Rebecca White
Lyons · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The bill will enable this information to be requested regarding any approved medicine, not just reportable medicines. This is important, as shortages of any approved medicine can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of people in Australia.”
“The existing clause'or as soon as practicable after the decision is made' will be maintained, acknowledging that unforeseen circumstances can impact a sponsor's ability to report a discontinuation 12 months in advance.”
“This amendment will ensure that the list of critically important medicines specified in the instrument remains as current as possible at all times, for the purposes of mandatory reporting requirements and timeframes.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Today, I introduce the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Medicines Shortages and Other Measures) Bill 2026.”
“This bill introduces legislative changes designed to address key challenges raised by stakeholders across the medicines supply chain in their consultation feedback.”
“Medicine supply chains are complex global systems and there are numerous points in the supply chain where problems can cause a medicine supply disruption, each requiring a different response.”
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“I rise today to acknowledge the outstanding service of several remarkable constituents from my electorate of Lyons, who've been recognised in the Australia Day 2026 honours. Mr Geoffrey Ashton-Jones AM has been honoured for his significant contribution to the environment, primary industry and the broader community. Through his leadership as chair of the Tasmanian Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Geoffrey has left a profound and lasting impact on local communities and on the stewardship of our natural resources. Mr Athol Bennett OAM has been recognised for his dedication and service to the Southern Midlands community, his leadership as chair of the Community Advisory Committee for the Midlands Multi-Purpose Health Centre, and his past role as president of the Oatlands District Homes Association.”
“It's why, as part of our Strengthening Medicare commitments, there's been a significant contribution of about $800 million to train more GPs and nurses. It is why we are working with medical practitioners who are in colleges and peak bodies to understand these workforce constraints and how we can address them. We want all Australians to have access to the health care that they deserve, and we are keen to work with anybody who wants to achieve that too.”
“I'm very hopeful that we'll have all of the 33 clinics open very soon. That, again, is vitally important, because we know that when women have good information about where they can access the health care that they need it can be life-changing. In addition to those reforms, of course, we are working every day to listen to Australians about what they need to see happen to make sure that they can continue to have access to the health care that they deserve. I thank you, Member for Fowler, for raising the point you have in the parliament today, and I can assure you that, further to the improvements we've been able to make for constituents in your electorate of Fowler, we are determined to grow the health workforce.”
“They've been able to work with their GP to take different hormone therapies until they find the right mix, and they've been able to afford to do that because these medicines are listed on the PBS and are capped at just $25. They've been able to work with their GP, and in some cases that's a bulk-billing GP, so their out-of-pocket expenses are significantly reduced. That has meant that in some cases it's enabled women to continue in their work. It's increased their productivity, it's improved their relationships, and it's given them their life back at a time when they thought they were losing the ability to engage in life as they knew it. So I'm incredibly proud of the work that has been done there and the work that we're rolling out with the endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain clinics.”
“That's why we've fought so strongly to protect and defend Medicare and to strengthen it. When it comes to access to cheaper medicines, one of the things I'm really proud of is the work that's being done in the women's health space, with the listing of new medicines—whether it's contraceptive medicines, endometriosis medicines or menopause medicines—that have seen hundreds of thousands of women in Australia benefit from being able to access products they may never have had the choice to access before in their lives, but, because of these changes, they now can. I've spoken to women who've been able to get menopause therapies and medicines listed on the PBS and to finally find relief for their symptoms.”
“From making medicines cheaper, we are also hearing stories of people who've been able to get the treatment that they need without having to worry about whether they can afford to pay for groceries that week, put fuel in the car and get their medicines—things that they had to choose between previously. They can now look after their health and look after their family. I think this is one of the significant improvements that we've been able to make in delivering the reforms that we have across health: to provide cost-of-living relief to households everywhere around the country. Access to health care shouldn't be something you're forced to choose based on whether you can afford it or not. We fundamentally believe, here on this side of the House, that access to health care should be universal for everybody.”
“That's a significant increase in bulk-billing practices in my electorate. What that means—both patients and doctors have shared this with me—is that somebody can go to an appointment with their GP and get bulk billed for that, but, when they have a follow-up appointment because they need to get some results or they need to go back for a further consultation, they are showing up. They are actually receiving the care that they need and showing up for those follow-up appointments. They are no longer prevented from doing that because they can't afford to pay the out-of-pocket cost. This is going to significantly transform the lives of thousands, if not millions, of Australians, and we are already seeing the impact of this across the country.”
“There are other efforts that our government has taken, and I'll take some time to speak to these. In addition to strengthening bulk billing and rolling out urgent care clinics across the country, we're also making medicines cheaper. From 1 January this year, medicines listed on the PBS went down to $25, or $7.70 if you're a concession card holder. That has enabled people—sometimes for the first time—to get access to the medicines they need to stay healthy and well and to live a good and dignified life. I've spoken to members in my own community who have shared stories with me about how they can now go and see a GP for free at a bulk-billing clinic. In my own electorate, we have also seen a significant uplift in bulk-billing rates, with 18 practices now fully bulk billing from just six before November last year.”
“In your contribution you also mentioned concerns about the numbers of patients that most doctors might see. On average, a doctor sees 1,100 patients. That's the average across the country. You mentioned the rate in your own electorate being less than that. I recognise that you're doing your job, advocating for your community, who are telling you that they want even better access to health care than what they currently have, and that one of the challenges is the workforce. But, in that electorate, your electorate of Fowler, you already have really good representation of bulk-billing GPs and good opportunity for patients to get in and see a GP. That's not to downplay the fact that, across the country, including in urban areas, there is more work to do. That is what we are absolutely committed to.”
“One of the other opportunities that our Strengthening Medicare measures provide through the lifting of bulk-billing rates—and this is particularly true in your electorate, where you've got such high bulk-billing rates—is that doctors are now earning more because of the bulk-billing incentive. Where every GP in a practice signs up and says, 'We are going to bulk bill every patient who walks through the door', they get paid an extra incentive in recognition of the fact that they are doing that. Where you had a fully bulk-billing doctor in 2023 earning about $280,000 a year, that fully bulk-billing doctor now, in 2026, earns over $400,000 a year, on average. That is a recognition of their contribution to delivering health care in our local communities. It is also better for patients, who are now able to access a fully bulk-billing GP.”
“It is taking pressure off emergency departments, providing that extra opportunity—an extra step in the process, I guess—for people who might need to see a GP for an urgent presentation and can go to an urgent care clinic instead for that appointment. It takes take pressure off the emergency department because their issue doesn't reach the threshold that you want to have patients presenting to the emergency department for. The investment that we've seen across the country, including in your own electorate, has meant that a lot more of your constituents are now able to access affordable health care close to where they live. That is the premise that underpins our investment in a lot of the programs that we're delivering throughout health.”
“We saw a record number last year on top of a record number the year before, and we're hoping for a record number again this year—increasing the number of Commonwealth supported places. In your own electorate, you should be incredibly proud of the bulk-billing rates, at about 94 per cent now, being the best in the country. Constituents in your electorate have access to bulk-billing rates from great doctors who are providing that service at a rate better than anywhere else in Australia. You mentioned, of course, Medicare urgent care clinics. We are very proud of the investment we've made in Medicare urgent care clinics, including one in your own electorate, the Liverpool Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which has been very busy and had over 15,000 presentations as at 23 February this year.”
“Where there are doctor shortages, we are keen to work with doctor groups to understand how we improve workforce opportunities and address those needs. I can assure you that the minister and the government are looking to do exactly that, particularly in some of those metro areas across the country. You've spoken about your own community, but the same can be said for other metro areas around the country where we are seeing some challenges. It is not just one policy that we set and forget. As much as I love talking about Strengthening Medicare and lifting bulk-billing rates, it's also about growing the workforce. It's why we're now seeing record numbers of GPs going through that training program in our universities.”
“I thank the member for Fowler for raising this issue. We love talking about health in this parliament, and I'm pleased to be able to speak to some of the points that you raised, recognising that we want all Australians, no matter where they live, to have access to the health care that they deserve. That's where our government has been so strong by investing in Strengthening Medicare. I also recognise you raised issues around access in hospitals. Our government did strike a deal of $25 billion with states and territories for the National Health Reform Agreement, which will see extra investment flow into hospitals, including those in your electorate. It is critical that we look at where we are providing services across the country.”
“I thank those members who did speak in support of it and who understand how important it is for us to progress this. Question negatived. Original question agreed to. Bill read a second time. Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation announced. Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.”
“Particularly for, in this instance, RSV, I understand your motivation in seeking to amend this bill and respectfully disagree that this is the way you try to progress a cause like this, because it would, of course, disrupt our ability to pass this bill as intended. From talking to the minister and those in the department, I know that there was across government a focus on how we lift immunisation rates across the country, particularly for children and vulnerable cohorts, because it's quite accurate to point out that the levels are falling below the acceptable herd immunity rate of 95 per cent for some particular disease groups. I thank the honourable member for her contribution, for her intent, but we won't be supporting the amendment. I'm not sure if there are any other speakers on this bill, but I suspect that's the end of it.”
“There were quite a few children who were dealing with RSV at that time in Tasmania, and some of them became critically unwell, were admitted to the ICU and were very lucky that they survived. So I understand how terrible a disease like this is and how important it is for us to do everything possible to prevent it, and adding it to the NIP just makes it possible for families to have affordable access to these sorts of vaccines and prevent these diseases before they ever impact on our children or threaten the lives of our loved ones. The amendment that the honourable member has moved won't be supported by the government. We want to progress this legislation so that we can make sure that we can add these types of new, emerging therapies to the NIP.”
“He was admitted to the paediatric ward, but we were treated on the floor of the emergency department, with the doctors coming down and doing their visits to him because there were no beds. So he slept on me while they did 40-minute checks. At that stage we weren't sure quite what was wrong with him, so they were waking him. He was tired and exhausted and sick, and they were trying to check with an asthma ventilator to make sure he could breathe properly and see whether it was something to do with having an asthma condition or whether it was something more serious. The doctors did their job, got the information they needed and confirmed that it was RSV.”
“They took him into the treatment room and they assessed his vitals and informed me that he'd need to go to hospital. So I responded in the way that I thought you would. I was only 30 minutes from Hobart. I'd just get in the car and drive him to hospital. And they said, 'No, we're calling an ambulance,' and at that point it struck me how serious it was and how sick my two-year-old was. The ambulance arrived, and we went into hospital and had a very long stay overnight. Thankfully, he got discharged the next day. Over the course of those 12 to 24 hours, he was provided with exemplary care, but, as is unfortunately the case in Tasmanian hospitals, we were stuck in the emergency department waiting room that entire time.”
“I think that, broadly, we all agree that we want immunisation levels to increase across the country, particularly for vulnerable cohorts like babies, and we want to protect Australians from potentially life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases. The bill that was before the chair seeks to do that by simple a simple amendment to recognise emerging therapies such as immunising monoclonal antibodies so that they can be listed on the NIP. I have my own story of a child who was diagnosed with RSV and know how terrifying that can be as a parent. I'll just share it briefly. He wasn't vaccinated, and that's very common in Australia. I live in Tasmania and took him to the after-hours doctor. He had a temperature. He had very fast breathing and was clearly not very well.”
“In speaking to this amendment, I am rising to both provide a response to the honourable member and sum up on the substantive elements of the National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026. Deputy Speaker Haines, I want to acknowledge the contribution that was made and the depth of knowledge that you bring to this place in sharing your personal experience and speaking about some of the horrific things that you've witnessed on the hospital ward and some of the families that you've represented through your remarks. I also acknowledge the other remarks that were made in response to the tabling of this bill and the support that's been provided by the opposition members for it.”
“This investment will transform families' lives and provide access to affordable and reliable child care close to home. This is what it's all about, and I'm proud to have been able to work with such strong advocates to deliver these outcomes for our communities.”
“Recently, a local mum spoke of the challenge of driving a tractor with a toddler and a baby in the cabin with her. In Bothwell, a highly motivated community group led by Susan Dabbs and Joanne Barwick worked tirelessly to highlight the childcare challenges that have been impacting their town for decades. With support from the Central Highlands Council, they launched a community survey and gathered data, and they posted it on social media, community noticeboards and in the school newsletter and illustrated the need. The findings were clear. There was a critical absence of long-day-care and childcare services in the region. As a result of that work, from mid-2027, 20 places will be made available at a new purpose built childcare centre, co-located at the school site at Bothwell.”
“From 2027, a new 24-place early learning service will be built on the St Marys site, providing families with greater access to quality local early education at lower costs, while children are given the best possible start. I also want to turn to the community of Bothwell in the Central Highlands, where determination and grassroots advocacy have delivered an outcome that will make a real difference. Lisa, in Ouse, had to drive 144 kilometres every day to keep her son in temporary care in Brighton. That trip takes two hours each way. Another family in Bothwell described how child care would 'give us financial security and improve our family's mental health—it would allow me to get out of the house and to be a productive member of the community'. Many families have to take their kids to work with them.”
“I acknowledge the advocacy of Tanya Greenwood, Kristy Scott, Rebecca Scarr, Janet Drummond, the Break O'Day Council and many more for providing the strong local leadership that helped secure $4 million in federal funding to build a new early learning centre in Saint Marys. This new centre will be co-located with the St Marys District School, supporting transitions and strong collaboration between early learning and kindergarten to year 12. What began 10 years ago as an effort to create more opportunities for local children quickly revealed something deeper—that expanding childcare access would also strengthen local businesses and local services and benefit the wider community.”
“I rise today to speak about the Albanese Labor government's commitment to early childhood education and, more specifically, what this commitment means for the families and communities in my electorate of Lyons. The Albanese Labor government believes that every child deserves access to the benefits of quality learning. The research and evidence are unequivocal: the early years are a vital time in a child's life and form the foundation for their physical, emotional, social, language and cognitive development. When we invest early, we set children up not just for school but for life. That belief is being realised on the ground in communities like Saint Marys, Bothwell and Westbury. Each of these towns will benefit from Labor's investment in new childcare centres.”
“The bill demonstrates the government's commitment to protecting Australians against preventable diseases by enabling access to the latest therapies nationwide and providing these products free of charge to eligible people in Australia Debate adjourned.”
“Furthermore, not being able to list new and emerging therapies on the National Immunisation Program may lead to a fragmented approach in accessing these products nationwide. The bill will also contribute to the priority goals of the National Immunisation Strategy for Australia 2025-2030 which was released in June last year. Most notably, expanding the definition of vaccine will make a positive contribution to the strategy's priority areas of improving access to immunisation and to harnessing new therapies to respond to the evolving disease and vaccine landscape. A flexible National Immunisation Program that is fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment is important for all Australians. As new and emerging therapies are developed, steps must be taken to ensure that the program remains as effective as possible.”
“The virus can lead to serious chest infections in babies and also lead to long-term respiratory problems such as asthma that persist into adulthood. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee has deferred a positive recommendation for Beyfortus because they are unable to recommend this product for inclusion under the NIP until the definition of a vaccine under the act is amended. Currently, new therapies are unable to be listed on the National Immunisation Program as they do not meet the current vaccine definition. Not listing new and emerging therapies will make it harder for Australians to access the health care that they need. Australians may miss out on innovative immunisation products that are readily available in other countries.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I am pleased to introduce the National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026. This bill expands the definition of vaccine in the National Health Act 1953 to enable new and emerging therapies to be listed on the National Immunisation Program. The government is committed to ensuring that Australians can access the most clinically effective products through the National Immunisation Program. This includes the provision of new and emerging therapies, such as immunising monoclonal antibodies. One example is Beyfortus, which protects children and babies from respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV—much easier to say. In 2025, there were 78,000 cases of RSV in young children.”
“You can't even work out who's going to be your shadow Assistant Treasurer. It's just embarrassing. You can mark yourself up if you like, but I think Australians are marking you down right now. (Time expired)”
“We're supporting parents through enhancing paid parental leave, access to cheaper child care and more childcare places, because I know that this is one of the key ways that we unlock opportunity for women, in particular, to participate in our economy. These are productivity-enhancing investments. This is not reckless spending. I would like to just finally make the point that, when Australians think about who's going to give them a fair go, I feel confident when I look at our benches that there is a competent group of ministers and a team here working every single day in their electorates for that single purpose—to give Australians a fair go. Do those opposite really think they have anything to offer Australians at the moment with respect to a comprehensive economic narrative? Do you? Really?”
“Are you going to put that back on? You're going to increase student debt by 20 per cent. This is what Australians need to ask themselves when they hear the Liberal opposition leader talk about reckless spending. The RBA has been clear in its statements today. It's private demand that's been the key reason why they've made a decision as an independent board to lift rates. There is no doubt that this will hurt some Australians who've got a mortgage, and that is why our government has been so single-mindedly focused on delivering cost-of-living relief to all Australians. It's why we've supported pay rises for some who are working in highly feminised industries, like aged care and child care. It's why we've supported pay rises for those who are on the minimum wage.”
“What about cheaper medicines and the $1 billion that Australians have saved on cheaper medicines because of our government's commitment to lower the price of medicines to support Australians to get the health care that they need? Is that reckless spending? These are serious questions for the opposition to confront, and there's no response. What about free TAFE? We know you're not a fan of that. This is a productivity-enhancing measure. This is about equipping Australians with the skills they need to be able to go and pursue their dreams to get a job here in our country and support in areas of economic activity, in child care, in aged care and in teaching. These are investments that are supporting Australians to live a good life. This is not reckless spending. What about the cuts we made to student debt of 20 per cent?”
“The opposition leader, when she was the health minister, did nothing about addressing the falling rates of bulk-billing. What did she do about the Medicare rebate? Did she increase it once? Doughnuts. I think the record of the Liberal Party speaks for itself, but maybe it's an interesting question for constituents in their electorates and the Australian public to ask them. Is spending on health care reckless spending? Is increasing the bulk-billing rate for Australians, who can now finally see a doctor for free, reckless spending? Is investment in Medicare urgent care clinics, which are supporting millions of Australians to see a health professional in their time of need, reckless spending?”
“That would have put power prices up through the roof for hardworking Australians. What about more free GP visits? This has been a hallmark of our Labor government that understands the value and the importance of Medicare. It's in our DNA. Do you propose to roll back the investments that we've made to fund Medicare urgent care clinics across our country? Is that reckless spending? What about the increase in the bulk-billing rate? We've seen 1,300 more practices convert to be fully bulk-billing across the country since 1 November last year. Is that reckless spending? Is it? Are you going to roll that back? Are you going to introduce the co-payment again? Why don't we go back to the ghosts of Liberals past, like the former member for Dickson, and introduce a co-payment?”
“That's why we've been serious about taking deliberate steps to support initiatives that not only reduce the cost-of-living pressures Australian families are feeling but also increase the productivity of our economy. Look at some of the measures that our government has invested in. This is not wasteful spending, and I challenge members opposite to tell me which of these initiatives you don't support. Some of them we know—you don't support tax cuts, for one. We know you don't support tax cuts for hardworking Australians. You've made that plain. You voted against it, and you took a policy to the election to increase taxes. So we know you don't support that. Energy bill relief is another thing you didn't support. In fact, you wanted to spend taxpayer money building nuclear reactors—billions of dollars.”
“How can we take you seriously—how can Australians take you seriously—when you can't take each other seriously? You can't even show up for the speech the opposition leader gives in this chamber on the first day back of the parliamentary year on the official calendar. I think it was interesting, some of the remarks made by the opposition leader. She spoke about a 'pain the Labor Party simply does not understand'. Was she talking about herself—the pain of the coalition split? When she talked about going around in circles, stuck in some kind of holding pattern, was she talking about this malaise the opposition find themselves in as they negotiate behind closed doors to roll her? The government is focused on Australians. Our priority is supporting them to make sure they live a life of dignity and live a productive life.”
“You didn't present to the Australian people an option for them to vote for you, because you were outlining a range of measures to help to support them to deal with the cost of living, and you haven't done that since. The reality is that those opposite have nothing to offer Australians today. What solutions are they providing? Those opposite can't agree on who should sit where in the chamber. We saw that again today. We're focused on the cost of living and delivering for Australians; those opposite are focused on themselves. I thought it was notable today that, when the opposition leader was giving her remarks, the member for Hume was missing. Where was he? The division in the opposition benches is clear for all to see. Those opposite can't help but have a giggle about it because they know it's true. It's on display for all Australians.”
“Think about the way that they left families struggling to access affordable child care and people struggling to find a bulk-billing GP. How many Medicare urgent care clinics did you build? Zero. The member for Lyne up there is giving the member for Lyons a bad name because she gets ejected and people think it's me! Our government is building Medicare urgent care clinics; their government didn't build a single one. The records of those opposite speak for themselves. The Australian people voted them out for a number of reason. Amongst them was the fact that those opposite didn't have a plan to help tackle the cost of living. In fact, the opposition leader got up just now and said they've got a plan. Where is it? You certainly didn't take it to the election.”
“The opposition doesn't have a plan. They haven't even got a plan to reconcile with their former coalition partners. It's false promises from the Leader of the Opposition. I think it's important to put it in context. Look at the decade of the former coalition government and think about that decade as a lost decade, a decade of cuts and neglect. They left the country with structural deficits, wages stagnating, a housing crisis. They did nothing about it. For the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and lecture us about our program to build more homes, to support Australians into homeownership and to support them into affordable and social housing, when they did barely anything at all to support Australians dealing with this, is offensive.”
“They went to the election with a plan for bigger deficits and more debt and a plan to hike up taxes for every taxpayer to pay for nuclear reactors. And weren't they popular—particularly in my home state of Tasmania, which is renowned for and proud of its renewable energy efforts with hydro? The fact that you were taking a plan like that to the election went down like a lead balloon. We are focused on the cost of living; they are focused on themselves. We're focused on turning two budget deficits around and making them budget surpluses. Wages have come up. Unemployment is down compared to what we inherited, and our government is focused on supporting Australians dealing with the cost-of-living issues that they are facing. And we are serious about that—not just empty statements from the Leader of the Opposition about a plan. What plan?”
“Our government knows that some people across our country are doing it tough. That's why we're so focused on helping them responsibly, thoughtfully, deliberately. If you look at the statement that was released by the RBA today, it talked about an increase in private demand. It didn't talk about government spending, which is the premise of the motion that we're debating here in this House today. That's a false premise, because what we know is that what our government is doing is helping Australians. Have a look at what our government inherited from the opposition. They left us inflation with a six in front of it and rising. Now it's much lower than that. They left us with higher spending, no savings and bigger deficits.”
“It requires vigilance, leadership and a willingness to do whatever it takes to stamp it out wherever and whenever it appears. We reaffirm, with sincerity, our commitment to a safer and more compassionate Australia.”
“Support will be needed long after headlines disappear. The reason for this is well understood in communities like mine, where recovery has been measured not in weeks, months or years but in decades. Through this condolence motion, we honour those who were killed at Bondi and we extend our sympathy to all those who've been affected. We affirm our support for the Bondi community and for all Jewish Australians, not just today but in the weeks, months and years to come. We affirm that violence of the kind we saw in Bondi, and the antisemitic thinking that lay behind it, is not something we will ever accept or allow to be normalised in Australian society. We acknowledge that confronting antisemitism requires more than condemnation in moments of crisis.”
“In those dark moments of 14 December, we watched events unfolding with dread and a sharp pain in our chest as we came to understand that another heartbreaking tragedy was playing out on our soil. The lessons from Port Arthur remind us that if we are to truly honour a loss as profound as what we experienced at Bondi, then there are obligations imposed upon us as a nation. We must listen carefully to those who are hurting. We must respond with compassion and urgency to provide care and assistance. We must take tangible steps to further improve the safety of our community and eradicate hate. And we must never allow the passage of time to dull the memory of what occurred. For the families affected by the Bondi attack, the coming weeks and months will be as hard as those first days of grief.”
“I want to acknowledge that there are many in my electorate for whom this moment has reopened painful memories. Port Arthur also shaped how Australia understands its responsibilities after tragedy. In the aftermath, our nation made decisions that were difficult and at times contested but guided by a clear principle that the safety of the community must come first. And our elected leaders stood side by side, unified in their determination to make change, and together they led our community through one of its darkest times. Those decisions did not erase loss or numb the pain. What they did was reflect a collective willingness to do our best to protect against such a horror happening again and to come together and heal.”
“The sheer cruelty of what those men did—the calculated evil, the unthinkable targeting of Australia's Jewish community, who were peacefully celebrating together—has left a deep impression on the soul of our country. On behalf of all my constituents in Lyons, I extend our condolences to the Jewish community, to the people of Bondi and to everyone affected. For Tasmanians and especially for people in my electorate, this tragedy carries a particular weight. Almost 30 years ago, Port Arthur became synonymous with grief—a grief no community ever expects to carry. For so many, the events of 28 April 1996 are not confined to history books or anniversaries. They shape the community to this day. They surface in quiet moments, and they return sharply when another act of violence occurs elsewhere in the country.”
“They intrude into ordinary life and remind us how suddenly the safety so many of us take for granted can be taken away. For many Australians, Bondi is not an abstract place. For some it's home. It's where they work, send their kids to school and spend time with friends and family. It's where they celebrate religious holidays. For others it's an icon, one of the most recognisable symbols of what it means to live in Australia. That familiarity and symbolism is part of what makes the attack so confronting. The other part, of course, is the fact that the perpetrators deliberately targeted Jewish Australians, a people who have suffered so much already and who are now once again forced to carry fear and grief simultaneously.”
“I rise on the motion before the House and echo many of the sentiments already expressed by fellow members. Like members across this chamber, I want to honour the memory of the 15 innocent people who were killed in that violent antisemitic attack of 14 December. I acknowledge the injuries physical and psychological suffered by many others and extend my support to their families, friends and colleagues, whose lives have been permanently altered. I pay tribute to the first responders and medical staff who acted with professionalism and courage in circumstances no-one should have to face. And I recognise the acts of heroism and bravery, big and small, from ordinary people who put themselves in danger to help others. Events is like these stop us in our tracks.”