Gabriel Ng
Menzies · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Labor stands for equality of opportunity, and at the heart of equality of opportunity is accessible, universal health care. That's why, from 1 July, we'll deliver over $25 billion in additional funding for public hospitals over five years, including $5.8 billion in Victoria alone for places like Box Hill Hospital, which do so much to supp…”
“Since we cut the maximum cost of PBS medicines to $25—and $7.70 for concession card holders—members of our community have saved over $600,000 at the pharmacy counter. Some of these medicines would have cost patients tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.”
“Happy financial New Year Eve, as everyone says. Every single day, the Albanese Labor government is focused on making things better for hardworking Australians in my community, in Menzies, and right across the country.”
“From tomorrow, the $20,000 instant asset write-off becomes permanent, helping small businesses right across the country with their cash flow. From tomorrow, paid parental leave reaches a full 26 weeks—six months of support for new parents to be shared amongst them, as they see fit.”
“A couple of weeks ago, I joined the Bulleen-Templestowe Basketball Club at their Big Freeze at the B to raise funds to fight MND. Coaches, clubs, volunteers and, yes, even their local federal MP put their hands up for the ice bucket challenge.”
“The good news is that survival rates have dramatically improved, with over 80 per cent of children surviving with treatment. That progress is a direct result of research, funding and the dedication of clinicians and scientists.”
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“In the last election campaign, we saw those opposite show their disdain for the Public Service by setting an arbitrary figure of 41,000 job cuts. This wasn't based on an assessment of what it would take to implement policy or meet public need. It was based on an ideological aversion to government jobs. It is this same ideology that, over the nine years of coalition government, led to wasteful spending on labour hire companies, outsourcing to big consultancy firms and the hollowing out of the Public Service. During the last election campaign, those opposite showed their disdain not only for the Public Service but for many working people by saying that they would end working from home for all APS employees.”
“The Commonwealth itself will be able to bring an application on their behalf. This change does three important things: it protects the privacy of our workers and ensures that they are no longer publicly named in proceedings and exposed to further risks; it reduces the burden and trauma of victims being forced into the legal system to seek protection and closure; and it strengthens and safeguards our Commonwealth workers, making it clear that it is our responsibility to protect our employees as any good employer should. The Labor Party is the party of workers, and we are the party and government that respects the Public Service. It is important that we show it and that we deliver for the people who serve our nation. That is exactly what we're doing with these workplace protections—backing our workers with actions and not just words.”
“It ensures that Commonwealth employees can do their jobs safely and with the confidence that their government stands firmly behind them. Where those opposite ignored the warnings and failed to act, Labor is delivering the protections that our public servants deserve. This bill is long overdue, and it addresses a clear legislative gap in most state and territory protection order schemes. Right now, in many jurisdictions, if a Commonwealth worker is assaulted, threatened or harassed, they are left to bring an application for a protection order in their own name. That places an unfair burden on the victim, forcing them to front up the legal proceedings as individuals for what is effectively a workplace incident. Under this legislation, affected workers will no longer have to take that step.”
“That recommendation stated: The current ACT Workplace Protection Order provisions should be adopted for use by the Commonwealth as a staff protection mechanism nationwide. This stems from a shocking incident—a serious assault on a Services Australia staff member with a bladed weapon in 2023. No worker should ever face that kind of danger while serving the public. It was a wake-up call, a reminder that we must do more to care for our workers. The government responded by agreeing to all 44 recommendations of the Ashton review. This bill gives effect to protections for our Commonwealth workers, ensuring that never again will they be left without the protections they deserve. This bill makes that happen. It turns recommendations into action.”
“This is not limited to Services Australia. As recently as May this year, two Australian Border Force contractors were assaulted with a bladed weapon while on the job. Let us be clear. Violence is not acceptable in any workplace, but violence against Commonwealth workers is not just an attack on individuals; it is an attack on our institutions and on the representatives of the government who deal with the public on a daily basis. It undermines the government's ability to deliver services and support, and it cannot be tolerated. That is why, in 2023, the government commissioned the Services Australia Security Risk Management Review, better known as the Ashton review, to examine how to better protect frontline staff. This bill was born from recommendation 17 of the Ashton review.”
“Such behaviour is not only unacceptable; it is utterly appalling. That is why the Albanese Labor government is acting to ensure that the people who dedicate their working lives to serving the public can do so free from fear or harm. When Australians walk into a Services Australia office, when they pass through a Border Force checkpoint, when they interact face to face with government staff, they are dealing with everyday people doing their jobs. People delivering essential frontline services, like all of us here, deserve to be safe at work. Yet too often that safety is compromised. Between July 2023 and June 2024 alone, there were 1,694 serious incidents across Services Australia's face-to-face service channels. That is more than four every single day. The incidents included threats, intimidation and assaults.”
“Having worked for various government departments, I understand the risks that frontline workers can face. That is why it is so important to have strong protective mechanisms in place for those workers. As people who provide vital supports, they are essential. Every day public servants serve the nation, deliver critical services and uphold the standards of the Commonwealth. They deserve to be able to do their jobs in safety, free from abuse and threats to their person. That is why the government has introduced legislation to protect the people who serve our nation. The Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill will establish a new scheme to safeguard the men and women who deliver essential services to the Australian public. At its core, this is a bill to protect Commonwealth employees against violence, aggression or threats.”
“I am proud to speak on the Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2025 as a former public servant. It is too little acknowledged that, without public servants, governments of any persuasion would grind to a halt. Public servants make up the majority of the executive arm of government, one of the three pillars of our democratic system. We rely on them to provide frank and fearless advice, deliver services and engage with the public. One of the most important roles of government is to act as a social safety net. As a result, public servants are dealing on a daily basis with some of the most vulnerable in our society—people in difficult and desperate circumstances. This in turn can lead to complex behaviours, aggression and even violence.”
“A part of that is having a universal healthcare system where health care is accessible and affordable and where medicines are always there to make sure that people can get the life-saving treatments they need. That is the Labor way. That is our promise for the future.”
“We have said that we will always stand by the PBS, that it is not up for compromise and that it is a national institution that we can be proud of. This is what we mean when we say progressive patriotism: we are proud to be a government in a country that is always seeking to make sure that, while we become more wealthy and build the prosperity of Australia, we are not leaving anyone behind. Like Curtin, Chifley, Whitlam and Hawke understood, a healthy nation is a fair nation. Without our health, we cannot be effective workers. We cannot be effective parents. We cannot be effective family members. We cannot be effective carers. We cannot fully participate in our community and in our great nation. It is the Labor way to make sure that the fundamental needs of people are taken care of and that we have a social safety net.”
“We said we would make medicines cheaper, and that is exactly what we are doing. We will not stop there. We will keep building a healthcare system that is universal, affordable and fair. We will keep investing in doctors, nurses, pharmacists and health workers, who are the backbone of our system. We have made the largest investment in Medicare in its 40-year history. We have tripled the GP co-payment, and we know that this will work because we have already tripled the co-payment for seniors and for children. We know expanding this out to the wider population will continue to increase bulk-billing rates. We will keep delivering for pensioners, families, workers and every Australian who relies on Medicare and the PBS.”
“They feel it when the cost of filling their scripts stretches their budgets, when life-saving medicines take years to be listed and when essential treatments are caught up in delays and red tape. That is the effect of coalition policies. For too many families, nine years of neglect meant waiting in pain and uncertainty, hoping the medicines they needed would finally become affordable and available through the PBS under the coalition. Let us be clear. The government is delivering. The Albanese Labor government is committed to cost-of-living relief. We are committed to fairness, and we are committed to strengthening Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, pillars of Australian life that those opposite neglected for nine long years and would undermine again if given the chance.”
“Instead of investing in the health system, they froze Medicare rebates, forcing up out-of-pocket costs for families and pushing more people to delay or skip care. This left patients without affordable access even when safe and effective treatments were available. Despite the coalition's promises, thousands of Australians still skipped filling prescriptions because of cost pressures, especially concession card holders and those in rural areas. The coalition failed to invest in Medicare. They failed to invest in the PBS. They treated it as a burden to be managed rather than a system to be strengthened and modernised. We are committed to the PBS, and, as a progressive government, we know it can always be strengthened. Australians know this and they feel it every day.”
“In September 2023 we introduced 60-day prescriptions, saving time and money for millions of Australians with ongoing health conditions. That meant fewer trips to the pharmacy, fewer GP visits just for repeat scripts and more money left in household pockets. From January next year, PBS co-payments will be frozen so that they do not rise with inflation. That is the Albanese Labor government's record. Step by step, reform by reform, we are delivering practical change that Australians can see, feel and rely upon to ease today's pressures and secure a better tomorrow. Contrast this with nine years of neglect from those opposite, where costs were left unaddressed, where Medicare was undermined and where no vision was offered for strengthening the PBS.”
“For residents of Menzies, this PBS cut will save more than $11 million, putting real money back into the pockets of families and easing cost-of-living pressures. These reforms are not a once-off. They build on the great work the Minister for Health and Ageing has delivered since the last term, from cheaper medicines and bulk-billing incentives to strengthening Medicare and expanding access to vital treatments. In July 2022, concessional patients saw a 25 per cent reduction in the number of scripts required before reaching the PBS safety net. That meant people reached their safety net threshold later and saved more. In January 2023 we delivered the largest cut to medicine prices in the history of the PBS, lowering the maximum cost of a general script from $42.50 to $30.”
“She also shared that were it not for her husband's cancer drugs being listed on the PBS, they would be tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket. She called her husband to the door, and I could see the effects of the disease on him. I could also see the care and love between them and the gratitude they had for being able to access affordable medicines. They did not have to worry about the cost of medication at one of the most difficult times in their lives. That is what the PBS means. It means care and dignity. The PBS means that people who work hard their whole lives do not need to fear losing their house or having their savings obliterated because of circumstances outside their control. It means that we, as a society, recognise that we should support those who fall on hard times.”
“For them, every dollar saved at the pharmacy is a dollar that can go towards heating in the winter, fresh food on the table or a bus fare to see the grandkids. That is what Labor governments do. They deliver practical solutions that make daily life just that little bit easier for everyday Australians. I'd like to tell you about an experience I had in the electorate I represent, Menzies, which really brought home to me how much the PBS can mean to people. It was during the election campaign, and I was out doorknocking in Surrey Hills. A woman answered the door, and we began chatting. As you know, not everyone gives political candidates the time of day, but she was kind enough to. She shared with me that her husband was suffering from cancer.”
“The parent themselves might also rely on ongoing prescriptions—perhaps for blood pressure, diabetes or pain management. Between the child's asthma treatment and the parent's own medication, that household could easily be filling four or five prescriptions each and every month. Under this reform, the PBS co-payment will be reduced from $31.60 to $25 per script. That family will save between $315 and $400 every year. This is not spare change. That is money that be put towards keeping the lights on, paying for groceries or covering rent. Take an older Australian living on a fixed income—perhaps a pensioner managing blood pressure, cholesterol, arthritis and diabetes. They might be filling half a dozen prescriptions every month.”
“Yet, under the former government, they were too often left behind, forced to watch the healthcare system be neglected. With this reform, we are saying to older Australians, 'Your health matters, your dignity matters and you will not be forgotten.' Importantly, pharmacies will continue to be able to discount PBS medicines, ensuring patients benefit from both government reform and competitive pricing. This means more Australians, no matter where they live, can walk into their local pharmacy and know they are getting a fair price for the medicines they need. I want to illustrate what this means in the real world. Imagine a single parent with two children. One of those children has asthma and requires regular medication to be able to breathe freely, get through the school week, participate in sport and play with their friends.”
“For pensioners and concession card holders, PBS medicines will remain capped at just $7.70 until 2030, which means long-term security for those who need it most—older Australians, people on fixed incomes and families already doing it tough. It means certainty when planning their budgets, knowing that the cost of vital prescriptions will not be out of reach. It means peace of mind for those managing chronic conditions who cannot afford to miss a dose. For too long, older Australians have been treated as the forgotten child of our healthcare system. They are the ones who carry the heaviest burden of chronic disease, are prescribed multiple medications and feel the rising costs most sharply with each dollar having to stretch further. They built this nation.”
“While we've brought inflation under control, we know Australians are still doing it tough, and that's why we're continuing to take measures like this to ease cost-of-living pressures. This reform ensures that Australians will not have to sacrifice their health. This reform represents a 20 per cent cut to the maximum price of PBS medicines. It will save Australians more than $200 million every single year. This is not an abstract number. This is a tangible, practical measure that puts money back into the pockets of working families. For a household managing multiple prescriptions every month, it means real relief. It means dignity. It means security. Our reforms do not end here.”
“To put that in perspective, the last time PBS medicines cost this little was in 2004. It was a different Australia back then. Nokia flip phones and early camera phones were all the rage and Delta Goodrem, the John Butler Trio and Shannon Noll were topping the charts. Ian Thorpe was winning gold for Australia and Facebook did not even exist. I was living in a share house, working at a cafe, driving to university in my Ford Telstar, listening to Beck and Queens of the Stone Age and avoiding university politics. They were simpler times. Since then, the cost of everything increased, particularly since the pandemic. Before we came to government, inflation had a six in front of it; now it has a two in front of it.”
“They go into debt or bankruptcy because of a cancer diagnosis or a single serious accident. When health care is unaffordable, people delay treatment. They put off filling prescriptions, they live with pain or they let a manageable condition worsen. When that happens, costs to the system rise, productivity falls and lives are lost. It is both immoral and uneconomic. It is not the Labor way and it is not the Australian way. That is why we have said we will not negotiate on the PBS. That is why we are acting through this legislation, the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025. We have introduced legislation to make cheaper medicines even cheaper. From 1 January next year, the maximum cost of a prescription on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be no more than $25.”
“It is why the Albanese Labor government has made the biggest investment in Medicare in its 40-year history and why we're capping the cost of PBS listed medications at just $25 per script. Let me be clear: health care is not a luxury. It is not something reserved for the fortunate few. Accessible and affordable universal health care is the foundation of a decent society. Access to medicines is an essential part of this. They help us get better quicker, keep workers on the job, get kids back to school, provide dignity and alleviate suffering. We know from international experience what happens when governments do not invest in health. In some countries, millions go without care because they cannot afford health insurance. Families choose food and basic necessities over health.”
“Australians know that they can trust the Labor Party and Labor governments with health care. After all, it was John Curtin and Ben Chifley who in 1944 introduced and fought for legislation to create the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which has now become a fundamental pillar of our healthcare system. And, of course, it was the Whitlam and Hawke governments that created Medicare. More than 40 years later, it remains the backbone of our health system. Both Medicare and the PBS are a source of national pride and envy around the world. It means that, when Australians fall sick, they can get help based on their Medicare card, not their credit card. This principle was the reason why Curtin and Chifley and Whitlam and Hawke pushed for accessible and universal health care.”
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How is the Albanese Labor government getting on with the job of delivering its clear and consistent climate and energy policy agenda? How does this compare with other approaches to energy policy?”
“It's something that's often in the headlights and something we need to ensure we maintain a focus on. ECLC will also receive $1.1 million for elder abuse response services. ECLC is a leader in raising awareness of this often underrecognised issue, a form of family violence which affects some of the most vulnerable in our community and which we need to raise further awareness of. This funding will go a long way in supporting ECLC to continue to deliver the critical services in the electorate that I represent, and I want to thank the Attorney-General for taking the time to visit them recently.”
“I want to the acknowledge outstanding work of the Eastern Community Legal Centre—based in Box Hill, in the electorate I represent—which continues to be a lifeline for so many across the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Having volunteered at community legal centres myself, I know how vital they are in supporting some of the most vulnerable in our community, particularly victims-survivors of family violence. This is why it's wonderful to hear that the Albanese Labor government will invest $1.865 million in legal assistance services under the National Access to Justice Partnership. This is part of our record investment, the biggest investment ever made in frontline family violence services, demonstrating our government's commitment to addressing the scourge of family violence.”
“On Sunday I had the opportunity to take part in National Tree Day. I planted indigenous trees and shrubs, alongside local volunteers. I want to thank Manningham Council and Whitehorse City Council for organising these events, and also the friends of Wurundjeri Walk for their work caring for our open spaces. Menzies is full of activity, energy and community spirit. Whether in our schools, sports clubs, businesses or bushland, there is always something happening. As the saying goes, start as you mean to go on. I will continue to reach out to, listen to and be ready to advocate for the people of Menzies.”
“While the Albanese Labor government have successfully brought down inflation and provided 18 months of real wage growth, we know that cost-of-living pressures remain. The residents I spoke to were happy to hear that they will receive a further $150 in energy bill relief this year. Others asked about the government's solar battery discounts, which will help families reduce their energy bills while supporting the transition to renewable energy. We also discussed education, housing affordability and climate change. These conversations made it clear that the people of Menzies are engaged, thoughtful and deeply invested in the wellbeing of the community. It was a pleasure to be back doorknocking, and I want to thank all the residents of Blackburn South who gave their time and shared their views. Your voices matter.”
“These grants will support improvements in safety and accessibility, help upgrade facilities and contribute to lowering power costs. Most importantly, they will allow these organisations to continue to grow and serve the people of our community into the future. This past Saturday morning I was out doorknocking in Blackburn South, speaking with residents about the issues that are important to them. One of the most common concerns raised was the importance of being able to access affordable, timely health care. I was pleased to share with the residents I spoke to that our government's record investment in Medicare will boost bulk-billing rates. We'll also be increasing the health workforce, with the largest GP training program in Australian history funding the training of 2,000 new doctors by 2028.”
“I had the privilege of hearing them play at state parliament, and their talent and hard work, as well as the dedication of their teachers, was clear in every note. It is moments like these that remind me why it is such an honour and an inspiration to serve. I'd also like to congratulate the successful recipients of the latest Stronger Communities Program grants and thank them for the work they do to make our community the inclusive, vibrant and compassionate place that it is. The successful recipients showcased the width and breadth of the community life across the electorate. Congratulations to Warrandyte arts, Warrandyte Football Club, the Veneto clubs, the Bulleen Lions, Doncaster Bowling Club, Doncare Community Services, the Bulleen Templestowe Basketball Club and Manningham United Blues.”
“It was also a privilege to meet our local students at East Doncaster Secondary College, Warrendyte High School and Blackburn High School. I have no doubt that some of them will go on to become the leaders of tomorrow. They are bright, thoughtful and full of energy. While visiting these schools, I was fortunate to meet their teachers and school leaders. They are fierce advocates for their communities, showing remarkable dedication and skill in one of the most important jobs there is. I would particularly like to acknowledge the achievement of Blackburn High School, who in May this year travelled to New York and made history by performing at the prestigious Essentially Ellington jazz festival.”
“It's been around eight weeks since I was elected member for Menzies. I have made it a priority to get out and meet as many people, community groups and local organisations as possible. It has been an eventful eight weeks. I've had the privilege of visiting local schools, attending citizenship ceremonies, welcoming new Australians and visiting our many sporting clubs. It was a pleasure to attend the Bulleen Boomers, Donvale Football Club, Doncaster Bowling Club and the Bulleen Templestowe football and cricket clubs. Sports clubs like these are a vital part of the electorate that provide not only physical health benefits but a sense of community. I am continually blown away by the work and dedication that the committees and other volunteers put into keeping these clubs going.”
“To Ian Rogers, Meg Downie, Veida Paul, Alistair MacInnes, Brian Jones, Greg Dixon, Sue and Peter Djoneff, John Stragalinos, David Ellis, Renate Boulis, Marie Klein, Lynn Wood, John Spicer, Max and Regina MacDowall, Lorna Dent, Clinton Cook, Graeme Macmillan, Donna Mackinnon, Lisa Frazer, Jeff Cranston, Warren and Sharon Ellis, Susan Brookes, Martin Pascall-Murray, Peter Chandler, Yvonne De Sousa, Netta McArthur, Brenton Ward, Katerina Toussas, Alexander Law, and John Speight I say thank you for your service to our movement. Thank you for your passion and dedication to the party and to Menzies. When no-one else gave us a chance, you were always there. Thank you for standing with Labor in good times and in tougher times, especially in a place where tough times were plenty. Thank you for your support, your kindness and your friendship.”
“During my first speech, I spoke of some of the stalwart rank and file branch members in Menzies. It is because of these true believes that I have the honour of standing in this House today as the first Labor member for Menzies, and, for that, I am eternally grateful. I'd like to take this opportunity to place on record the names of those to whom we as Labor people owe an enormous debt.”
“To my children—to my eldest, Ayana: thank you for your fierce intelligence, your independent mind and your sense of humour. To my youngest, Miles: thank you for being so caring, so bright and so joyful. You kids are a light in all of our lives. And to my wife, Maaya: I can't thank you enough for everything you have given me. You're the strongest and most loving person I know, and none of this would be possible without you. I am grateful to the people of Menzies for this opportunity to serve and to contribute to making this country a more equal and just place for all. Thank you.”
“That we could have a genuine contest of ideas is something of which we should all be proud. I'd like to acknowledge the previous member for Menzies, Keith Wolahan, who throughout the campaign was a thoroughly decent and gracious person. I'd also like to acknowledge Kevin Andrews, who served his electorate and this House with dedication for an incredible 31 years. Finally, I would like to thank my family. To my dad, John: thank you for teaching me the value of hard work and keeping my feet on the ground. To my mum, Tina: thank you for teaching me to always challenge myself and to seek out adventure. To my sister, Stephanie, about whom I can only say nice things publicly because I'm covered by parliamentary privilege: I've always looked up to your drive and strength. To my niece, Poppy: thank you for always being so kind and considerate.”
“It has meant the world to have people coming up to me since the election and saying they have voted Labor their whole lives but this is the first time they've had a Labor representative. I'll do everything I can to make you proud. Thank you, of course, to the voters of Menzies. Whether you voted for me or not, I promise I will work hard for you every day. Being the candidate and now the member has given me the opportunity to meet so many extraordinary people who volunteer in their business associations, sporting clubs and arts organisations, in their local Rotary and in places like Doncare and Eastern Community Legal Service to give their time to build our community and help the vulnerable. I was particularly proud of the civil and respectful way all the candidates and political groups conducted themselves in Menzies.”
“Thank you also to Julijana Todorovic and Kat Hardy, Labor lawyers in Slater & Gordon, for your support. Thank you to the union movement, particularly the CPSU, ASU and AMWU. The union movement remains the heart of the Labor Party, ensuring we stay true to our principles and our roots, driving so many of the reforms we undertake for working Australians. Thank you to my staff—Emily, George, Dustin, Tracy, Chris and Kimberly—for all your hard work and support. You're all incredibly talented people, and I'm looking forward to everything we can achieve. Thank you to the previous Labor candidates for Menzies for chipping away at what seemed like an impossible margin. Thank you to the Labor supporters in Menzies.”
“Thank you to all my friends who came out and helped, especially those who would never usually entertain the idea of joining a political campaign. Thank you to the Prime Minister for an amazing national campaign and for all your visits to Menzies. I hope you enjoyed the beef and black bean sauce! Thank you to the Foreign minister, Penny Wong, for leading the way for Chinese Australians in parliament for so long and for all your support in Menzies. Thank you to the Deputy Prime Minister, the members for Bruce, Isaacs and Scullin, Senator Jana Stewart and the many parliamentary colleagues who supported the campaign. Thank you to my state colleagues the members for Box Hill, Glen Waverly and Eltham, as well as the MLCs Sonia Terpstra and Shaun Leane.”
“For decades, we would stand candidates and run campaigns with little hope of success. But, when we asked volunteers to staff the booths on polling day, to doorknock or to letterbox, it was the stalwarts who always turned up. So thank you to all those who kept the flame alive for Labor in Menzies, particularly the many long-serving Labor members, including some life members who are here today. The party and I owe you a huge debt. Thank you to my campaign team: Harry, Alessandra, Dustin, Tracy, Alfonso, Daniel, Mia, Tim, Mandy, Natalie and Ian. I'm incredibly proud of the grassroots campaign we ran and of the discipline, hard work and determination we showed against what seemed like unsurmountable odds. Thank you to all the volunteers. Every doorknock, phone bank, street stall, yard sign and donation made a difference.”
“All too often, government is not a helping hand but a bureaucratic labyrinth that compounds trauma and disenfranchisement. All of us here have good intentions about the legislation we want to pass and the programs we want to create. We must ensure that we back that with the means to deliver it. I am optimistic about the ability of this parliament to solve these problems. I am eternally grateful to the people of Menzies for the opportunity to contribute to this work. As with all achievements, but particularly those in the Australian Labor Party, my presence here today is the result of a collective effort. Above all, I want to thank the loyal rank-and-file branch members of the Labor Party. It may shock you all to know that Menzies has not always been Labor heartland.”
“In the last election campaign, those on the opposite side attacked the Public Service. In some circles, it seems, it will always be fashionable to do so. It was as if they learned nothing from robodebt, the fullest realisation of a public service hollowed out by neoliberal ideology, cronyism and corporate outsourcing, which cost the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our community. A strong, well-resourced public service that can provide frank and fearless advice is essential to avoiding these mistakes in the future. It is not about big or small government; it is about government that works for people. That is not to say that government is perfect. As both a public servant and a lawyer, I saw how easy it is for people to fall between the cracks of services and the justice system.”
“Only Labor will address this. We cannot sleepwalk our way to a society where our children never reach their full potential because of inadequate health care, underfunded schools, unaffordable housing and an insufficient social safety net. I am proud to be part of a government that, under the leadership of this prime minister, has increased wages and reduced income inequality, strengthened Medicare and public education, and invested more in housing than any government since World War II. We must continue this work with renewed ambition and drive. We must also ensure that government services are accessible and effective by maintaining our commitment to a strong public service. I am proud to have been a public servant and to be part of a government that respects the vital role the Public Service plays.”
“Too often we hear the CEOs of large companies openly say their only responsibility is to their shareholders, forgetting their responsibilities to their customers, their employees and broader society. Meanwhile, workers are saddled with an increased share of the tax burden. The picture is worse for wealth inequality. The top 10 per cent of households possess 44 per cent of all wealth in Australia. Twenty years ago, the richest 200 Australians held the equivalent of 8.4 per cent of GDP. Now they hold almost triple that. This is not due to a tripling of ingenuity or risk taking but is largely the result of passive capital gains. We as a party welcome aspiration and people enjoying the fruits of their labour, but there is a point at which gross wealth next to poverty damages the social fabric. It breeds division and instability.”
“We have seen how improving gender representation has allowed more equitable policy in health care, in industrial relations and in education. Cultural representation will enable us to break down barriers, make the most of our skilled workforce, provide fairer government services and create more opportunities to engage with our region and the world. Social justice and progressivism also demand we act on other urgent issues. We live in a country of increasing inequality, where the fair go is being eroded. Income inequality, after being stagnant for years, had increased to a 20-year high before we came to government. Wages as a proportion of company profits have been in decline for decades, particularly in the last five years.”
“I look around my community—at the kids playing in the schoolyards, the sporting clubs, the small businesses and the thousands who attend the Box Hill Lunar New Year festival and the Persian fire festival—and I do not see division. I see people embracing diversity and revelling in the sharing of culture. I look around at this new parliament, particularly those on this side, and I see it beginning to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. This is not diversity for diversity's sake. It is vital that young Australians of all races can look at federal parliament and think, 'That is somewhere I can aspire to be.' Our backgrounds, whether professional or cultural, allow us to bring knowledge and skills to parliament that result in better government.”
“We have one of the most powerful platforms in the nation, and I urge all of us in this parliament to turn away from opportunistic division to embrace and tell the story of modern Australia as it is, in all its rich diversity and cultural expression. The Labor Party have led on this because social justice and progressivism mean antidiscrimination and inclusivity. We championed multiculturalism for years when it was denied by conservatives. We have stood against racism and discrimination because we believe in the equality of all Australians. In my lifetime I have seen enormous change in how Australia talks about migrants.”
“Paul Keating had the vision and bravery to embrace Australia as part of Asia. I raise Ms Hanson's infamous speech not to elicit sympathy but to remind all of us in this House, if we need any reminding, that what we do in this place matters, not only in the legislation we pass but in the words we speak. It is not just Chinese or Asian Australians who have suffered. Prejudice comes in waves, and bullies will always target the most vulnerable. Muslim and Jewish Australians, refugees, the LGBTIQ+ community and, especially, our First Nations Peoples have all been vilified by opportunists, some of whom have held seats in this place.”