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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“Superannuation plays such an important role in securing the financial wellbeing of Australians while also making a tremendous contribution to investment in the Australian economy. Superannuation has provided modern Australians with the financial independence that would have been unimaginable to any of the generations that preceded them. It's a system that has changed lives for the better and it's a system built by Labor. The Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2026 builds on that legacy and expands on the financial independence that the superannuation system has provided to modern Australia.”
“We want it to be a place where all Australians feel welcome, and Luch did that in the most humble and welcoming of ways. He did it with a sense of humour as well, as the Prime Minister said. He used the same joke on me a couple of times. I drink a lot of water in the chamber as the member for Tangney, my bench mate, will attest. And, yes, Luch did use the old, 'It's on the house!' joke on me a couple of times. It was always very warm and it's something that I'll miss very much. I want to wish all the best for his family. They have our sincere condolences. Our thoughts are with them at this time. It's such a difficult time, losing such an important part of not just our family but their family even more dearly. Vale, Luch. Long may his legacy in this place continue.”
“The first time I saw Luch was on The House With Annabel Crabb and they talked about how long he had served in this place and the place before it. There are no members left serving in this place now who served in the previous place. It's so sad that we've lost that connection to that previous place and to the legacy of that building for this place. Luch was always such a warm reminder of the familiarity of this place and of the legacy of this place. As has been said, we as members of parliament couldn't do this work without those people supporting us—the attendants, the cleaners and all the people that make this place hum. We couldn't do it without them. Luch represented the best of this place. He represented that warmth and that welcome that we want for this seat of Australian democracy.”
“It's a real honour to be able to speak in remembrance of Luch. I didn't know Luch for as long as some of the other members here, having been elected only last year, but I want to acknowledge how welcoming he was to the new members here. As has been said by some of the members that were welcomed a bit longer ago, he was so welcoming. The moment that I always remember about him is when I was in my first couple of weeks here and I was looking for a lectern. I walked up to the little spot next to the main doors of the chamber. I was still working things out. I said, 'Can I get a lectern?' and he went, 'Come in, come in,' immediately. He was so welcoming. He said, 'Come in any time you want.' He was so generous and welcoming with his time and his resources.”
“My question is to the Treasurer. What steps is the Albanese Labor government taking to strengthen the budget and support Australians with the cost of living? How does that compare with other approaches?”
“We believe in investing in Australian jobs. That's what we're doing, and those opposite have failed to do that over their near decade in office.”
“Those opposite have talked them down every step of the way. Those opposite have claimed that the interest rates are going up as a result of the of reckless spending. They clearly haven't bothered to read the statement by the RBA's monetary policy board, which highlighted that growth in private demand was strengthening substantially more than expected, which was partly driving inflation. We wouldn't expect those opposite to be able to read any sort of economic document based on the leadership that they showed when they were in power. But it shows the gall of them, that they then have the audacity to come here and complain about what we're doing on this side of the House. Those opposite claim to support small business but they didn't produce a national small business strategy; we did. We're the first ones to do it.”
“And who paid the price for it? It was Australian workers. On this side, we back Australian workers. On this side, we want Australians earning more. We are investing in Australian skills. We're now celebrating the third birthday of free TAFE. Those opposite don't believe in free TAFE. The Liberals and the Nationals don't agree on much at the moment. There's not much they agree on. But one thing they do agree on is they hate free TAFE. They hate the idea that Australians are able to get the skills that they need for the jobs of the future without having to go into enormous debt. We are cutting student debt. We've cut student debt by 20 per cent right across the country. That's money going back into the pockets of young people across Australia who are just starting out, who are just trying to get ahead.”
“We on this side don't think that the senior heading down to the pharmacy in Illawong being able to afford all of the medicines prescribed to him to keep him out of the hospital system is wasteful spending. But those opposite should have to answer: who do you think is the wasted investment, our children or our seniors? We on this side don't think that Australians earning more and keeping more of what they earn through our tax cuts that they voted against is reckless. It is money that's going back into the pockets of Australians right across the country. Those opposite want Australian wages to be lower. Under this government wage growth is finally moving again after a decade of deliberate wage suppression by those opposite. They said that lower wages were a design feature of the economy under them, and that's exactly what they got.”
“And it's making a tangible difference to my constituents in Hughes, with things like cheaper child care that's already putting thousands of dollars back into the pockets of families and suburbs of my electorate from Bundeena to Bardia; things like cheaper medicines, with all PBS medicines now $25 or less, saving families across Hughes hundreds of dollars a year; things like tax cuts for every taxpayer, including another tax cut coming in July this year benefiting local workers and small businesses alike. They were tax cuts that those opposite voted against. Those opposite should have to answer this question: which part of that spending is wasteful? We on this side don't think that making child care more affordable so that parents can be part of the workforce is wasteful spending.”
“I assume that they will want to talk about the cost that Australians were left with from serving the trillion dollars of Liberal debt that we inherited from our predecessors. But what about where Labor's allocating our resources? Labor is investing prudently in Australia's greatest opportunity—its people. We have delivered cost-of-living relief that is targeted, responsible and real.”
“Those opposite have raised the topic of reckless spending. It's a breathtaking exercise in political amnesia from those opposite. I assume that the first example of reckless spending that they will want Australians to know about will be the $600 billion that they want to spend on nuclear power plants, which they took to the last election. I assume that they will want Australians to know about the near decade of deficits that they produced, which left Australians with higher debt, higher prices, collapsing services and absolutely no plan to deal with inflation when those opposite walked out the door. I assume that they want Australians to know about the thousands and thousands of dollars that they gave to their mates in Qantas and Harvey Norman.”
“It's a win for nurses, it's a win for patients and it's a win for the sustainability of our health system. I commend this bill to the House.”
“This bill is not about replacing doctors; it's about supporting the entire health workforce to work together more effectively. It recognises the expertise of nurses and the vital role that they play across every part of the health system. It reflects the reality that modern health care is delivered by multidisciplinary teams, not in silos. For the people of Hughes, this reform means a stronger, more responsive health system in southern Sydney. It means care that is closer to home, delivered sooner and more affordably. It means nurses who already provide trusted care in our community will be empowered to do more within a safe and regulated framework. This bill is another example of the Albanese government delivering on its commitments to strengthen Medicare, support the health workforce and put patients first.”
“This bill ensures that prescribing services are subject to peer review and accountability. This protects the integrity of the PBS and maintains public confidence in the system. Targeted consultation has occurred between the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Services Australia, the Professional Services Review and the Department of Veterans' Affairs to ensure alignment and smooth implementation. States and territories are also doing their part. All jurisdictions are currently amending their drugs and poisons legislation to enable designated registered nurse prescribing by July 2026. This national alignment makes delivery of health care more streamlined right across this continent. It ensures consistency, clarity and safety across Australia.”
“Ensuring PBS subsidies apply to medicines prescribed by designated registered nurse prescribers removes unnecessary financial barriers. This reform also supports continuity of care. In aged care and disability settings, designated registered nurse prescribers can respond more quickly to changes in a person's condition. In hospital settings, they support timely discharge and follow-up care, reducing the risk of re-admission. In mental health services, they can improve access to treatment and reduce delays that exacerbate distress. These are real, practical benefits that flow directly to patients. The bill also ensures integrity and safety through appropriate oversight by amending the Health Insurance Act 1973 to include registered nurses under the Professional Services Review Scheme.”
“The list of medicines that designated registered nurse prescribers will be able to prescribe under the PBS will be determined through the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. This ensures decisions are evidence based, clinically appropriate and subject to rigorous assessment. Affordability matters in health care. For families in Hughes, the cost-of-living pressures are real. Health costs are not abstract. They are felt at the pharmacy counter, at the GP clinic and when people delay health care because they're worried about cost. This government is doing something about it, and we're doing it despite those opposite opposing every cost-of-living measure put forward by this government in the last term.”
“I've been visiting bulk-billing practices across my electorate that are seeing the value in Labor's investment in bulk-billing for patients and for doctors and healthcare professionals. There's more work to do, but it's work that this government is committed to doing, and this bill is part of that commitment. Improved access to primary health care reduces avoidable hospital visits and preventable hospitalisations. When people receive timely treatment in the community, it reduces pressure on emergency departments and inpatient services. This bill supports that outcome. It also aligns with the Albanese government's commitment to cheaper medicines and the objectives of the National Medicines Policy. By enabling PBS subsidised prescribing by designated registered nurse prescribers, we ensure that medicines remain affordable and accessible.”
“Designated registered nurse prescribing strengthens the health system by easing workforce pressures and building long-term capacity. It helps ensure the right professional is providing the right care at the right time. This is especially important in areas facing workforce shortages, including outer metropolitan, regional, rural and remote communities. The community at the southern tip of Sydney in Hughes is not immune to these pressures. Older Australians managing chronic conditions often need timely access to medicines. Carers and families balancing work and care responsibilities need health services that are responsive and accessible. As a result of a decade of neglect of Medicare, residents face long waits for appointments, particularly bulk-billed services, but bulk-billed services are coming back in Hughes.”
“For the people of Hughes, this means more timely care in the places they already access. It means community health clinics, aged-care facilities and hospital outpatient services can operate more efficiently. It means fewer unnecessary delays, fewer repeat appointments for administrative reasons and better coordination across the system. Currently, many registered nurses in primary care are highly skilled, highly educated and deeply experienced yet remain underutilised. Allowing them to prescribe certain medicines under the PBS boosts efficiency and allows GPs and nurse practitioners to focus on patients with more complex needs. That is good for patients. It's good for clinicians, and it's good for the sustainability of Medicare.”
“Medical professionals have expressed support for designated registered nurse prescribing on the basis that it occurs in partnership with an authorised health practitioner under an active prescribing agreement. That partnership model remains central to this reform. Designated registered nurse prescribers will not operate in isolation. They will practice within clearly defined clinical governance arrangements that support patient safety and quality care. Primary care stakeholders expect that designated registered nurse prescribers will be able to prescribe PBS subsidised medicines in primary care, aged care, disability services, mental health settings and in acute hospital environments, particularly to support discharge processes and outpatient management.”
“The first cohort of designated registered nurse prescribers is expected to complete their education, receive endorsement and begin prescribing from July 2026. This is a reform that hasn't been rushed. It's not an experiment; it's a carefully designed, nationally agreed framework. Importantly, it has been developed with extensive stakeholder consultation. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia consulted with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian Medical Association, palliative care services, the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives and the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association.”
“They are firmly grounded in years of research, consultation and agreement across government and the health sector. Since 2017, extensive research and consultation has been undertaken on how registered nurses can safely and effectively contribute to prescribing within their scope of practice. That work culminated in December 2024, when Commonwealth, state and territory health ministers approved a new registration standard, 'endorsement for scheduled medicines—designated registered nurse prescriber', under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009. That standard came into effect in September 2025. It sets out clear, rigorous education and qualification requirements that a registered nurse must meet to obtain and retain an endorsement.”
“Specifically, the bill amends the National Health Act 1953 to allow registered nurses who are endorsed under the new registration standard for scheduled medicines to become authorised prescribers for certain medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This means prescriptions written by designated registered nurse prescribers can attract a Commonwealth subsidy through the PBS, ensuring medicines remain affordable for patients. The bill also amends the Health Insurance Act 1973 to ensure that prescribing services provided by designated registered nurse prescribers fall within the Professional Services Review Scheme. This ensures oversight, accountability and integrity within the system. These are sensible, measured reforms.”
“That shows Australians that what those opposite value: when you cut access to health in the Liberal Party, you get promoted. We are still cleaning up the mess that those opposite left in health and medication. This bill represents part of those efforts to restore trust in affordable and accessible health care in Australia. It supplements our commitment to cheaper medicines. Since 1 January, medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme have cost no more than $25, a price they haven't been since 2004. It was action on our commitment to cheaper medicines, and this bill adds to that commitment. This bill introduces historic reforms that empower nurses to work to their full scope of practice and improve access to medicines for people across Australia.”
“It recognises the truth that communities across Australia, including my electorate of Hughes, understand too well: as demand for primary health care grows, workforce pressures are becoming more acute and our system needs to make better use of the skilled professionals we already have. It was a truth not recognised by those opposite during their near-decade in office—a period during which the Leader of the Opposition, as health minister, distinguished herself as the only health minister in the history of Medicare never to increase the rebate for Medicare once—a goose egg! The health minister who went out for a duck on Medicare and extended Peter Dutton's Medicare freeze from two years to six years now leads the opposition.”
“Last year this government was re-elected with a clear commitment to strengthen Medicare, expand access to affordable medicines and ensure our health workforce can work to its full scope of practice. The Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 is part of that commitment of the Albanese Labor government. It delivers on the government's commitment to ensure our health workforce operates at full scope, enhancing safe and timely access to medicines. It's a win for nurses and a win for all Australians. At its core, this bill is about supporting and promoting access—access to care, access to medicines and access to a health system that works when people need it, not weeks later and only if they can afford to wait or travel.”
“They have not invested in one of the most important growth regions in our country. Large-scale projects are addressing some of these longstanding congestion issues, alongside targeted local upgrades that improve safety where people live, work and travel every day. This is what implementation of a 21st-century infrastructure program looks like, and I commend these programs to the House.”
“Around our current public school, a number of local streets were identified as safety concerns through the Black Spot Program. More than $280,000 was secured to upgrade sections of Eucalyptus Drive and Melaleuca Drive with improved lighting, raised medians and safety islands, additional stop and give way controls, traffic-calming measures and a new pedestrian wombat crossing. Together, these upgrades will improve visibility, slow vehicle movements and create a safer environment for students, parents and residents. This is what a coordinated approach to infrastructure looks like in my community of Hughes. It's a community that those opposite have overlooked for a long time, especially in south-west Sydney, but also in the shire and in Liverpool. Those opposite have overlooked this community.”
“It is a very dangerous intersection, and it is one that people have been highlighting for a long time, so I'm very proud of this $290,000 that we are going to be allocating towards fixing this serious safety risk. In Ingleburn, increased industrial activity has led to higher volumes of heavy vehicles along Lancaster Road, making the intersection of Memorial Avenue increasingly difficult and unsafe to navigate. More than $200,000 has been secured to deliver a single-lane roundabout at the intersection, improving visibility, slowing traffic and making access safer for all road users, including those travelling to local community facilities such as the bowling club at Ingleburn. For families, the safety of children travelling to and from school is always a priority.”
“I used to walk home from school across this intersection and I drive over this intersection quite regularly. Funding of more than $290,000 has been secured through the federal government's Black Spot Program to install a new single-lane roundabout, improving traffic flow and reducing the risk of serious crashes at this location. For those of you who don't live in the area, which is most people in the room I would think, this is a location where it is very difficult to see through the intersection. Anzac Avenue is, essentially, one of the major roads in Engadine—it's the main thoroughfare off the Princes Highway—so you have cars going in there quite rapidly. People have to move in front of parked cars to try and see around this intersection.”
“Obviously, they didn't want to invest in building a railway line from south-west Sydney to the new airport, but to not even invest in roads just goes against all sensibility and logic. So I'm very proud that this government is delivering this. I'm very proud that we're investing $190 million in this piece of infrastructure for south-western Sydney. But major infrastructure is only a part of the story. Local road upgrades, delivered through programs such as the Black Spot Program, are equally important. In Engadine, the intersection of Anzac Avenue and Banksia Avenue has long been recognised as a safety concern by both the local council and the local community. As someone who grew up in the Engadine area, I know this intersection quite well.”
“It is such an obvious choke point. When you look across the network, from the M7 to the M5, WestConnex and M4, this is such an obvious choke point for such a growing region of Sydney. For those opposite to have overlooked this for so long shows their absolute contempt for those who live in south-west Sydney. South-west Sydney is the gateway to Sydney. It is the engine room of the economy. We've got the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct and we've got the new airport coming in, and the idea that we would be avoiding investing in this key infrastructure is beyond belief. The fact is that we've got trucks that can't get off the road safely, and this is something that those opposite knew about when they were in power.”
“This upgrade is being delivered through a strong partnership between the Albanese and Minns Labor governments, each committing $190 million as part of the broader Western Sydney infrastructure blitz. I know the member for Riverina was in here earlier talking about trucks and the trucking industry and the people who work in that industry, and I note that those opposite claim to represent people in industries who move around on our motorways. I recall Tony Abbott, whose contempt for public transport is well documented. He famously said that every man in his car is a 'king'—as if that was an excuse for not investing in public transport across Australia and in Western Sydney especially. I note that, in the nine years that those opposite were in power, they did not invest in fixing this obvious choke point in our orbital network.”
“This matters because the existing bridge currently sees more than 2,500 trucks a day moving from the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct terminal onto the Sydney motorway network, with truck numbers only set to increase as new sections come online. Last week I visited the M5 south-west control centre, at Hammondville, and spoke with controllers who manage this stretch of the road every day, and I asked them what this upgrade would mean for them on a day-to-day basis. The term they used was 'game changer', because they see the crashes, the breakdowns and the daily pressure points that drivers experience during peak times. This project gives them the tools to keep traffic moving safely, and it gives motorists the confidence that the road network is finally catching up with demand.”
“The NSW government has now signed a contract to upgrade this interchange, and it's a genuinely significant step forward for my community. The project includes a new three-lane toll-free bridge over the Georges River and the train lines at Liverpool, dramatically improving the connection between the M5 Motorway, Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway. It also removes the dangerous weave on the M5 between Moorebank Avenue and the Hume Highway, improving safety and traffic flows for drivers entering and exiting the motorway. A new underpass at Moorebank Avenue will directly connect the M5 westbound to the Hume Highway, and the intersection between the M5 and Moorebank Avenue will be fully upgraded.”
“I want to acknowledge those beautiful words from the honourable member opposite. Those on this side of the House are also missing Luch, and I want to acknowledge the beautiful sentiment brought by the honourable member. I also want to talk about the M5 around Moorebank. Anyone who uses the M5 around Moorebank knows exactly the problem that occurs in that place. Every afternoon peak, traffic is banked up as cars and trucks enter westbound at Moorebank Avenue and try to merge with traffic already on the motorway that's attempting to exit at the Hume Highway. It's slow, it's frustrating, it can be dangerous and it's not a new issue. It's an infamous choke point in Sydney's south-west, and it's why the Albanese and Minns governments are getting on with delivering the critical infrastructure Western Sydney needs.”
“I want to acknowledge the first responders who stepped up to keep victims alive, including the police, ambulance officers and surf lifesavers, many of whom were on the scene, having what should have been an ordinary Christmas party, and many of whom were in parliament today and whom I met with. We remember those who were lost that day. I want to extend my condolences on behalf of the community of Hughes to all the families, loved ones and the Jewish community. May their memory be a blessing. What happened that day must never be repeated. We must take actions to ensure that we do all that we can to make sure that they are not. I commend the motion to the House.”
“Australians are wrapping their arms around the Jewish community, and the community of Sutherland have stood in solidarity with a Syrian Muslim refugee who embodied the Australian values of mateship and sacrifice. That is modern Australia, and that is the Australia that the terrorists will not destroy. But there is more to do. Antisemitism, hatred and racism are unacceptable in any form in modern Australia. Antisemitism in its various forms has been around for thousands of years. The Daesh terrorist ideology in which antisemitism flourishes has persisted for far longer than 800 days. But just because it has persisted doesn't mean it can be accepted. Modern Australians can disagree about international and domestic politics and can practise different faith traditions, but Australia must be a place free from violent international conflicts.”
“From a family outside of your faith and culture, thank you. Thank you for showing the best of humanity when it mattered the most. The community came together and supported and lifted up our neighbour. In the face of fear, division and contempt, when it would be easy to choose to hate, southern Sydney turned to love. We chose light over darkness. It's the light that the Hanukkah event was planned to celebrate. When I visited Bondi that week, the community had gathered for prayers and to sing. Australians of all backgrounds had come to pay their respects and to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters. The terrorists seek to divide Australians, to make us turn on each other, to hate one another. They failed.”
“While unarmed and without any protection for his own safety, Ahmed approached one of the gunmen and disarmed him, turning the weapon on the gunman before propping it against a tree. Ahmed was shot and wounded in attempting to protect others. In the days following the attack, the front of Ahmed's closed shop in Sutherland became a focal point for my community's grief and their gratitude to those who showed such bravery and selflessness in the face of danger. A sea of flowers and messages of hope and gratitude to Ahmed for standing up for his fellow Australians flooded the front of the shop. I visited that shopfront several times, and each time I was deeply moved to see the love and the gratitude being poured out in messages like this one: And whoever saves one life—it is as if he has saved all of humanity—Qu'ran 532.”
“But it was also an attack on Australia itself—an Australia that is tolerant and relaxed, a beach-going country where you can take your troubles to the calming sea. The terrorists attacked that. They sought to divide Australians, to get Australians to turn on each other, to get Australians to believe that our differences should separate us. Australians are stronger than that. During the attack, ordinary community members stood up against the violence, the terror and the hate at the cost of their own safety—people like Boris and Sofia Gurman, who wrestled with one of the gunmen during the early stages of the attack and who, tragically, lost their lives in this act of selflessness and courage; and people like Ahmed al-Ahmed, who owns and runs a shop in Sutherland, in my electorate of Hughes.”
“Boris Gurman, Sofia Gurman, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Edith Brutman, Adam Smyth, Boris Tetleroyd, Marika Pogany, Peter Meagher, Dan Elkayam, Reuven Morrison, Tibor Weitzen, Alexander Kleytman, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Tani Tretiak and, with that most Australian of names, 10-year-old Matilda: these 15 names represent what Australia lost on 14 December. They are now etched in the hearts of Australians forever. Those names represented hopes and futures for the lives of those who bore them, who were unjustly torn from their families and loved ones at Bondi Beach in an act of violence and terror that most Australians had thought unthinkable on this continent. It was an act of unspeakable evil and hate. It was an antisemitic attack, targeted at Jewish Australians.”
“On social media we are taking action to protect our young people and our next generation from its harms—reforms that are now being envied and emulated around the world. With the G20 we have strengthened our commitment to the Paris Agreement and international trade while those opposite talk down our place on the national stage. On energy we are leading the world with the presidency of the COP. While those opposite don't believe in climate action, the rest of the world and the business community and this side of the House do. The world is with us on our plans for cheaper renewable energy and international trade to reduce the cost of living for Australians. Those opposite need to take the message that Australians are giving them and join the world in the 21st century.”
“Wasn't that a great example of the focus of those opposite on themselves rather than on the people they should be looking after, the real Australians who need our help! The Albanese Labor government is leading the world in areas that are going to build the futures of young Australians: on international trade, on energy, on keeping our young people safe online. Those opposite can't even figure out how to lead themselves. On this side of the House, we know how to work with partners around the world to achieve real outcomes for Australians, like those in my electorate of Hughes. In our critical mineral framework with the United States we are positioning Australia to benefit from the transition the global economy is going through as countries around the world move towards net zero.”
“Let's make sure that when Australians raise a glass, they toast not just to good friends and good times but to good, responsible government. I commend the bills to the House.”
“This measure is about giving small businesses the breathing space they need to plan ahead, retain staff and reinvest in their businesses. It's about supporting Australian brewers, particularly small and independent producers, who rely on keg sales to maintain cash flow and jobs. And, yes, it's about making sure that when Australians head to their local for a cold one they're not greeted with a nasty surprise. Let's face it, no-one wants to pay champagne prices for a schooner of beer; that would leave a bitter taste! If this measure helps keep the price of a pint steady, that's something worth raising a glass to. Let's give our pubs, clubs and brewers the fair go they deserve. This government is protecting jobs, keeping communities stronger and protecting Australians.”
“And more is coming, with further tax cuts for every taxpayer, another 50 Medicare urgent care clinics and expanded bulk-billing. We have done this with responsible economic management. We have kept inflation down. When we came to office, inflation was about six or seven per cent. Now inflation has a 'three' in front of it. That responsible management has empowered the Reserve Bank to make three interest rate cuts this year, reducing costs for mortgage holders and small businesses across the nation. This freeze to the excise is part of that responsible management. It's about keeping local venues open, keeping people in work and keeping communities connected. That's what Labor governments do; they protect decent jobs and they give our communities the environment they need to thrive, connect and grow.”
“We're also cutting 20 per cent off student loan debt for three million Australians, removing a financial barrier that has affected the weekly finances of millions of Australians and kept many of them out of the housing market. We have made medicines cheaper, taking PBS prescriptions to only $25. The last time PBS prescriptions were $25 it was 2004 and we were cheering on Brad Pitt in the 2004 film Troy . And, of course, we're restoring bulk-billing. Those opposite tried to end bulk-billing. They tried to introduce co-payments and make people pay for their primary health care. The Leader of the Opposition as health minister provided absolutely no help to those seeking to bulk-bill. But we are fixing that. From 1 November, we are restoring bulk-billing as the norm in Australia.”
“This program has seen overwhelming take-up since its inception in July this year as more and more households see the benefits that come from the new energy economy. This program is saving Australians thousands off their bills each day, and it's only growing. Through our solar sharer offer, the default market offer, retailers will be required to offer free electricity to households for at least three hours in the middle of the day when solar generation is at its peak, extending the benefits of the energy transition to Australians right across my electorate of Hughes and across the country and providing stability to energy demand.”