Madonna Jarrett
Brisbane · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Parents, teachers and mental health professionals have increasingly expressed concern that social media companies have prioritised engagement and profit over children's wellbeing.”
“Since the introduction of those reforms, we have seen over five million accounts belonging to under-16s deleted off social media. That's an outcome, Member for Casey. This is a very positive development.”
“Protecting big tech or protecting young children—easy choice. Those opposite have the wrong priorities for this country, and we see it time and time again, whether it's keeping Australians locked out of the housing market, not supporting wage increases, voting against higher taxes or not acting on climate change.”
“Fourth is greater protection from online predators, scams and harmful content. Finally, the reforms send a strong message to the technology companies that child safety should be built into platform design rather than treated as an afterthought.”
“Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X are all central to our modern lifestyle. But, while they're great opportunities to learn, to be creative, to connect, they also expose young people to significant risk. I'm going to make a point here: there is research behind this. There are facts that support this.”
“I'm pretty proud that the government is standing strong against big tech because that's what we need to do. We went out alone, but there are 16 more countries that are coming in behind us, which is pretty important. That's a pretty strong contrast to those opposite, who have chosen big tech over Australian kids.”
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“More than a quarter of those who will benefit will be under the age of 30 and more than half of them will be women. This Labor government is now cutting income tax five times in three different ways. We've already delivered tax cuts to every single Australian taxpayer by bringing rates down and pushing thresholds up. Another tax cut will commence on 1 July, in just a few weeks, and another on 1 July next year. Together with the new tax relief in this bill, the average Australian worker will receive a combined benefit of up to $2,800 in 2028. This isn't small bickies. It's almost $3,000—over a month of the average rent in Brisbane. In my first speech to this House, I spoke of one of the biggest challenges facing leaders right now being intergenerational inequality, especially in housing.”
“The working Australians tax offset, one item in this bill, will provide a permanent tax offset for up to $250 every year for over 13 million Australians from the 2027-28 financial year. This bill also delivers on our commitment to introduce a $1,000 instant tax deduction from the 2026-27 year. Workers can still claim other non-work related deductions such as charitable donations or super contributions, union and professional association membership fees et cetera. This is designed to help make the tax system simpler for millions of workers. This is responsible tax relief targeted at working people. It represents the most meaningful permanent increase to effective tax-free threshold since Labor last increased it more than a decade ago. Around 6.2 million people will benefit, with the average worker receiving an extra $205 at tax time.”
“It was where I painted walls when mum and dad were out, where we shared the yard with the dogs Benji and Tina and even played cricket with a few neighbours, breaking a few windows in the process. But the Albanese government is making some big changes. We've delivered tax cuts for all working Australians and we're now taking steps towards building a fairer economy, one where hard work is rewarded and where the dream of homeownership is not permanently pushed out of reach for our younger generation. Every Australian taxpayer will pay less, with the greatest proportional benefits flowing to low- and middle-income earners. By reducing tax rates in the lowest brackets, Labor has recognised a simple truth: when ordinary Australians are doing it tough, governments should help put more money into their back pockets.”
“For too long, Australia's tax system has more generously rewarded wealth than work. For too long a nurse working nights, a teacher buying classroom supplies, a tradie leaving home before dawn or a retail worker struggling with rising rents have paid a greater share of their income in tax than people making large gains from property and passive investments. That's simply not fair. Right now, it's also simply too tough to get into the housing market—ask Angus and Nick from my electorate. It's so different to when I grew up. Dad was the only wage earner, yet he and mum could afford to buy a house for us kids—eight kids and a few foster kids. It was a small worker's cottage, but it was my security and my home.”
“Hopefully with our ambition it's better. It requires us to set the building blocks for opportunity, the same opportunities that we had. This budget lays down the foundations to deliver just that, and I am proud to be part of a Labor government that is delivering for my community.”
“They have said they will vote against tax reform—the tax reforms that are being introduced in this bill—and that, if this reform gets passed by the parliament, they will repeal them when they are next in government. What we are doing is making fundamental change to support our communities and get more people into a home of their own. We are helping with cost of living through this bill. And I want to say to the young people across Australia and in my Brisbane electorate: this government wants to support you, to give you the best opportunities in life and to give you a fair crack. That's the Australian way, and that's what we will always fight for. As I said at the start of this speech, as leaders we have a responsibility to ensure the next generation can live a life that they are proud of, a life that is no worse than ours.”
“Our reforms will help level the playing field for first home buyers and encourage investment flows to where it's most productive, including new housing supply. We will work with the states on further reforms to cut red tape and support homebuilding. We know more needs to be done. These reforms struck the right balance. It's part of the government's reforms to make the tax system better, simpler and fairer for workers, homebuyers and businesses. Those opposite want to keep younger Australians down and want to continue to lock them out of the housing market. They showed their true colours voting against our cost-of-living measures, including our tax cuts.”
“If you hear what's going on in the online media you would sometimes swear to God it was disappearing, but that's not the case. The fundamental problem that these changes are trying to address is that people who earn an income through their labour are paying a lot more than those who earn an income through assets. Approximately 82 per cent of the population earn their income through labour versus five per cent from capital gains. It's just not fair. Right now it's too hard for many Australians to get into the housing market and get ahead. Housing prices have risen 400 per cent in the last two decades or so. They have gone from four times to eight times the average income over the past 20 years, and ownership is down seven points for young people. Just 44 per cent of Australians aged 24 to 34 own a home of their own.”
“I do want to talk about negative gearing. We're reforming negative gearing and capital gains tax to help more Australians buy a home, encourage investment in new housing supply and productive assets, help fund new tax cuts for workers and, importantly, make the tax system fairer and more sustainable. This is all about backing the Australian ambition of owning your own home and encouraging investment in new homes. We're limiting negative gearing for residential properties from 2027-28 so it can be only used for new builds that add to housing supply, and we're replacing the 50 per cent CGT discount with inflation adjusted indexation from 1 July 2027 to restore taxation of real gains as well as a minimum tax on realised gains. We are not abolishing it; we're changing it.”
“We're reforming the tax system for workers, businesses and future generations through the most significant tax reform package in more than a quarter of a century. Again, this package is pro aspiration, pro worker and pro investment. Our reforms include reducing the tax burden for more than 13 million workers, supporting 75,000 more home owners into the housing market, delivering over $3.5 billion in new measures that lower taxes for businesses and reducing compliance costs for businesses by $540 million a year. This is about tax relief and tax reform to make our economy work in the interests of more Australians, more businesses and future generations. It's about helping workers, it's about helping first home buyers, it's about helping businesses so that more Australians can earn more, keep more of what they earn and get ahead.”
“We're continuing to work with the states and territories to get renters a better deal by strengthening renter protections and expanding long-term rental supply. We've boosted the Commonwealth rent assistance by more than 50 per cent. We're backing Australians doing it toughest. We're supporting young people at risk get into secure housing, with additional investment in crisis accommodation, and we're doing this through the National Youth Housing Supplement. We're continuing to deliver more social and affordable homes through the Housing Australia Future Fund, including in Brisbane. We're coming at this housing challenge from every responsible angle, and this budget builds on our ambitious housing agenda. Our housing plan is pro aspirational and it is pro investment.”
“Combined with our five per cent deposit scheme and our Help to Buy Scheme, we're shifting the scales in favour of aspiring first home buyers. We're also building 100,000 homes just for first home buyers. We're also building homes more quickly. We're tackling housing shortages from every angle, investing another $2 billion in enabling infrastructure so we can speed up the housing approvals, cutting red tape and increasing the skilled construction workforce that we need to unlock another 65,000 homes. We're banning foreign investors from buying existing homes, and we're extending that ban on foreign investors doing this until mid-2029, again, helping more Australians into a home. We're also making rental fairer and more affordable.”
“I don't know about others in this room, but the access to affordable housing is something that is raised with me constantly throughout the electorate, and that's why we're making a big choice to change negative gearing towards new homes and to change the capital gains tax. It would almost be delinquent of us not to do something different. Despite what you're hearing online, people will still be able to invest in the housing market. Investors can still negative gear. However, this will be for new builds, which supports our nation building. It's estimated that these tax reforms will unlock an additional 75,000 homes for first homebuyers. If you put it all together, Labor's plan is a housing system that works for Australians. We're helping Australians buy a home, levelling the playing field for first home buyers and making the system fairer.”
“By contrast, the coalition went to the last election with higher taxes for every taxpayer and spent the last parliament opposing sensible and responsible cost-of-living relief for Australians—another fact. This budget is also about helping people, like Mary-Cait in my electorate, buy their first home or get into a home of their own, like Karen who had lived in shared accommodation following years of unstable living. In Brisbane, we have helped more than 2,200 people into their first home with the five per cent deposit scheme. We're taking decisive action in the budget to boost housing supply and make our tax system fairer, which currently favours investors at the expense of first home buyers. This will help more Australians into homeownership and help on our work over the last four years to deliver more houses.”
“We're making more medicines cheaper and securing free healthcare visits with our Medicare urgent care clinics being a permanent part of Medicare. This includes our new urgent care clinic in Kelvin Grove, which I'm very proud to have delivered. We're increasing the Medicare low-income levy, which means that over one million Australians on lower incomes will continue to pay no or a very low Medicare levy. Since we came to government, we've proudly backed higher wages for three million of Australia's lowest paid workers every year, which has led to an increase in the national minimum wage of over $9,000 a year. Helping with cost of living—we know it's tough—is our top priority as a government, and it really is one of the top priorities in this budget.”
“All up, we're cutting income taxes five times in five different ways, putting nearly $3,000 a year into the pocket of a worker on an average income by 2028. On top of providing tax relief to workers, we're also helping keep costs down. We're cutting the tax on fuel by more than half. Without this, the people in my electorate in Brisbane and across Australia would be paying around 26c a litre more for their fuel. That's around $50 every time you fill up. We're reducing the heavy vehicle road user charge and we're giving the ACCC more power to crack down on price gouging, scammers and unfair trading practices. We're also increasing maximum penalties to corporations who do the wrong thing to $100 million and providing almost $68 million to strengthen enforcement.”
“We found $64 billion in savings, and this means we can provide real cost-of-living relief for Australians through cheaper fuel costs, funding for hospitals, free health care, cheaper medicines and more tax cuts for working Australians while still managing the budget bottom line responsibly. As a portion of the economy, debt is below what we inherited from the coalition. That's a fact. This budget delivers more tax cuts for workers, takes the sting out of petrol prices, helps more Australians get into a home, provides more funding for free hospitals and cheaper medicines, and supports higher wages. We're helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn through another round of permanent tax cuts, with the $250 working Australian tax offset and the $1,000 instant tax deduction.”
“This budget is about making our economy more resilient and introducing big reforms that start to address intergenerational unfairness, especially when it comes to housing. We know that the conflict overseas is pushing up prices here—at the servo station, at the supermarket. When we first came to government, we inherited a trillion dollars of debt, bigger deficits and stagnant wages from the coalition. Since then, in every single budget we have found savings, and this budget is our most responsible yet. The budget is nearly $45 billion stronger than the mid-year update and $264 billion better than what we inherited. We've found more savings in this budget than any on record.”
“We have to reform the system that is holding people back. If we look at the big reforms of our time—Medicare, superannuation, NDIS et cetera—it's been a Labor government that's had the guts to make the big decisions to deliver structural reform. With this bill, we're doing that yet again. Why? Because it goes to the heart of our core values, values of fairness and opportunity for all, and because our system is just not working. As former prime minister Paul Keating said, leadership has always been about two main things: imagination and courage. That's what this bill is. We know Australians are doing it tough at the moment. That's why our priority in the 2026 budget is to continue to roll out responsible cost-of-living relief for people across Brisbane and Australia.”
“In my first speech in parliament I mentioned that one of the biggest challenges facing leaders right now is the need to address intergenerational inequality. I think everyone in this chamber should be motivated to provide at least the same opportunities and aspirations to our younger generation as what we had. That thought is the ethical proposition that underpins this bill. I've talked to many people across my Brisbane community—parents, students, young professionals and many more. All want to see a better future for our next generation. But what I hear is: 'We're working hard. It's tough to get ahead. This system isn't working for us.' And they are right. The status quo is not working, especially regarding the big Australian dream of owning your own home. That's why we have to make a change.”
“The majority-women Albanese government continues to invest in women, putting them and gender equality at the heart of Australia's economic plan, and making women's lives safer, fairer and more equal. When women and girls stand equal, families are stronger, workplaces are fairer, communities thrive and society becomes safer for everyone. This is not about doing something special for women at the expense of men; it's about building our society. We have more work to do, but I'm proud to be part of a Labor government who is delivering for women across Brisbane and Australia. Hear, hear.”
“In fact, First Nations, migrant women, women with disabilities, women in rural and remote communities often face even greater challenges. A women's budget statement should not simply celebrate announcements, though; it must hold governments to account. Real equality requires long-term investment, not short-term headlines. It requires recognising unpaid care work. It requires safe workplaces. It requires economic security and it requires policies designed with women, not merely for women. Ultimately, the success of a women's budget statement should not be measured just by the dollars allocated but by the outcomes achieved. Are women safer? Are women healthier? Are women more financially secure? Are women genuinely equal in opportunity or representation? We are seeing encouraging results, but there is always more work to do.”
“I feel confident enough to walk outside my front door.' These are real stories of real people doing better because of this Labor government's focus on women's health. This budget also continues investment in bulk-billing, Medicare urgent care clinics and mental health support, building on the progress already made to improve women's health care. Our increased funding in these areas represents progress towards a healthcare system that better reflects women's real experiences. However, while progress has been made, challenges do remain—we have to acknowledge that. Women continue to be overrepresented in low-paid industries such as nursing and aged care. The gender pay gap still exists. Housing affordability continues to disproportionately affect single mothers and older women.”
“Some key outcomes are 33 specialist endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics; more than 380,000 women having access to new, cheaper contraceptives—and that's in the first year alone; 430,000 women having access to new menopausal therapies; and Australia's first national menopause awareness program, which will launch this year. This is making a real difference in the lives of women. I was at o-week earlier this year, and a student who had no idea that her contraceptives will now be $7.70 literally jumped for joy when she heard the news. There was also a lady I met while doorknocking whose menopausal medicines are now covered by the PBS. She was so happy. She said to me: 'I can now afford those meds, and it means that I can now go outside.”
“She can leave the dishes to tomorrow. She can live her life in her home in safety and security. Importantly, though, this statement also highlights women's health. For too long, areas such as reproductive health, menopause, endometriosis and maternal care have all been underfunded and/or overlooked. The landmark 2025-26 budget women's health package strengthened Medicare to better support women at every stage of their life. It's already delivering real benefits, including cheaper medicines, more choice and expanded access to women's health services, all designed to improve women's health outcomes into the future.”
“I acknowledge comments made by those earlier in the House—there is more work to do. But, since that investment, 10,000 victims-survivors have received financial and other support through the Leaving Violence Program in its first five months of operation alone, an additional almost 500 frontline workers have been employed across Australia to support victims-survivors, and almost $1 billion has been invested in emergency accommodation, frontline services, legal support and prevention programs. Investment in these services recognises that women's safety is fundamental to women's equality. Programs like these have helped Karen, a local Brisbane woman who was escaping domestic violence. She eventually found a place of her own where she was safe and she could live her life her way. She no longer has to ask when to use the washing machine.”
“That is why the government introduced reforms which include changes to the low income superannuation tax offset, payment of superannuation on government funded paid parental leave, increases to the super guarantee and super being paid on payday. The Women's Budget Statement also acknowledges the devastating national crisis of domestic violence, and ending it is a national priority. Men's violence against women remains distressing, and it's an unacceptable reality. Gender equality cannot be achieved without women being able to feel safe in their homes, in their workplaces, in their communities and online. The government is putting money into this. To support this, the government has invested more than $4.4 billion under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.”
“In December 2024, this Labor government took the steps towards universal child care, announcing a three-day childcare guarantee and $1 billion to build and expand childcare centres. Child care is not simply a family issue. It is a family issue, but it's also an economic issue. When childcare costs become unmanageable, women most often are the ones who reduce their working hours or leave the workforce entirely. This does not have to happen now. I look at Elly, a Brisbane local. She's recently had a baby. She's on government paid parental leave with a solid plan to get back into the workforce. Another major focus has been paid parental leave and superannuation reforms. As I said, historically, caring responsibilities have disproportionately fallen on women. This results in less super in retirement.”
“The Women's Budget Statement exists because budgets are not gender neutral. We get it. This is our fifth Women's Budget Statement, and it reflects our sustained commitment to making gender equality a core economic priority. Every funding decision—it doesn't matter whether it's in health care, child care, taxation, housing or workforce policy—affects men and women differently. At their core, the women's budget statements have focused heavily on key areas such as affordable child care, paid parental leave, women's health, domestic and family violence prevention, housing security and workforce participation. One of the most significant investments has been in early childhood education and child care.”
“Women are still more likely to undertake unpaid work, earn less over a lifetime, experience domestic violence and retire with significantly lower superannuation balances compared to men. But reforms and investments made since 2022 are already improving the lives of women across Australia and will continue to do so into the future, because of budgets like this. Women's labour force participation reached a record high in 2025. The gender pay gap is at a historic low, at 11.5 per cent, and women's full-time average weekly earnings have grown by almost $300 a week since May 2022. That's an 18 per cent increase. Australia has achieved its highest ever international ranking for gender equality, up at 13th, up from 43rd only five years ago. These gains reflect deliberate choices to put gender equality at the centre of government decision-making.”
“I want to say to all women across the country, and in Brisbane, that you matter, that the Labor government are listening and that we are delivering for you. Australia's Women's Budget Statement is more than just a financial document; it's a reflection of what we value as a nation and how seriously we take gender equality. In fact, it was a Labor government that introduced the world's first Women's Budget Statement back in the 1980s, under the legendary prime minister Bob Hawke, and in 2022 the Albanese government brought it back. For decades, women in Australia have faced structural barriers that impacted their financial security, career progression, health outcomes and retirement savings.”
“Women matter and their voices matter: that's what I heard growing up in a house full of seven girls and a brother. Mum was a true role model. She was a powerful voice on social justice issues in our community. I've been surrounded by women teachers, coaches, mentors and friends who guided me and lifted me when I needed it. But, despite this, I navigated a world that was built for men. This isn't a criticism at all; it's just a reflection of our society—the norms and the infrastructure that underpin it. Women make up half our population, yet our issues were often misunderstood, dismissed or ignored. As I reflect on my decades of life, the good news is the world is changing in a very positive way. We know that women getting elected matters, because we can drive the change that women need from within.”
“On the other hand, the Blues went into the season opener with higher taxes and then tackled every cost-of-living measure the Maroons could push forward with. The captain of the Blues even said he'd repeal the tax changes, which was ruled a knock-on by the Australian people. We're not even at the end of the first half, and the Maroons are up by 52 seats. The weather's come in, the crowds want more action and they can't get into a home of their own. So what does the captain do? What does the Prime Minister do? He does the left-foot step and scores a try on housing, and in the post-match interview he said he saw the weather, he heard the crowds and he did what any good captain would do—while the Blues ignored the rules, leaving holes in their defence. The Blues are now back in the shed and we'll see if they've got a better— (Time expired)”
“It is the first State of Origin game tonight, and I am a true Queenslander. It's a clash of the game's greatest. Like any good game, you need a game plan and courage if you're the one that's going to come out on top. It's a bit like this place. On this side of the House you have the mighty Maroons focused and ready to win, while on that side you've got the Blues with most of their bench out injured and still looking for a decent coach. But the Maroons have their game plan: the Prime Minister will have the first carry, with a breakthrough on tax cuts, cheaper fuel and cheaper medicines; the Treasurer will do a cut-out pass and find some savings on the wings; and then it's going back to the PM, who will score under the posts with a fairer deal for first home buyers.”
“My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water. How is the Albanese Labor government helping boost housing supply by fast-tracking environmental approvals? Why is action to boost supply so desperately needed?”
“We've opened more Medicare urgent care clinics—50, in fact—including one in my electorate. From 1 January, we have delivered the next stage in our plan to make the biggest cut to the cost of medicine in the history of the PBS: $25 or less is all that it will cost. The government understands that people are doing it tough. Imagine how much harder it would have been for the people of Brisbane had these cost-of-living measures not been put in place. We're working hard. We're looking after the people of Queensland and Australia.”
“This budget comes on top of a lot of reforms we've already delivered: a tax cut for every taxpayer; pay rises for all minimum and award wage workers, taking total increases under Labor to over $9,000 a year; an extension to paid parental leave to 24 weeks; superannuation paid on government paid parental leave; a $10,000 bonus for housing apprentices to top up their wages, to encourage more skilled workers in a sector that is greatly needed; 30 per cent off home batteries; paid pracs for nurses, teaching, social worker and midwifery students; a boost to Medicare, with $1.8 billion in extra hospital funding; more choice, lower cost and high-quality health care for Australian women; the expanded five per cent deposit scheme; pay rises for aged-care nurses; the expansion of bulk-billing; a freeze on the draft beer excise and 20 per cent cuts to student debt.”
“We'll grow our national reserves of jet fuel and diesel to 50 days by keeping more fuel here and by making gas companies reserve 20 per cent of their exports for Australia. We are making sure that we're better prepared for future energy shocks. But no matter what's happening in the world, these changes are all about remaining focused on helping Australians here at home. Making sure hard work pays off and everyone has the opportunity to get ahead is what's important to this government.”
“In fact, Mary-Cait, who I spoke to no more than three or four days ago, had moved from Brisbane to Ipswich to Toowoomba and wanted to settle in Brisbane. Eventually, under the five per cent deposit scheme, she has found a safe and permanent home in the Brisbane electorate. She said, 'It's not just a safe roof over my head and that of my family's. It makes me feel settled and it enables me to build my community.' This budget is also putting an extra $2 billion into infrastructure needed to build more homes more quickly. It's part of what we need to do to build those 1.2 million homes over the next five years. But we are living in an uncertain world—there's no question about it—which is why we're investing to buy more fuel and fertiliser now.”
“Young people are also at the centre of this budget. They're telling us that they feel the dream of homeownership is disappearing for their generation. When you work and you save hard, you should be able to buy a home of your own but the current system is skewed against that. We have delivered the five per cent deposit scheme for first homebuyers, and we're building 100,000 homes set aside just for them. But right now, first homebuyers are being priced out of the property market because of investors being backed by tax breaks like negative gearing. We're levelling that playing field. We had to do something. People were asking me and telling me about the difficulties they're facing across our electorate. Mary-Cait is one.”
“Conflict far from home is pushing up prices here, from the servo to the supermarket, so we're delivering more tax cuts from 1 July for every Australian taxpayer. More tax cuts are rolling out now, an extra $250 off working Australian's tax bills permanently. Some might say that that's not enough, but I say, when I speak to people from my electorate, 'every little bit helps'. A $1,000 instant tax deduction without receipts makes it easier for people. And on top of that, we're cutting fuel taxes to help save Australians money. We're also making health care more accessible and more affordable. A sudden fever or an unexpected injury can turn into bills that people just aren't ready for. That's why we've delivered the urgent care clinics and are ensuring that they remain a permanent part of our Medicare system.”
“I wholeheartedly reject the motion that's been moved by the member for Fadden, and some of the comments just made by the member for Casey. We on this side of the House do know that Australians are doing it tough at the moment, and that's why the priority for our 2026 budget has been to continue to roll out responsible cost-of-living relief for people across Brisbane and Australia. The budget is about making our economy more resilient and about introducing some big reforms that start to address the intergenerational inequalities, especially when it comes to housing, particularly young people being locked out of the housing market by unfair tax incentives for others. We're cutting taxes for 13 million workers, so the average working Australian will be about $2,800 better off every year.”
“It'll help them manage their household budgets, not to mention saving them time and frustration. They will also help businesses across our economies. This bill is about fairness, and it's about doing the right thing. I commend the bill to the House.”
“This bill focuses on consumer protections, but unfair trading practices don't only affect individuals. Small businesses and franchises often face the same vulnerabilities when dealing with larger suppliers. The government will consult on extending unfairness protections to small businesses, including those in franchising. That work is underway. In presenting this bill, we reaffirm a basic principle: markets work best when they're fair, when consumers are treated with respect rather than worn down, when innovation in business is used for the right purpose and when transparency is rewarded and hidden fees are not. The reforms in this bill—banning unfair trading practices, cracking down on drip pricing and cleaning up subscriptions—will help Australians make properly informed purchase decisions.”
“Additionally, through a reformed National Competition Policy supported by a $900 million National Productivity Fund, the government is working with the states and territories to remove commercial and industrial planning and zoning barriers that make it harder for new entrants to compete. We're progressing reforms to create a single national market for goods, streamlining standards, improving heavy vehicle productivity and improving occupational licensing so that workers can move more freely across jurisdictions. We're also supporting health and care professionals to work their full scope of practice. Together, these reforms really strengthen competition and dynamism in our markets. They boost productivity and contribute to a fairer marketplace.”
“Under the former government, the supermarket food and grocery code was merely voluntary, without penalties for wrongdoing. Under Labor, the food and grocery code is mandatory, backed by strong penalties that prevent supermarkets from using their market power to unfairly squeeze farmers and other suppliers. We know penalties make a big difference to behaviour; that's why the government has increased maximum penalties under the Competition and Consumer Act from $10 million to $50 million in 2022, and last month up to $100 million. Stronger sanctions ensure that breaches of consumer law can't be dismissed as a mere cost of doing business. They change behaviour, and they ensure that businesses of all sizes face meaningful consequences for conduct that undermines fairness.”
“We've legislated the biggest overhaul of Australia's merger laws in 50 years, ensuring major mergers are properly assessed and anticompetitive acquisitions can't slip through. We've boosted funding to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission by more than $30 million to strengthen action on misleading pricing, particularly in supermarkets and other consumer-facing markets. We've outlawed unfair contract terms and, for the first time, empowered the regulators—the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission—to seek penalties for breaches. We're strengthening the Unit Pricing Code and cracking down on shrinkflation so consumers can see when products get smaller without getting cheaper.”
“When a customer is entering a subscription, businesses must clearly disclose what it costs, how long it runs, how it renews and how it can be ended. The bill also establishes reminder notices. It's hard enough to keep track of what's going on in our lives generally, let alone a subscription that we might have signed up to five years ago, so consumers will get timely prompts when a trial ends or when a renewal is approaching. Cancellation must be easy to find and require only steps that are reasonably necessary. If you can sign up in seconds, you should be able to cancel just as easily. Many reputable businesses already meet this standard, but this bill makes it universal. The bill is part of a broader agenda to strengthen competition, boost transparency and support consumers and businesses across the economy.”
“Subscriptions provide access to news, fitness, entertainment software and many other services. According to research from the Consumer Policy Research Centre, three in four Australians have had a negative experience when trying to cancel a subscription. Nearly half have spent more time than they intended trying to exit a service. One in three have felt pressured to stay. One in 10 Australians have given up trying to cancel and just kept paying for a service they no longer wanted. Some people have been so frustrated by unwanted subscriptions that they've chosen to cancel the credit card or the bank account, just to get rid of the recurring subscription. These unwanted subscriptions cost Australian consumers an estimated $971 million a year, and this bill addresses these problems directly.”
“You jump on the website looking for the subscription cancellation button. Sometimes you can't find it; sometimes you can. You click the button and it takes you to another screen. Maybe it asks you if you want to keep your subscription at a cheaper rate. You might click no. It takes you to another screen and asks you to explain why you're leaving the subscription et cetera. You click on the button and then it asks you to email the company to cancel the subscription, and on it goes. This tactic is called shutdown subscription trap, and we are putting a stop to it too. Businesses use confusion, dark patterns and consumer fatigue to keep people paying, and they won't be able to keep doing that. Subscriptions are now a regular part of household budgeting. I'm sure we've all got them.”