David Moncrieff
Hughes · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“We're extending paid parental leave to a full six months, giving families more time with their little ones and more support, because, unlike those opposite, we believe in supporting parents as they raise the next generation.”
“Yesterday was 1 July, a day that saw significant reform from the Albanese Labor government implemented. Starting this week, the Labor government is delivering more cost-of-living relief for workers in Hughes.”
“This legislation ensures that Defence and DVA are better equipped to intervene early and effectively when members, veterans and their families are at risk, saving lives before it's too late. The Albanese Labor government's record of investment for Defence and veteran communities is profound.”
“We have already made substantial progress in fixing the mess left to us by the previous government, under which a backlog of 42,000 claims were never even looked at. That wasn't an accidental oversight. It was a predictable outcome from a party that holds the gutting of Public Service jobs and wage suppression as a proud part of its DNA.”
“My community in Hughes is home to a significant veteran community, ranging across the Sutherland Shire around the Holsworthy Barracks and Moorebank, out to the Macarthur region in areas like Macquarie Fields and Glenfield. I'm sure that many know the gut-wrenching feeling of losing a loved one to suicide.”
“These include aspects such as the establishment of a brain injury program, transformation of research into outcomes, support for service members to transition into civilian life, a new agency focused on veteran wellbeing, improvement in the timeliness of information-sharing between Defence and DVA for claims processing, and much more.”
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“The improvements to Heathcote Road also include a new intersection to improve access to Voyager Point and a major upgrade at the intersection at MacArthur Drive, including new turning lanes and traffic lights access station facilities at Holsworthy. More than 200 workers were employed on this project. It's a fantastic example of what the Albanese Labor government is doing for communities in the south-west of Sydney. Work also continues on the M5 upgrade between Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway, a project jointly funded by the Albanese government through a $190 million investment. Work has been taking place on this project since the start of the year, and further work will be commencing from 30 March.”
“The Harris Creek crossing has been named the Alison Megarrity Bridge, and it was so fitting that those who are now benefitting from Alison's legacy have an ongoing reminder of this each time they use this road. On the day, I also participated in the community cancer walk along the footpath of this new, upgraded road in support of the work of the Cancer Council of New South Wales. To herald in the new road, a smoking ceremony was performed, artworks were unveiled along the road depicting flora and fauna native to the area, and there was a commemoration of World War I POWs who built the railway connection through to Liverpool.”
“The official opening featured a charity walk for cancer in honour of the late state member for Menai Alison Megarrity MP, who represented the area on Liverpool council before serving as the state representative from 1999 to 2011. Alison was a tireless advocate for this improvement. She knew how important it was for this section to be upgraded for our community. Tragically, she lost a prolonged battle with cancer in 2022. Alison was well respected across all sides of politics and left a deep legacy in my community, which I referred to in my first speech in this place. It was such an honour to join with her family, including her husband, Robert, to see her vision realised and the dedication of a new road bridge in her name.”
“As someone who uses the Heathcote Road, sometimes as often as six times a day, I can tell you, Deputy Speaker Buchholz, how much this upgrade is making a difference to travel times and the wellbeing of motorists from Sydney and the Illawarra and for residents of my community. The upgrade saw two bridges being built across local waterways, Williams and Harris creeks, which are designed to withstand a one-in-100-year flood event, as well as a bridge constructed along the T8 railway. I was honoured to be there for the opening in November of last year with the member for Werriwa; the New South Wales Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison; the state members for Heathcote, Leppington and Liverpool—Maryanne Stuart, Nathan Hagarty and Charishma Kaliyanda—and Cameron Murphy MLC.”
“The congestion-easing 2.2-kilometre upgrade along Heathcote Road between Voyager Point and Holsworthy has widened the road from a single lane each way to a dual-lane carriageway. Carrying around 36,000 vehicles each day, this upgraded section is expected to significantly reduce travel times in peak hours for general vehicles by several minutes. Heathcote Road is the spinal cord of the Hughes electorate. It's the primary road connection between the Sutherland Shire and the growing south-west region. Its role as a key connector will only continue to grow with the opening of the new airport.”
“The communities of southern Sydney that make up Hughes are truly special ones. It is such a great honour to be able to serve them in this place as the member for Hughes. One of the key ways that this parliament serves the communities we represent is in allocation of resources through bills, such as these appropriations bills which are before us today. It's one of the ways that this parliament can deliver for those communities that send us here, and it means we can get on with delivering the projects that make a real difference in our communities—projects like Heathcote Road, where the Albanese government jointly funded a $188 million upgrade of the section through Holsworthy with the Minns Labor government.”
“My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Trade and Tourism. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering real economic benefits to Australian workers and families by signing a free trade agreement with the European Union?”
“This is a government that is getting on with the job of delivering for women across Australia. The 500 Workers Initiative is just one part of our more than $4 billion investment in tackling family, domestic and sexual violence to be delivered through the states and territories, and it will roll out from 1 July through the family, domestic and sexual violence federation funding agreement. House adjourned at 20:00 The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Lawrence ) took the chair at 09:30.”
“That's why the Albanese Labor government is delivering a 72 per cent funding boost for our frontline family, domestic and sexual violence workforce. This new $291.7 million initiative is for the next phase of the 500 Workers Initiative. It supports the sustainability and security of this critical workforce and recognises the specialist skills and expertise they have to support women and children fleeing violence. Frontline workers are a crucial part of the government's response to family, domestic and sexual violence. They help women and children escaping violence with safety planning, counselling and access to housing and financial support. This announcement builds on the $169.4 million that the Albanese Labor government already invested in the 2022-23 budget.”
“It has been great to see the reopening of the road last year and the club able to get back to doing what it does best. With the beach back up and running, the club is always looking for new members and volunteers. If you are interested, please get in touch with the club or with my office. Thank you so much to all of our surf lifesavers for all the incredible work that you do to keep our lives safe. Sunday, 8 March, marks International Women's Day. I'm proud that this government not only represents the gender balance across our country but is delivering for women like no government before it. We know how serious and widespread the problem of domestic and family violence is in 2026, and we know that more needs to be done.”
“Today is Red & Yellow Day, which celebrates the volunteers right across Australia who dedicate their time, energy and courage to keeping Australia's beaches safe. It's an opportunity for Australians to show their support for the surf lifesavers who show up season after season in selfless service. In February, I had the opportunity to attend the 2026 branch championships with Surf Life Saving Sydney and be part of the SLSS awards. It was great to see recognition of surf lifesavers for the efforts that they put in to keep our beaches safe each year—clubs like Garie Surf Life Saving Club in my electorate, which has been safeguarding Sydney summers since 1938. Garie Surf Life Saving Club has had a rough few years, with the closure of Garie Road limiting access to the beach and impacting their ability to help the community.”
“These results show that our community is getting on with playing its role in modernising our energy grid and backing a cheaper and cleaner energy future built on Australia's abundant renewable resources—a clean energy future that reduces cost-of-living pressure on families. My community rejects the division that those opposite have brought to the energy debate. They just want a government that is getting on with the job of putting downward pressure on energy bills, and it's a sentiment that's shared right across Hughes, right across New South Wales and right across Australia. Australians want bills that are easier to pay and a plan that delivers. And that is exactly what this program is doing.”
“In Hughes, more than 2,110 families and local businesses have embraced the savings in their budgets that come with embracing energy upgrades that make their homes and businesses more energy efficient. This is being taken up in the Sutherland Shire. In the 2234 postcode, including suburbs Menai, Illawong, Bangor, Barden Ridge, Alfords Point and Lucas Heights, we have seen a take-up approaching 500. In the 2233 postcode, which includes suburbs Engadine, Heathcote, Yarrawarrah, Woronora Heights and Waterfall, we have seen a take-up of more than 300. This is being taken up in the Macarthur region. In the 2565 postcode, which includes suburbs Ingleburn, Bardia and Macquarie Links, we have seen a take-up of more than 250.”
“Cost-of-living relief provided by the Albanese Labor government is being rolled out right across the country, and it's making a real difference to communities like mine in southern Sydney. Our cheaper medicines have made vital medications more affordable and more accessible for Australians. It has been great to visit pharmacists like Ahmad at Cincotta Discount Pharmacy at Macquarie Fields and the On family and pharmacist manager Connie at Terry White Chemmart Pharmacy Illawong and see the real impact that this program is making in my community. It has meant that locals are able to get the medicines they need without having to sacrifice other essentials. We're also seeing a huge take-up by families and local businesses of the savings associated with our cheaper home batteries.”
“My question is to the Treasurer. What steps has the Albanese Labor government taken to prevent price gouging by fuel suppliers following the events in the Middle East, and is the Treasurer aware of any alternative approaches?”
“We were also joined by Australian Police Medal recipients, including Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell of Como and Chief Inspector Rodney Pratt of Maianbar, who were recognised with the APM for their distinguished service in law enforcement. Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you for your work in the community.”
“Kelly Wren was recognised for her extraordinary service to tennis, basketball and athletes with an intellectual disability. Ian Holmes was honoured for his service to football. John Spence was recognised for his service to sport. And Alen Stajcic received his OAM for his service to football as a coach. I welcomed a few of these recipients to my office for afternoon tea to congratulate them on their amazing work and thank them for all they're doing in the community. I also welcomed the family of the late Mark Berkovich to my office, who received a posthumous Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community through a range of community organisations.”
“I had the chance to chat to Christopher about his creative process for his work Cursive Curlicues and the way that he utilised the oxidation of copper to influence its form. Christopher and all these young artists are taking their lived experiences, their identity, their culture, their environment and the issues that define their generation and channelling them into work that is honest, original and incredibly moving. I encourage everyone in southern Sydney to get along to Hazlehurst Arts Centre and see this free exhibition before it closes on 12 April. I want to honour the Australia Day Honours recipients from across the Hughes electorate. Gwen Cherne received the Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to veterans and their families.”
“The exhibition featured 51 students from across the state, including seven from southern Sydney schools, with students pushing aesthetic, conceptual and formal boundaries across drawing, painting, ceramics, photomedia, time based forms, graphic design, sculpture and printmaking. Walking through the gallery, I was struck by how much maturity and ambition was on display. ARTEXPRESS is now in its 43rd year, selected from the cohort of over 9,000 students who completed the 2025 HSC visual arts course. I want to wish special congratulations to Grace Wilson from Inaburra High School, Elliana Clarke from Shire Christian School and Christopher Foster from Bonnet Bay on what were some truly inspiring works.”
“The southern Sydney community is brimming with creative and artistic talent, especially from our young people. One of my favourite displays of this talent is ARTEXPRESS, which features a selection of exceptional student artworks created for the art-making component of the HSC examination in visual arts. I was so excited to be at Hazelhurst Arts Centre in Sutherland Shire, alongside Sutherland Shire Mayor Jack Boyd, for the official opening of ARTEXPRESS 2026. ARTEXPRESS is the annual exhibition showcasing outstanding bodies of work submitted for the HSC examination in visual arts by students from across New South Wales, and Hazelhurst has been presenting it since 2004. This year, the students' works were absolutely mind-blowing.”
“This bill starts keeping the promise properly, with a clear obligation and technology that can actually deliver it. This bill says that no Australian anywhere should look up, see the sky and find a phone call out of reach. To the people of Bundeena and Maianbar, to hikers in the Royal National Park, to the drivers of Heathcote Road and to every constituent in Hughes: this bill is about addressing your concerns and giving you peace of mind. I commend the bill to the House.”
“Triple zero access across every outdoor location must be a core feature of this legislation in order for it to provide real certainty for all Australians in the event of an emergency. The promise of connectivity is one that successive governments have made, but only this side has kept it. We told Australians that mobile phones would keep them connected. This has been true for most of us most of the time, but not for residents like those in Bundeena and Maianbar that are navigating a single lane road, not for hikers and trail runners in the Royal National Park, not for the thousands of commuters on Heathcote Road—who deserve the same coverage as any other major Sydney arterial—and not for the constituents of Hughes, who have held up phones and found nothing there.”
“This is not just about what the technology can do today; it's about building a framework that is flexible enough to capture whatever comes next. As D2D technology matures, as new services emerge and as the market evolves, this legislation evolves with it. We are not locking Australians into a single solution. We are locking Australia into a standard that every Australian everywhere deserves connection. Because voice services under the UOMO will be classified as public mobile telecommunications services, the existing Emergency Call Service Determination automatically applies. Wherever this bill delivers a voice call, it delivers access to triple zero—on a cliff in the Royal National Park, on a dark stretch of Heathcote Road and on the road into Bundeena. No additional legislation is required; it flows directly from this bill.”
“I want to acknowledge the 88 submissions made during public consultation on this bill. This bill did not come from nowhere. Those submissions came from mobile carriers, consumer groups, state and local governments and individual Australians. The breadth of that engagement reflects how deeply people across this country feel about connectivity as a basic expectation, not a commercial privilege. Consumer and community stakeholders were particularly clear. They want equitable access, and they want industry held to account if it isn't delivering. This bill gives the government the tools to do exactly that. The president of the National Farmers' Federation described this as a world-first policy and said Australia could become the 'gold standard for regional communications'.”
“This technology exists, and it's being deployed right now. The question this bill answers is whether it reaches every Australian or only the ones who happen to be commercially convenient. Setting the obligation now is what will drive the market to build toward it. We want the industry to meet its obligations and provide appropriate coverage to all Australians. A legislated obligation is only as strong as the framework that enforces it. That is why the standards, rules and benchmarks powers in this bill matter as much as the obligation itself. If the industry does not deliver quality services, the minister can act. If affordable products are not available for vulnerable Australians, there is a mechanism to require them. If planned outages are not being managed responsibly, there are levers that can be pulled.”
“Within the next couple of years, the direct-to-device, or D2D, coverage will be able to provide baseline outdoor coverage in areas outside terrestrial coverage, allowing people to seek help if they are lost, injured or facing natural disasters in areas without traditional terrestrial mobile coverage. D2D uses satellites orbiting at around 550 kilometres above the Earth to communicate directly with a standard mobile handset without a tower, dish or base station at the user's end. It's just a phone and a view of the sky. That means it works in a national park. It means it works on a winding road through dense bush and on a single-lane road into Bundeena at night. Telstra already has a commercial D2D SMS service operating in Australia today. Optus and TPG have announced their own plans.”
“In those moments, the most connected generation in human history is suddenly and completely cut off from help. The visitor numbers are real, but they are spread across an enormous area, and the park's conservation status limits accessibility. This is market failure, and it's the kind of market failure that this government is seeking to address. This bill is technology-neutral by design. Mobile operators will be expected to use a combination of their existing terrestrial infrastructure and new direct-to-device technology delivered by low-Earth-orbit satellites. The advent of new low-Earth-orbit satellites, or LEOSat, direct-to-device technology has made delivery of mobile coverage across Australia's vast inland areas possible.”
“The Royal National Park sits at the heart of my electorate. It's one of the oldest national parks in the world and one of the most visited. On any given weekend, thousands of people from across Greater Sydney, people from across New South Wales and tourists from across the world are walking the coast track, enjoying the water at Garie Beach, riding trails through the scrub, kayaking through the estuary or simply sitting on a clifftop and watching the Tasman Sea. For most visitors, losing mobile coverage is not life threatening. For most people, it simply means more reason to focus on the incomparable nature the park presents. But, sometimes, it does matter—if a hiker slips on a wet sandstone ledge, a kayaker gets into trouble in a swell that came from nowhere or a trail runner takes a wrong turn and the light starts to fade.”
“For the first time, Telstra, Optus and TPG will be required to provide reasonable access to outdoor baseline mobile coverage across Australia on an equitable basis, starting with voice and SMS services, not just in the cities, not just in the suburbs but everywhere Australians live, work, drive and walk. I spend a lot of time on Heathcote Road. It not only connects the two sides of my electorate; it connects the growing south-west of Sydney to the South Coast. But, for such an important artery, mobile reception on Heathcote Road is not where it needs to be in the 21st century. There are stretches where coverage disappears. If there's a breakdown, an accident or a medical emergency on Heathcote Road, there may be no way to call for help. It's not acceptable for a major road connecting two significant parts of New South Wales.”
“Residents and motorists need to know that, if trouble arises, they'll be able to get help—for a medical episode, a breakdown or a car that comes off the road in the dark. On that road right now, they may have no way to reach anyone if any of these emergencies arise. That's the quiet, daily reality for people in my community in Bundeena and Maianbar, and it's not good enough. These are communities that sit inside the boundaries of greater metropolitan Sydney. From my community, you can see the city, and yet, when it comes to mobile connectivity, they may as well be hundreds of kilometres from anywhere. That's why, on this side of the House, we're introducing a universal outdoor mobile service obligation.”
“It meant that communities like Bundeena and Maianbar in the Royal National Park in my electorate missed out on the connections that were changing lives all around the world as digital access changed the way that lives were lived and economies were grown. When I'm out in the community listening to residents of Bundeena and Maianbar, I'm constantly hearing from them about how the lack of connection affects them. Bundeena and Maianbar are one road in, one road out. The road, which starts as Farnell Avenue and undergoes a couple of name changes before meeting Bundeena Drive, is single lane. It's winding and surrounded by dense bushland. These are dangerous roads for Bundeena and Maianbar residents to have to navigate at night.”
“That's why I am so supportive of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025—because communities like those in my electorate of Hughes were left behind while those opposite were in office, especially in relation to telecommunications. While those opposite were in government, they tried to degrade everything that the National Broadband Network was meant to transform. They took a technology designed to connect every Australian with world-class fibre and watered it down. They chose cheaper, slower, inferior technology, and they called it good enough.”
“In 2026, access to telecommunications is no longer a luxury; it is an essential service that underpins public safety, economic participation and the need to stay connected to those we love. Australians rely on mobile phones for connectivity more than ever. However, Australia's longstanding universal service obligation has not included mobile services. We have legislated for copper phone lines and payphones, while the country has evolved to make the mobile phone the most essential device for everyday life. On this side of the chamber, we believe in a simple principle: no-one held back and no-one left behind.”
“The Albanese Labor government was re-elected last year with a mandate to build Australia's future. Australia's future is a connected one. We inhabit a vast and ancient continent, but we live in a time when technology has drastically changed what distance can mean to us. In 1854 we had the first telegram line connect Sydney to Melbourne. In 1871 we had the first overseas telegram reach Australian shores. In the century and a half since that time, we have seen drastic changes to what telecommunications can bring to a modern society. At Federation, there was no way that Australians could have imagined what low-Earth-orbit satellite direct-to-device technology would make possible.”
“True to her word, Emily went for it, but, unfortunately, her difficult second trick couldn't quite get up. Emily did an amazing job representing us. We are so proud of the heights that she's reached over her three Olympic Games, and we're looking forward to all that she achieves in the years ahead. Deputy Speaker, we send our congratulations to Emily and to all the Australians doing us proud these Olympics. Forza, Team Oz.”
“Last night our community got behind our local star Emily Arthur as she represented Australia in the snowboard halfpipe at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Emily is a Hughes local from Woronora Heights who went to St John Bosco College in Engadine, like me. But, unlike me, she served as the flag bearer for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, where she won a silver medal. This is Emily's third Winter Olympic campaign, and she said she wasn't there to play it safe. Emily's second run was delayed after the competition was paused for 10 minutes after a terrifying crash for one of her fellow contenders, from China. The usually joyful and energetic atmosphere was reduced to silence, while Emily had to stay ready for her run.”
“It strengthens the moment of choice, it protects the integrity of the process and it reinforces a reform agenda that puts workers first. Superannuation is one of the great Australian achievements. It did not happen by accident. It happened because a Labor government believed that working people deserved more than the bare minimum in retirement. We are determined to ensure that that belief continues to shape policy, protect workers and strengthen retirement security for generations to come. I commend the bill to the House.”
“They look at consumer protections and see regulation. We see we look at them and see fairness. They will look at global events and see tax concessions. We look at them and see jobs, participation and national pride. This bill is another step in building an economy that rewards work, protects savings and positions Australia confidently on the global stage. Australians want to know that when they work hard, their retirement savings are protected. They want to know that the system is not quietly chipping away at their balance through unnecessary duplication. They want to know that when they start a new job, they are not being funnelled into a product because someone paid for placement in an onboarding portal. They want fairness. They want transparency. They want confidence. This bill delivers that.”
“For small businesses across communities like mine in southern Sydney, certainty and clarity now reduce headaches with compliance later. These reforms provide the right information at the right time. They are sensible, modern changes that reduce friction and help ensure our superannuation system runs smoothly for employers and employees alike. This is what responsible economic management looks like. Each reform strengthens the system. Each reform protects workers. Each reform reflects a simple belief that retirement security is not a luxury; it is a right earned through hard work. It is about understanding that fairness and growth are not opposing forces; they are mutually reinforcing. Those opposite will look at superannuation and see a cost to the system. We look at it and see dignity.”
“They sit alongside the Financial Accountability Regime and stronger reporting standards. They sit alongside paying super on paid parental leave. Piece by piece, reform by reform, we are strengthening this system, and we do so because we understand something fundamental: superannuation is deferred wages. It's not a gift from the government. It's not a bonus from employers. It belongs to the people who earned it, and it deserves to be protected as fiercely as wages in a pay packet. When you look at schedules 1 and 2 of this bill, alongside payday super, a clear theme emerges. We are strengthening super at the point of choice and at the point of payment. We are protecting workers when they start a job and we are protecting them when they get paid.”
“It includes an administrative uplift, reflecting the cost of enforcement and incentivising voluntary rectification, with reductions available for employers who come forward and have a good compliance history. It includes choice loading—an additional penalty if the employer fails to pay into the employee's chosen fund. For those who persistently fail to pay, even after the ATO has raised a charge, penalties of up to 50 per cent of the unpaid amount can apply. These are serious consequences because unpaid super is a serious issue. Super is workers' money, and under this government we are making sure that it is paid on time every time. These reforms do not stand alone. They sit alongside the expansion of the performance test, from around 80 products to more than 800, driving accountability and transparency across the system.”
“From 1 July 2026, under payday super, employers will be required to pay super at the same time as wages, rather than quarterly. Super contributions must be received by the employee's fund within seven business days of payday. That change does two things: it makes it easier for employees to track their super in real time and it allows the ATO to detect missed payments earlier, before debts spiral out of control and become unrecoverable. The legislation also strengthens the super guarantee charge. Under the new framework, if an employer fails to pay super in full and on time, the charge applies for each payday missed. It includes notional earnings, compensating employees for investment returns they missed out on due to late payment.”
“Casual employees, part-time workers, people in industries with high turnover—these are Australians who can least afford to miss out on retirement savings. In a typical ATO investigation of an unpaid super case, a worker has missed out on nearly two years of contributions. For an average 35-year-old, failing to recover that money could reduce their retirement savings by around $32,000 in today's money. If an employer goes bust and super is never recovered, the impact is even worse. For that same 35-year-old, their retirement balance could be more than $90,000 worse off in today's money. That's not an abstract concept; that is real money. It could be a future home deposit. It could be someone's medical costs. It could be someone's dignity in old age.”
“Certain MySuper products can be displayed if they pass the annual performance test, are advertised by an unrelated party and are accompanied by clear disclosures. When a worker is providing their super details to an employer, that space should be free from inappropriate influence. That is what it means to govern in the public interest. Last year, this parliament passed the payday super legislation. That reform is a once-in-a-generation change to fix unpaid super. The Australian Taxation Office estimates that $5.2 billion in super went unpaid in 2021-22. That is $100 million every single week that workers earned but never received. Let's reflect on that. Every week, $100 million of Australians' retirement savings was simply not paid out. Unpaid super disproportionately affects younger workers and those in insecure work.”
“Reflect on that. A worker is starting a new job, they're required to provide their details, they are navigating unfamiliar systems and, in that moment, they are showed paid promotions for superannuation products. That's not a level playing field. That's not informed consent. That is commercial influence at one of the most vulnerable points in the process. Superannuation is not a streaming service. It's not something that should be marketed to someone while they are navigating the first day of employment, so we're putting a stop to it. This bill introduces a targeted ban on superannuation advertising during onboarding. It's the end of stealth marketing at the point of employment. It's the end of commercial steering disguised as administration. Employees will see their stapled fund and they will still see the employer default fund.”
“That means that, when a worker is completing their onboarding, they can see their existing fund details clearly and make an informed choice—not a rushed choice, not a choice made in confusion but an informed choice—with all the relevant information available. Let's be clear: choice remains. Workers can choose any eligible fund. We are ensuring that that choice is based on transparency, not confusion, because superannuation is not a retail impulse purchase; it's a lifetime investment. A few percentage points in fees compounded over decades can mean tens of thousands of dollars in retirement. During a review of earlier reforms, it was discovered that some onboarding software providers were being paid to promote specific super products to new employees during the onboarding process, sometimes products linked to the software provider itself.”
“It reduced the explosion of unintended duplicate accounts that were eating away at retirement savings through multiple sets of fees and insurance premiums. But the system can work better. Right now, too often, people are asked to choose a fund without clearly seeing their existing one in front of them, or they are presented with options in a way that is not neutral. We know that we can do better to streamline the choice-of-fund process, with changes like the one in schedule 1 of this bill, which allows employers or their onboarding providers to request an employee's stapled fund details from the ATO earlier in the process.”
“It is core to who we are, and this bill continues that work. Think about the moment when someone starts a new job. It is exciting, but it can be stressful. There's paperwork and there are tax file numbers, bank details and emergency contacts. There are systems to log on to, there are forms to sign and somewhere in that process is a choice about super. In that moment, superannuation is often reduced to a tick box—a choice that compounds over 10, 20 or 40 years, a choice that can mean the difference between security and stress in retirement. Under earlier reforms, stapling was introduced so that workers would remain connected to their existing super fund when they moved jobs, because for too long every time Australians moved jobs they automatically ended up with a brand new super account. That was an important step.”
“It is not just something people ignore when they're working. It represents dignity in retirement, the difference between scraping by and living with security after decades of hard work. Let's be honest about the history of superannuation here. Those opposite opposed compulsory super at its creation. They delayed increases to the super guarantee. They described it as a burden. They tried to water it down. We lifted it to 12 per cent; they froze it. We legislated the objective of superannuation so it cannot be quietly redefined; they warned of catastrophe. We are paying super on paid parental leave so that women are not penalised in retirement for taking time out to raise children; they voted against it. So, when we speak about strengthening superannuation, we do so with credibility. This is not an afterthought for us.”
“The measures in this bill support Australians where they are in their lives, whether they're starting a new job, saving for retirement, running a small business, building a winery, hosting a global sporting event, investing across borders or donating to a cause they believe in. On this side of the House, we believe Australians deserve the choice and the confidence to make economic decisions with fairness and transparency at the forefront. This is particularly felt when we look at superannuation. Superannuation is one of the great Australian reforms. It's a Labor reform. It was built by a Labor government in partnership with working people and, for more than three decades, it has quietly transformed retirement in this country. Labor always has been and always will be the party of superannuation because we understand what it represents.”