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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“Australians deserve a fair go, and these reforms ensure no household or business pays more than it should. We're also helping Australians take control of their power bills with the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. This program provides a 30 per cent discount, around $4,000, off the cost of a typical home battery, helping more households store their own energy and cut bills. For households with existing rooftop solar, that means saving up to $1,100 per year. For those installing new solar and battery systems, the saving can be as high as $2,300 annually, slashing bills by up to 90 per cent. In just the first eight weeks of the program, over 30,000 homes have already installed batteries to store their sunshine. By 2030, this support is expected to drive over one million battery installations nationwide.”
“For small businesses, it means keeping the doors open and staff employed without cutting corners elsewhere. This package is designed to help where it is needed most: households under the greatest cost-of-living pressures and small businesses most exposed to rising energy costs. While the rebate is temporary, it gives families and businesses breathing space now, while broader reforms and clean energy investments take effect. Alongside immediate relief, we're also making the energy market fairer and more transparent. From 2026, new rules will stop the sneaky price hikes by preventing retailers from increasing prices more than once a year; ban unfair fees and ensure every customer has a fee-free payment option; and guarantee that hardship customers get the best deal available from their retailer.”
“On 1 July 2025, every Australian household and around one million small businesses nationwide automatically received an additional $150 rebate. In my electorate of Moore, that means support for more than 58,000 households. Importantly, this relief is automatic—no forms, no applications, no delays. It goes straight onto the bills, where it is needed most. For small businesses, eligibility depended on whether they met the definition of an electricity small customer, meaning an annual electricity use of less than 50 megawatt hours. That includes businesses in embedded networks like shopping centres, provided they fell below that threshold. For families in Moore, this support means being able to keep the heater on in winter without worrying about the bill.”
“I rise today to speak in strong support of the energy bill relief plan. This plan delivers relief today and drives reform for tomorrow. It tackles immediate cost-of-living pressures while laying the groundwork for a cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy future. Over the past 18 months, global energy markets have faced unprecedented upheaval. Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent wholesale energy prices soaring, creating volatility and uncertainty around the world. Australian families and businesses have felt these impacts directly. Bills have risen, budgets are stretched, and small businesses are facing harder choices than ever before. This plan provides a targeted, practical response, delivering immediate energy bill relief while driving long-term reforms to secure affordable, reliable power for all Australians.”
“It was a Labor government that protected the Great Barrier Reef, legislated to save the Murray-Darling Basin and drove the last major expansion of Australia's renewable energy sector. When Australians look back at every major environmental achievement, they see a Labor government behind it. This government is continuing that legacy. We are driving a renewable energy boom, helping households electrify their homes and cutting emissions, while growing secure jobs in clean industries. We are leading the country through the most significant economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution, and we are doing it responsibly. We understand that Australians want more than political theatre. They want results. While others argue, we legislate. (Time expired)”
“That decision cost Australia over a decade of meaningful climate action—a decade where emissions kept rising and power prices went up and we lost our competitive edge in clean technology. We're playing catch-up now because the Greens put purity over progress. Even today, we still hear lectures from those opposite about ambition. But ambition is easy; delivery is harder. While the Greens talk, this government gets on with the business of reducing emissions, building renewable industries and creating jobs for Australians. Labor is, and always has been, the true party of the environment. It was a Labor government that created Landcare, established the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and put solar on rooftops across the country.”
“We're also backing Australian manufacturing through the National Reconstruction Fund because we want solar panels, batteries and green steel made right here by Australian workers. The clean energy revolution should mean more jobs in our suburbs, stronger industries in our regions and a fairer, more sustainable economy for everyone. I'll now turn to the Greens. They often describe themselves as the party of the environment, but, when the chance came to deliver real change, they failed at the one job they claim to hold above all others. In 2009, when Labor introduced the economy-wide carbon-pricing mechanism, the single most effective tool to drive down emissions, instead of working with us to lock in lasting reform, the Greens teamed up with the Liberals to block it.”
“For the first time, we have a system that makes emissions reduction a condition of doing business in this country, and we're making the investments needed to make this transition work. We're rolling out billions in renewable energy, storage and transmission projects through initiatives like Rewiring the Nation. This isn't just good environmental policy; it's sound economic management. Every dollar invested in clean energy today helps secure lower power prices for tomorrow. It builds resilience in our grid, creates thousands of secure, well-paying jobs and positions Australia as a leader in the industries of the future. We're not just responding to climate change; we're using the moment to reshape our economy for decades to come.”
“Labor came to office with a mandate to act decisively on climate change, seize the economic opportunities of clean energy and lower power bills for households and businesses. That's exactly what we are doing, because Australians voted for progress, not paralysis. We have legislated a 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030—the most ambitious target ever endorsed by the Australian parliament. We've also set a pathway to net zero by 2050, backed by science and grounded in evidence, because Australians cannot afford another lost decade of climate inaction. Through our safeguard-mechanism reforms, we've made sure Australia's biggest polluters actually reduce their emissions rather than shift the problem elsewhere.”
“I rise to oppose the motion put forward by the member for Ryan. In my electorate of Moore, we are lucky to be home to some of Western Australia's most remarkable natural environments, from Yellagonga National Park to the coastal dunes protected by groups like the Friends of Sorrento Beach and Marmion Foreshore and the Friends of Trigg Bushland. Local volunteers like Mike Norman and Jann McFarlane know better than most that protecting the environment takes hard work, collaboration and delivery—not slogans and stunts. The member for Ryan's party often talks about ambition, but ambition alone won't cut emissions or create jobs. Ambition without delivery leaves us with headlines, not outcomes. This government is focused on action because Australians expect it to get on with the job.”
“This reform is about more than just numbers on a balance sheet; it's about restoring fairness to a system that too often leaves people behind.”
“Moore is home to Edith Cowan University's Joondalup campus, one of WA's leading tertiary education institutions and a cornerstone of the local community. Future nurses, teachers, engineers and midwives study here. Many are in Commonwealth supported places and will directly benefit from this 20 per cent HECS cut. I was recently privileged to tour, with Professor Karen Strickland, through the upgraded midwifery school, where students will also be assisted by the paid prac program. This reform reflects the values I bring to this place: fairness, equity and the belief that education should be a ladder, not a burden. No-one should be punished for getting an education, and no-one should have to choose between building their future and affording their present.”
“Indexation can take people by surprise, and, for many, the finish line feels like it keeps moving further away. That's why I'm proud the Albanese Labor government is delivering meaningful relief, cutting every eligible student debt by 20 per cent. It's a bold and fair reform that reflects the pressures students and graduates face, and it will ensure the system works better into the future. More than three million Australians will benefit from this reform, including over 18,000 people in my electorate of Moore who together hold more than $465 million in student debt. That includes over 12,000 young people under 35, many of whom are just starting out in their careers. The average debt among them is around $27,000—not a small figure in today's economic climate. This is not an abstract policy; it's a local issue with real impacts.”
“Those who know me know how much I value the power of education. After qualifying and working as an electrician, I retrained as a lawyer—a journey that opened doors I never thought I'd walk through and that ultimately led me to this place. Education transforms lives. It builds skills, unlocks opportunity and helps people realise their potential, no matter where they start. But I also understand how burdensome student debt can be. Like many Australians I felt the weight of a HECS loan, especially when trying to buy a home, start a family or simply make ends meet. Australia's HECS system is a good one. It removes the upfront cost of university and ensures your ability to study isn't determined by your postcode or your parents' bank balance. But, let's be honest, the system hasn't kept pace with reality. Debt still accumulates.”
“Let's talk about the man who was driving that clown car over there, Peter Dutton, the former Leader of the Opposition, the member for Dickson—yes, the bloke who thought the path back to government was through raising taxes for 14 million Australians. And what for? Not for health, not for schools but for a $300 billion nuclear fantasy. There was no business case, no rollout plan, no detail, just a vibe—and a very expensive one. And how did the voters of Dickson feel about that? They voted him out—the first opposition leader in Australian history to lose his seat. That's not just rejection; that is a total write-off of the clown car that the former member of the opposition was driving.”
“Let's not pretend the member for Fairfax is worried about average Australian taxpayers, because here's the truth. The coalition voted against tax cuts for every taxpayer—every single one. Labor is delivering a fairer tax system, where someone who is earning $50,000 gets double the tax cut they would have received under the coalition. But the member for Fairfax wanted someone who is on half a million dollars a year to pocket nine grand while someone on $60,000 got crumbs. That's not economic policy; it's trickle-down fantasy—out of touch, out of ideas—and the Australian people told you that at the election.”
“Here we go again—another lecture from the party that racked up a trillion dollars worth of debt—that's 'trillion', with a t—and now they're clutching their pearls about higher spending. Those opposite want to accuse this government of being addicted to taxes and spending. Let's get one thing straight. Those opposite left Australians with a trillion dollars of debt with little to show for it. I'll stress this slowly for the benefit of those opposite, who clearly aren't great with numbers—a trillion is followed by 12 zeroes. That's nine and three, okay? If you can't count, don't lecture us about balancing the budget. They've doubled the debt, and now they've got the gall to complain about the interest bill they left behind. Come off it!”
“It safeguards the take-home pay of around 2.6 million award-reliant Australian workers, including in my electorate of Moore. This bill protects the people who keep our shops open and our hospitals running 24/7—the shift workers who keep the lights on when many people are at home with their family. Protecting penalty rates is about respecting people's time and effort. I've stood on job sites and picket lines, and I know what a few extra dollars on a Sunday means for the family budget. People shouldn't need multiple jobs to cover the basics. (Time expired)”
“Those of you who endured my first speech already know I come from working-class stock. Before I wore this pin, I wore steel caps. I even poured beers while studying. I did this for a rate of $8 an hour thanks to the Liberal government's Work Choices. Getting by on this rate meant struggling to pay for rent and groceries. I am proud to stand here as a member of the great Australian Labor Party because we're on the side of workers. We get it; we've lived the reality of trying to make a living and we're determined to lift standards—not engage in a race to the bottom like those opposite. That's why, last week, the Albanese Labor government introduced the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 to make sure penalty and overtime rates can't be traded away and that no worker is left worse off.”
“You've shown me what it means to lead with purpose and serve with purpose. I'm extremely proud to stand alongside you. To the members of this House: I look forward to working with you, learning from you and occasionally debating with you, loudly. I'd like to finish on this. To the young people out there who feel like they don't belong: maybe this place is for you, too. Maybe one day you'll be here, not because you fit the mould but because you didn't. Sometimes the hand that you hold doesn't hold you down. Sometimes it lifts you up.”
“I'll do everything I can to make you proud. And to my oldest friends, Murray, Logan, Scott, Andrew and Cameron: thank you for keeping me grounded, honest and moving forward. But to the people of Moore: thank you for your trust. I won't waste it. I'll work hard, I'll listen, and I'll fight for the things that matter to you. You've put your faith in me, and I intend to repay it one conversation, one vote, one outcome at a time. To the Prime Minister: thank you, Albo, for your support, for your example and for proving that a love of music and a love of people are not just compatible to leadership—they're essential. To my WA Labor colleagues Pat Gorman, Matt Keogh, Madeleine King, Anne Aly and Josh Wilson: you've known me since this journey began back in 2016. Thank you for your guidance, advice and encouragement.”
“To the United Professional Firefighters Union: thank you for giving me a chance to learn a new profession and trusting me to represent your members. To the RBTU and the AMWU: your support has meant more than you know. To the member for the Kingsley, Hillarys and Joondalup branches: thank you for your dedication, your energy, and your belief that Moore could be won. To Kim Young, Sue Hearn and Greg Wilton: your guidance, political education, belief and hard work made all the difference. To my colleagues and friends in the WA parliament, Caitlin Collins, Emily Hamilton, Jess Stojkovski, Stuart Aubrey and Mark Folkard: thank you for your friendship and support. To my campaign director, Tim Grey-Smith: thank you for believing. You ran a campaign that was smart, steady and full of heart. To my campaign team and staff: thank you for backing me.”
“You raised the kid who asked too many questions, challenged everything and somehow turned that into a job. You taught me the value of hard work, doing the right thing when no-one's watching and backing yourself when the odds aren't in your favour. If I stand a little taller today, it's because I'm standing on the shoulders of your sacrifice and love. To my brother Joe, who saved my life by donating his good kidney: I carry that with me every day. To my other brothers, Greg, Kieran and Dominic: Joe set a pretty high bar. But in all seriousness, I'm proud to call you my brothers. To Professor Neil Boudville, who oversaw my care and transplant for more a decade: I wouldn't be standing here without you. Thank you. To Adam Woodage and Michael Wright from the Electrical Trades Union: you've always had my back, and I'll never forget it.”
“Parliament House was built beneath the feet of the people to remind us we serve the people, not the other way around. That belief has guided every step that brought me here, but I didn't take those steps alone. To my partner, Clare—for your love, your honesty and your fierce belief in me—you are my home. Now, Clare has always been known for her wise investments. She picked me up when I was 38, an electrician with a dodgy kidney, two tool bags and a dream of being a politician that sounded more like a punchline than a plan. Some invest in shares or property; Clare invested in me. I reckon she's still waiting for the dividend, but I'm working on it! My boys aren't here—chaos! They won't remember this speech, but hopefully one day they read it and feel proud. To my parents, John and Mary: look what you have done!”
“There will be challenges—of course there will—but I've stared down worse and I know what it means to fight and I know what it means to lose. But I've learned that courage isn't the absence of fear; it's doing it anyway. It's holding your kids close and then standing up to speak. It's pressing play when everything inside you says pause. There's a poem that hangs on the wall of my office, Martin Niemoller's 'First They Came', a stark reminder of what happens when good people stay silent. Its message is simple: if we don't speak out for others, there may be no-one left to speak out for us. That poem is a compass, a reminder that silence helps the powerful and hurts the vulnerable. Every time I look up at the grass above this building, I remember why that matters.”
“And as Hamilton put it: Legacy! What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see I'm here for that garden, full of song, a fair go and opportunity for my kids, for yours, for the next band that plays in Joondalup, for the kid in Edgewater who dreams of studying medicine, for the worker in Beldon who just wants a fair deal. For 35 years, Moore hasn't had a Labor member. That ends now. There weren't many people who thought I could win Moore back. In 2022, I was almost good enough! But here I am and I'm not going away. I'm not here just to hold the seat; I'm here to make it sing, to make sure the voices of our suburbs ring out in policy, in parliament and maybe even in the distorted guitars and social perspective of punk.”
“I've stood with families after injury, illness and injustice and then gone home to change nappies at 3 am, because I'm a dad before I'm anything else. People ask why I ran. The truth is that once you've stood beside someone on the worst day of their life after a workplace death, a failed workers comp claim or a wrongful dismissal, it's hard to unsee that. It gets in your blood. I didn't run because I wanted to be a politician; I ran because I've seen too many people get shocked by the systems that were meant to shield them. I couldn't keep drawing up briefs and crossing my fingers. I was tired of trying to restore power without the switchboard. I didn't want to just survive the system; I wanted to rewire it. I know people say, 'Politics will change you,' and maybe it will, but I'd rather try and fail than never try at all.”
“They're vulnerable, and some people exploit that. I've stood beside apprentices who were threatened when they raised safety concerns or were too scared to say they didn't understand a task. That's not training; that is exploitation, and every time we fail an apprentice, we fail our future. If we want a country that builds things, fixes things, invents things, it starts with backing our apprentices, not breaking them. I believe in public education. I believe in a strong union movement. I believe in workplace rights, fair wages, free TAFE and safe jobs. I believe in art, in music, in laughter and, to the horror of my staff, in dad jokes. I've been part of campaigns where we've changed safety procedures after an injury. I've represented health and safety reps who've stopped unsafe work.”
“At 25, just before starting my electrical apprenticeship, a routine prework medical found something wasn't right. They told me to follow up with my GP, who sent me for more tests and referred me to Professor Neil Boudville. That's when I first heard the words 'chronic kidney disease'. I'd barely picked up a set of tools and already I was carrying a health condition that shadowed me for more than a decade and led to me having a kidney transplant in 2020. I wasn't special; I was just lucky—lucky to have the support of a great family, lucky to have Medicare, lucky to live in a country that didn't put a price on my future. That's why I will always defend Medicare. But health isn't the only battle working people face. We continue to see apprentices being treated poorly, pushed too hard, paid too little, left without support.”
“My family's pubs gave music a home, a stage, a sticky carpet, a chance to be heard—my mum's thinking, 'Oh no!' But that's where I learned that music isn't just entertainment; its protest, it's poetry, it's belonging. Music taught me to question authority, to speak out, to feel. Songs remind me that we govern not just with laws but with stories. Music has been the highway of my life, and now, in this place, I get to help build the on-ramps so others can find their way. I want kids in Connolly to pick up guitars. I want teenagers in Duncraig to choreograph dance routines. I want mural art in Craigie, punk gigs in Heathridge and poetry in Padbury. I want working-class kids to see their own lives reflected on stage, not just once a year but every weekend. Every life has off-notes, and sometimes those are what gives a song its power.”
“We must turn the Joondalup Performing Arts and Cultural Centre into reality, a venue that'll put our city on the map for every touring band and school orchestra. Music, theatre, libraries: these are bridges between people. Culture is infrastructure, too—the stages on which identity is built, because culture isn't just something we consume; it's something we create. And it doesn't belong just to the elite. Some of the most honest stories ever told came from local pubs and backyard jam sessions. Moore's suburbs have their own voice: raw, honest and full of life. It's time we gave them a proper mic and a proper stage, not just in backyards or pubs but in venues worthy of the talent we're growing, so the next generation doesn't have to leave Joondalup to be heard.”
“It's a city that grew from vision, shaped by planning, migration and opportunity. For decades it has been a place where new suburbs rose from the bush and new Australians built their lives. There's a time capsule buried near the train station; it was buried in 1999, and it's to be opened in 2029. This is a reminder of just how fast the future arrives and how bold the original dream was. That capsule reminds us, though, that bold ideas take time, but they also take commitment. We owe it to the people who planted those dreams to see them realised. I see the future for Joondalup as a cultural capital, a city that doesn't just house people but is a place that inspires them, a place where kids can learn, play and perform, and a home for live music, local talent and big ideas.”
“There's a lyric that's stayed with me ever since: 'I am not throwing away my shot!' This is my shot—my shot to fight for my community of Moore, a community that stretches along Perth's northern corridor, from Trigg in the south to Iluka in the north, a stretch of coastline patrolled by volunteers from our local surf lifesaving clubs at Trigg, Sorrento and Mullaloo. Our community spirit isn't just in the sand; it's in the suburbs. It's a region defined by families juggling work, school runs and weekend sport, a place where ambition is measured in early starts, late finishes and long drives to footy training and back, a community built on hard work, hope and determination to give the next generation more than we had. The spirit is old school: help your neighbour, back your mates, speak your mind. Joondalup is the urban heart of Moore.”
“It's a confronting line, but it's always stayed with me, because sometimes the people or the systems that claim to support you are the same ones holding you back. Recognising that, learning to stand up anyway, is how many of us from working class backgrounds find our voice. It's how we learn to fight for something better. Years later, I found another kind of anthem, in an unlikely place. Now, I'll be honest: I never listened to a musical until I met my partner, Clare. But she introduced me to Hamilton , the perfect crossover of great music and great politics—a story about someone who wasn't meant to be in the room but wouldn't take no for an answer.”
“I've gone from live wires to legislation, from wiring offices and mines to writing laws. And every shift, every fork in the road, added something to who I am, because your story doesn't have to be polished or perfect to be powerful. Before I found politics, or even law, I found music, particularly alternative music—the soundtrack of share houses, long drives and cheap guitars. It didn't always offer solutions, but it made you feel seen. That music has shaped how I've seen the world. It gave working class kids like me a voice, even when no-one else was listening. In preparing for today, I kept returning to a lyric from Everclear: 'the hand you hold is the hand that holds you down'.”
“One year you're an apprentice; the next you're mentoring one. One week you're on night shift; the next you're looking for a new contract. Change isn't a theory in industry. It's reality. You learn to adapt, or you don't last. That ability to change course, take a risk, back yourself and try something new is something we don't talk enough about in politics. But it's baked into the lived of working people. Whether it's retraining, recovering, starting over or just picking yourself up and turning up again on Monday, that's resilience. I've met sparkies who became small-business owners, painters who became nurses and publicans and chefs who became teachers. There's no straight line through life, and we should stop pretending there is. I'm standing here because I took a few detours. I've changed careers, cities and expectations.”
“They taught me how to stay calm when things went wrong, how to think on my feet, how to de-escalate a situation before it kicked off, how to finish the job even when it was raining, the plans were wrong and someone was shouting at you from across the bar. I didn't grow up dreaming of conduit or cable trays, but, once I put on the hi-vis, I found a trade that made sense. It was practical, tangible and essential. I still remember the buzz of finishing a job and knowing that when you flicked a switch something lit up because of you. There's a deep satisfaction in that—the kind of pride that comes from using your hands, your brain and your back all at once. It's not glamorous work, but it's good work, honest work, and I'll always carry that with me. Being a tradie taught me that nothing stays the same for long.”
“Somewhere along the way I realised I might be better at making laws than enforcing them. Not many lawyers wear steelcaps, but, then again, not many sparkies wear robes. Turns out whether it's a switchboard or a courtroom, the job is the same: keep calm, stay grounded and pray nothing catches fire! Maybe that's why I've always tried to make sense of the chaos—to understand how things go wrong and what can be done better. That drive comes from seeing people slip through the cracks. In the Fair Work Commission, on job sites, over the bar, it's knowing someone has to be willing to speak up. Being an electrician taught me more than how to run a cable or wire a switchboard, and working in pubs taught me more than how to pour a beer. Both jobs taught me how to read a room—not just for voltage but for people.”
“I am not one thing, but it is the sum of my experiences that brings me here and gives me the insight to do this job. I come from working-class stock. I've poured beers, pulled cables, written briefs and represented workers. I've stood on job sites and picket lines, and I've heard more excuses from bosses than beats in a Ramones song. But the common thread, the baseline that has carried me, has always been a love for people, a belief in fairness and a commitment to opportunity, equity and the dignity of work—values at the very heart of the Labor movement. People often ask me how I went from being an electrician to being a lawyer. I tell them it's actually a pretty straight line. Being a sparkie got me into the Electrical Trades Union, the union got me into politics, and politics eventually led me to law.”
“I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, and I pay my respects to their elders past and present. I would also like to pay my respects to the traditional owners of the land of my community, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. I wasn't born into politics. I'm the son of a painter who was the son of a painter. I wasn't the first in my family to go to university or the first to work in law—because of Labor government policies. But I am the first to stand here in this place, and that matters. That's because I didn't grow up thinking I'd end up here. But this life, in all its twists, brought me here anyway. The truth is I've never fit neatly into a single box. I'm a qualified electrician and a lawyer, a former publican, a father and now a parliamentarian.”