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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“Australians have changed the way they consume their media. There's been a significant decline in the number of people who watch live broadcast television free to air. The year 2024 marked a key milestone in Australia's viewing habits, with fewer than half of Australians watching live free-to-air TV for the first time at only 46 per cent, down from 52 per cent in 2023. This was accompanied by a decline in the average time spent viewing broadcast television, down to 4.8 hours a week in 2024 from 5.6 hours a week in 2023. Australians have shifted the way they consume their content, but two things have not shifted: Australians' desire for a strong Australian arts and media sector and the legislative landscape for subscription video on demand. Right now, free-to-air broadcasters have Australian content requirements.”
“This is about getting the balance right: laws that are better for business and better for the environment. Those opposite need to get on board.”
“While those on the other side can't remember whether they believe in climate change from day to day, we on this side of the House are getting on with the job of addressing the clear and widely accepted need for environmental law reform to support productivity and deliver stronger environmental protections. Our government has introduced real reform to the outdated legislation of the Howard government era to provide stronger environmental protection and restoration, more efficient and robust project assessments, and greater accountability and transparency in decision-making. We need to get these laws working to achieve other national priorities, like delivering the homes, jobs, clean energy and economic prosperity our country needs in the future.”
“My electorate of Hughes has some of the most incredible natural landscapes in the world: the second-oldest national park in the world, the Royal National Park; the Heathcote National Park; the Georges River; and the Hacking River, in which we have a thriving platypus population after a 50-year absence. Labor is the party of environmental reform. Those on this side of the chamber have delivered every single major environmental reform in Australia's history: Landcare, saving the Franklin, protecting Daintree and Kakadu, building the largest network of marine parks in the world and meaningfully addressing the threat of climate change.”
“Father Briffa's funeral will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 4 November, at 10 am. God bless the soul of Father Briffa, a man who lived the gospel and built communities that will carry his legacy for many years to come. May he rest in peace. House adjourned at 20:00”
“This is the family that God gave me.' I am deeply inspired by the power of his local initiatives and the role community leadership plays when it is grounded in compassion and when we hold the aim of the kind of community he forged—one that welcomes, supports, challenges and allows each generation to inherit a strong sense of community and belonging. The return on education from Bosco, the benefits of care from John Paul Village and the community that remains—these are multigenerational. For us in public life, that reminder is vital. We invest today for people not yet born. Father Briffa's passing at the age of 97 marks the end of an era for Bosco, but it's an era that invites reflection on the legacy of education, justice, care and community building that continues to bear fruit.”
“The aged-care village was born because seniors in the parish had nowhere local to go. The school was born because the community needed a Catholic secondary option. He combined vision with concrete steps. I give thanks tonight for Father John Briffa's life, his service, his humility and his steadfast dedication. His work remains visible in the classrooms where students learn, in the aged-care village where seniors live and in the parish gatherings that remember him. Father Briffa often said: 'These are my people.”
“Today it's home to more than 400 residents in aged-care rooms and independent living units. I was fortunate enough to attend the ruby anniversary spring fair for John Paul Village a few weeks ago, in October. Father Briffa was the guest of honour at the celebration of the ruby jubilee mass for the foundation of John Paul Village. The mass was also attended by the Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns. When I knew Father Briffa, he was the chaplain of John Paul Village, a position he took up in 2001. He was still serving the community that he'd started all those years ago. Father Briffa knew the parish as a community. He recognised that young and old people alike needed place, purpose and care, and he helped build the infrastructure that framed that vision. For Engadine and Heathcote, this was transformative. He acted when he saw a need.”
“The school's motto, 'Gaudium et spes', meaning 'joy and hope', reflects Father Briffa's vision of a school being more than a place for knowledge gain. Father Briffa also saw to the needs of older members of our community. In 1985, the parish of St John Bosco in Engadine, under his leadership, opened John Paul Village in Heathcote, a retirement and aged-care village conceived to meet a local need for seniors to live with dignity in their community. Father Briffa had been taking calls from parishioners seeking somewhere for themselves and their elderly parents to live. A chance meeting with a Uniting Church minister, Reverend Keith Biddle, saw the two churches join forces. Forty years on, the village, now operated by St Vincent's Care, is still serving the community.”
“When he arrived, the parish, the school system and the aged-care services were all in various states of growth, but he quickly understood that this was a community in need of strong, cohesive institutions and a sense of belonging. Bosco is a very important part of my life. I was baptised and confirmed there and I went to school there. The library in the school is named for Father Briffa, in recognition of what he contributed to it. He did not build so that his name would be on the wall; he built so future generations could stand on firm ground. He did not simply open a school; he saw it as a family, a community and something that prepared young people not only for exams but for life. The Salesian ethos emphasises that education is not simply about curriculum but about relationships, pastoral care and opportunity.”
“He quickly identified the greatest challenges for Engadine: a lack of aged-care facilities and no local Catholic high school. Members of the parish were placing elderly relatives in care in other parts of Sydney, and students were travelling out of Engadine for high school to receive Catholic education. Father Briffa took action, and he started institutions that have grown beyond anyone's imaginings. One of Father Briffa's most enduring legacies is the high school at which I had the privilege to learn. St John Bosco College, originally St John Bosco High School, was founded in 1978 under the initiative of the parish of St John Bosco and under Father Briffa's leadership.”
“I'm a proud Bosco boy, and in October the Bosco and the broader Engadine-Heathcote community lost a treasured member of our community and an icon of our history. Father John Briffa SDB, OAM, who passed in the late hours of Wednesday 22 October, founded two of the great institutions of Engadine and Heathcote: St John Bosco High School and John Paul Village. Father John Briffa had been a part of Engadine life since 1964. He first came to Engadine as the resident priest at Boys Town, now the Dunlea Centre, and he became the parish priest at St John Bosco Parish in 1968. Father Briffa was someone who listened to the community's needs and took actions to meet them. He arrived at a time when Engadine and its surrounding suburbs were much less developed.”
“The people of Hughes expect this place to keep their bills low and their lights on, and they also expect us to ensure that regulators are working efficiently and transparently. This reform is part of the broader work of the Albanese Labor government of modernising these bodies, from payday superannuation reforms, which ensure fairness for workers, to the National Energy Transformation Partnership initiatives, which help coordinate investments across jurisdictions. This reform is practical. It's overdue. It puts consumers and the energy sector on the forefront of policy. It's part of the Albanese Labor government's commitment to ensuring that our economy benefits from the transitions that are taking place in the energy market. I commend this bill to the House.”
“This bill is the result of years of review, discussion and careful design, and it's about time. This bill will ensure the removal of duplication, streamline governance and ensure the AER can get on with the job that Australians expect, to protect consumers and ensure the reliability and affordability of energy. An empowered AER will better monitor retailers, enforce compliance and ensure the energy markets play by the rules. Given the coming decade of energy transition, it will be more vital than ever to have a regulator that's nimble, well resourced and independent, because the energy market will not wait for the government to catch up. It is a key strength of this bill that the separation does not disrupt information sharing between the AER and the ACCC. It still allows collaboration on investigations or enforcement.”
“When residents see their bills spike, they don't want excuses. They want accountability. By empowering the AER, we can ensure that it can act faster and smarter and ultimately protect consumers better. Those opposite don't want to acknowledge the transition that is occurring in our energy market, but on this side of the House we are taking action to ensure that Australia is ready for a renewable energy future as our market continues to transition. This bill has not come to parliament in a rushed fashion. Instead, it has been shaped through extensive consultation with federal government departments, the AER, the ACCC and state and territory ministers. In May 2023, all state and territory ministers actually agreed to the separation under the Australian Energy Market Agreement.”
“This bill gives the AER the independence it needs to do the job properly and the authority to manage its own destiny. Our energy grid is going through the most significant transition since electrification itself, with renewable generation expanding regularly. In the Sydney region, this new grid infrastructure is being planned to support the transition to clean energy. Having an effective regulator like the AER under the changes this bill brings will ensure the investment in this transition is efficient and that the benefits flow directly to consumers. In my community, that means more stable, affordable and sustainable energy for our future; more local schools being able to install solar panels; and small manufacturers being able to upgrade their systems without breaking the bank.”
“Shared services, like human resources or information technology, can be purchased from the ACCC or third parties where that makes sense. It's practical, it's efficient, and it doesn't burden taxpayers with unnecessary duplication. Independence is essential for the public to have full confidence in our regulators. I used to work for a regulator, and we really valued our independence in terms of making decisions that were going to affect our economy and entities. The AER makes tough calls every single day, regulating billion-dollar networks and deciding on price determinations that affect millions of Australians. If the public believe that the regulator is influenced by another body, even if it isn't, then public trust erodes in our institution.”
“The Finkel review in 2017 agreed, and the Energy Security Board review in 2020 heard the same message from stakeholders across the energy market: independence matters. This bill finally delivers on that independence. This bill takes a measured and minimalist approach. We're not reinventing the wheel or setting up an entirely new agency with layers of bureaucracy; we're simply giving the AER its own legal footing as a non-corporate Commonwealth entity, separate from the ACCC under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. It means the AER Board will now be the accountable authority and the AER chair will serve as the head of the agency under the Public Service Act 1999. Existing staff will transition smoothly with their conditions preserved under the ACCC enterprise agreement.”
“So, when we talk about giving the AER greater independence, we're really talking about strengthening the referee in the system. We are making sure the organisation that protects consumers can act quickly, decisively and without interference. At present, there's a mismatch between responsibility and accountability. The AER Board is responsible for the regulatory decisions, yet the ACCC chair is legally accountable for the AER's finances and staffing. That's not just clunky; it's inefficient governance. It impairs its ability to hold others fully accountable if it doesn't control its own people and budget. The Vertigan review in 2015 said it clearly: the AER needs full management and financial autonomy to be effective.”
“Across my community, people are making decisions about rooftop solar, about household batteries and about how to use power, and they are relying on fair, consistent and transparent regulation. The AER plays a critical role in ensuring the electricity networks that serve our community, from substations in Engadine and Lucas Heights to the distribution lines that keep Sutherland businesses humming, are operating efficiently and charging consumers fairly. Every time an energy retailer wants to change its default market offer or a network seeks to adjust its prices, it's the AER that steps in to check those proposals against what's fair and reasonable. For households in suburbs like Engadine and Moorebank, where people are watching every dollar, those decisions matter.”
“Over those two decades, Australia's energy sector has changed beyond recognition. We've seen the rise of renewables, new technologies like household batteries and community solar, and a grid under more pressure and with more complexity than ever before. Yet, despite that change, the governance structure for the AER hasn't caught up. The AER remains administratively tethered to the ACCC, even though its remit, its expertise and its accountability are entirely different. The current set-up is a bit like having your dentist working at an accounting firm: 'I'm sure he's well qualified to do the work, but why am I coming to the tax return place to get my teeth fixed?' This bill modernises the arrangements. It ensures the AER is equipped to handle the challenges ahead, because those challenges are significant.”
“Family-run local businesses, like Valley Kebab in Ingleburn Town Centre, just want predictable power bills. To the electricians on the job in Barden Ridge and Wattle Grove, and tradies trying to finish work before dark, these decisions about our energy-system regulation have very real impact. This legislation is a critical reform to ensure our national energy regulation framework retains its effective governance. It holds real benefits for the people of Hughes, our small businesses, our environment and our local communities. When the AER was established in 2005, it was a small team of 15 people, working with a budget of just over $6.5 million. Today, it's a national regulator of nearly 400 people, managing a budget approaching $100 million. That's a transformation by any measure, and this government needs to respond to it.”
“A key part of the stability and reliability of our network comes from the work of the Australian Energy Regulator, the AER. Now, the AER isn't one of the most high-profile parts of the federal government. You won't find many dinner party conversations that start with, 'So what do you think about the governance structure of the Australian Energy Regulator?' But its work in ensuring that Australian energy consumers are better off now, and will be into the future, is work in which Australians, including those in my electorate of Hughes, take significant interest. In my electorate of Hughes, it's not an abstract idea. In 2023-24, Ausgrid customers in Bangor used 15,535 megawatt-hours of electricity. In Ingleburn, our industrial sites needs significant energy supply to keep our economy moving.”
“Just now, we have heard some appalling, unscientific scaremongering from the member for New England on this bill. Those opposite spent nine years in government, during which they could have formulated a plan to replace our ageing coal-fired power stations. They didn't come up with one. So, on this side of the chamber, the Albanese Labor government has had to spend the last 3½ years playing catch-up on energy policy to modernise our ageing system. As I've said, Australians expect reliability in their power. That's why the work of the Australian Energy Regulator matters—not just to policymakers or economists, but to every Australian household, every small business and every community trying to keep the lights on and bills under control.”
“Stability in energy policy is not something that was achieved under the previous government. Was stability something that we expected from the Abbott-Truss-Turnbull-Truss-Turnbull-Joyce-Turnbull-Joyce—again—Turnbull-McCormack-Morrison-McCormack-Morrison-Joyce—yet again—government? No. But it was something that Australians desperately sought. Those opposite do believe in climate change one minute; the next, they don't. They believe in reducing emissions one minute; the next, it's all too hard. They support a national energy guarantee one minute; they shelve it the next. One minute, Scott Morrison is talking about his plan to achieve net zero at the COP in Glasgow; the next, the Nationals are showing net zero support for the Liberal leadership.”
“Our energy market is a cornerstone of Australia's economic infrastructure and a critical service for Australian consumers. It enables the transmission and distribution of electricity across vast distances, supporting industries, businesses and households with reliable power. Australians expect to be able to have access to cheap, reliable power. They expect to be able to turn on the lights at night. They expect to be able to throw their leftovers in the fridge and have them still be cold the next day. They expect to be able to run their fans and air conditioners in the summertime. And they expect that their energy will power their healthcare devices. Reliability and stability are absolutely essential to our energy markets, and those are what this bill is aiming to achieve.”
“The difference could not be more stark. Those opposite talk about fiscal discipline; we deliver it. They print surplus mugs; we deliver surplus budgets. They talk about savings; we make them. They talk about responsibility; we live it.”
“This government does have clear fiscal rules, and we are meeting them. We've delivered two surpluses, we've reduced gross debt as a share of the economy, we've banked almost 70 per cent of revenue upgrades and we've kept spending growth under control. While those opposite like to talk politics, we're focused on the economy. When we came to government, inflation was higher and rising, interest rates were rising, real wages were falling and living standards were going backwards. Since then, we've made strong progress. Inflation figures are now at four-year lows. Wages have grown in real terms for seven consecutive quarters. Over 1.1 million jobs have been created, a record for any government in a single term. Just last month, a AAA credit rating was reaffirmed by S&P. Debt is falling as a share of GDP.”
“They include improving the budget position, which we have done by delivering two surpluses and improving the budget position by $209 billion, compared to what we inherited in our first term. But those weren't the only rules they ignored. They also ignored their own promises. They promised to get the budget back into surplus; they went none for nine. They promised to offset new spending; four out of five times their decisions were negative. They promised to bank revenue upgrades, but they only returned around 40 per cent. They promised to reduce payments to GDP, but they grew instead, even before the pandemic. And they promised to stabilise debt, and yet they almost doubled it, even before COVID. So you'll forgive us if we don't take lectures from the people who failed every one of their own rules.”
“Across my community in Hughes, residents are feeling the benefits of Labor's responsible approach, and it has meant that we've been able to deliver tax cuts for every single taxpayer, putting more money back into the pockets of the people of Australia. We are doing it while building the infrastructure of Australia's future, and we're creating jobs in southern and south-western Sydney. That's what responsible fiscal management looks like: investing where it counts and keeping the budget sustainable. Now, the member wants to reintroduce so-called quantifiable fiscal rules. These are the same rules that his own party invented and then ignored. Those opposite believe that rules are only for other people. We do have fiscal rules, and they are set out in our budget.”
“We've turned Liberal deficits into Labor surpluses, we've driven down debt by $188 billion and we've found over $100 billion in savings since coming to government. These are savings that keep inflation under control, reduce interest payments and deliver more responsible spending for the future. While those opposite delivered 4.1 per cent spending growth, we have kept it down to 1.7 per cent, showing real restraint. That is the difference between talk and delivery. This discipline matters for communities like mine in Hughes, because sound economic management is what has allowed us to deliver real support for local families, small businesses and pensioners, not slogans or scare campaigns.”
“This side of the House cares about fiscal responsibility, because of the assistance that it provides to working families in Australia. The other side only cares about fiscal responsibility so that they can have something to print on their mugs. They like to forget about the 'Back in Black' mugs that they printed to celebrate the surplus that they promised but never delivered. Those opposite racked up deficit after deficit, missed every one of their fiscal targets and left Australians with trillions of dollars of Liberal debt. They printed the mugs, they printed the debt instruments, but they could never print the word 'surplus' honestly. In contrast, this government has delivered the largest nominal improvement to the budget in a parliamentary term, a $209 billion turnaround in its first term.”
“The late, great Meat Loaf used to say that two out of three ain't bad, but what do you think he would have said about zero for nine? Those opposite spent nine years in government, and they spent that time praising their own fiscal responsibility, but how many surpluses did they deliver in that time? A goose egg: zero. And now they come in here and howl about fiscal responsibility. One side of this place likes to talk about fiscal responsibility. We've had lectures about fiscal responsibility from a side that never delivers it. On the other side, the side of the Albanese Labor government, we really deliver it. In its first budgets after coming to office, the Albanese Labor government delivered the first back-to-back surpluses in almost two decades and restored confidence in our nation's finances.”
“This is not an extensive list. There were so many others who helped out on the 2025 campaign and on the many campaigns that preceded it to whom I and the Labor Party in Hughes are so grateful. We could not have done it without you. My office is now open to the people of Hughes. It is there to represent everyone from right across the diverse communities that make up our electorate. I continue to be so grateful to the people of Hughes for placing their trust in me and giving me the opportunity to serve. I look forward to spending this term doing all that I can to get the best for our community.”
“I want to thank the hundreds who helped out during 2025 Hughes campaign, including Trevor Romer, Peter Skaysbrook, Greg Paltar, Masud Parvez, Masood Chowdhury, Ash Rahman, John Goodwin, Judith Dark, Rafiq Islam, Stuart Munn, Geoff Kornfield, Raine Kornfield, Bruce Hanna, Anthony Duff, Thomas Duff, Mick Maroney, Jen McDonald, Julia Yi, Akram Al-Nashi, Susan Al-Nashi, Joy Pogson, Greg Williams, Sazzad Siddique, Paul Zeller, Munna Arman, Lisa Schaeper, Kaiser Ahmed, Graham Waters, Diren Gokal, Robin Williams, Parvez Khan, Colette Duff, Peter Moore, Muhammad Kamal, Maryanne Stuart, Kerrie Shearston, Faruque Talukder, Denis Fitzgerald, Linda Doherty, Josh Miller, Jasper Squire, Greg McLean, Basil Prasad, Ayse Paltarr, Anne-Marie Volkens, Amit Kumar Chauhan, Altaf Howlader, Tunga Nath Kharel, Terese Atkinson, Peter Beck, Olivia Beck, Stacey Way, Shirley Yan, Seraj Khan, Sarah Ferraro, Rob Pinkerton, Peter Kefalas, Noman Shamin, Nick Tamp, Liliam Thai, Nathan McMillan, Mustafizur Talukder, Mike Harrington, Lins Scaysbrook, Julia Angrisano, Jim Harding, Isaac Husarek, David Nash, Damien Anderson, Carla Fitzgerald, Carl Rescei, Ali Paltar, Abdul Rauf, Warren Smith, Bridget Holmes, Ray McAlistar, Purabi Bose, Peter Tsambalas, Momen Khan, Mick Sutton, Maxine Broughton, Lyn Severino, Kyistel Tay, Kieran Crumlin, June Brown, John Arthur, Jann and Pete New, Ian Taylor, Greg Skinner, Glenn Pritchard, Callum Tsambalas, Ryan Carson, Alex Sanchez, Alex McMahon, Adam Munn, Abdullah Al Mamun, Sarah Kaine, Darcy Lound, Dawn Emerson, Robert Megarrity, Sky Romer, Lindsay Lin, Linda Schofield-Olsen, Anne Kelly, Dom Fitzgibbon, Angela Sidoti, Aiden Hines, Frank Crawford and Michael Harrow.”
“I was also pleased to welcome other members of this place, including the members for Cunningham, Chifley, Werriwa, Barton, Banks and Reid. I also welcomed Sutherland shire mayor, Councillor Jack Boyd, Councillor Peter Tsambalas, Councillor Diedree Steinwall, Councillor Masood Chowdhury and former member for Miranda Barry Collier. I took the opportunity to thank those true believers who stood on polling booths during the darkest days of Labor in Hughes, who kept the flame alive at times when winning the seat felt impossible. I especially want to thank those who put their hands up to be Labor candidates during those years: David Hill, Christine Hawkins, Greg Holland, Brent Thomas, the late Alison McGarrity, Diedree Steinwall and Riley Campbell.”
“A few weeks ago, I was proud to welcome the Minister for Education to Sutherland to open the first Hughes electorate office of a Labor member in 29 years. I was also very honoured to share the occasion with the previous Labor member for Hughes, Robert Tickner, and we were fortunate enough to be joined by Aunty Dolly, who gave a welcome to country, and Brendan from Jindama, who performed a smoking ceremony. Smoking ceremonies have been used for thousands of years to cleanse people and places of bad spirits and to treat sickness. They're an important way of connecting to country, land and waters. Several attendees commented to me about how deeply they were moved by the ceremony. I want to thank Aunty Dolly and Brendan for all that they added to the day.”
“The evidence shows that, where study hubs are, university participation goes up. Having access to university in my community helped me start my tertiary education journey. Attending the University of Wollongong Sutherland campus meant that I could pursue my education in the community where I lived. I am so excited to see the opportunities that this study hub opens up for my community and for its next generation.”
“A university education is something that all Australians should have the opportunity to pursue. Nearly half of young Australians now have a degree, but that's not the case in Macquarie Fields, where only 29 per cent of young people have a degree. This government is working to ensure that young people in my community of Hughes can pursue university education and the careers that they want to reach. I was so proud to join the Minister for Education to open the new Suburban Study Hub Macquarie Fields, bringing university closer for students in southern Sydney—part of this government's $66.9 million investment in university study hubs. The new Suburban Study Hub Macquarie Fields now offers support services and study facilities for local students enrolled at any university or vocational education and training provider.”
“The implementation of these reforms from the royal commission is not a nice-to-have; it is vital in ensuring that defence personnel, veterans and families receive the care, services and support that they not only need but deserve. We will continue to take actions that are not easy but that are right and essential. We'll take action on the royal commission as quickly as we can. It's our duty to those who have answered the call to defend our country. It's the least we can do to repay their commitment and sacrifices for Australia. I want to thank all of our veterans who might be listening to this today, and listening to us discuss these matters, and I acknowledge all their service and their commitment to this country.”
“Engaging with the Department of Veterans' Affairs has also not been as straightforward as it should be for the veteran community, and mechanisms like the DVA website were perhaps more of a barrier to providing useful information than a useful tool. I am really pleased that today the new and improved DVA website has gone live. It's more user-friendly, and includes a first of its kind for the federal government: an AI search tool that will actively answer questions from veterans on the supports and services they can and should receive. The royal commission's task for us as a government was no small feat, but we have no doubt that its delivery will ensure the most comprehensive reforms to the systems, processes and culture that support defence personnel, veterans and families ever undertaken in Australia.”
“We set about improving supports for defence personnel, veterans and families before the work of the royal commission was complete. We're better supporting people in service, and we're seeing more people choose to stay in the ADF for longer as a result. We've also expanded our network of Veterans' and Families' Hubs, so people can access support close to home. A common theme throughout the royal commission was discussion on difficulties engaging with both the Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, in relation to information access. While the implementation of recommendations 9 to 13 of the interim report has significantly improved this, there is still more to do.”
“In the same month as the release of the final report, we established the royal commission implication taskforce within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to oversee the development of comprehensive and considered advice on implementing the response to the royal commission. We listened to our service members and the veteran community, establishing an independent taskforce to drive implementation rather than offering empty platitudes. At the beginning of August, nine recommendations had already been fully implemented, and there are a further 110 on the way. There is of course still a lot of work to come to implement the recommendations of the royal commission, but, a year on from the final report, we're making good progress. However, the government has not limited itself just to the work coming from the royal commission.”
“Defence is taking decisive and immediate action to strengthen the way we respond to sexual violence within the ADF. I have spoken to women within the service who have been directly affected by this, and for whom the effects of it are ongoing. Recommendation 15 from the report has been implemented through an updated central policy on sexual misconduct. It now provides clearer, more consistent guidance for commanders and managers. It outlines when to engage the Joint Military Police Unit and how to determine whether conduct may constitute a criminal offence, and it introduces structured return-to-work protocols for those impacted by misconduct. While the military justice system serves a distinct function, ADF personnel are also subject to civilian law, and Defence's policies must reflect that accountability.”
“As a result, we are able to better provide the services and supports the veteran community needs when and where they need them. In September last year, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide released its final report. It contained seven volumes and 122 recommendations. It was harrowing reading. This government was tasked with effecting a once-in-a-generation opportunity for cultural change and reform. By December, the Albanese government responded, and we agreed or agreed in principle to 104 recommendations, noting 17 for further work. In my first speech in this place I noted how proud I am to be a part of the government that has agreed to these. The royal commission's final report contains several significant recommendations related to sexual violence in the Australian Defence Force.”
“This government has cleared the unallocated compensation claims at DVA so that new claims are reviewed within 14 days. We've legislated the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025, the VETS Act, to simplify the veteran compensation system that will kick in next year, overhauling the complex system that causes confusion and frustration and which the royal commission identified as a contributor to suicidality among our veteran community. This will mean all veteran claims are assessed for compensation and rehabilitation under a single piece of legislation that will be simpler to use and allow faster processing. This is the most significant reform of support to veterans in a century.”
“We want Australians to be attracted to serving our nation in the Australian Defence Force and confident that they and their families will be supported by their leaders, their mates and the broader defence organisation. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was established in 2021, and it heard from thousands of current and former serving Defence members and families, particularly the families of those who are no longer here to speak for themselves. It heard of systems that were broken, of a culture that was toxic and of not enough being done to support our personnel during and after service. We've heard those calls, and we've acted. The royal commission released an interim report in 2022 containing recommendations they deemed the most urgent, and we acted on them.”
“I am privileged to represent in this place the Holsworthy Barracks, covering almost 20,000 hectares and comprising one of the Army's major defence presences in New South Wales. It's home to a number of Army and tri-service training institutions as well as various regular and reserve Army units, and it's also the staging location for domestic operations in New South Wales. In June I was lucky enough to attend the barracks and celebrate some of the newest graduates of the Army's School of Military Engineering with the Deputy Prime Minister. These young people represent great hope for the future of the Australian Defence Force. It is no small feat for them to put their hand up to serve their nation.”
“But the expectation that they are looked after is not one that's always been met. It is our nation's duty to empower and support the mental health and wellbeing of our defence and veteran community. During the world wars, my family served in the defence forces. Sidda Black, my great-grandfather, was injured on the Western Front during the First World War. Sidda came back with physical scars that stayed with him for the rest of his life. Of course, we now have a better understanding of the other forms of harm that are inflicted upon our Defence Force personnel during their service. In my electorate of Hughes, 3,640 people had served in the Australian Defence Force as of 2022. I want to honour and acknowledge that service and thank them for all they have done for our country.”
“There is no more important task assigned to the federal government than ensuring the safety and security of the Australian people, and there's no more important element of Australia's defence capability than the people who serve in our Defence Force. Every member of the Australian Defence Force should be safe in the knowledge that, whatever may happen in service, they and their families will be looked after and acknowledged by a grateful nation. Australians expect them to be looked after. This is evident in the turnout we see each year at the Anzac Day dawn services. I've been going to the Engadine Anzac Day dawn services since I was a kid, and it's always amazing to see how many people turn out and how many people are passionate about ensuring our veterans are acknowledged each year.”