Tom French
Moore · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“I rise to speak in support of the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026. At its centre, this bill is about whether a kid growing up outside capital cities can look at university, TAFE or any form of tertiary education and see a real path rather than a distant idea.”
“That is not always an exciting word, but it is a necessary one. For too long, parts of the higher education policy have been pulled towards short term politics, institutional competition and funding settings that do not always meet national needs.”
“It can go to academic support. It can go to scholarships and grants. It can help meet the higher cost of operating campuses outside the major cities. In this bill, the base equity amount is $1,535 and the base regional amount is $1,398.”
“That is why I'm less interested in reciting every number in the legislation and more interested in what those numbers mean when they land in a family living room in a regional town. They mean a student in Merriwa does not have to see university as something for other people.”
“I know the value of a trade, and I know that university is not the only path to a good life, and it should never be treated as the only respectable path. A good tertiary system is not university versus TAFE. It is not degree versus trade.”
“In plain English, that means we're moving to a system where growth in university places is planned and funded more sensibly. The Australian Tertiary Education Commission will have a formal role in allocating Commonwealth supported places.”
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“I rise to speak against this motion moved by the member for Wright. I do so not only as a parliamentarian but as someone who spent years on the tools as an electrician. What the member for Wright is attempting today is pretty straightforward—to pretend the challenges in skills and housing began the moment the Labor government was elected. That takes a level of imagination reserved for fantasy novels or coalition budgets. The truth is this: when Labor came to office, we inherited the worst skills shortage in half a century. After nearly a decade of neglect, apprentice commencements had fallen from over 220,000 in 2014 to less than 135,000 in 2019.”
“And, every time the country moves forward, they shout, 'Stop, let's go back!' I am sorry to tell you the only good thing about the 1950s was the ability to buy a house on a single income. Australians deserve grown-up government focused on Australian households, not headline politics. Labor's building opportunity. Those opposite are always complaining about problems and then voting against the solutions. I'm looking at you, Member for Canning. The far right blames, the far right complains, and now we are here getting on with the job. The difference couldn't be clearer. ( Time expired)”
“There's a difference between the Labor Party that helps Australians through tough times—Labor is easing the cost of living the right way, with lower taxes for all Australians, free TAFE courses, cheaper child care, fairer wages and real relief for Australians doing it tough. We are united in delivering for all Australians. Meanwhile, those cooking across the aisle—the far right and the further right—pretend to fight for ordinary Australians. Here's the difference: they cut wages; we cut bills. That's Labor's idea of balance. Every time we invest in skills and opportunity, those opposite invest in outrage. Every time we help Australians get ahead, they hold another press conference.”
“Why are we doing this? Because it delivers for people, for families, in my electorate of Moore. It means a kid in Woodvale can study at ECU, step straight into a high-paying job in cyber or advanced manufacturing and build a life without leaving their community. It means local businesses can diversify, compete and thrive. That's the difference. Labor builds the future; the opposition just comments on it. We're not here to sit on the sidelines and wring our hands. We're here to make sure the benefits of Australia's resources industry and science flow to every community, including Moore.”
“Our partnership of nearly half a billion dollars with the US Geological Survey on the Landsat Next satellite project will ensure Australia remains a global leader in earth sciences. Closer to home, Edith Cowan University in Joondalup is driving breakthroughs in cybersecurity, medical research and space science. They are training the next generation of Western Australians for high-skilled jobs that we haven't yet imagined. Digital transformation is not a buzzword. It's the battleground for competition. If you fall behind, you don't just lose contracts; you lose industries. Whether it's innovation in Joondalup, med-tech breakthroughs at ECU or small-business growth across suburbs like Currambine and Kingsley, the digital economy is creating real jobs, right here in Moore, and that's why we're backing R&D hubs and international partnerships.”
“That's how we build resilience and opportunities. Stakeholders from across Moore, from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA to local business in Carine and Kallaroo, see it. They know it's not just about mines. It's about making sure our kids and grandkids have industries to work in that don't even exist today. That takes a government that thinks ahead, a government with grit. That takes a Labor government. The other side can talk about letting the market decide, but we've seen what that means: jobs offshored, industries hollowed out and communities left behind. Not on our watch! Before I came to this place, I was an industrial lawyer fighting for workers, and I'll tell you this: only Labor governments back workers. Backing workers means investing in the jobs of tomorrow. You can't build a future without science.”
“Today, it is Labor again backing the next wave of nation-building industries. Global supply chains for these minerals are volatile. We've seen it with nickel and lithium. That's why we're establishing the $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. This is not a nice-to-have. It's about sovereignty. It means Australia won't be left at the altar when international markets get cold feet. Let's not forget: WA is the world's largest lithium producer. Towns like Greenbushes and Kwinana are living proof of what's possible when we do more than just dig and ship—we refine, we process and we create jobs at home. Labor's vision is clear—a future made in Australia. By investing in advanced manufacturing, we're ensuring that Western Australians don't just dig up the raw materials but also capture the downstream industries.”
“It's about value-adding here in Australia. That's why the Albanese Labor government has committed $17.5 billion to a new Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive. Lithium, cobalt and rare earths—these aren't just rocks. They are the backbone of clean energy technology and defence capability. For Moore, that means more secure well-paid jobs and a future made right here in WA. That's investment in training, renewables and cultural infrastructure—more on that in my first speech. To those opposite who sneer at government investment, let's remember this. It wasn't the free market that built Australia's steel industry. It wasn't the free market that anchored our aluminium smelters. It was Labor governments with the guts to back industries essential to national strength.”
“When you talk about the strength of the Australian economy, you cannot look past the resources, industry and science sectors. They are the envy of the world. These are the engines of productivity, the creators of jobs and the foundation of our national resilience. Let's be blunt. These things don't run on opposition critiques. They run on investment, planning and a government with the backbone to build the future, not just romanticise the past. Mining is not just about holes in the ground and high-vis. It is about prosperity, schools, hospitals and roads, paid for by the royalties and taxes from our resource sector. More than 317,000 Australians are employed in mining, including over 5,000 people in my electorate of Moore. It's a big reason why the Western Australian economy is so strong. But the future isn't just digging and shipping.”
“So when Australians in Moore or anywhere else go in for surgery they can do so knowing their government has done its job, that the registry monitoring their implants is funded, lawful and future proofed, that the companies profiting from medical devices are paying their fair share and that the system behind the scenes is working as it should. It reminds us why Labor governs the way it does, with attention to detail, respect for expertise and faith in collective care. It's because that's the foundation of a modern, fair nation. It's a government that notices the small things so citizens can dream about the big ones. That's good policy, that's good government, and that's the Labor difference. I commend the bill to the House. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.”
“It means more grandparents back on their feet, more workers back on the job and more confidence in Medicare's wider system of care. That's good government. It's the difference between noise and results, slogans and systems, politics and progress. The opposition had nine years to fix this and didn't. Labor saw a gap and fixed it in one. That's the story of Australian politics in miniature. We build; they bluster. Let me finish where I began, with trust. Trust in our health system is not automatic. It is earned through decades of quiet, careful work. It's preserved by governments that take the responsibility seriously. It is embodied in bills like this one—precise, purposeful and practical.”
“I know what it's like to rely on a health system that works, to trust that the data, the devices and the coordination all function when you need them most. When I read a bill like this, I don't see bureaucracy. I see reassurance—reassurance that the system that saved me is being kept strong for others. That's why I take so-called technical bills seriously, because they are anything but. Australians expect their governments to mind the store. They expect competence, clarity and care. That's exactly what this bill delivers. It might never make the nightly news, but it will make for safer surgeries, stronger hospitals and steadier trust. In Moore, that means people recovering faster. It means fewer revision surgeries at Joondalup Health Campus.”
“Our registry's data helps surgeons everywhere improve their practice. That's something Australians can be proud of, a quiet export of expertise. The Australian Orthopaedic Association supports the bill. They know its value. The Medical Technology Association of Australia is less enthusiastic, because clarity brings accountability. But accountability is the price of trust. If you profit from devices inside Australians, you contribute to the system that keeps them safe. That's the social contract in practice. The bill fit squarely in Labor's philosophy of partnership. It complements the health minister's broader agenda—transparency, collaboration with clinicians and results over ideology. That's not radical, that's responsible. This bill speaks to a personal truth for me. I stand here because of a kidney transplant.”
“Delay would risk interrupting the funding base of one of the world's most successful health registries. Australia's population is ageing rapidly. By 2030, one in five Australians will be over 65, and demand for joint replacements will surge. These procedures are not elective luxuries. They restore independence, reduce falls and keep older Australians active in their communities. Every dollar spent keeping the registry strong is a dollar that prevents expensive revision surgeries later. This bill is forward planning, ensuring the cost-recovery model can sustain the registry as the need for data, transparency and safety grows. It's an investment in dignity as well as efficiency. The NJRR isn't just an Australian success; it's a global model. Nations like Sweden, the UK and Canada have built their own systems on its example.”
“And what did they do? Nothing. They left the gap sitting there, unfixed. They left the definition of 'sponsor' frozen in time while companies merged and the market moved on. They left regulators exposed to legal uncertainty. And now, as always, Labor is cleaning up the mess. This bill isn't glamorous, but it's vital. It says to patients, 'We've got your back.' It says to industry, 'Play fair and you'll have stability.' It says to regulators, 'The law now reflects reality.' That's modern government. It's not slogans and it's not scare campaigns, just steady delivery. The explanatory memorandum notes that the passage is needed by 1 March 2026 to allow levy recovery in the 2025-26 financial year, so this parliament must act and act promptly.”
“No-one can exploit a technical loophole to demand refunds or derail the registry. It tells industry that the rules are clear. It tells taxpayers that the system you've relied on remains solid. That's what good law looks like. It doesn't make headlines, but it makes hospitals work, it makes data flow, it makes surgery safer. Some on the opposition benches may dismiss this as technical, but there is nothing boring about safer surgeries or laws that work as intended. Competence may not make headlines, but it saves lives. And we've seen what chaos looks like. For nine years, the Liberals were too busy fighting each other to fix the machinery of government. They left good programs half-written, reviews half-implemented, accountability half-existent. They had the registry, they had the levy and they had the chance to modernise it.”
“When the previous government ignored details, we got robodebt—a masterclass in arrogance that shattered lives. When they ignored accountability, we got a Prime Minister secretly swearing himself into multiple ministries. When they ignored maintenance, we got systems that broke and so people suffered. Labor governs differently. We fix the detail before it becomes a disaster. Clause 5, the application provision, means the new rule applies from the day the amendment takes effect. From the next levy cycle onward, every company responsible for a listed device will pay properly—no confusion, no wiggle room, no legal gymnastics. It's certainty for business and stability for the registry. Clause 6, the validation clause, does something quietly powerful. It safeguards the public interest by ensuring every previous levy payment stands lawful.”
“It says to Australians, 'Your government minds the details so you can trust the system.' It says, 'Your surgery will be safer because the data stays flowing.' It's the legislative equivalent of routine maintenance, invisible until the day you need it. Item 4 defines who pays, item 5 applies the rule and item 6 validates the path. Together they keep the registry funded, lawful and futureproof. That's what competent government looks like. In my electorate, you see the impact. In Kingsley and Padbury, tradespeople rely on new knees to get back to work. In Duncraig and Carine, older Australians depend on strong hips to stay independent. In Mullaloo and Ocean Reef, grandparents want to walk grandkids to the beach. Those are the lives quietly improved by this bill, because when Canberra gets the detail wrong people pay for it in the suburbs.”
“The Department of Health and Aged Care consulted the Australian Orthopaedic Association and the Medical Technology Association of Australia. Surgeons supported the bill. Some manufacturers may grumble. No-one loves paying a levy, but fairness means everyone carries their share. If your company earns from devices implanted in Australians, you should help fund the system that helps keep them safe. That's the deal. Clause by clause, this bill re-anchors that principle. The person responsible for the device pays—not the patient, not the taxpayer and not the public hospital but the manufacturer, the supplier, the beneficiary of profit. That's cost recovery done right. It's a small bill with a big moral centre.”
“This bill reflects the Labor instinct—fix the detail before it fails, and get the framework right so the system stays steady. That is how you govern for the long term. The opposition may just call it just technical. Tell that to a patient whose revision surgery was avoided because the registry flagged a fault in time. Tell that to the surgeon who didn't implant a defective device because the data was there. In healthy policy, the technicalities save lives. The NJRR was built by Labor, the levy framework was legislated by Labor, and this bill once again fixes the system Labor put in place to protect patients. We organise it, we fund it and we keep it lawful. This bill also reflects consultation and fairness.”
“Item 5 ensures that the new framework applies from commencement. Item 6 ensures that every levy already collected is deemed lawful. That protects the registry from legal challenge and keeps its funding stable. That's not paperwork. That's peace of mind, because the registry isn't a line item; it's a lifeline. Joondalup Health Campus in my electorate of Moore is one of WA's major orthopaedic surgery hubs. Hundreds of joint replacement operations take place there each year. Behind every operation is data—data that tells surgeons which prosthetics last 20 years and which ones fail after two. That evidence saves lives and limbs. Clause by clause, this bill keeps that quiet success story running. Legislation always reveals values. Labor governments build systems that serve people. The Liberals let them rust while they argue and delay.”
“That lets the minister, through the Private Health Insurance (Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products) Rules, define who precisely is liable: the company responsible at the time the levy is imposed. Items 1 to 3 tidy up definitions to match the renamed prescribed list rules and scrap redundant language. Together, these items modernise the law to match modern corporate reality, because companies merge, rebrand and sell their product lines, and the law needs to keep up. That's how you ensure cost recovery lands where it should—on those who profit, not those who heal. Item 4 locks that fairness in place. Schedule 1, part 2, 'Application of amendments and validation of payment of certain levies', is equally vital. It confirms that the new definition applies going forward, and it validates past collections to remove any shadow of a doubt.”
“It helps surgeons choose the best implants, and regulators remove poor performers. It is practical Australian ingenuity—data saving lives. And the funding mechanism that keeps it alive matters enormously. The Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment Bill 2025 keeps that funding certain, lawful and fair. It's a clean, precise amendment to fix a legal gap in the 2009 levy act, ensuring the right people pay—the companies responsible for the medical devices on the prescribed list, not hospitals or patients. I'll now run through the detail. Schedule 1, part 1, 'Amendments', is the engine room. It replaces the outdated references to the 'sponsor' of a device with a clearer rule—the person specified in the rules made under section 8 pays the levy.”
“When Australians talk about health care, they talk about trust—trust that, when something goes wrong, the system is there and trust that, if your hip goes or your knee gives out, you won't be left behind because of your bank balance. It might sound technical, but it goes to the heart of trust in our healthcare system. When someone in my electorate of Moore gets a hip or knee replaced, they are putting their faith in a device and in the system that keeps that device safe. That system rests on one of Australia's quiet achievements: the National Joint Replacement Registry, or the NJRR. The NJRR collects data from every hospital performing joint replacement surgery—hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists, ankles and even spinal discs. It tells us what works, what fails and what lasts.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government taking action to support Australia's local pubs, sporting clubs and RSLs and the Australians who gather and celebrate in these venues?”
“It modernises our telecommunications safety net, provides clarity where confusion once reigned and turns the lessons of the past into safeguards for the future. The strength of a society is measured not only in prosperity but in protection—how well it safeguards its people in their most vulnerable moments. This bill strengthens that protection and ensures that our emergency call service, a quiet miracle of modern governance, continues to serve every Australian every hour of every day. It ensures that when disaster strikes, the system holds. It ensures that trust in our institution is earned through performance, not assumption. And it reminds us that the work of government, at its best, is not loud; it's reliable. I commend this bill to the House.”
“To the first responders and volunteers in Moore, from Joondalup Health Campus to the firefighters at Joondalup and Duncraig fire stations, St John WA and the Marine Rescue crews, thank you for the lives you save. This bill is for you. It's for every Australian who dials triple 0 in fear and finds hope on the line. It's for every community that relies on the simple promise that help is always there. This parliament has a duty to strengthen the systems that protect life. We cannot predict every emergency, but we can prepare for them. We cannot prevent every failure, but we can ensure that when failure comes the response is swift and coordinated. That is exactly what this bill achieves.”
“First responders in Moore don't ask for fanfare. They ask for systems that work, reliable networks, clear information and leadership that understands what is at stake. This bill delivers exactly that. It strengthens the communications backbone they depend on so they can focus on protecting lives and property. It says to every police officer, paramedic, firefighter and volunteer, 'We've got your back.' It says to every Australian, 'You will never be left without help because of a preventable communications failure.' That is government at its best. Let me close with gratitude. To the minister, Anika Wells, thank you for your stewardship and determination. To the officials and experts who shaped this legislation, thank you for your diligence.”
“When we make our systems more reliable, we make our society more humane. That is the moral thread running through this legislation. As technology evolves—satellite networks, 5G, emergency apps—the custodian will ensure triple 0 evolves too. They will plan for continuity, redundancy and accessibility for people with disability or language barriers. That forward planning will prevent the next crisis rather than just react to it. It's what good governance looks like. Emergency services are delivered locally but depend on national coordination. This bill reinforces that cooperation through structured communication and shared protocols. It builds unity of purpose between agencies that already work side by side under immense pressure. That is how we strengthen the federation in practice—through practical reform not rhetoric.”
“I want to acknowledge extraordinary people who make the system work every day: the triple 0 operators, who stay calm under pressure; the dispatchers, who coordinate across multiple agencies in seconds; the first responders—police, firefighters, ambulance officers and Marine Rescue—who act on those calls; and the volunteers who drop everything to help strangers because that is what community means. They are the human face of this legislation. They deserve the certainty that, when someone needs them, the line will open, not fail. This bill honours their service. At its heart, this bill affirms something deeply Australian—that in moments of crisis, we look after each other. That ethos underpins our emergency services, our social contract and democracy itself. Technology must serve that ethos, not undermine it.”
“This government is investing in secure, modern infrastructure across energy, transport and communications. We are strengthening cybersecurity and emergency management capability and ensuring our laws reflect the interconnected world Australians now live in. The Triple Zero Custodian bill is part of that architecture—a quiet reform that will save lives precisely because most people will never notice it working. Reliability should be invisible. It should be expected. When systems fail, people notice. When they function flawlessly, society moves forward in safety.”
“They know that, when a crisis hits, the only thing that matters is whether the call connects. This bill will ensure it will. In Joondalup and Currambine, families are connected through schools, workplaces and community sport. They need to know emergency services can find them fast. In Duncraig and Carine, where many residents are older Australians, uninterrupted access to triple zero is peace of mind. In Kingsley and Padbury, tradespeople on the road depend on mobile coverage to report accidents. Along the coast, in Sorrento, Marmion and Watermans Bay, surf lifesaving clubs coordinate with ambulances and police each summer. This bill supports all of them. It's as practical as a working phone line and as vital as a heartbeat. This bill also sits within the broader agenda of national resilience.”
“That collaboration is a credit to Minister Wells and her department. They listened, learned and acted swiftly, turning the lessons of the Optus outage into lasting reforms. Contrast that with the opposition's record. For nearly a decade, they oversaw a system where there were repeated warnings about fragile emergency communications, yet they delivered no structural reform to fix it. They presided over a system that relied on goodwill instead of good governance. When outages occurred, they ordered inquiries but never delivered legislative change. This government has done what they would not: create accountability, not just commentary. That is the difference between managing headlines and managing risk. The people of Moore expect action, not excuses. They expect a government that invests in reliability and transparency.”
“Along our northern beaches, Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue and our lifesaving volunteers depend on those same links when lives are at risk offshore. This bill makes that connection stronger. It ensures that, even if one network fails, coordination does not. It ensures that information flows lawfully and rapidly between providers and oversight remains continuous, not only after the fact. Some may ask whether these new powers will be used responsibly. The answer is yes. The bill includes strict limits on the custodian's power. ACMA oversight remains intact, and commercial confidentiality and privacy are protected under existing laws. This is targeted reform—precise, not heavy-handed. It is about coordination, not control. It has been developed through extensive consultation with industry, emergency services and state governments.”
“When a skipper off Ocean Reef issues a mayday, it's not statistics we are protecting; it's families. When members of the Wanneroo Joondalup SES coordinate through their radios, network reliability can determine whether homes stand or fall. It honours those who serve and the communities they protect. The right to access emergency services is fundamental. It gives real meaning to the right of life and health recognised under international law. This bill ensures those rights are protected in practice, not just in principle. It ensures the infrastructure of our compassion, the ability to call for help, is fit for purpose. In Moore, we've seen how communication saved lives. When wild storms hit the suburbs from Kingsley to Ocean Reef, emergency calls and SES coordination made the difference between safety and disaster.”
“It allows the regulator to compel information quickly and direct carriers to restore services or implement workarounds without delay. In a crisis, every minute counts. We cannot afford bureaucratic ping-pong between regulators and providers. This bill ends that confusion. It puts the chain of command on paper and into practice. The custodian must report annually to the Minister for Communications and provide data for publication. Australians will know for the first time how the triple 0 system performs. Sunlight builds trust, and trust saves lives. Those opposite talk about transparency while using torches. We are hardwiring the lights. This bill is not just about technology; it's about people. When a nurse at Joondalup Health Campus calls for back-up, that's someone's family member whose life hangs in the balance.”
“It never contemplated smartphones, Voice over Internet Protocol or cloud based routing across continents. This bill changes that, delivering accountability that has been missing for too long. The custodian will coordinate between the ACMA, carriers and emergency call persons—Telstra and the National Relay Service—ensuring a single national view of performance and risk. They will hold industry to account and drive improvements before failure occurs. If a failure does occur, they will have the authority to act decisively and not wait for permission. That's the kind of reform Australians expect from a responsible government, from a Labor government. This bill also strengthens the ACMA's powers to issue binding directions during emergencies.”
“Joondalup Police Station, Joondalup and Duncraig fire stations, St John and Joondalup depot rely on fast, accurate networks to coordinate responses. Our surf lifesaving clubs, Sorrento and Mullaloo, need to stay connected to emergency dispatchers. Our Whitfords volunteer sea rescue crew, operating from Hillarys and Ocean Reef, rely on uninterrupted contact with water police. Across Kingsley, Padbury, Craigie and Woodvale, families rest easier knowing that, if something goes wrong, triple 0 will answer. This bill ensures that confidence is justified. It makes clear who is responsible when technology fails and ensures the right information reaches the right hands at the right moment. For too long, telecommunications law has lagged behind the technology it was meant to regulate.”
“It allows lawful, rapid information-sharing between carriers and government during crises, and it mandates transparency through annual reporting and ministerial oversight. Together, these reforms will rebuild trust in one of the nation's most fundamental services, because, when you dial triple 0, you aren't calling a corporation; you are calling your community. You are calling the police officer, the paramedic or the firefighter, people who run towards danger while most of us run to safety. This bill gives them what they need most: a system that doesn't fail when seconds count. Those seconds can mean the difference between life and loss. From Joondalup Health Campus to Hillarys Boat Harbour, our community depends on reliable communications to stay safe.”
“The custodian will oversee the service end to end, ensuring it works, carriers cooperate and accountability never falls through the cracks. This reform is not theoretical. It comes directly from the lessons learned after the Optus outages of November 2023 and September 2025, events that left millions affected and some unable to reach triple 0. Those failures were unacceptable. They exposed a system with no single custodian, no unified command and no authority to coordinate carriers in real time. The Bean review, commissioned by this government, made it clear Australians deserve better. This bill delivers on what that review recommended—clarity, authority and accountability. It gives the ACMA new powers to direct industry participants when an emergency network is at risk.”
“I rise to speak in support of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Triple Zero Custodian and Emergency Calling Powers) Bill 2025. This bill represents something simple yet profound: the guarantee that, when Australians dial triple 0, help is always within reach. It says that, in a country as advanced as ours, no person should ever hear silence at the other end of an emergency call. I commend the Minister for Communications, the Hon. Anika Wells MP, for her leadership in driving this reform. This bill ensures Australians can rely on triple 0 in every community, including those I'm proud to represent in Moore. It establishes the office of the Triple Zero Custodian, an independent authority responsible for the integrity of our emergency call system.”
“I'm particularly proud that the Joondalup shed is an excellent and proud sponsor of the Joondalup Women's Shed at Winton Road, creating an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone can contribute, learn and lend a hand. To Rhiannon and the Joondalup men's and women's sheds: thank you for showing us what community spirit looks like. Moore is stronger because of you.”
“Rhiannon said: I really want to show all those young kids out there to be proud of your disability and be proud of yourself. Rhiannon, you're a champion and you make us all proud. I also want to give a special shout-out to Rick, Bill and the entire team at the Joondalup Men's Shed. I recently had the pleasure of visiting the shed again, and it was great to see firsthand the sense of purpose and camaraderie that that place provides. From restoring a 1960s Dodge truck to crafting wooden toys, the Joondalup shed is proof of how community groups can bring people together—not just to build projects but to build connections, wellbeing and belonging.”
“Most recently, Rhiannon travelled to New Delhi in India to compete in the World Para Athletics Championships, as one of just two Western Australians in a 49-member Australian contingent. Closer to home she was recognised with the MercyCare Positive Achievement Award at the 2025 WA Youth Awards—a testament to not just her athletics success but her commitment to mentoring young para-athletes and advocating for inclusion and equity in sport. Beyond the track Rhiannon uses her platform to raise awareness about unseen disabilities, challenge stereotypes and change the narrative around what it means to live and thrive with disability. She's passionate about empowering the next generation to embrace who they are and to chase their dreams, no matter the barriers.”
“Today I want to highlight two shining examples of community spirit and achievement for my electorate. First, Rhiannon Clarke, an extraordinary young athlete, university student and disability advocate from our local community, who continues to make Moore and Australia incredibly proud. At just 22, Rhiannon has already achieved what many athletes can only dream of. She's represented Australia on the world stage, winning three world championship medals and two Commonwealth Games medals. This includes winning silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 and again at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris in 2023. She also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.”
“It's about whether the system works for people, not against them. Health is about trust. It's about trust that, when you need care, you will get it. It's about trust that the system is fair, efficient and accountable. It's about trust that governments will do the hard work, not just talk about it. This bill delivers on that trust. It strengthens Medicare, it makes bulk-billing stronger, it makes programs fairer, it makes the system faster and it makes it work for the people. That is what Labor governments do. We build, we strengthen, we deliver. The opposition can keep complaining and they can keep pretending, but Labor is doing the work. Labor is delivering for Moore; Labor is delivering for Australia. That is why I commend this bill to the House.”
“We are building a system that is accountable, efficient and fair, a system that respects taxpayers, a system that respects patients and a system that respects the professionals who deliver care—a system built for the 21st century. This is not abstract for me. I know what it means to rely on the health system. I am here today because of a kidney transplant. I know the difference it makes when medicines are affordable and accessible. I know the difference it makes when hospitals have the staff they need. And I know the difference it makes when governments take health care seriously. That is why I am proud to support this bill. It's not about lines in legislation; it's about lives in our communities. It's about whether families in Moore can see a doctor. It's about whether young doctors are treated fairly.”
“We do not sit back and hope that the system fixes itself. We roll up our sleeves and we do the work. We modernise, we adapt and we prepare for the future. The opposition had nine years in office. They had nine years to strengthen bulk-billing, nine years to fix rebates, nine years to support regional doctors and nine years to cut red tape, and they did none of it. They let bulk-billing rates fall. They let trust collapse. Why? Because secrecy suited them, because pretending was easier than governing, because spin was easier than substance. Labor is different. We are delivering stronger Medicare, stronger bulk-billing and a health system that is fit for the future.”
“It allows all the work done in good faith to count towards the obligations, even if the work previously fell through the cracks. And doctors get a fair go when serving those communities. This change matters. For the outer suburbs, where population growth is outpacing services, this change matters. And for the families in Carine and Mullaloo, who face longer waits for basic care, this change matters. For every community where recruiting doctors is a challenge, this change matters. Taken together, these reforms make our health system faster, fairer and stronger. They get doctors to patients sooner. They make sure that billions in rebates are paid lawfully and transparently. They strengthen bulk-billing—the backbone of Medicare—and make the Bonded Medical Program work better for both doctors and communities.”
“Strengthening bulk-billing is not just good policy; it is a moral obligation, and that is what this bill helps deliver. The fourth reform strengthens the Bonded Medical Program. This program exists to get more doctors into the areas that need them most—rural, regional and outer metropolitan communities. But, for too long, the penalties for doctors who left the program or failed to complete their obligations were blunt, unfair and counterproductive. Some doctors faced not just repaying their scholarship but also a six-year ban from Medicare. That does not punish just the doctor; it punishes the communities that are already struggling to recruit enough doctors. This bill removes the blunt ban. It makes sure that consequences are fair to the doctor and are also fair to the community.”