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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“Right now, many of the practices and software providers are not ready to implement assignment arrangements. If we stick to the old timeline, bulk-billing could be disrupted. This bill avoids that risk. It pushes the start date back from January 2026 to July 2026. That gives everyone time to prepare. In the meantime, bulk-billing continues. Extra incentives flow from November this year, and patients get the care they need without disruption. In my electorate of Moore, bulk-billing is the difference between families in Beldon being able to take their kids to the doctor and families putting it off because of the cost. It is the difference between pensioners in Woodvale being able to see their GP and pensioners presenting at Joondalup hospital because they cannot afford it.”
“We saw it when Scott Morrison secretly appointed himself to multiple ministries, keeping the truth from not only his colleagues but the public. That is what happens when governments treat accountability as optional. Labor takes the opposite view. Integrity is not optional. Transparency is not optional. And this bill proves it. The third reform goes to the very heart of Medicare: bulk-billing. Bulk-billing works because patients assign their Medicare benefit to the doctor or the hospital that treated them. It is simple in principle, but the law underpinning it is outdated. It was written for a paper based system, and, in 2025, paper is the exception not the rule. The Albanese government is delivering $7.9 billion in new bulk-billing incentives—the biggest boost in decades. But those incentives only work if the system is ready.”
“This bill closes those gaps. It brings the law into line with practice and makes payments lawful and accountable. It introduces a self-assessment model so insurers calculate their claims correctly. It requires them to provide evidence when asked. It gives the Chief Executive Medicare the power to modernise systems and approve forms, and it allows government to recover overpayments when mistakes happen. In other words, the billions that flow through this scheme will flow lawfully, fairly and transparently. Australians deserve to know that health rebates are handled properly, and taxpayers deserve to know that their dollars are being respected. We know what happens when integrity is ignored. We saw it in robodebt, where lives were shattered by a system designed to cut corners.”
“What does that mean for the electorate of Moore? It means doctors at the Joondalup Health Campus can start sooner. It means GPs in Currambine and Ocean Reef can open their doors to more patients without waiting weeks for the red tape to catch up. It means allied health workers can deliver to families in Padbury and Heathridge without needless delays. In a community like mine—growing fast and already feeling the pressure on health services—that makes a real difference. The second reform is about the private health insurance rebate. Every year, the Commonwealth pays more than $7 billion to insurers on behalf of Australians. That is real money, month in and month out. But, for years, parts of the system have been run inconsistently with the law. That is a risk to the integrity of the scheme, and it is a risk to public trust.”
“The problem is that the system is slow, clunky and paper heavy. It means wait times for approval, it means health professionals sitting on the sidelines when they should be in clinics and it means patients waiting longer for appointments. This bill fixes that. It allows the Chief Executive Medicare to approve the use of computer programs to automatically issue provider numbers for straightforward cases. If you meet the criteria, the system issues the number—no delays, no unnecessary bottlenecks and no holding back the workforce when communities need them most. Where discretion is needed, humans stay in the loop. If a provider number is refused, that decision will still be made by a Services Australia officer. That is the right balance: automation where it makes sense and human oversight where it matters.”
“It's about whether bulk-billing continues to be the foundation of Medicare and whether doctors serving rural and outer suburban communities are treated fairly and whether their patients are treated fairly as well. This bill touches all of that. It has four big reforms: first, streamlining Medicare provider numbers; second, fixing cracks in the private health insurance rebate system; third, modernising the way patients assign Medicare benefits for bulk-billing; and, fourth, making the Bonded Medical Program fairer and stronger. I will deal with them in turn. Right now, if a doctor finishes their training or a nurse practitioner moves to a new role, they have to apply for a Medicare provider number. That number is what lets them bill Medicare. Without it, they cannot provide subsidised care.”
“When Australians talk about Medicare, they talk about fairness. They talk about the simple, powerful idea that your bank balance should not determine whether or not you can see a doctor. They talk about the dignity of knowing that, when you need care, the system is there for you. Australians are proud of Medicare, a system that Labor built and that Labor continues to defend and strengthen. That's exactly what the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 does. It strengthens Medicare, modernises the systems around it and makes sure Australians get care more quickly and fairly. This legislation may sound technical, but it is about something very real. It is about whether a doctor can start work sooner. It's about whether billions of dollars in rebates are paid out lawfully and transparently.”
“It keeps governance steady, respectful and consistent. It does all of this without changing the director's role or delaying broader reforms. As someone who has spent his life moving between the tools, the law and now this parliament, I have learnt that sometimes the smallest adjustments keep the system working. This is one of those adjustments. I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned.”
“These values are not abstract; they are lived every day in Moore. They are lived when families in Joondalup support a neighbour, when students at ECU or North Metro TAFE gain skills for a clean energy future, when seniors in Duncraig preserve community spaces, when children at Mullaloo learn about the coast, when volunteers in the Friends of Sorrento Beach and Marmion Foreshore protect our shoreline, when members of the Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park restore wetlands and when students at Ocean Reef Senior High School learn that stewardship is continuous. Continuity, respect and responsibility—these shape both our local life and our national governance. This bill ensures that boards remain empowered even when plans expire. It preserves Indigenous leadership in jointly managed reserves.”
“This bill ensures that, while that work continues, governance does not stop. It is practical lawmaking. It is careful, considered and respectful. It does not overreach. It simply closes a gap that should never have existed, and, in doing so, it strengthens our partnership with traditional owners. It honours the principle that those who know the land best should always have a voice. It affirms the government's commitment to walk alongside Indigenous Australians. Sometimes we risk treating amendments like this as technicalities. But this is not a technicality. This is about fairness, respect and responsibility. Fairness means ensuring boards can continue their work. Respect means recognising the authority and knowledge of traditional owners. Responsibility means governance does not falter because of a loophole.”
“Some might ask why this matters so much. It matters because places like Kakadu, Uluru and the Pinnacles are not only national treasures; they are also cultural treasures. They are living landscapes cared for by traditional owners for generations. Interrupting governance interrupts that partnership; it interrupts respect. These parks are also of international significance. Millions of visitors travel from around the world to witness their beauty, history and spirit. When tourists stand before Uluru at sunset, they are experiencing a living story woven into the identity of this nation. Governance gaps put that experience and that responsibility at risk. Environmental management is already complex. Plans take time. Consultation takes time. Balancing ecological science, cultural heritage, tourism and community needs takes time.”
“When we talk about the cost of living, Australians do not want one-offs; they want certainty. That is why this government delivered direct energy bill relief and is investing in long-term reforms to keep prices down. When we talk about the clean energy transition, Australians want continuity so that, as industries change, new jobs and training are ready. When we talk about skills, continuity in training and apprenticeships gives young people in Moore the confidence to plan a career, whether it's a young sparkie at North Metro TAFE or a nurse in training at ECU Joondalup, continuity turns dreams into futures. The truth is that environmental stewardship is not a stop-start exercise. Country does not wait for paperwork. Fires do not wait for paperwork. Visitors do not wait for paperwork. Government must keep pace with reality.”
“From parents coaching sport in Currambine to volunteers planting trees in Iluka, and the groups preserving bushland and ocean reef, people know the value of continuity, respect and responsibility. As someone who began his working life as an electrician, I know what happens when continuity is lost. On a job site, when the plan is unclear, mistakes are made. People get hurt. Continuity of leadership is not a nice-to-have; it is essential. Later, as a kidney transplant recipient, I learnt that continuity in care is the difference between life and death. You do not want treatment to stop because a file expired. You need steady, reliable stewardship. That lesson applies in health, in trades and in environmental management. Continuity also matters in policy.”
“These students are the next generation of stewards. Their teachers remind them, as I remind this House, that you cannot press pause on caring for country. The lesson is simple: continuity matters, whether on the sand at Mullaloo, in the seagrass at Marmion, by the lake at Yellagonga or on the escarpments of Uluru. This bill makes sure continuity is never lost. The heart of this bill reflects the values that guide this government and guide me. Fairness means traditional owners stay at the table. Respect means management of country continues seamlessly. Responsibility means we fix the gaps before they cause harm. These are the same principles I hear echoed back at home in Moore.”
“Just as these groups in my electorate cannot down tools because a meeting is delayed, boards should not lose powers because a plan has expired. The same is true of Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park, caring for wetlands and bushland around Lake Joondalup. They know that weed control and habitat restoration cannot pause. If those efforts stop, even briefly, damage spreads. Friends of Yellagonga Regional Park understand continuity because their work follows natural cycles. That rhythm of stewardship is what this bill protects. I want to acknowledge the young people who live this principle. At Ocean Reef Senior High School, students are encouraged to study marine and environmental science in a hands-on way. They understand that ecosystems need constant care and that continuity is the difference between thriving and declining.”
“Fire does not wait, and neither should governance. That is what this bill reflects: uninterrupted responsibility. It's not just in emergencies. At Whitfords Nodes Park, groups run coastal rehabilitation year after year. At the Joondalup Community Coast Care Forum, locals share knowledge about protecting beaches and dunes. At Hillarys Boat Harbour, where tourism and environment are finely balanced, continuity is essential. These groups know from experience that gaps in leadership undo months of effort. One group that embodies this principle is Friends of Sorrento Beach and Marmion Foreshore. Week after week, season after season, they care for our coastline. It is fundamentally about continuity of care for the places we love.”
“In Moore, that principle is lived daily on Whadjuk Noongar country. Traditional owners remind us that stewardship is continuous, not episodic. Whether caring for Yellagonga wetlands, protecting cultural sites or passing knowledge to the next generation, there is no pause button. This bill reflects that reality, not just in Kakadu but across Australia, where Indigenous custodianship guides management. I think, too, of our bushfire brigades across the northern suburbs. When a fire breaks out, no-one checks whether a committee's mandate has lapsed. They just get to work with skill, with courage and with continuity. Having worked for the United Professional Firefighters Union, I know how vital that is. I've seen the risks when coordination falters and I've seen the professionalism that keeps us safe.”
“Whether it's a sports club, a lifesaving patrol or a conservation group, if leadership stops abruptly, things fall through the cracks. Safety suffers, heritage suffers and people lose faith. I think of the surf clubs at Trigg, Mullaloo and Sorrento, where volunteers show up, rain or shine, to patrol our beaches. If their authority stopped the moment paperwork expired, lives would be at risk. That is how absurd it would be. Continuity is not bureaucracy. It is safety. Take our conservation groups caring for Lake Joondalup, Yellagonga Regional Park and bush corridors through Craigie and Padbury. If leadership suddenly lost its ability to act, you would see weeds spread, fire risk climb and gains unravel. People in Moore understand that stewardship is ongoing. You do not stop caring for country because a date has passed.”
“In my electorate of Moore, we don't manage Kakadu or Uluru, but we do know the value of continuity. While this bill speaks directly to Kakadu, Uluru and Booderee, it also speaks to us in Western Australia. Our state has led the way in joint management agreements with traditional owners at Karijini, Kalbarri and Purnululu. Even closer to home, the Pinnacles in the Nambung National Park sit just north of Moore and are one of WA's most iconic tourism drawcards. Visitors come through Moore and, on their way, are staying in Joondalup, eating in our restaurants and fuelling up in our suburbs. The confidence that these treasures are well managed underpins not just environmental protection but also local jobs and businesses.”
“As a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, I understand the importance of getting governance right. Sometimes the fixes are big—new frameworks and new standards. Sometimes they are small and precise, like this one. Both matter. Both make a difference. In committee hearings, we repeatedly hear from traditional owners and local communities about the need for certainty. Certainty builds trust. Certainty delivers continuity. This bill provides exactly that. Let me stress that this bill is not tied to the broader EPBC reform agenda expected later this year. Those reforms—national environment standards, an EPA and more transparency—are moving on their own track. This bill is separate, urgent and about the here and now.”
“Sometimes a plan expires before a new one is ready. That is the gap that this bill closes. This bill ensures Indigenous voices remain central, uninterrupted and authoritative in the management of jointly held reserves. It is about participation but also trust—trust that governance is consistent, respectful and reliable. And it is about stewardship, because good governance is not just paperwork. It is firebreaks cut, sacred sites protected and knowledge applied in real time. It is the everyday works that keep our heritage safe. This bill does not change the role of the Director of National Parks. That role remains as it is today. This is a targeted, standalone fix to a very specific problem.”
“It means decisions are grounded not just in legislation but in culture, knowledge and lived custodianship. It means the people with the deepest connection to country continue to shape how that country is cared for. Without this bill, when plans expire, that authority dissolves. The risk is not abstract. It could mean delays in fire management, cultural site protection or visitor safety. Continuity isn't red tape; it is respect for the land and for the people who have cared for it for millennia. The EPBC Act is the backbone of our national environmental law. At the heart of the act, management plans set out how each reserve will be cared for. They cover everything from heritage protection to weed control, tourism and research. These plans take years to prepare and must be reviewed every decade.”
“Right now, under the EPBC Act, when the management plan for the jointly managed reserve expires, so too does the decision-making authority of the board of management. That means that, overnight, the board goes from being an active, trusted voice to a body unable to make decisions. This bill closes the gap. It allows the boards of management to keep working in line with the most recent plan until the new one is finalised. In plain terms, it keeps the lights on, the wheels turning and the decisions flowing. These boards are not faceless committees; they are made up of people appointed by the minister. Where reserves sit on Indigenous land, as is the case for Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Booderee, traditional owners nominate the majority of its members. That matters.”
“It is a great honour and privilege to be in this place. But, I must say, it is an absolute sight to behold something so rare: the member for Goldstein and the member for Riverina joining together in unity to express the one thing they do agree on, which is to fill their policy vacuum with their hatred of the Labor Party. I'm not sure of the relevance of some of their speeches, but I digress. I rise today in support of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Bill 2025. This bill is small in size but significant in impact. It's about continuity, respect and responsibility. It's about making sure that the way we manage jointly held Commonwealth reserves never misses a beat, even when the paperwork runs behind.”
“I also want to recognise the extraordinary work of our nephrologists, including those gathering in Perth this week for the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology Congress. Your research, advocacy and care change lives every day. To Australians everywhere, speak to your GP. These tests are covered by Medicare. The Albanese Labor government is working to ensure that, when you go to your doctor, the only card you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card. So take a wee, save your kidneys, and take care of yourself before it's too late.”
“I rise to speak about a condition that affects millions of Australians, often without them knowing—chronic kidney disease. For some, the first symptom is renal failure. They don't find out until they're rushed to hospital and placed on emergency dialysis. I was lucky. My kidney disease was picked up early, with about 35 per cent kidney function, thanks to a simple medical during my electrical apprenticeship. That early detection gave me time—time to make changes, manage my health and stay ahead of what is ultimately a lifelong condition. Early detection is simple. A urine test, a blood pressure check—that's it. If you're in this building today, right here in Parliament House, you can join the 'take a wee for CKD' campaign. Yes, that's the real name, and, yes, it might just save your life.”
“And we've introduce the right to disconnect so workers can properly clock off and spend time with their families without the boss calling them at all hours. These reforms are built on a simple principle: Australians should earn more and keep more of what they earn. That is the goal we are delivering on, and we are doing it while growing the economy. Since Labor came to office, we have created more than 1.1 million new jobs. Unemployment remains low, workforce participation remains high and wages are moving in the right direction. This is what Labor government delivers: secure jobs, better pay and fairer workplaces. I am proud to be part of a government that is putting working people first. I commend the motion to the House.”
“That's more than $175 a week—over $9,000 a year—or a 22.7 per cent increase, making a real difference to families who are struggling to keep up. We have made sure that the benefits are not just for some but for all. In aged care and early childhood education, we have delivered funded pay rises for workers who were underpaid for far too long. These are life-changing increases for essential workers who hold our communities together. We have also closed loopholes that allow labour-hire workers to be paid less than permanent employees doing the same job. That is something I experienced myself while on the tools, and I understand how unfair it was. We have criminalised wage theft because taking money out of a worker's pocket is not a dispute; it is theft.”
“What's so radical about wages outpacing inflation and the gender gap narrowing? The truth is there is nothing radical about fairness. It is the coalition who were radical when they sat back and watched a decade of low wages growth while cost-of-living pressures mounted for working families. I know that families in Beldon, Craigie and Karrinyup are still feeling those pressures at the checkout, at the petrol bowser and with their mortgage repayments. People in my electorate are doing it tough. That is why it matters so much that wages are moving again. Since coming to government, Labor has fought to increase the minimum wage, delivering four consecutive raises for 2.9 million workers. In just three years, the national minimum wage has gone up by $4.62 per hour.”
“The ABS confirms this: seven consecutive quarters of real wages growth, the strongest in five years and the longest sustained run in more than a decade. For women in particular, the progress is clear. Early trends in the gender pay gap show positive outcomes, with that gap now at an equal historic low of 11.5 per cent. That means more women, in Moore and across the country, are finally getting closer to the pay they deserve. Those opposite don't want to hear this; they are desperate to discredit these reforms because they want to axe them. Senator Cash went so far as to call them the most radical laws she has ever seen. But what's radical about Australians getting their fair share of the wealth they create? What's so radical about more workers being on agreements than at any time since the early nineties?”
“The independent interim review confirmed that they are, on the whole, achieving the government's intent. Collective agreement coverage has grown 27 per cent since September 2022. That means more workers are now covered by agreements that deliver high wages and better conditions—the highest coverage since enterprise bargaining began in 1991. That's not just a statistic; it's proof that workers and businesses are once again finding common ground. When workers have bargaining power, wages go up, conditions improve and families benefit. Since these reforms, real wages have grown every quarter. After a decade of wages being deliberately kept low under the coalition, we have finally turned the tide.”
“I rise today to support this motion because it speaks directly to what the people of Moore tell me every day: they want secure jobs, better pay and a fair go at work. Before I came into this place I was an industrial lawyer, representing workers who too often had the odds stacked against them. Before that I was an electrician, working on the tools on job sites, experiencing firsthand the difference between a fair employer and the ones who tried to cut corners. So, when I talk about wages, job security and fairness at work, this is not theory to me; it's lived experience. That's why I know how important it is that the Albanese government has put working people back at the centre of our industrial relations system, because the secure jobs, better pay reforms are delivering on exactly what we promised.”
“If they truly cared about national unity, they'd support measures to bring Australians together, not punish them into silence. The Australian flag is not strengthened by legislation like this. It is strengthened by the way we live our values—freedom, fairness and respect for the rule of law. I say this not as a parliamentarian but as someone who owes their life to the public health system. As a kidney transplant recipient, I've seen firsthand what national service and public care mean to real people. Those values are the ones our flag represents. I oppose this motion and invite members of the house to treat the flag and the freedoms it represents with more seriousness than those opposite have done today. Thank you.”
“The government finds flag burning repugnant, but we will not sacrifice fundamental democratic rights for the sake of a press release. We will not pretend that more criminal law is the answer to cultural frustration. We are a liberal democracy. That means we tolerate peaceful dissent even when we disagree with the method. The moment we start criminalising lawful political expression simply because it offends us, we risk losing sight of the very freedoms we claim to defend. Let me be clear: this government takes action when it matters. We enforce the law, we prosecute actual crimes, we do the work. The opposition stage hollow debates to distract from their own policy vacuum. They are not a party of principle; they are a party of slogans.”
“The Criminal Code contains serious offences for persons who support fund, train with or associate with listed terrorist organisations. We don't need symbolic legislation. We already have enforceable laws. So what is this motion really about? It's not about legal reform. It's not about community safety. It's about political theatre. It's about those opposite trying to look tough while offering nothing: no investment in education and no plan to build social cohesion—just another divisive headline to feed the evening news cycle. The 1953 Flags Act has never criminalised desecration—not under Labor and not under the coalition. That's because every government until now has understood that democracy means protecting freedom of expression even when it offends.”
“My brother Joe wears it on his shoulder as a serving member of the Royal Australian Navy. I've seen it fly on the back of his ship, proud, powerful and purposeful. Just last month, I visited the cadets at TS Marmion in Hillarys. These young people represent the flag with discipline and respect, not because of legislation but because they understand its meaning. The government recognises that Australians know the difference between protest and patriotism. We trust their judgement, and we trust the law as it stands. Desecration of the flag can already be dealt with under existing criminal laws where property is damaged or public order is disturbed. Police already have the power to act under state and territory law. In cases where terrorist symbols or organisations are involved, Commonwealth law applies.”
“But what's even more offensive is the hypocrisy of the coalition in trying to make political mileage out of this. This is the same coalition that wrapped itself in the flag while cutting services to veterans and attacking multicultural communities. Now they want to criminalise protest, but only the kind of protest they disagree with. It's the oldest trick in the book: pretend to defend freedom while quietly undermining it. Let's be clear: the Australian flag deserves respect. It flies over our parliament, our embassies, our schools and our RSLs. It is worn by the men and women of the ADF and laid on the coffins of our fallen. But it is not fragile. It does not need to be protected from every offensive act with criminal punishment. I've seen what that flag means.”
“I rise today as the member for Moore, a proud and diverse community of tradespeople, young families, health workers, professionals and retirees. For many of them, our freedoms are valued just as deeply as the flag that represents them. But this motion is nothing more than a flag-waving stunt from those opposite. It offers nothing. It offers no legislative substance. It is just another opportunity for the coalition to play culture wars while pretending to defend the national interest. Let me be absolutely clear: the government deplores the burning or desecration of the Australian flag. So do the overwhelming majority of Australians. It is offensive, it is disrespectful and it runs against the grain of what our community expects.”
“They maintain the trust that makes Medicare work. This bill is not just words passed in Canberra; it is Medicare and the PBS doing their jobs. Australians expect a system that is fair, strong and sustainable. They expect governments to safeguard integrity and improve access. This bill meets those expectations. Its benefits will be seen in homes, workplaces and clinics. I commend this bill to the House, and I do so confident that it strengthens Medicare and the PBS as pillars of fairness, dignity and trust for all Australians.”
“Fairness, dignity and security remain our compass, and this bill follows that compass faithfully. For families in Beldon, it means a child's inhaler without a trade-off at the checkout. For apprentices in Padbury, it means pain relief that does not jeopardise rent. For seniors in Kingsley and Duncraig, it means every script filled on time. For pharmacies in Joondalup, it means certainty to plan. For clinics across Moore, it means predictable settings that support quality care. For the system, it means integrity that is visible and reliable. Every affordable script is a step away from an avoidable ambulance. Every bulk-billed visit frees a hospital bed. Every strong pharmacy anchors access in the community. These reforms are practical, balanced and targeted. They keep patients at the centre.”
“They allow clinicians to spend time where it matters: with the patients. For governments, integrity means stewardship. Every dollar must reach the front line. Leakage must be found and fixed. This bill advances all three principles: dignity, respect and stewardship. It strengthens the social licence of Medicare. It keeps faith with the Australian public. This is Labor's enduring story in health. From foundations to modernisation, the path has always been forward. Each time Labor governs, health care is broadened, strengthened and secured. Whitlam laid the foundations. Hawke and Keating strengthened the PBS. Labor governments resisted efforts to impose higher co-payments. Today, we deliver the largest investment in Medicare in decades and the lowest PBS co-payments in 20 years. The point is consistency of purpose.”
“This bill complements those efforts with a coherent package of reforms. Together, they align incentives, clarify responsibilities and deliver better outcomes. They are built on evidence, consultation and practical experience. The design of the bill respects clinical judgement. It sets system rules without intruding into the consult room. That balance ensures care remains patient-centred. Medicare and the PBS are social compacts. We fund them collectively because illness does not discriminate. We maintain them carefully because public trust sustains them. For households, affordability means dignity. It is the difference between adherence and risk. It is the reassurance that care is within reach. For the health workforce, clarity means respect. Clear and consistent rules honour professional effort.”
“They encourage accurate billing at the point of care. They help detect anomalies quickly. Modern investigative powers allow proportionate responses. Most errors can be corrected through education, but serious misconduct demands firm consequences. Streamlined pharmacy approvals mean real-world improvements in access. Families can obtain timely medicines without unnecessary delay. Communities retain the services they depend upon, and efficient debt recovery returns money directly to patient care. That ensures fairness to contributors and compliance with community standards. It also sends a clear signal that public funds are stewarded responsibly. Vaping and tobacco reforms are another essential step. Protecting young people today prevents the chronic diseases of tomorrow.”
“That is why affordable medicines are not an abstract policy to me; they are a lifeline for Australians managing serious illness. This bill helps protect that lifeline by strengthening integrity and access. In Moore, the benefits of cheaper medicines and stronger Medicare are felt daily. Every affordable prescription helps control chronic conditions. Every bulk-billed consultation supports early treatment and prevention. Urgent care that is convenient and free keeps people healthy and productive. It also preserves hospital capacity for emergencies, and it strengthens confidence in our local health services. This bill supports patients and providers together. Clear rules and fair processes ease the compliance load for those doing the right thing. Shorter claim windows reduce administrative tail risks.”
“Transparent, timely approvals help them align staffing, invest in services and support patients with complex needs. Stronger pharmacies make for stronger communities. This bill strikes the right balance. It educates and corrects where appropriate, escalates when necessary and applies firm penalties for deliberate misconduct. In doing so, it protects patients while respecting professional autonomy. I know firsthand what the PBS means. In 2009, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, and, in 2020, I received a kidney transplant from my brother. Immunosuppressant medicines keep that gift safe, and the PBS keeps them affordable. Without those medicines, a transplant is at risk. Without affordability, adherence is at risk. The PBS turns a medical miracle into a sustained reality.”
“Its return is measured in hospital bed days avoided, productivity preserved and dignity protected. This bill strengthens that return. Integrity also means clarity for providers. Compliance should be predictable, proportionate and transparent. The system should reward good practice and correct honest mistakes. By tightening claim timeframes and modernising investigations, the bill removes grey areas. It sets expectations that providers can clearly understand and meet. That is good governance. Technology and data, when applied properly, are allies of patient safety and value for money. Reliable data enables benchmarking and smarter targeting of education and enforcement. Secure, connected systems reduce duplication and errors. Community pharmacies remain a cornerstone of access.”
“Earlier identification of unusual patterns allows correction, education and enforcement before harm spreads. That protects patients, providers and taxpayers alike. This is not about 'gotcha' enforcement. It is about guardrails, clarity and predictable rules, and public confidence demands nothing less. The principle here is simple: care first, cost fair. Affordable medicine, supported GPs and pharmacists, convenient urgent care and honour systems create compounding benefits. That is how we build a healthier society, in Moore and nationwide. Prevention, too, saves lives and dollars. Immunisation, screening and risk factor management all reduce illness and hospital use. A stronger Medicare and a fairer PBS make prevention achievable for everyone. Health spending is not a sunk cost. It is an investment.”
“A child's deep cut, a sprain or an ear infection may be urgent, but it is not an emergency. Urgent care clinics treat these needs quickly, safely and affordably. Hospitals are then free to focus on strokes, heart attacks and serious trauma. That is reform rooted in common sense and proven in practice. It is Medicare doing what it does best: delivering care when and where it is needed most. Turning to primary care, strengthening bulk-billing is vital for children, pensioners and concession card holders. It supports access, continuity and better outcomes that flow from consistent care. A fair and efficient PBS keeps people well and working. It reduces avoidable hospital admissions, and it helps families manage their household budgets with greater certainty. Data driven stewardship is another strength of this bill.”
“It is the oxygen of Medicare and the PBS. When people present a Medicare card or a prescription, they must trust the price, the rules and the system itself. Reviews have shown there is significant leakage from noncompliance and fraud in health funding. That is money not reaching patients in suburbs like Iluka, Marmion and Sorrento in my electorate. This bill responds directly to that challenge. It creates guardrails to ensure the system works as intended. It supports the majority who comply and identifies the small minority who do not. That is how integrity must operate. Let me turn to Medicare urgent care clinics. Across Australia, these clinics offer extended hours, walk-in care and no out-of-pocket expenses for urgent, but non-life-threatening, issues. They relieve pressure on emergency departments while keeping care close to home.”
“When approvals are delivered on time, pharmacies can plan, invest and hire with confidence. They can expand services like dose administration aids, home delivery and extended hours. This is reform with practical results. When public funds flow back into patient care, communities in suburbs like Hillarys, Sorrento and North Beach see the benefits. Every dollar returned is a dollar available for medicines and services. This is not punishment for its own sake; it is fairness to taxpayers and providers who do the right thing every day. Integrity is what preserves confidence in Medicare. This bill supports broader reforms to protect young people in suburbs like Woodvale and Watermans Bay from the health risks of today becoming the chronic diseases of tomorrow. Prevention now avoids heavier costs later. Integrity is not just a slogan.”