical experts.”
“Australian women undergoing IVF will also receive earlier and more affordable access to fertility treatment. We're adding onto the PBS new medications, and the access to those items available per script will be increased. We know that, too often, women are seeking treatment from a doctor for conditions ranging from endometriosis to heart disease. We know that, too often, women have their pain dismissed and struggle to get support for issues such as unplanned pregnancies, menopause or miscarriage. Endometriosis, for example, affects one in nine women, and currently takes an average of seven years to diagnose. This is simply unacceptable.”
“Women might have paid up to $670 these medications; now they are only paying $31.60 for a script, or $7.70 if they are a concession card holder. As we know, from 1 January next year they will be just $25. We will also see more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics treating more conditions, opening 11 new clinics and ensuring all 33 clinics are staffed to provide specialist support for menopause and new endometriosis treatment options through the PBS. We will see contraceptives and treatment for uncomplicated UTIs directly from pharmacies, with two national trials to benefit 250,000 concession card holders who will be able to consult a trained pharmacist at no cost and, if medications are required, pay only the usual medication costs.”
“On 1 November this year, further changes to the PBS will take effect, giving women access to affordable IUDs and birth control implants, saving around 300,000 women up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs each and every year. There will be more Medicare support for women experiencing menopause with the new rebate for menopause health assessments, funding to train health professionals, the first ever clinical guidelines and a national awareness campaign. Over 20,000 women have undergone a menopause health assessment covered by Medicare since they became available on 1 July. We have the first PBS listings for new menopausal hormone therapies in over 20 years, with around 150,000 women saving, again, hundreds of dollars each and every year.”
“Hundreds of thousands of Australian women are accessing cheaper medicines thanks to the women's health package. With more medicines listed on the PBS, it has enabled more than 365,000 women to access more than 715,000 cheaper scripts for oral contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapies. Labor has invested more than $49 million to provide around 430,000 more services to help women across the country with complex gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome and chronic pelvic pain. The package includes the first listing of new oral contraceptive pills in more than 30 years, with the listing of Yaz, Yasmin and Slinda saving 150,000 women hundreds of dollars every year—more choice, lower costs and better access to long-term contraceptives.”
“This week is Women's Health Week. It is Australia's largest event dedicated to the health and wellbeing of all women, girls and gender-diverse people. It is a reminder that women must be heard and supported in the health system. Women face a range of significant costs simply by virtue of being women. In fact, 60 per cent of all health services in Australia are consumed by women. However, for decades, women's health has been ignored. Women have asked government to take their health seriously, and the Albanese Labor government has listened. That is why Labor delivered the almost $800 million women's health package, one of the largest investments into women's health by any government. It is changing the lives of women across the country.”
“As a former domestic violence lawyer, I have seen too many women leave relationships, particularly where there has been financial abuse or coercion and controlling behaviours, only to later discover debts they didn't even know existed. The reforms introduced this week are a vital first step in putting control back into the hands of victims-survivors and ensuring our system supports safety and dignity. Our community cannot tackle domestic violence or homelessness alone, but together, through strong policy, comprehensive and compassionate leadership and grassroots commitment, we can make a difference.”
“That's why I was proud of Labor's announcement this week to stop the social security system being weaponised against women experiencing violence. The social security system, like many government systems, can be complex and, sadly, at times manipulated by perpetrators. That's why the Albanese Labor government is reforming the special circumstances debt waiver, giving Services Australia the power to waive debts incurred as a result of domestic and family violence. These reforms build on the already agreed National Cabinet work, including a comprehensive audit of Commonwealth systems to ensure they cannot be used to harm victims-survivors.”
“Their weekly catch-ups are part of an ongoing commitment to raise awareness, in my local community, of domestic violence—a quiet, consistent and powerful act of service. Domestic violence does not discriminate. It happens in every postcode, including beautiful bayside suburbs like Wynnum and Manly. Its effects are long lasting, and addressing it requires action from governments through to grassroots organisations. The Rotary Club of Wynnum and Manly understands this. Their visible and vocal presence reminds our community that domestic violence is not a private issue; it's a community one. I thank every member of their club for their unwavering commitment. Their simple, quiet acts of solidarity speak volumes. Raising awareness of domestic and family violence must also go beyond a single month or campaign.”
“We're supporting the construction workforce, too, with over 400 construction apprentices in Bonner benefiting from the incentive payments. Labor's key apprenticeship program also offers up to $10,000 for those starting careers in housing construction or clean energy. But homelessness and housing security are only part of the broader issue. Domestic and family violence continues to devastate lives across Australia. I want to take a moment to recognise the tireless efforts of a local group in my electorate, the Rotary Club of Wynnum and Manly, who are making a meaningful difference in this space. Every Friday morning, every week, Rotary members gather not just for coffee but for a cause.”
“Governments at all levels must step up with long-term investment in social and affordable housing, greater support for frontline services and policies that prevent homelessness before it begins. I'm proud of the work this Labor government is doing to that end. We're delivering real outcomes in Bonner. Since coming to government, 391 people in Bonner have bought their first home, thanks to Labor's Home Guarantee Scheme. We've delivered rent relief through back-to-back increases in Commonwealth rent assistance—an increase of nearly 50 per cent. Today, over 6,700 people in Bonner receive this support. We're funding more homes for women and children fleeing violence, in Wynnum, Manly and Mount Gravatt. Just this year, 24 new homes are being delivered through the Albanese government's crisis support accommodation programs.”
“For nearly 140 years, they've supported women and young people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Their work is practical and life changing, from providing safe accommodation and tenancy support to publishing the H andy G uide of W omen's S upport S ervices , which is also available online, connecting vulnerable women to essential services. I thank them for their tireless work. Homelessness is not inevitable; it is the result of compounding issues such as domestic and family violence, rental insecurity, poverty and a lack of affordable housing. While organisations like the Lady Musgrave Trust are doing truly exceptional work, they cannot do it alone.”
“I rise to shine a light on an issue that continues to impact thousands of Australians: homelessness, particularly among women and young people. During Homelessness Week, I had the privilege of attending the Lady Musgrave Trust annual homelessness forum. The forum had one shared goal—ending women's homelessness. The forum was not only informative; it was deeply moving. We heard from women with lived experience, service providers on the ground and sector experts confronting the harsh reality that homelessness is not just sleeping rough. For many women, it means couch surfing, staying in unsafe relationships or living out of their cars, often with children in tow. The Lady Musgrave Trust is one of Queensland's oldest charities, and it continues to lead the way.”
“Already, residents in Bonner are benefitting; $10.5 million has been saved across 1.6 million scripts. This is direct, immediate cost-of-living relief where it's needed most. We said we would make medicines cheaper, and that is exactly what we're doing. But we're going even further by adding even more life-changing and lifesaving medicines to the PBS this week. Labor believes that your credit card balance shouldn't determine the quality of your health care. I'm proud to be part of a Labor government delivering real change and tangible outcomes for Australians.”
“Every Australian should have access to affordable medicine. With cheaper medicines, Australians can get the health care they need when they need it. It also eases the financial pressure so many families experience when faced with incredibly hard decisions between things like groceries and medications due to cost-of-living pressures, including in my electorate of Bonner. That's why the Albanese Labor government is making medicines even cheaper. This week we passed the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 to ensure that, from next year, PBS medicines will cost just $25. For the pensioner in Wynnum, the single parent in Mansfield and the working family in Carindale—who are also getting an urgent care clinic—every person in Bonner will save money when they fill a script.”
“Labor has sent a clear message: division has no place here, and those who fan the flames of intolerance betray the very people they are elected to serve. While others divide, Labor will unite. We will always stand for respect, equality and fairness. We'll bring Australians together no matter where they come from, what they believe or who they love, because that is how we build a stronger, prouder and more united nation. I am proud of the multicultural community I serve in Bonner, and I'm proud to be part of a political party who has the back of all Australians, because we are stronger together.”
“Yesterday's so-called March for Australia rallies were not patriotic gatherings; they were parades of division, fear and prejudice. Let's be clear: when elected representatives stand alongside extremists, they are complicit. Senators Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts and Bob Katter chose to legitimise hate yesterday. They marched not for Australia but against the very values that make Australia strong. They stood shoulder to shoulder with people who reject our multicultural success story, who would seek to turn back the clock on decades of progress and who thrive on hate and suspicion. That is dangerous, it is reckless and it is utterly un-Australian. Australia is at its best when it is inclusive, diverse and welcoming. Those who preach division tear at the social fabric of our nation for their own political gain.”
“National Skills Week is a time to celebrate the value of hands-on learning and the diversity of pathways Australians can take to success. It's time to recognise the students, teachers, employers and institutions like TAFE that are lifting up our communities and driving our economy forward. It's time to reaffirm our commitment to making vocational education more accessible, more inclusive and more respected. The Albanese government is proud to be leading that charge, and I'm proud as the member for Bonner to stand here today and say that we are backing Australians with the skills for the jobs of the future.”
“In a rapidly changing economy where AI, automation and digital tools are becoming the norm, these skills are not optional; they are foundational to future participation and prosperity. We need to shift the national conversation around vocational education. This isn't second best to university; it's equal. And it must be seen as such if we are to meet the challenges and opportunities of the next decade. We also must acknowledge that learning doesn't stop at 18 or 21. More and more Australians are using fee-free TAFE to reskill later in life, starting new careers, new passions and new opportunities. Our government supports that. Whether it's formal training in classrooms or informal learning in the workplace, education should be lifelong and supported at every stage.”
“These are sectors that are offering meaningful work, long-term careers and vital services for our communities. We're backing these students and we're backing their futures through the $30 billion National Skills Agreement that we've struck with the states and territories. This agreement is transforming our VET system, investing in high-quality, accessible training and creating TAFE centres of excellence. It also supports the delivery of foundation skills, building Australians' literacy, numeracy and digital literacy. That's because we know that the road to meaningful employment starts with confidence, and sometimes that means going back to basics. Through our Skills for Education and Employment program and $77 million in new funding, we're expanding access to free English language, literacy and digital skills training.”
“That's why we've launched our Key Apprenticeship Program, including the new energy stream and housing construction stream. Already, more than 12,000 apprentices have signed up for clean energy pathways, and, in just one month, more than 1,200 new apprentices were approved under the housing construction stream, including carpenters, electricians and plumbers—workers we desperately need to help us build more homes for Australians. And we're supporting these students beyond just enrolment. We've increased the living-away-from-home allowance for the first time in more than 20 years. That payment hadn't been updated since 2003. Bonner is also home to more than 59,000 VET students. Courses in engineering and health are amongst the most in demand, and it's no surprise.”
“Programs like this are critical if we are going to meet the workforce demands of the decade ahead. Nine out of 10 new jobs in the next 10 years will require some form of post-secondary education. Around half of those jobs will need a VET qualification, and many of those jobs will be in critical sectors, such as clean energy, housing construction, aged care, early childhood education and manufacturing. The Albanese government is focused on building that pipeline of skilled workers. We've already seen encouraging growth. There are now 50,000 more apprentices in training than there were before the pandemic. Construction apprentices are up 28 per cent, and women starting trade apprenticeships are up 32 per cent. These are great signs, but we know there is more to do.”
“A student studying accounting at the Mount Gravatt campus will save almost $5,000 a year under this policy. That is real money in people's pockets and a real investment in our local workforce. I also recently visited the Tesla workshop in Mount Gravatt with the Minister for Skills and Training, Minister Giles, where we met Zahraa, one of just five female apprentices at Tesla nationally. Zahraa is not only excelling in her field; she's leading. She's helping to build Australia's clean energy future and she has also created a peer support network for other women navigating the challenges of trade apprenticeships. Zahraa is an absolute inspiration and she is a great example of how our New Energy Apprenticeships Program is supporting the next generation of skilled workers in the renewable energy sector.”
“This includes students from every background, staff with deep industry knowledge—just like my mum, who was a proud TAFE teacher for over 20 years in early childhood education—and facilities that are improving all the time to meet both learner aspirations and industry needs. Whether it's community services next to IT or auto mechanics next to agriculture, our TAFEs reflect the full spectrum of the Australian economy and its future. The response to fee-free TAFE has been absolutely extraordinary. Australians are backing it in, and they're showing up in record numbers. That's why the Albanese government has legislated to make fee-free TAFE permanent, delivering 100,000 places every year from 2027. In my electorate of Bonner, fee-free TAFE is already making a real difference.”
“From our local TAFE campus at Mount Gravatt, where students are studying everything from accounting to automotive, to apprentices gaining hands-on experience with some of Australia's most advanced employers—including Switch Box in Bonner, who Minister Giles and I visited back in July to chat with local electrical apprentices, our community is full of examples of skills based learning changing lives. The Albanese government is proud to be putting TAFE back at the centre of Australia's VET system, right where it belongs, and we're backing that commitment with investment, with vision and with action. Across our TAFE campuses, we see a beautiful cross-section of Australia.”
“I rise today to mark National Skills Week, an important time to recognise the vital role that vocational education and training plays in shaping the future of our country. This year's theme, 'Explore ALL the options', reminds us that education isn't a one-size-fits-all journey. It's about offering real pathways—multiple flexible and rewarding options for Australians to skill or reskill; to secure good, well-paid jobs; and to build careers that support their families, contribute to our economy and meet the changing needs of our society. In Bonner I see firsthand the power of vocational education.”
“It delivers for the people I represent, and I'm so proud to stand here as the federal member for Bonner and support it. This is how we strengthen Medicare, this is how we deliver real cost-of-living relief and this is how we build a fairer, healthier Australia, one reform at a time. I commend this bill to the House.”
“Every week, more than 5,600 Queenslanders are receiving care from one of the 16 clinics across the state, and I can't wait to open our very first Medicare urgent care clinic in Bonner. This is what strengthening Medicare looks like on the ground and in people's lives. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is one of our proudest national achievements. It's how we ensure every Australian can access the medicines they need without being priced out of care. The cheaper medicines bill strengthens the PBS, reducing the cost of medications to just $25, making our system fairer, more sustainable and better equipped to meet today's challenges, including the cost of living. But, above all, it makes life a little easier for millions of Australians—for the pensioner in Tingalpa, the single parent in Mount Gravatt East and the working family in Lota.”
“Over 100,000 women are expected to benefit from the reduction in contraceptive costs each year—women who, otherwise, could be paying over $250 annually for their contraception. Closer to home, I want to mention a major local health commitment we made during the election campaign: the brand-new Medicare urgent care clinic in Carindale that Labor is delivering. The tender process is now open, and, when the clinic opens, it will offer bulk-billed, extended-hours care for people who need help urgently, but don't need to spend hours waiting in a hospital emergency department. For families in Bonner, this clinic will mean faster care, lower costs and less stress. Already more than 360,000 Queenslanders have visited a Medicare urgent care clinic.”
“This week, I had the privilege of meeting with Renee, Kate and Jess, long-time women's health advocates from Queensland, representing the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, QENDO and the Australian Coalition for Endometriosis. We discussed the findings of the endometriosis roundtable report and the ongoing barriers facing women with endo and pelvic pain, conditions that affect one in seven Australian women. They're fierce advocates, and I want to thank them publicly for their work. Their voices are shaping policy that truly matters. Their advocacy has helped bring new PBS listings like Slinda, a contraceptive pill now listed for the very first time in our country.”
“We've listed new contraceptive pills on the PBS for the first time in over 30 years; boosted access to long-acting contraceptives, like IUDs and implants; introduced a new Medicare rebate, starting 1 July next year, for women experiencing menopause and perimenopause; listed three new menopausal hormone therapies after more than 20 years without any additions; invested $127 million in endometriosis and pelvic pain support, with 22 new clinics already operating right across our country; and launched national pharmacy trials to improve access to contraceptives and treatments for uncomplicated UTIs, backed in by $100 million in funding. These reforms are designed by listening and acting on what women have been asking for for decades.”
“This bill will add to that, with more than $200 million in additional savings each year. In Bonner, the difference is already being felt. Locals have saved over $10.5 million across 1.6 million scripts—a clear sign that our policies are working. With this bill, we're going even further, rolling PBS prices back to 2004 levels. This will benefit more than 5.1 million Australians. I know it will mean the world to that mum in Lota and to thousands of other families across my community, from Mount Gravatt to Manly and from Wishart to Wynnum. For her, this isn't politics. It's peace of mind. The Albanese Labor government is also delivering for women and girls across Australia with bold, long-overdue reforms in women's health. Our $790 million women's health package is about bringing more choice, lower costs and delivering better care.”
“This is the fifth wave of medicine affordability reform under this government, and it builds on real results. In July 2022, we cut the PBS safety net for concession card holders, delivering 73 million additional free scripts and saving pensioners more than half a billion dollars. In January 2023, we made the largest price cut in PBS history, slashing general script costs from $42.50 to $30, saving Australians $770 million. In September, we introduced 60-day prescriptions for hundreds of common medications, saving patients $250 million and eliminating 35 million unnecessary pharmacy trips. Earlier this year, we froze PBS prices for the first time in 25 years, protecting Australians from the rising cost of inflation. Together, these reforms have already saved Australians $1.5 billion.”
“Her kids had all come down with illness that week. She did the right thing and took them to the doctor, but the clinic no longer bulk-billed. With the out-of-pocket costs from the GP visit and the price of the medications, she found herself facing a decision no parent should ever have to make: 'Do I fill the prescriptions, or do I buy food for the next week?' That's not an isolated story. That's the reality for too many Australians. It is simply not acceptable in a country as prosperous as ours. This bill is part of our response. Under this legislation, families like hers will save money every time they fill a script. The PBS general co-payment will drop from $31.60 to just $25. That's direct, immediate cost-of-living relief where it's needed most.”
“It's about real people and real families in Bonner and across this country who are being squeezed by the cost of living and are relying on us to make practical, compassionate decisions as a government Cheaper medicines are a cornerstone of Labor's commitment to strengthening Medicare, right alongside more bulk-billing, more doctors and nurses, more urgent care clinics and more support for the people doing it tough, because we know this: when medicines are affordable, Australians don't delay treatment. They take their medication as prescribed. They stay healthier, they stay out of hospital and they stay in the workforce. It's better for our health system, and it's better for our economy. I saw this firsthand while doorknocking in Lota during the election campaign. I met a mother of three who told me something I haven't forgotten.”
“I rise to speak on the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025, a vital step in our government's mission to ease cost-of-living pressures and strengthen Medicare for all Australians. This bill is not just about legislation; it's about lives. It's about making sure no-one is left behind when it comes to accessing the medicines they need to stay well, live with dignity and look after the people they love.”
“Over the years, Share the Dignity has distributed millions of period products and installed hundreds of Dignity Vending Machines, not just in crisis shelters and community hubs but also in public schools, where too many students miss class or suffer in silence because they cannot afford basic sanitary items. This month, August, is Dignity Drive month, one of the charity's key national campaigns. During this time, collection points open right across the country to gather donated period products, I'm proud that my office is—and I know many other MPs are as well—participating as a registered collection point. Thank you to Share the Dignity for all you do to help our community. May you continue for many, many years.”
“I rise to acknowledge the important work of Share the Dignity, a remarkable Australian charity addressing an issue too often overlooked—period poverty. Founded in 2015 by Rochelle Courtenay, a proud Queenslander, Share the Dignity has grown from a grassroots initiative to a powerful national movement supporting women, girls and those who menstruate across Australia. Rochelle's passion and determination are extraordinary. What began as a single collection drive has now evolved into widespread action, delivering essential period products to women fleeing domestic violence, living in homelessness or experiencing financial hardship. Their impact is tangible.”
“He told me with some despair that he could not see how he would be ever be able to afford a home, because saving for the deposit felt never-ending. He told me he had a regular savings plan that had only about half of what he needed saved. I told him about Labor's plan for a five per cent deposit and that he would need to wait until next year for it to come into effect. But today I'm so proud to say to him and to so many others in my community of Bonner that, from 1 October, that support will be in place, meaning he and many others will be in their first home sooner. This government made a promise to make the dream of homeownership more achievable. Today, we are delivering on that promise.”
“Too many Australians are working hard, saving carefully and doing everything right, but the Australian dream of homeownership has felt out of reach. That is why the Albanese Labor government has taken decisive action. From 1 October this year every first home buyer will need only a five per cent deposit. This change will cut years off the time it takes to save, helping Australians into their own homes sooner. Because the government will stand behind these loans, first home buyers will no longer be forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars in lenders mortgage insurance. That is real relief. It will make a real difference to first home buyers in my electorate of Bonner and right across our country. When I was doorknocking in Wishart during the election campaign, I met a young tradie just finishing his apprenticeship.”
“We're strengthening Medicare. We're making it easier to buy or rent a home. We're delivering permanent free TAFE. We're backing families and farmers, strengthening the ACCC and holding supermarkets to account. We're delivering more affordable child care with a three-day guarantee and new centres across the country. That is what responsible economic management looks like. These investments are funded thanks to back-to-back surpluses—”
“It includes the very people who would have missed out completely under their original plan: three million Australians, many of them women and low-income earners. Let me tell you what else Labor is doing to help with the cost of living, because the government isn't just talking about it; it is acting. We're delivering energy bill relief—$1.8 billion to help households and small businesses through to the end of the year; we're growing wages—$2.6 billion for aged-care workers; and we're banning unfair non-compete clauses that stop workers from finding better, higher paying jobs. We're making medicines cheaper, cutting the price of PBS prescriptions to just $25 and investing $1.8 billion to list life-saving medicines. We're cutting student debt, by wiping 20 per cent off and lifting the payment threshold for graduates.”
“Labor's new tax cuts are fair, modest and responsible. They'll make a real difference. From next year, we're cutting the 16 per cent tax rate to 15 per cent, then down to 14 per cent in 2027—the lowest it's been in 50 years. And we're lifting tax thresholds so you can earn more and keep more of what you earn. That means a worker on $40,000 gets an extra $436 a year from 2027 and an average earner on $79,000 gets an extra $536 a year. Combined, Labor's tax cuts will deliver up to $2,500 a year for the average taxpayer or around $50 a week. Who is against this? Those opposite! They want to reverse these tax cuts, which means raising taxes on every single taxpayer. That includes the workers they claim to support.”
“I rise today to respond to this tired, misleading claim from those opposite and the member for Fairfax. Here are the facts: every single Australian taxpayer is getting a tax cut under Labor—not just the top end of town, not just some but all 14 million taxpayers. Do you know who else is getting a tax cut under our plan? Every woman who is a taxpayer in this country, whether she's a teacher, a small business owner, an engineer or a scientist or works in IT or mining. Yes, women do all those things, and they will pay less tax under Labor. That matters. Frankly, after the comments from the member for Longman in recent days, comments that revealed a disturbing lack of respect for women, it's more important than ever to call this out. The coalition may not value the economic contribution of women, but Labor does, and our policies reflect that.”