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'm 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. That means, at 75 per cent of our clinics in Gorton, you can see a doctor for free. That is massive. Just take a walk around Caroline Springs, Deer Park or Deneside and you'll see that we're full of young families building their futures. For families working hard and trying to make it work, the bills add up, but no Australian family should be putting off seeing a GP because of costs. I know that, and this Labor government knows that. We're passing the ball of quality health care onto the next generation of Aussies. Up the Socceroos!”
“Today I wear green and gold. It's the colour of our mighty Socceroos that they wear when they're repping Australia in the FIFA World Cup. It's also the colour of Medicare, that green and gold card that gives all Australians accessible, free health care. Forty-two years ago, Medicare was introduced by Labor, and today Medicare is protected by Labor. If those opposite had their way, they'd be making more cuts to Medicare—a straight red card in this match. Meanwhile, this Labor government has made the biggest ever investment in bulk-billing because only Labor knows that every Aussie deserves access to affordable health care, and it's working. The national bulk-billing rate is now sitting at over 80 per cent—right into the top corner, another goal scored.”
“It could be anything—anxiety, mental health, sexual health, fertility, family lifestyle, ongoing illness, overlooked symptoms or preventable health. If we can get more blokes to their GP and to get a blood test every 12 months, we will literally save thousands of lives in this country. There are 101 reasons to see a GP. You probably already know yours. Men's Health Week 2026 is your reminder to use it.”
“Last week was Men's Health Week. It's an important week in the calendar for Melbourne's western suburbs. We're a community full of men who play a vital role in our community—fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, brothers and friends. But still we see that men continue to experience higher rates of chronic disease, preventable illness and premature death. Too many men put off seeking help when something doesn't feel right. Too many men wait until a small problem becomes a big problem. Research shows that around 60 per cent of men wait more than a week to see a doctor when they've got symptoms. One in three wait more than an entire month. This simply isn't good enough. Last week, the Albanese Labor government launched 101 Reasons to See Your GP—not why men shouldn't, like most blokes think, but why they should.”
“The home is no longer a home; it's a crime scene, and children are left behind with no clear advocate. Usually, the people caring for them are dealing with their own intense grief, and these kids are often navigating multiple losses and incredibly complex trauma, often while having to move away from home or change schools, even more disruptions to their daily routines. At a really basic level, these children often fall through the cracks. That's why sharing these stories is so incredibly important. Beverley's story, along with the others bravely told in these books, rebel against the silence and the stigma that are often put on those bereaved due to intimate partner homicide. These stories are real, they are alive and they are carried by children into adulthood, shaping their experiences forever.”
“Since 2022, we have invested $4.4 billion to deliver the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, the most of any government ever. This consultation is now underway, closing 31 July. We've introduced the Leaving Violence Program support; added hundreds of frontline workers to the domestic, family and sexual violence sector across the country; and we've provided nearly $1 billion to the states and territories for service delivery. But what the research team at homicide at home have identified are the gaps. When a child loses a parent at the hands of domestic homicide, they're often experiencing multiple losses at once—one parent is deceased, while the offender, who is often the other parent, is detained, is on the run or has died by suicide.”
“Beverley shared: I was provided counselling, but didn't find any meaning out of it. 'Write a journal about your feelings.' I don't even like doing that now. There was nothing child-focused about it. What Beverley is describing here is something the research team at homicide at home have identified—that the children of the most extreme cases of domestic violence, such as homicide, are the ones who are often left with the least support. But Beverley is not alone in her story. In the two decades leading up to 2020, in Australia a total of 1,210 people were killed by a current or former intimate partner. This is a national crisis. I'm proud that the Albanese Labor government is taking really important steps to address violence against women.”
“Ally the rhino beetle learns about grief like it's a marble in a jar. As Ally grows, she'll find that the marble stays the same but that the jar gets bigger. Ally's friends tell her: Your life is like the jar getting bigger as you learn and change and grow. In time there will be so much more in your life it will be easier to live with the marble. This children's book was created to help children like Beverley Attard. Today, Bev is a highly regarded social worker in my electorate of Gorton. Over 30 years ago, when Bev was just 11 years old, she was witness to her mother's murder, a crime perpetrated by her father. Beverley shared parts of her story in this book by the Beetle Collective. She shared thoughts and feelings that dominated her childhood and shaped the person she is today.”
“I'd also like to commend their collection of stories published in their book Life After Intimate Partner Homicide , as well as their children's book, What Al l y Needs Now , by Andrea Baldwin, Thu Huong Nguyen and the researchers and people with lived experience. I'll share with you a little bit about Ally's story now. Ally is a rhino beetle, because they're the strongest beetle in the world. When she was younger, something terrible happened in her family. Ally was a victim-survivor of domestic homicide. Many people tried to help her, but she still felt misunderstood until she found a group of people with similar experiences to her. In my own life, I've heard of grief as a suitcase. You lug it around, and over time it becomes a smaller bag until it's a little bit lighter—a little handbag you carry with you.”
“I'd like to take this opportunity today to raise a really serious matter and one of really high importance. Last week, I met with the homicide at home project team at Melbourne university. This is a team of people who have brought together researchers, people with lived experiences, practitioners and advocates to create real-world change in policy, practice and community support, change for children and young people bereaved by domestic homicide. I'd like to commend their work on their research report Children and young people b ereaved by domestic homicide : a focus on Australia .”
“To Peter Burquest, Dave Saunders, Wendy Mason, the veterans of the Caroline Springs RSL and all volunteers in our community: thank you for everything you do.”
“These young people from Melbourne's west are the real deal, and the future is in good hands with them. Thank you to the volunteers of the Caroline Springs RSL Sub-Branch for their morning tea celebrating National Volunteer Week. From supporting the ANZAC Appeal and organising the Anzac Day commemorative services and youth vigil to school engagement, welfare outreach and community support, the contribution of the RSL volunteers helps keep the spirit of service and remembrance alive in Caroline Springs. This local RSL has a wonderful partnership with the Caroline Springs Scout Group based on friendship, mentorship and shared service to the community. It reflects the very best of who we are in Melbourne's west—people coming together to support one another and make our community stronger.”
“This annual competition is run by local Rotary Clubs and entered into by more than 40 schools from across Melbourne's western suburbs. From speaking about the dangers of perfectionism and AI data centres to speaking about the importance of youth activism, these students were truly inspiring. I give a shout-out to one of our 2025 Gorton Young Leader awardees, Joywin Benmar Rees from Yarrabing Secondary College, who gave an impassioned speech about the importance of financial literacy for young people, showing wisdom beyond his years. Congratulations to all the participants from our local Gorton schools Yarrabing Secondary College, Overnewton Anglican Community College, Lakeview Senior College, Catholic Regional College and Bacchus Marsh Grammar Woodlea Campus.”
“A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 12:51 to 13:18 They provide a place where friendships are formed, young people grow in confidence and the community comes together. They're a fantastic club, and I know there's more work to be done in terms of infrastructure. Martin's contribution has helped ensure their important legacy continues for future generations. I congratulate Dean Formosa on stepping into the role of interim president, alongside Vice-President Karl O'Donnell, and wish the leadership group every success for the season ahead. Go, Cobras! Getting up in front of others and speaking from the heart is no easy feat, as all of us in this place know. Those who competed in heat 7 of the Wynspeak youth public-speaking competition at Lakeview Senior College know this as well.”
“After three years as club president, Martin Bielski of the Albanvale Football Netball Club has made the difficult decision to step down from the role. I want to thank this passionate local leader who has given so much to our community through grassroots sport, as always putting the best interests of the club first. During a significant period of growth and transition, Martin's leadership, dedication and tireless volunteer service have helped strengthen the club both on and off the field. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 12:14 to 12:51 The Albanvale Cobras are more than just a football and netball club.”
“On this side of the House, we believe that if a system is working against Aussies and locking first home buyers out of the housing market then something needs to change, and we are willing to make those difficult decisions and deliver on those changes, because we know that every Australian deserves a fair go.”
“I think there's been less focus so far on these measures, but, from speaking with local businesses and learning about their situations, I know that these are real benefits that they'll receive. While this budget is making life easier for Australians today, we're also building a fairer future for tomorrow. We're ensuring that every Australian can access the health care they need, regardless of their postcode or bank balance, and we're making tax cuts to put more money back into the pockets of everyday Australians and tax cuts to even the playing field for first home buyers. These are all practical reforms that respond to the real pressures Australians are facing now, as well as those they will face in future generations.”
“For small businesses, we've permanently extended the $20,000 instant asset write-off from July this year. This allows small businesses with turnovers of up to $10 million to immediately deduct eligible assets costing less than $20,000 off that year's tax return. You can claim more than one asset, which helps businesses make their investment decisions with confidence. This is estimated to improve cash flow for small businesses by around $890 million over the next five years. We're also introducing loss refundability to support new startup businesses. From 2028-29, small startups in their first two years of operation will be able to get a refund for tax losses up to the value of the fringe benefits tax and withholding tax paid on employee wages. This will benefit up to 25,000 young companies each year, providing valuable cash flow support.”
“We're recognising that for more Aussies, especially young people, income comes from work, and our tax system should reflect that. Our tax cuts are deliberately designed to support younger Australians, with millennials and Gen Z expected to make up around two-thirds of the beneficiaries. We're backing the next generation of Aussies with practical reforms, making sure that you can keep more of what you earn and are supported in getting ahead. These tax cuts are on top of our fuel tax cuts, where we've acted fast to bring down the price of fuel by cutting the fuel tax and securing future supply. We've acted to shield Australians from the worst of the global fuel crisis, and it's working. We now have more fuel in Australia than at the start of the global crisis.”
“These reforms begin to address these generational challenges and help level the playing field for first-time buyers, which our younger generations of Australians desperately deserve. Part of our budget's major changes are our tax cuts. To help with the cost of living, we're delivering more tax cuts from 1 July this year for every Australian taxpayer. We're delivering an extra $250 off working Australians' tax bills permanently, and we're delivering a $1,000 instant tax deduction without receipts. The $250 working Australians tax offset will provide a tax cut for the 13.3 million Australians who receive income from work. It will increase the effective tax-free threshold for workers by $1,785. All of this means that the average worker will benefit by up to $3,000.”
“Negative gearing will still be possible for investors because, if you're a young person in this country, we want you to get ahead. We want to support you to do that. If you want to do it through property, you still can get those generous housing concessions, but we ask one thing, that investment is directed into new housing supply. We ask you to do that through building desperately needed new homes. On this side of the House, we know that economic responsibility and tax reform can go hand in hand. We want a system that encourages productive investment, one that supports aspiring homeowners, hard-working Aussies who deserve a fair go, and one that supports our younger generations of Australians, just as their parents' and grandparents' generations were supported, because generational fairness matters.”
“House prices are still climbing at an alarming rate, and not enough young people are getting into their first homes. We have recognised that, if we really care about getting young people into their first homes, changes to our taxation system are needed, because, for younger Aussies, the playing field just isn't fair. Our tax changes are estimated to support an additional 75,000 homeowners over the next decade to get into their own home. Meanwhile, those opposite seem to be the only ones in Australia clinging to the status quo, where a generation of Australians are locked out of the housing market and where, without significant structural change, future generations will face the same fate. I'm a millennial. I know these challenges. We're balancing these changes with supporting young Aussies who want to get ahead.”
“It's a simple ask and one we are taking on the work to deliver. Since Labor came to government in 2022, we have been working at continuing to support investment in new housing supply, because to make housing more affordable, we need to build more homes. Right now too much housing isn't getting built because the water, sewerage, roads and energy infrastructure simply aren't there. That's why we're investing $2 billion in the infrastructure we need to unlock more homes across Australia. In my electorate of Gorton, over 3,000 people have bought their first home thanks to our five per cent deposit scheme. It's changing lives, and it's doing this for families right across the country. Changes like our five per cent deposit scheme matter, but what we've recognised is it's just not enough alone.”
“Young Aussies are doing the right thing. They're studying, picking up a trade, working hard and saving, but your first home still costs eight times the annual income. It takes 11 years to save for, and first home buyers face the reality that they may never pay off their mortgage. When a nurse, a teacher, a police officer or an early childhood educator is paying more tax than someone who is earning millions of dollars in buying and selling assets, when house prices have increased 400 per cent—twice as fast as wages—and when it's easier to buy your 10th home than to buy your first home, then the system is broken. Once you accept that the system is broken, then you have to do something about it, and that's what our budget is doing. Our budget wants something simple—for young people to get a fair go at owning their own home.”
“It can be so heartbreaking when you fall in love with a home, imagine your own furniture in it and imagine your future there, simply to be outbid by an investor backed by the Australian taxpayer. I don't want this for young Australians. I don't want this for our next generation of Australians. It's not right and it's not a fair go. There is no doubt that Aussie families are doing it tough right now. Families are feeling the weight of the cost of living at the bowser and at the supermarket checkout, and young people are feeling it when they go to buy their first home at auction, only to be outbid by the investors next to them. This was a mammoth budget responding to generational challenges, making the changes that Australians have for too long been crying out for. That is because we're dealing with a housing market that is broken.”
“It was a huge deal for them to do that. It was a place they could raise their family—my family—with a cubby in the backyard and room for us to grow, a place that we always knew would be there for us, a place to come home to after a long day of school or after school sport and a place that shaped my formative years. That security of having a roof over our heads is something that I did not ever take for granted. I feel very fortunate to have been able to buy my own home in my adult life with my husband, Chris. And I say that because the reality is that, for most Australians, the Australian dream is no longer a given. The anxiety of going to house inspection after house inspection, being outbid by mum and dad investors.”
“There's no question Australia is the greatest country in the world. Being Australian is something truly unique. It's about having a fair go at working hard and having it pay off when you buy your own home. When we talk about a home, I'm talking about something more than just four walls and a roof. I'm talking about stability. It's knowing that, no matter what, you've got a place to build your future, to raise your family in or to retire into knowing your life won't be uprooted by decisions you can't control, like those of a landlord. It's the freedom that comes with this sense of security—the freedom to paint the walls whatever colour you like, but also the freedom to call this place your own. I grew up in a house in the suburbs of Melbourne with my two big sisters. My parents bought our family home back in the 1980s.”
“For many in my community, a free service like this is a lifeline, and it's guided by the same principle that underlies every one of our government decisions on health. Health care should be there when Aussies need it, regardless of your postcode or your bank balance. It's guided Labor governments for generations, and it continues to guide the decisions of the Albanese Labor government today, because we know that quality, accessible health care is not a privilege. It's a right for every Australian.”
“Thanks to these initiatives, Australian women and their families will save thousands of dollars on health related costs across their lifetime. Also, I couldn't be prouder than to be one of the youngest members of the House of Representatives, representing an electorate made up of young people. The median age in my electorate is 35 years old, just a little bit older than me. Our younger generations face unique pressures that our parents' generation did not experience, including increased rates of mental health issues. Access to mental health services is an issue raised regularly with me by locals, and it's why we've launched our Medicare Mental Health Check In. This free service connects you with professional mental health support over the phone.”
“It's why we've doubled the number of medicines now available for a 60-day prescription, as well, and why we've introduced more medicines to the PBS, including new contraceptives. We know that women's health care matters and women deserve to have their health prioritised by their own government—something those opposite have not done before. We've added the first new contraceptive pills to the PBS in 30 years, and we've introduced first new menopause treatments to the PBS in 20 years. We're ensuring better access to IUDs and birth control implants as well. This comes along with our commitment to open 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics right across the country, including one near my community, in Werribee.”
“I'm so excited to report that in my community there are now 24 Medicare bulk-billing practices, up from 13 before our bulk-billing changes were introduced. That means that at 75 per cent of clinics in my electorate of Gorton you can see a doctor for free—75 per cent! This is all thanks to Labor's record investment in Medicare. It really does make a difference for busy families juggling supermarket shops, energy bills and rent or mortgage payments. Access to affordable, quality health care takes a huge load off the household budget and improves health outcomes for our community. That's why we've made medicines cheaper, capping the cost of PBS listed medicines at just $25. In my electorate of Gorton, that's a total saving of more than $9.1 million.”
“It's one of the reasons I joined the Australian Labor Party as a teenager. And today the Albanese Labor government has made record investments in Medicare, because we know that access to affordable health care is in the interests of every single Australian. For my community, I know this is making a real difference to people's lives. I represent Melbourne's western suburbs, where you'll find some of the fastest growing communities in Australia. There are more than 50,000 families across the electorate, and new ones are being created every single day. As families move in and build their futures, there's an increasing need for accessible healthcare services. Families deserve regular access to a GP appointment, and not one that costs so much it turns people away. That's why I'm so proud of our Medicare bulk-billing clinics.”
“I couldn't be prouder to stand here in this chamber to speak to the work the Albanese Labor government is doing to improve access to health care for Australians right across the country. I stand here today for one reason, and that is that Labor has always fought and will always fight for accessible health care. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme was first introduced by the Chifley Labor government in 1948, introducing a revolutionary principle to Australia—that no Australian should go without necessary treatment because of cost. In 2013 the Gillard Labor government introduced the NDIS, a generation-shaping reform to support Australians living with significant disability, and their carers and families. In 1984 the Hawke Labor government established our universal healthcare scheme, Medicare.”
“It's so important because, at its core, connectivity is about safety, about equitable access to services and about better access to emergency services and support. This is exactly what this bill is focused on. No Australian should be unable to contact emergency services because they live outside a metro area, and no growing community like mine should be left behind because of infrastructure planning failing to keep pace. We are bringing Australia's telecommunications framework into the modern era, expanding access to mobile connectivity, strengthening public safety and ensuring that all Australians, no matter where they live, can remain connected when it matters most.”
“For the first time, we're ensuring that telcos provide reasonable access to outdoor baseline mobile coverage across Australia. We know that this legislation is the right decision because we know it's what rural and remote communities need right now across Australia. Extensive consultation informed this legislation with industry, consumer representatives, state and local governments as well as telecommunications stakeholders. That included mobile network providers, consumer advocacy groups and regional representatives. It's a collaborative process that has helped ensure the framework is practical, flexible and focused on public outcomes. It's been designed with the communities it will serve. The rural and remote communities have been at the absolute forefront of this thinking.”
“These new standards are clear and enforceable with serious financial penalties and civil proceedings in the Federal Court. Earlier this year, we also directed the ACMA to ensure that appropriate support is provided to telecommunications customers experiencing financial hardships. The new financial hardship standard mandates that telcos establish and promote their hardship policies, identify customers experiencing financial hardship, provide a better range of options for assistance and prioritise keeping customers connected. This reform acknowledges that, as an essential service, telecommunications need to be available to everyone, including those experiencing financial hardship. It sets a clear standard that telcos must accommodate people in vulnerable circumstances and ensure that they are able to access telecommunications.”
“Last year, we expanded on those rules with the significant local outages standard. This standard ensures that, when local outages occur, consumers are informed of the outage and updated with information, including the likely cause of the outage, the types of services impacted and the estimated timeframe for the issue to be resolved. We also directed the ACMA to introduce new obligations around preventing and managing triple zero outages. Since April last year, telcos have been required to provide information about outages to police, fire and ambulance services and report it to the ACMA. Significantly, the rules also mandate that, when a triple zero outage occurs, the provider enables calls to be carried by an alternative telco network.”
“Our government has also provided significant funding to upgrade the NBN in regional, rural and remote Australia, including upgrading fixed-line areas with more resilient fibre services and expanding the fixed wireless footprint. We've also taken significant steps to strengthen regulations for telcos and ensure that telcos are providing transparent, reliable and equitable services to all Australians. In November 2024, we directed the ACMA to introduce enforceable industry standards to improve how telco companies communicate with their customers. These rules require telcos to keep customers informed and updated on major outages, and they ensure that in the event of an outage those affected receive communications and can access clear information about the outage.”
“The BCP has also responded to emerging needs and government priorities by funding new initiatives that include support for broadcasts and news initiatives, extending the School Student Broadband Initiative and the First Nations Digital Inclusion package. This package is a critical step towards ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have equal levels of digital inclusion. It's a $68 million package of measures that improve access to internet and mobile services, digital services and infrastructure. These include telehealth, education, banking and government services, and this ensures that our First Nations Australians can access the information and services they need to make informed choices about their own lives and their own communities.”
“Our government has already taken significant steps to improve equitable access to mobile coverage. We've brought in the Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, which provides more than $1 billion to rural and regional communities to improve mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience. It funds programs like the Regional Connectivity Program, the On Farm Connectivity Program, the Mobile Black Spot Program and the Regional Tech Hub. These are programs that improve access to reliable communications for households, businesses and farms, provide targeted solutions for communities with unique connectivity challenges and reduce gaps in mobile and internet access between metro and regional areas.”
“That includes powers to investigate breaches, issue infringement notices, impose penalties and take compliance action where required, because obligations only matter if there is accountability behind them, and because communities deserve confidence that telecommunications providers will actually deliver the services that Australians rely on. Importantly, this bill is also technology neutral. That means it does not prescribe a single technological solution. That flexibility is important because this technology is continuing to evolve rapidly—it's evolving every single day—and we want to make sure that regulation can evolve alongside this innovation as well. This legislation is one piece in the puzzle of making sure every Australian can make a triple zero call no matter where they are.”
“Whilst standards will need close consideration, including the content of those standards and even the need for them, it's important to have the ability to step in if the market doesn't deliver. To make sure that's an option, there'll be a close consultation with regulators, industry and consumer groups to make sure standards are fair but consumer focused. Importantly, this framework is enforceable. We are making sure that the ACMA will have responsibility for enforcement of the UOMO—there are a lot of acronyms here—and any associated standards, rules and benchmarks.”
“I know this well because it's also an issue in my community, in our growth corridor. We recognise that, but the intent of this bill is to make sure that services are available as widely as possible. We're also creating new powers to set standards, rules and benchmarks for mobile services, with flexibility for these to apply before the UOMO starts. Standards, rules and benchmarks are so important here because it sets expectations for telcos and for our communities as well. Here we're providing a framework to hold industry to account if it doesn't deliver. Standards could cover issues like ensuring that there are affordable products to meet the needs of vulnerable groups or requiring industry to reduce the impact of planned mobile outages through better planning.”
“Initially, the mobile telecommunications services subject to the UOMO will be voice services and SMS, reflecting the early technology capability of our policy objectives of public safety. We're also creating a flexible framework with this bill, where the scope and timing of the UOMO can be adjusted by ministerial instrument as the market develops and satellite technology evolves as well. We have a proposed default date of 1 December 2027. At this time, all three operators will be required to ensure that baseline mobile coverage is reasonably available outdoors throughout Australia. We also recognise that there are some circumstances where Optus, Telstra and TPG will not be able to meet this obligation. For example, D2D requires a clear line of sight to the sky. Sometimes this isn't possible to achieve.”
“Historically, universal service obligations focused on fixed voice services and payphones, but the reality is that Australians now overwhelmingly rely on their mobile phones. Mobile services are no longer optional extras; they are essential infrastructure. This bill updates the law to reflect the way Australians actually communicate in 2026. It incorporates designated mobile telecommunications services into the existing universal service regime for the very first time. To be clear, the UOMO isn't about replacing traditional mobile coverage with new technology; it's about ensuring they work together to complement each other, and making sure that together these networks cover as much of Australia as possible and enable the community to benefit from new technology.”
“Some have also said that we should wait until the technology is widely available before legislating the UOMO. But waiting is a risky game. We are legislating the UOMO now to ensure baseline mobile coverage is widely available, and available as quickly as possible. Waiting would mean leaving rollout decisions to industry alone and risking some Australians being left behind. What we're doing here is clever planning to avoid problems like what I'm seeing in my community right now, where one of the biggest barriers to provision of mobile towers is that they aren't accommodated for in industry planning and, as a result, some Aussies are getting left behind. Here's what we're doing to make sure no-one gets left behind. This bill modernises Australia's universal service framework.”
“Our community is coming together, helping us to identify those black spots and advocating for change, because telcos are an essential service provider and we need to hold them to account to adequately deliver these services. I know access to telecommunications is not a luxury, and I know it is an essential service that underpins public safety. What we're doing here with this bill is providing that basic mobile access right across Australia, across rural and remote areas. There were people who thought it would never even be possible to deliver mobile coverage across Australia. I get that; Australia is a massive continent with vast inland areas. But with the advent of the new low earth orbit satellite direct-to-direct technology, this pipe dream will now become a reality.”
“It is simply unacceptable that we have growing communities in Melbourne's outer suburbs who don't have access to telecommunications. In my electorate, I've launched a campaign, the Mobile Signal Strength and Blackspot Mapping Survey. We've sent it out to the community asking them to help us identify our mobile coverage black spots, particularly in new suburbs within the growth corridor of Gorton, so we can collect real location based evidence to demonstrate the impact telecommunications has on the safety, business and daily life of our community and to advocate for community updates from service providers and infrastructure upgrades where required. I've had hundreds of responses to my community survey.”
“Right now in my community, suburbs like Truganina, Mount Atkinson, Fraser Rise, Bonnie Brook, Aintree, Rockbank, Thornhill Park and Deanside don't have adequate mobile services. These communities don't have basic access to things people living in inner-city suburbs take for granted—like regular internet access to call your friends and relatives, to go about your everyday life, for kids to do homework, for parents to work from home or operate a local business, or for emergency services to be accessible in those most crucial moments. Emergency services are a true lifeline, and access to those emergency services when you need it is crucial. In those terrifying moments, seconds are critical. Not having the most basic access to mobile data is life-threatening.”
“I've seen the need for amendment bills like this one before us firsthand in my electorate of Gorton. In Melbourne's west, we're one of the fastest-growing electorates in the country. I represent over 50,000 families across the electorate, with new ones being created every day. We have about 10 babies being born in the city of Melton alone every single day. 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. But as communities grow infrastructure needs to keep up. I'm talking about the basics, like quality roads, access to water and sewerage infrastructure, and telecommunications.”