Alice Jordan-Baird
Gorton · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“This includes incentives like the Commonwealth Prac Payment, which means students on their mandatory nursing and midwifery placements will be paid for their work, making life easier for our nursing and midwifery students.”
“We took health care to the election, and right across the board we're legislating change. We've capped the cost of PBS-listed medicines at just $25, the lowest it's been since 2004—when I was in primary school—which has seen a saving of more than $14 million in my electorate of Gorton.”
“With competing cost-of-living pressures, these families shouldn't be worrying about the cost of seeing a doctor as well. These families deserve regular access to affordable GP appointments, and that's why this bill matters.”
“Our green and gold Medicare card means opportunity. It means receiving high-quality health care, regardless of your bank balance. I'm so proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government, which is committed to strengthening Medicare for generations to come, and this bill, the Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measur…”
“It means that, in Melbourne's western suburbs, people in our community have access to free walk-in care when they need it. With this budget, we're making urgent care clinics like the ones in Melton and Sunshine permanent. Urgent care clinics play a really important role in taking the pressure off our emergency departments.”
“Our introduction of Medicare bulk-billing clinics is really making a huge difference in our communities across the country. I'm really proud to report that, in my community, there are now 24 Medicare bulk-billing practices—up from 13 before our bulk-billing changes were introduced.”
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“I couldn't be prouder to be part of a Labor government made up of 56 per cent women, because, when we elect women, we legislate on women's issues. Federation Chamber adjourned at 12 : 29”
“That's why the Albanese government will work to restrict access to nudification and undetectable stalking tools, engaging closely with industry on how best to achieve this. These are proactive steps to addressing current gaps in the law when it comes to preventing abuse facilitated by evolving technologies. These technologies have a huge impact on the mental health of women. Thanks to these initiatives, Australian women and their families will save thousands of dollars on health related costs across their lifetimes. Women will be safer as we legislate around the dangers of evolving technologies, and women will have access to more and better care closer to home. This is what happens when we elect women; women's issues become the forefront of the government's agenda.”
“This will make such a difference to the lives of women across our country. We also understand that girls and women facing mental health challenges still see very real discrimination and obstacles in society. This all comes alongside this week's announcement that the Albanese Labor government is strengthening its world-leading online safety laws to protect Australians from the harms of predatory technology. Nudification and deep fake apps are abhorrent technologies that are designed to turn photos of someone into sexually explicit content without their consent. It's absolutely disgusting. As a young woman, I find this really scary. In Australia, too many women experience sexual violence. It's a huge issue, and it's a women's health issue.”
“Clinics like these improve access for women to diagnostic, treatment and referral services for endometriosis and pelvic pain. They also build the primary care workforce to manage these conditions and improve access to new information and care pathways. For women suffering from endometriosis and pelvic pain, this kind of care can be life changing. This government understands how important access to this kind of care is to women, and that's why we've invested to open new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics for women. Mental health is another significant side of women's health. We often put it to one side as we focus on the others around us. That's why we're also opening a number of mental health urgent care clinics, where you can walk in and immediately receive the mental care you need.”
“These important medications help people to manage menopausal symptoms. They also benefit women's long-term bone health and help manage CVD risk. Robyn is now not having to pay $500 or $600 to access these treatments; she's only having to pay $30 every couple of months, which is much more accessible for people like Robyn to help manage their menopause. This is a really proactive step to make women's health more accessible for all Australians. I've talked to a number of young women in my electorate who live with the pain and suffering of conditions like endometriosis every single day. All of this comes alongside the opening of 22 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, with 11 to be opening soon. Women with endometriosis and pelvic pain have suffered in silence for too long without safe places to seek support and treatment.”
“She recently joined tens of thousands of runners for the City2Surf run a few weeks ago. Not only did she complete the 15-kilometre course; she ran bare chested to raise awareness, proudly showing off the scars from her double mastectomy. Robyn decided to have the procedure when she found out that she had inherited the BRCA2 gene mutation which significantly increases the lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. After removing her ovaries and fallopian tubes to manage her high inherited cancer risks, Robyn went into immediate menopause. Robyn is one of the people directly benefiting from the government's decision to list some of the menopausal hormone therapies on the PBS. She has access to both Prometrium and Estrogel, two medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.”
“We recognise that not every contraceptive method is ideal for every woman, and we want to ensure that women can access the long-acting contraceptive methods they need. Further than this, this government is also introducing the first new menopause treatments on the PBS in 20 years: Estrogel, Estrogel Pro and Prometrium. We've heard many women in this place today speak about how little women going through menopause are heard and considered in our society and how important it is that there is real discussion and action to address women's needs during menopause. We're leading by example here, inviting discussion about menopause in this place and taking real action to ensure that necessary treatments for women going through menopause are affordable and accessible. This morning I had the honour of meeting the incredible Robyn Smith.”
“This government is introducing the first new contraceptive pills added to the PBS in 30 years: Yaz, Yasmin, and Slinda. That's because this government understands that for women contraception is a necessity, not a luxury. Access to contraceptive pills is not only incredibly important for women's sexual health and autonomy; it can also represent a lifeline for many women struggling with debilitating period pain. We understand this. We understand how important contraceptive pills are to women's health and women's lives, and we are ensuring that the pill is more affordable and more accessible for women in this country. More than this, we are also ensuring that there's better access to IUDs and birth control implants for women in this country.”
“This government is taking a new approach to women's health, putting our health at the top of the agenda and ensuring that discussions about women's health are welcomed. This government is working hard to reverse decades of neglect to women's health. Since 1 May this year, 365,000 patients have benefited from more than 715,000 new medicines that we have been able to list on the PBS. We're delivering cheaper medicines, which will make an impact on their ability to stay in the workplace and save money in their household budgets. We're seeing more women access longer appointments with their doctors, because we know that you can't deal with the issues that surround perimenopause and menopause in a brief appointment. We've invested $573.3 million to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women.”
“I couldn't be prouder to be standing here today, as one of the women who form 56 per cent of our Labor government, addressing Women's Health Week. For too long, women's health issues have not been adequately addressed, but on this side of the chamber we know that women matter, and we're investing in landmark commitments to women's health. Before the Albanese Labor government came into government, there had not been a new contraceptive pill listed on the PBS in 30 years, there had not been a new endometriosis medicine listed on the PBS for 30 years and there had not been a new menopause hormone treatment listed on the PBS for 20 years. Without women in this place to advocate for our own needs, women's health had fallen by the wayside.”
“My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What action is the Albanese Labor government taking to improve the health of Australian women? Why is this such an important priority for the government?”
“In 1955, Maltese migrants saw a need in our community and they provided, with one of the strongest clubs in the National Premier League in Victoria, right in the heart of Keilor Downs. I always love going to the Green Gully Reserve to support your games and grabbing a pastizz from the canteen. Green Gully's success comes from the committed members and volunteers who work hard week in and week out. Shoutout to Anthony, Raymond, Bianca and the rest of the executive team. I also acknowledge the late Harry Moaks OAM, Paul Azzopardi and Frank Kolbi. Their legacy will never be forgotten. Up the gully!”
“While the blue light disco days might be over, Blue Light's mission is still making waves in our community. I recently saw the Blue Light youth program in action at Creekside College in Caroline Springs. This powerful initiative gives secondary students hands-on experiences with police and emergency services, fostering trust, open communication and a sense of belonging. That confidence, resilience and strong sense of community is essential to keeping the future of our youth and our community bright. Thank you to Principal Peter Dalinkiewicz, Elissa and Caroline from Blue Light, and the police at the Caroline Springs Police Station for all that you do to keep our communities and youth safe. Congratulations to the Green Gully Soccer Club on their 70 year anniversary.”
“We, on this side of the House, are aware of this growth and are planning for it, which is exactly why we made a number of significant infrastructure commitments at the recent federal election. We're fixing the Western Freeway between Caroline Springs and Melton. This was a project that was in the too-hard basket for the Liberal government for a decade, but we are getting it done. Approximately 86,000 vehicles travel the Western Freeway on this stretch every single day, with this figure expected to rise to approximately 113,000 by 2031. Our $1 billion investment for more lanes and better interchanges on the Western Freeway will mean that families can get home sooner and spend more time together. Only Labor will invest in better infrastructure for the west.”
“The western suburbs of Melbourne are booming with industry, small business and new families who are choosing to call our community home. The west is where we're building more homes and helping young Australians to own their own home. Over 1,800 people in Gorton have bought their first home with a five-per-cent-or-less deposit, thanks to Labor's expanded Home Guarantee Scheme. With more homes come more people who are using our local road infrastructure to get around. Right now, more people are using the Western Freeway and Calder Freeway, meaning more people are sitting in traffic for hours to get into the city or go to work. We've got to do better for the west.”
“I am proud to be part of an Albanese Labor government who are building more homes and making it better to rent and easier to buy, because young people don't deserve to be locked out of the housing market. They deserve certainty in their future. They deserve access to a home. Debate adjourned.”
“They didn't support the build for 100,000 homes for first home buyers, and now they're attempting to raise taxes on builders and scrap 80,000 new rentals in the process. Unlike the coalition, we have not given up on closing the generational gap of homeownership. We on this side of the House want people to own their own homes and get into the housing market as early as possible. We have young people on this side of the House, and we care about young people on this side of the House. On this side of the House, we're getting on with dealing with our housing crisis. We're not interested in blocking or delaying this reform. We're giving Australians—Australians like those young people in Fraser Rise, who felt like owning a home was an unrealistic expectation—a real chance at homeownership, something that felt unachievable before.”
“Commonwealth rent assistance has been received by more than 7,900 people in Gorton. This means more money in the bank for 7,900 household budgets in my electorate, taking pressure off the myriad financial pressures Australians feel today. I'm not just proud that Labor is in this House tackling the housing crisis head-on, easing cost-of-living pressures for young Australians; I'm relieved. We know that those opposite think that young people raiding our superannuation for a house deposit is the way to go. They believe we should sacrifice what we've set aside for retirement, even though this will only force housing prices up and make it even harder for young people to get into the market. The coalition voted against Help to Buy and promised to abolish the scheme.”
“From 1 July 2025, Labor's Key Apprenticeship Program is offering up to $10,000 in incentive payments to apprentices commencing their careers in housing construction. This is huge, given the number of houses we need to build. I'm proud to represent a community made up of tradies, with many construction tradies living in my electorate. I'm excited that this program will incentivise so many of them to stay in the construction industry, where we need them most. On this side of the House, we're committed to building more homes and helping Australians get into their own homes, but we know there are renters who need support now. That's why we're delivering rent relief for those doing it tough. We've delivered back-to-back increases to the maximum rates of Commonwealth rent assistance—an increase of 45 per cent since we came to government.”
“That's delivering for young Australians, but we know that this five per cent deposit is far from a silver bullet, and that's why we're tackling the housing crisis at every single angle. We're building more homes. In Labor's last term of government, we built 500,000 homes. We have 28,000 social and affordable homes, paid for by our government, currently in planning and construction. This term, we're working towards a bold, national aspiration for Australia to build 1.2 million homes in five years. Thanks to Labor's crackdown on the housing crisis, housing approvals are up 30 per cent and construction costs have stabilised. We're supporting our skilled construction workforce with more than 400 construction trade apprentices in Gorton benefiting from $5,000 incentive payments, helping to build the workforce Australia needs.”
“Under this program, a first home buyer could take up to eight years off the time it takes to save for a deposit on the median $844,000 home. Along the way, they could save about $34,000 in mortgage insurance and could pay up to a quarter of a million towards their loan—all of this, rather than paying rent, because young Australians should be paying off their own mortgages, not those of their landlords. Young Australians deserve financial stability. This is what real cost-of-living relief looks like, and it's real cost-of-living relief for those out west. Since Labor came to government in May 2022, more than 1,800 people in Gorton have been able to buy their first home with a five per cent deposit or less, thanks to Labor's expanded Home Guarantee Scheme.”
“We're talking about a young person's future—what their future will look like, what challenges they will face. We're talking about a sense of certainty and stability. We're talking about an injustice in the challenges experienced between generations. We're talking about how invested Australians feel in their democracy, because when your future is uncertain, when it feels unjust, your sense of trust is eroded. The five per cent deposit for first home buyers will cut years off the time it takes to save for a deposit. It will save thousands in lender's mortgage insurance and rental payments. It will help more people into their first homes sooner, gaining confidence in their future, closing the gap between generations.”
“That's why, from 1 October 2025, first home buyers will only need a five per cent deposit to buy a house—a five per cent deposit for every first home buyer, with no income limits, limits on places or house price caps. Young people aren't an afterthought here. On this side of the House, we know that young people are the bread and butter of our country, our democracy and our future. This policy is for us. More on that, we're delivering this election commitment even earlier than we said we'd deliver it. We're delivering it three months earlier, from 1 October, because, on this side of the House, we understand the urgency of this issue. We understand that when we talk about the housing crisis, we're not just talking about housing, not just about a roof over your head.”
“It's part of the western growth corridor, made up of many new housing developments. The young people in this share house were studying, commuting to the Victoria University Sunshine TAFE and working a number of jobs. They told me that they felt homeownership was out of reach, and they couldn't think of a world where renting wasn't their only option. These young people are not alone in their anxieties about the future. Housing is a life-defining challenge for millions of Australians today. Too many young Australians are being locked out of the housing market. Too many young Australians feel that they have no choice but to confront a future without a stable place to call home.”
“The median age in Gorton is 35 years old, one of the youngest in the country, and we have more than 40,000 residents between the ages of 25 and 39. This is the time in a person's life when settling down and starting a family is front of mind, and yet many in my electorate are still wondering whether they might ever be able to afford a home of their own. Throughout the election campaign, I met thousands of young people and felt their anxieties about the future. Many of these young people were not where they thought they'd be. They were still renting or living with their parents. I spoke to a group of young people in their early 20s from a share house in Fraser Rise. Situated between Caroline Springs and Melton, Fraser Rise is a new suburb populated by young families and young people.”
“I rise to take note of the minister's statement on the five per cent deposits for all first home buyers brought forward by the Minister for Housing. Australia is in the middle of a housing crisis 40 years in the making. For 40 years, our country has not been building enough homes, and we've not been backing our first home buyers right across the country. This issue couldn't be more relevant than in my electorate of Gorton. Stretching from Mount Cottrell in the south-west all the way to Keilor in the northern corner, Gorton is one of the youngest and fastest-growing electorates in the country. In Gorton, housing is about making sure that everyone has a roof over their heads, but, more than that, it also represents my electorate's hopes for the future.”
“On this side of the House, we're committed to tangible cost-of-living relief and outcomes for all Australians. With that I commend this bill to the House.”
“Under the Abbott government, those opposite tried to increase Australians' out-of-pocket expenses when visiting specialists and undergoing X-rays and pathology. The Turnbull government spent $5 million on a 20-person Medicare privatisation taskforce to look at how the coalition government could sell off Australians' private health data. But their legacy doesn't stop there. Not even a pandemic could stop the opposition's anti-Medicare mission. While Australians were supporting each other through lockdowns, the Morrison government secretly announced that there'd be almost 1,000 changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule. This meant that people were going into surgery without knowing how much they would be paying on the other side. More recently, in opposition, those opposite voted against cheaper medicines six times.”
“Financial stress is one of the leading contributors to anxiety and depression. When people worry about whether they can afford their medicine, their health outcomes suffer twice over, once because their condition may go untreated and again because of the toll financial stress takes on their mental wellbeing. By cutting PBS co-payments, we are directly addressing this cycle. We are ensuring that young people, parents and seniors alike can access treatment when they need it, before conditions worsen, before hospital admissions are required and before lives are derailed. On this side of the House, women's health matters. On this side of the House, young people matter. On this side of the House, we invest in Medicare and in the PBS, and we have the track record to prove that.”
“This builds on the Albanese government's existing work to roll out free mental health care, including establishing 61 Medicare mental health centres that offer free, walk-in mental health care. We are upgrading their clinical capability to ensure every centre provides free access to a psychiatrist or psychologist, either onsite or on call. Our $1 billion investment to roll out even more places Australians can go for free public mental health care backed by Medicare also includes $225 million for 31 new and upgraded Medicare mental health centres, $500 million for 20 youth specialist care centres for young people with complex needs, and $90 million for more than 1,200 training places for mental health professionals and peer workers. Mental health is not separate from the cost-of-living debate. It is deeply intertwined.”
“The median age of Gorton is 35 years old. Our younger generations face unique pressures, with cost-of-living pressures that are not what the generation before us experienced. Many young Australians are dealing with an increased rate of mental health issues. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, almost 40 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 have experienced a mental health disorder in the past year. This bill is a step towards increasing access to health care for young people. More affordable medicines mean young Australians will be able to access essential prescriptions, whether they are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication or treatment for ADHD, without the burden of financial stress.”
“We're introducing the first new menopause treatments on the PBS in 20 years: Estrogel, Estrogel Pro and Prometrium. We're ensuring that there's better access to IUDs and birth control implants. This comes alongside the opening of 22 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, with another 11 to open soon. Thanks to these initiatives, Australian women and their families will save thousands of dollars on health related costs across their lifetimes. This is what happens when we elect women. Women's issues come to the forefront of the government's agenda. I couldn't be prouder to be part of a Labor government made up of 56 per cent women, because, when we elect women, we legislate on women's issues. I also couldn't be prouder to be one of the youngest members in the House of Representatives, representing an electorate made up of young people.”
“I was lucky enough to open the 90th urgent care clinic in Melbourne's west with the Prime Minister and my friend the member for Fraser this month. But we're not stopping there. Labor have opened 90 urgent care clinics right across the country, and we've committed to opening another 50. We're growing Australia's health workforce, with the largest GP training program in Australia's history. We're investing landmark commitments in women's health. For too long, women's health issues have not been adequately addressed. We're working to reverse decades of neglect of women's health, with a $573.3 million investment to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women. We're introducing the first new contraceptive pills added to the PBS in 30 years: Yaz, Yasmin and Slinda.”
“Residents Ian and Lorraine told me that this policy would give them much-needed room to breathe among other cost-of-living pressures. It's not just about cheaper medicines. This is part of Labor's broader strategy to improve the health outcomes of Australians and give tangible cost-of-living relief for my community. Currently, Sunshine Hospital is the closest hospital for those in my electorate. It services the LGAs in Melbourne's west from Brimbank all the way to Wyndham. It's a 25-minute drive on a good day, but demand for emergency care means that, during busy periods, you can be waiting more than two hours to see a doctor. That's why we've been putting in the work to improve access to health care by expanding the availability of free Medicare urgent care across the country.”
“In line with the Albanese government's election commitments, our cheaper medicines legislation will come into effect on 1 January 2026. It will reduce the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme general patient co-payment from $31.60 to $25. I recently visited the Taylors Hill Retirement Village, a cheerful and welcoming community of seniors in the beating heart of my electorate. I dropped in to help residents apply for savings through the Energy Bill Relief Fund, but I also had several conversations with them about the difference that cutting the cost of medicines will make to their household budgets. For the residents of the retirement village, some who are self-funded and others who rely on their age pensions, this cut to the cost of medicines will take the pressure off the household budget.”
“Since 2023, one of Jeanette's medicines, sulfasalazine, has become eligible for 60-day prescriptions. This means that she can get two months worth on a single prescription, cutting the cost of the medicine in half and reducing the number of visits to the doctor that she needs. Jeanette says: 'It seems like a small thing, but, when you are managing a chronic condition or you're feeling unwell, it has a big impact on your quality of life.' This is helping so many people in our community who are dealing with chronic pain or managing other health challenges, giving them peace of mind and more certainty for their health journey. Our cheaper medicines legislation builds on what we started with 60-day prescriptions, ensuring that accessing medicine is affordable for all Australians.”
“The last time PBS medicines cost no more than $25, it was 2004, when I was in primary school; it was also the year that Facebook was launched, and Regina George from Mean Girls was on our cinema screens. This legislation comes after doubling the number of medicines now available for a 60-day prescription. This means that patients with chronic, stable medical conditions can be prescribed and dispensed a 60-day supply of medicine, rather than a 30-day supply, for eligible PBS items. This is saving Australians without a concession card up to $189 per medicine per year and pensioners and concession card holders up to $46.20 per medicine per year. I'd like to talk about the experience of Jeanette, from Melbourne. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2019.”
“I want to see better health outcomes for my electorate of Gorton, for Melbourne's west and for all Australians. That's why I couldn't be prouder to be part of an Albanese Labor government that is making medicines even cheaper, capping the cost of a prescription on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to no more than $25—$25: the cost of lunch, an Uber trip or two or three beers—because medicines should be affordable. Healthcare should be affordable. This is more than a 20 per cent cut in the maximum cost of PBS medicines, which will save Australians over $200 million each year. In my electorate of Gorton, that's a total saving of more than $9.1 million.”
“For families with children who require medication, whether for asthma, allergies or developmental conditions, these savings will make a real and immediate difference. For young adults—who are often balancing work, study and housing costs—reduced medicine prices will mean they are not forced to choose between managing their health and meeting their other financial obligations. Our cheaper medicines legislation is one piece of the puzzle of improving access to health care for Australians, including those in Melbourne's west. Three months ago, I was campaigning in the electorate of Gorton when the Albanese Labor government committed to making medicines even cheaper. Now, as I stand here in the chamber of the House of Representatives as the member for Gorton, it's time to deliver on that promise.”
“In so many ways, my electorate represents Australia as a whole, with its vitality, its rich cultural and linguistic make-up and its aspirations for the future. An electorate like mine—young, diverse and aspirational—has many needs that have yet to be met. One area that has struggled to keep up is access to health services. Gorton residents experience significant disadvantage in accessing health services. Even within Melbourne's north-west, the burden of disease disproportionately impacts my constituents. In the city of Brimbank, a staggering 28 per cent of residents 18 and older have been diagnosed with two or more chronic diseases, conditions that need to be managed throughout their lives. For seniors living on fixed incomes, this is relief that provides dignity and security.”
“My electorate is not only young and growing fast; it is also culturally and linguistically diverse, with many of our constituents proficient in two or more languages and carrying rich histories of migration. In fact, more than 30,000 of my constituents speak a language other than English at home and more than 33 per cent of my constituents were born overseas. This carries its own set of challenges in accessing health care. My electorate, as I say, is also young, with a median age of just 35. And, as Melbourne's west continues to grow, prioritising affordable and quality medical care isn't just about meeting the needs of Australians now but also about getting ahead of the health outcomes in the future.”
“With this legislation, from 1 January next year, this will be reduced to just $25. This is more than a 20 per cent cut in the maximum cost of PBS medicines, which will save Australians over $200 million each year. It's tangible cost-of-living relief. My electorate of Gorton, in Melbourne's west, is one of the fastest growing electorates in the country. There are more than 50,000 families across the electorate, and new ones are being created every day, with close to 58 babies born every week in the city of Melton alone. In fact, the city of Melton is the fastest growing municipality in Australia, with a growth rate of 6.6 per cent in 2023-24. My electorate also contains the area with the second-highest growth rate in the country, in Fraser Rise and Plumpton.”
“Over the decades successive Labor governments have expanded and strengthened the PBS, ensuring it evolves to meet new health challenges. Like Medicare, the PBS was introduced by Labor and, like Medicare, Labor will continue to protect the PBS. The PBS is a key program supporting the delivery of the National Medicines Policy, and we want to make sure that Australians have the PBS that enables Australians to have timely, safe and reliable access to effective, high-quality medicines. Today, the PBS subsidises nearly 930 medicines across more than 5,200 brands, ranging from common treatments for chronic conditions to advanced cancer therapies and life-saving vaccines. It's not just a policy; it's a lifeline. Right now, the maximum cost for a PBS medicine is $31.60 for general patients.”
“I rise to speak in support of the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 brought forward by the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, and I commend him for doing so. This bill is a cost-of-living measure, and it's part of the Albanese Labor government's efforts to improve health outcomes for all Australians. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is a national government funded scheme that subsidises the cost of a wide range of medicines. The PBS was first introduced to Australia by the Chifley Labor government in 1948. Back then, it provided a very limited list of free medicines, but it was revolutionary in principle: no Australian should go without necessary treatment because of cost.”
“At Albanvale Primary School, students develop a love of reading. Special congratulations to the Albanvale students who hit over 100 nights of reading. Thank you to Principal Michael Uzunovski and to the incredible teachers around him. Your efforts are invaluable. I recently saw the Blue Light youth program in action at Creekside K-9 College in Caroline Springs. This powerful initiative gives secondary students hands-on experiences with police and emergency services, fostering trust, open conversation and a sense of belonging. That confidence, resilience and strong sense of community connection is essential to keeping the future of our youth and our community bright. Thank you to Principal—”
“Childcare and kindy are instrumental in shaping the development and wellbeing of our kids at that crucial early age. It helps them navigate the world, laying foundations for future success, and the care provided by our childcare workers is simply invaluable. High-quality early education and care are essential. Thank you to the incredible early education workers we trust day in, day out with the people who matter the most. Dressed as Wally from W here's Wally ? , dancing the Nutbush and a litfest parade—it's Book Week at Albanvale Primary School. This year's Book Week theme was 'Book an adventure'. Fostering imagination is critical to our kids' emotional and cognitive development and to giving them the skills essential to navigating their futures, and it all starts with literacy.”
“Like the western suburbs, Thornhill Park Primary is diverse, resilient and persistent and, with the support of Principal Darryl Spiteri, instils the values of respect, integrity and wellbeing in its students. The students voted for pineapple being on pizza. Even though I personally tend to disagree, that's what democracy is for. Thank you, Thornhill Park. Last week was Early Learning Matters Week. I recently visited Goodstart Keilor Village, Goodstart Moonee Ponds and the kindergarten at Creekside K-9 College. I read storybooks, made crafts and saw firsthand the dedication of the incredible care teams in our electorate. There is no-one more important than our little ones, and they deserve every bit of support, protection and care that we can provide.”
“Thirty-three veterans—that's how many Vietnam veterans are part of the Caroline Springs RSL. The stories, the history and the psychological scars these service men and women carry are unimaginable. We are eternally grateful for their service to this country. I was honoured to present a quilt of valour ahead of Vietnam Veterans Day to Marguerita on behalf of her late husband, Bill, for his service and sacrifice. Thank you to President Ross Wiltshire, the committee, and members Peter, Paul, Wendy, Gill, Murray, Bobby, John, Dave, Gillian and Andy. Does pineapple belong on pizza? This was the politics of the day during the visit by the Speaker and me to Thornhill Park Primary School. Thornhill Park Primary is the growth of the western suburbs in action. Since opening in 2023, they have seen a huge uptick in enrolments.”
“These parental leave reforms mean that every family, no matter the income or marital situation, are supported through this formative period to bond, to grow and to heal. This is why, on this side of the House, we will defend and strengthen paid parental leave, because parents, like those in my electorate, are counting on us. House adjourned at 20:00”
“Research shows that since former prime minister Julia Gillard introduced the Paid Parental Leave scheme in 2011, the likelihood of a mother to experience postpartum depression has decreased. The research also found that this improvement was particularly significant for first-time mothers and mothers who did not have access to paid parental leave through their employer. At the Caroline Chisholm Society in Caroline Springs, I spoke to caseworkers who have intimate knowledge of these challenges as they care for our local families. It's an incredible local service which aims to assist vulnerable families, empowering them to live their lives with dignity and independence, and allowing parents to feel equipped, supported and ready to handle challenges.”