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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“This will speed up the process of applying for a provider number, while all decisions to refuse a provider number would continue to be checked and authorised by the Chief Executive Medicare or their delegate. The bill will also validate previously issued Medicare provider numbers that were issued by a computer program. Overseas health professionals often face lengthy waits to receive their Medicare provider number. This delays them from commencing work in the Australian health system. In fact, the Independent Review of Australia's Regulatory Settings Relating to Overseas Health Practitioners, led by Robyn Kruk AO, reported that the wait time can be up to three months. Reducing the time it takes for Medicare provider numbers to be issued will help us grow our medical workforce sooner and start treating patients under Medicare quicker.”
“I move: That the bill be now read a second time. The Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No.1) Bill 2025 makes important changes to legislation within the health portfolio to support our government's delivery of a stronger Medicare including more bulk-billing and thousands more doctors. Schedule 1 to the bill will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to make sure Medicare provider numbers can be allocated to new practitioners in a faster and more streamlined way. Amendments made by schedule 1 to the bill will enable the Chief Executive Medicare to approve the use of a computer program to make appropriate, non-discretionary decisions to allocate Medicare provider numbers.”
“These amendments are consistent with this government's unwavering commitment to public health and mitigate the public health risks associated with therapeutic goods and vaping goods by supporting strong and effective regulation under the Therapeutic Goods Act. The bill also amends the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023. These amendments are largely clarifying in nature and have been identified as necessary during the implementation to ensure the smooth and consistent operation of the act. I commend the bill to the House. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.”
“The bill will improve payment integrity by reducing the timeframe for making bulk-billed claims. The bill will allow investigative powers to be used consistently and effectively across all health systems and schemes, including Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and will improve the processes related to pharmacy approvals. The bill also makes several sensible amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to enhance the capacity of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to manage and alleviate the consequences of therapeutic goods shortages and to support compliance and enforcement activities undertaken in relation to unlawful therapeutic goods and unlawful vaping goods.”
“The government is committed to protecting this investment and strengthening Medicare by improving the compliance framework that ensures its integrity. The government commissioned the independent review of Medicare integrity and compliance known as the Philip review in November 2022 to respond to concerns about the operation of the Medicare system. The Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services Review Scheme) Act 2023 and the Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services Review Scheme No. 2) Act 2023 made amendments in response to recommendations of the Philip review. This bill will support the integrity and sustainability of Medicare by addressing a range of issues to enable the department to conduct more efficient, timely and effective compliance activities.”
“Thank you to all members who've made a contribution on the Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025. I've appreciated listening to everybody's speeches. I'd just sum up by saying that Australia has a world-class health system, largely thanks to the various health benefits schemes such as Medicare which help Australians pay for the health care that they need. We've heard lots of contributions today talking about how important Medicare is for our various electorates and, more importantly, the people who rely on access to great health care in our country. In 2023-24 payments for health benefits including medical services, pharmaceutical services and private health insurance rebates totalled at least $65.1 billion in Australia.”
“This is a crucial investment in our domestic manufacture of vaccines in Australia and our preparedness for future pandemics, and, for these reasons, the government will oppose the motion from the member for Kooyong.”
“Importantly, the vaccines are also subject to an independent health technology assessment, consistent with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee guidelines. These assessment arrangements for Moderna onshore vaccines are the result of significant negotiations between the department and Moderna and are commercial-in-confidence. The agreement was established in line with the Australian government's legal obligations and policy mandate and completed in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. Moderna Australia's manufacturing facility was completed in late 2024, with regulatory approvals now underway. Registration and supply in Australia will only commence following approval of the manufacturing facility and vaccines by the TGA.”
“The agreement is a part of a three-way 10-year arrangement, ending in 2032, between the Australian government, the Victorian government and Moderna. It is the reason why Australia is now one of the few countries in the world with an end-to-end mRNA vaccine manufacturing capability. Like other vaccines—and I think this point will be particularly relevant to the member for Kooyong—vaccines manufactured by Moderna and supplied under the agreement with government must be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for quality, safety and efficacy. These principles will not be compromised—and I want to emphasise this point. The Moderna vaccines must also be assessed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.”
“In this instance, there are genuine reasons why the precise details of the agreement between Moderna and the Commonwealth must remain confidential. The fact is that the agreement between Moderna and the government secures more than just vaccines. In supporting the development of a domestic manufacturing capability, the arrangement promotes Australia's sovereign capability, resilience and pandemic preparedness; Australia's onshore production of vaccines using mRNA technology, a technology which was successful in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the enhancement of Australia's research and manufacturing ecosystem and workforce to support our world-class capabilities to develop and produce the next generation of medical technology.”
“Firstly, I would like to recognise the member for Kooyong and her deep expertise and professional background that she brings to this place, and I acknowledge that this is something of deep interest to her. However, the government won't be supporting the disallowance, and I'll explain why. The motion moved by the member for Kooyong seeks to disallow item 12 of schedule 1 to the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Health and Aged Care Measures No. 4) Regulations 2024 made under the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 on 24 October 2024. The item underpins the government's expenditure on Australia's onshore manufacturing capability and pandemic preparedness. The government supports transparency and accountability.”
“On behalf of the Leader of the House, I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the private Members' business notice relating to the disallowance of item 12 of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Health and Aged Care Measures No. 4) Regulations 2024 made under the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 on 24 October 2024 and presented to the House on 4 November 2024, standing in the name of the Member for Kooyong, being called on immediately. Question agreed to.”
“The bill includes other minor amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Act, to keep the act up to date and to assist with the TGA's important functions. The bill also amends the Therapeutic Goods Act to make minor consequential amendments to support the government's ground-breaking vaping reforms. Finally, the bill amends the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023 (the tobacco act) which commenced on 1 April 2024. These amendments clarify the intended operation of the provisions and are amendments that have been identified as necessary in the implementation phase of the legislation. The measures in this bill will further the government's efforts to strengthen Medicare and will assist in the implementation of our world-leading tobacco and vaping reforms. I commend the bill.”
“The amendment will result in a more balanced approach that a direction must be considered and issued in the interests of public health and safety. This approach ensures the more appropriate availability of such directions to protect Australians from new and emerging public health threats. The bill enhances the ability of state and territory officers to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with the Therapeutic Goods Act and regulations by allowing for the provision, inspection, copying and retention of documents or information. The bill also clarifies that section 61, which authorises the release of information in relation to therapeutic goods and vaping goods in certain circumstances, is not a secrecy provision.”
“Specifically, the bill broadens the circumstances in which section 52AAA applies to ensure that forfeiture arrangements can extend to the range of circumstances in which goods may be seized under the Therapeutic Goods Act, rather than, as currently, only the circumstance where goods are seized under a warrant issued under section 50. This amendment will help deter the trafficking of such goods by sending a strong message to bad actors operating in this space that the Therapeutic Goods Association (the TGA) will take unlawful goods permanently. This bill lowers the threshold that must be satisfied before the secretary may give an enforceable direction to a person under section 42YT of the Therapeutic Goods Act. The current requirement is that a direction is necessary to protect the health and safety of humans.”
“The bill enhances the capacity of the government to manage and alleviate the consequences of therapeutic goods shortages in Australia. It allows the secretary of the department to approve the importation or supply of substitutable unapproved products from overseas if the secretary is satisfied that the approved medicine, biological or medical device, in the reasonably foreseeable future, may become unavailable or be in short supply. The bill supports compliance and enforcement activities in relation to both unlawful therapeutic goods and unlawful vaping goods.”
“This will also allow Ahpra and health practitioner boards to admit evidence in national law proceedings if it was referred to them under the legislation for the reasons of a significant threat to life or health or noncompliance with professional standards. These changes are required to ensure all appropriate steps are taken to protect patient safety and that the existing requirement to refer the information to Ahpra and health practitioner boards is not frustrated. These changes will enhance the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's capacity to address identified risks to patient safety and manage and address the consequences of noncompliance and potential fraud. The bill makes several sensible amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989(the Therapeutic Goods Act).”
“The existing restrictions will no longer apply in respect of prosecutions related to a failure to produce documents, proceedings to recover debts relating to the Professional Services Review Scheme and some other proceedings related to non-compliance. The restrictions will also not apply in respect of documents produced to PSR under notice and passed onto Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) or a national board under certain provisions in the Health Insurance Act, or information obtained or generated by Ahpra or a national board from its own investigation, triggered by documents produced to PSR under notice. This will enable Ahpra and associated health practitioner boards to use PSR related material to trigger their own investigations into allegations involving risks to patient safety.”
“Changes will also improve the ability of regulators to protect patient safety by removing some restrictions on the admission of information obtained under the Professional Services Review's 'notice to produce' powers as evidence in relevant proceedings, including proceedings for the purposes of the national law for the health practitioner registration and accreditation scheme. This will remove some restrictions on the admission of information obtained under the Professional Services Review Agency's 'notice to produce' powers as evidence in proceedings, including proceedings under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.”
“For example, if incorrect payments are identified, current provisions don't always enable amounts to be appropriately recovered. This is because some recovery mechanisms rely on outdated claiming processes and requests for hard copy documents. These matters are restricting the ability of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to protect the integrity of Medicare programs and payments. These changes will enable appropriate inquiries to be made about Medicare payments if available information suggests potential noncompliance or fraud. If payments are found to be incorrect, amounts could be recovered.”
“In this bill, the two-stage process is proposed to be streamlined and condensed into a single-stage process of up to four months. This will help to reduce a significant administrative burden. And it will provide the community with more timely access to pharmaceutical benefits. The amendments improve existing powers to obtain information about potential fraud and noncompliance and enable the recovery of amounts if they should not have been paid. The Philip review recommended the 'expansion of powers to ensure all types of serious non-compliance can be effectively dealt with' and 'a reduction in regulation and legislation that hinders compliance activities'. The Philip review concluded there are limitations and restrictions around current compliance processes.”
“Changes will also enable powers to be used in the investigation of Criminal Code offences and remove the need for AFP assistance with executing warrants for suspected Criminal Code offences. These amendments will improve investigative powers in health portfolio legislation and ensure they can be put into practice consistently, effectively and proportionately to respond to behaviour that jeopardises the integrity of health benefits schemes. Under the National Health Act 1953, a pharmacist can request that the Minister for Health and Aged Care exercise a discretion to approve the supply of pharmaceutical benefits at particular premises. This is currently a two-stage process, which can take up to six months. This is frustrating and time-consuming for the applicant and may also delay the community's access to pharmaceutical benefits.”
“This change will improve payment integrity and reduce the number of incorrect and fraudulently submitted claims. This will have minimal impact on patients and practitioners, as most claims are already made within 12 months. There will be discretion to accept claims after that time, to ensure patients are not disadvantaged. Currently, a range of legislative provisions across health portfolio legislation are creating barriers to effective compliance activities, particularly when it comes to deterring and responding to serious noncompliance and fraud. The bill responds to these barriers by allowing investigative powers to be used consistently and effectively across Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.”
“The Independent Review of Medicare Integrity and Compliance undertaken by Dr Pradeep Philip, known as the Philip review, was commissioned by the government to respond to concerns about the operation of the Medicare system. In 2023, the Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services Review Scheme) Act 2023 and the Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services Review Scheme No. 2) Act 2023 made priority amendments in response to this review. This bill implements further improvements responding to Philip review recommendations. The bill implements a measure announced in the 2024-25 budget: reducing the timeframe during which Medicare claims for bulk-billed services can be made from two years to one year. Claims relating to bulk-billed services can currently be made up to two years after a health service has been provided.”
“I present the explanatory memorandum for this bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. Today, I introduce the Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025. Australia has a world-class health system that offers affordable, high-quality, accessible health care to all Australians. This is due in large part to the various health benefit schemes—including Medicare and its programs—that help Australians pay for the health care they need. The government is committed to protecting and strengthening Medicare—and part of this is improving the compliance framework that ensures the integrity of these rebates.”
“For me, today marks the beginning of a great opportunity to put into effect the knowledge and experience I've gained over the course of my life to deliver improvements for the community who made me who I am. My job is to repay their investment in me by giving voice to the needs of regional Tasmania and to challenge the assumption that the best we can aspire to is limited in some way by the school we went to or the postcode where we grew up. I love my community and I'm a fiercely proud Tasmanian. I dedicate myself to telling our story and to making you proud as we build our future together.”
“The final thankyou goes to someone who has been my friend for nearly two decades: Brian Mitchell. Brian was elected as the federal member for Lyons in 2016 and served the electorate with distinction and pride. He loved the job of representing the people of Lyons here in Canberra, and I want to acknowledge the significant generosity of spirit he demonstrated to me as the federal candidate for Lyons at this election. As it turns out, we've done a bit of a swap, with Brian not yet officially but looking very likely to be newly elected to the Tasmanian parliament following the weekend's election, which is great news, an outcome for our community that I believe will help us deliver great results for our electorate.”
“I've been involved in many campaigns over the years and I know how much effort and time it takes to coordinate and rollout a statewide election strategy. We knew we could rely on you to meet every challenge. The entire team at NatSec were phenomenal, and my thanks go to Paul Erickson and Jen Light for the support and friendship they've shown me over many years. Of course, to the Prime Minister: I'm honoured to stand here as a member of your team, to stand here in support of the Labor government's agenda and to do all I can to progress our ambition for this beautiful country and to uphold our shared values of fairness, equality and social justice. Thank you for encouraging me to be a part of it and for the trust you place in me as we deliver on our promises in this government.”
“There were over 100 individuals who turned from supporters into active campaigners and joined us in having thousands of conversations across the electorate about Labor's agenda, not just for the election but for our country's future. Thank you to the union movement, who were incredible in the way they provided support to our effort to hold the seat of Lyons. I would like to recognise the SDA, RTBU, CPSU, PPTEU, TFTU, UWU, ASU and MUA. It was an energetic and fun campaign, and this result has only been made possible by the effort put in by all of you. We are stronger together, and this time we were unbeatable. There are just a few more important people I want to specifically acknowledge. To Gordon Luckman, Jarryd Moore and Stephen Briggs: thank you.”
“The same goes for wonderful people like Kate; the mighty efforts of Robyn, who was there for me everyday; the dedication of self-proclaimed president of our gang, Allan; and the absolute stars Paul and Jonathan, along with the pinnacle of organisation, Anne. There were the enormous efforts of Dave, Morris, Bish, Luke, Zac, Bron; the hard work of Ella, Lachlan, Lauren, Nick, Gayle, Lucy, Elias, Tahnee and Brad; and the energy of Richard, Rod, Scott, Ben, Casey, Craig and Lee and so many others who helped deliver mail, put up a poster, knock on a door, make a phone call, stand on pre-poll, hand out on polling day and even lend me a car.”
“There was the guidance of Michael Aird, who's been a reliable source of support and advice to me over the years and who was once again there for me during this campaign. Celeste Di Bar, with all her positive energy and practical effort, helped our fabulous volunteers engage with the campaign. To the fabulous and enthusiastic Joe Birch, who I know will be watching this speech and who demonstrates the most incredible dedication: thank you for your hard work as chief whip, always keeping us on track. Jane Atkinson, very ably and with all her trademark diligence, rallied volunteers and prepared booth kits for the 72 polling places across Lyons.”
“I had the super-human efforts of Margaret and Greg Luckman, who led teams of volunteers as we doorknocked across the 35,000 square kilometres of Lyons, and the boundless enthusiasm of Martyn Summers, who was the first to put his hand up to help with any task. Thank you to Bronwyn for lending him to us. You are two of Tassie's finest Labor members. There was the clever and creative genius of Heidi Heck. She put her hands up for more things than she probably expected to at this election, and she did it all with grace and professionalism. There was the ballast that is Stuart Benson, one of my oldest friends in the Labor Party, who weighed in when needed and kept things on track in a way that only someone with his experience and knowledge can do.”
“Thank you to all the volunteers from the mighty Australian Labor Party, from the rank-and-file members who gave their time, to our union affiliates who put in an extraordinary effort, to my campaign manager, Celeste Miller, who's here in the gallery—and I'm going to point you out, even though I know you hate it!—and who skilfully juggled it all and did so with such poise and calm determination. There is not a person I have met who can say no to you, and it's not because you intimidate them into compliance—although you do sometimes give me a look that makes me think twice about whether my idea was such a great one! But it's because you have that rare ability to empower people to believe in themselves. My campaign team was a powerhouse of the very best people who share a common passion to make a difference and have fun while doing it.”
“But my family grew when I joined the Labor Party, and I've been incredibly lucky that I've made friendships that will last a lifetime, from bonds forged through campaigns and caucuses to those shared with people from across our movement as we've worked alongside one another to push forward a progressive agenda. I will never stop finding it remarkable how people give their time, often in a volunteer capacity, to help support our movement and campaigns. I cannot thank enough the huge number of people who've been with me over the years and have given their time to support the 2025 campaign. I said on the day I stood alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he announced that I was the endorsed candidate for the seat that the contest would be won by the margin of our effort—and the effort was enormous.”
“My election to this place marks the sixth time they've placed their faith in me, and I'll do my very best to honour that responsibility. But nothing I have ever achieved has been achieved alone. There are people in this chamber, in the gallery and back home in Tassie who've all helped me get to where I am today, including my fabulous girlfriends, who've been the strongest support to me over decades and continue to be a constant source of inspiration and advice. My friends, along with my community and family, are the reason I stand here today.”
“I put my hand up for politics because I fundamentally believe that politics is the best way to effect change at a population level and improve people's lives. And I'm so excited to be part of a government that has purposeful ambition to uplift the lives of Australians. Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me to this place following the election, and particularly a big thanks to you who have helped to establish my office and help me find my feet. I've been humbled by the support I've received, and most notably from my electorate, who put their trust in me to represent them here. I value and respect the relationship I have with the people of Lyons, who I had the honour to represent in the Tasmanian parliament for nearly 15 years.”
“It is a story of a regional landscape that is wild and beautiful, of coastlines that are drawcards for tourists and playgrounds for children, of farmers who toil to produce the best potatoes and beef, of winemakers and distillers who win global awards, of renewable energy that is steeped in our state's history of hydro-industrialisation, and of people who are creative, resourceful and resilient. But we have our challenges, too. There are struggles with access to health care, difficulty finding safe and permanent housing, concerns about whether our young people will realise their ambitions, and the ongoing problem that distance from services and employment creates for people living in regional areas. I'm here not only as a voice for my electorate but also to work as a problem-solver, to help find solutions to the things that hold us back.”
“To be elected to represent my friends, my family, my neighbours, my community in the Australian parliament is the greatest honour and one that is deeply personal. The vast electorate of Lyons was jointly named after Joe Lyons, Tasmania's only prime minister, and Dame Enid Lyons, the first woman member of the House of Representatives. I stand here in service of my community as the first ever woman elected to represent this seat in the federal parliament. I stand here with determination to work hard, to be a voice for my electorate, to fight for us and to represent our interests to the best of my ability—to elevate our story to the national stage.”
“Each of us has an innate need to be connected to something or someone who helps give us meaning and purpose to know that we matter, and it's important for me to hold that thought front of mind when we make decisions so that we build stronger and more resilient communities and empower people to live good and happy lives. Standing here in this place, I am humbly reminded of my responsibility to uphold the best of what my community has taught me—to act with integrity, to promote fairness, to work with others and to treat everyone equally. My electorate of Lyons is my home. It's the place where I was raised, where I went to school and where I now live and raise my two gorgeous children.”
“It's full of doers who work hard, volunteer for the local fire brigade or community event or raise funds for charity. The people who have shaped me and taught me the values of fairness and to look out for one another are the same people who taught me the value of friendship and loyalty. Whether it's working bees or hay carting, everyone helps out in the country, and I feel so lucky that I got to grow up in a place where everyone is like my extended family. Nugent will always be my home, and there's nothing that beats the smell of the bush or that feeling of walking into the community hall and seeing everyone again. It's also a reminder for me of what really matters. People need people.”
“My favourite time of the day is reading a book to them in bed as they snuggle in for a cuddle. They remind me of what really matters and they motivate me to make the most of each day. I realise how fortunate I am to be able to tell a story like this, a story of love and support and encouragement, and I try not to take it for granted. Life is big, and my philosophy is that we should fill it with as much as possible and always say yes to opportunities. I know that I've been able to feel capable of taking on new challenges because of the support that I've had not only from my family but also from my home town and local community. I grew up at Nugent, known for farming and forestry and our vibrant community hall. It's like so many of the regional towns right across the electorate of Lyons.”
“The principle of feeding the animals before you feed yourself is a lesson in looking after those who need your help before you help yourself, and it's an ethos I carry with me to this day. I was lucky that my family was so much bigger than the four of us. We were surrounded by people who loved us, from aunts and uncles and cousins to grandparents who were constantly in our lives. My grandma Ethel continues to play a role as great-grandma in the lives of my children, Mia and Hudson, and I'm so grateful to my big and wonderful family, who continue to be such an incredible support to me every day, especially Dad, Mum and Andrew. My most important job is mum to Mia and Hudson, and I love watching them both grow up—far too quickly, but it's incredible to see them learn about the world around them with such open minds and kindness.”
“We climbed trees, rode our bikes, played cricket, kicked the footy and shot at tin cans with our air rifles. I rode horses and learnt how to drive in a tractor. We would help with the jobs of feeding hay out to the beef cattle, looking after the pigs or milking the dairy cows. We were taught the value of hard work and we were brought up with the motto that there is no such thing as can't. My brother and I were taught a lot of life lessons on the farm. First among them was to feed the animals before you feed yourself. Farmers are stewards of the land and I've never met a farmer who didn't care deeply about the animals they look after or the land they work.”
“I'm the daughter of a plumber and a teacher. My Mum, Anne Pitney, moved in with my dad, Lindsay White—he's here in the gallery today—on what would become our family farm, known as Redbanks. They lived in a run-down Federation-style weatherboard house that had been used by the previous farmer to store hay in. For the first decade of my life, I woke up in the winter seeing my breath, because it was inevitable that the open fire would have gone out overnight, and sometimes the frost on the ground outside was enough to put the water pump into hibernation. And as cold as that was, I still think Canberra is colder. Mum and Dad then did a bit of a reno and we got a wood heater, which was a life changer. My brother, Jeremy—who's also here today—and I had a lot of fun on the farm.”
“I told him I'd attended Sorell school, the local public school in my regional town. He looked at me and said, 'Haven't you done well for yourself?' In that moment, my polite country upbringing went into autopilot and I probably said something like, 'Thank you,' and smiled, but inside I felt the sting of his words not just because I felt judged by somebody who knew nothing about me but because I felt he had insulted my town and my school with his offhand remark. It triggered in me a need to protect the place and people I cared the most about and to stand up for them. It's a feeling that's never left. I've always been incredibly proud of my community and the people who've supported me my entire life. I'm a country girl through and through, a fiercely proud Tasmanian and someone who was taught early on to never give up.”
“I extend my acknowledgement to my home state of Lutruwita/Tasmania and to the Palawa people, who, despite the worst oppression and dispossession, endure and continue to share with us their story, language and cultural practice. It's a lesson in generosity that we benefit from as a nation. Tolerance, inclusion, respect and indeed kindness are attributes that make as all better people and a stronger community, and fundamental to the reason why I am here is community. When I was 18, I worked in hospitality, waiting tables and working in a bar while I was making my way through uni. I was working a shift one afternoon in a Hobart restaurant when I took the lunch order to a table and put the plate down in front of a man seated with a group of his friends. There were the usual friendly smiles, and then the man asked me where I'd gone to school.”
“I'm going to strive every day to make sure that I don't waste a moment, because I know that all the moments add up, and I can assure those of you who have never been there—that's most of my new colleagues here—that the opposition benches are not the place you want to be if you're serious about making a difference. Timing in politics is everything, and I plan to make the most of my time here. As I stand here and reflect upon my role in this House, I want to acknowledge the traditional and original owners of the land upon which we do our work, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, and pay my respect to elders past and present.”
“I would be kidding myself if I tried to pretend that standing here to give my first speech as the federal member for Lyons wasn't a little overwhelming, in part because I'm standing in the same spot so many of my political heroes have stood and in part because of the weight of responsibility that comes with the knowledge that I'm here to be the voice for my electorate. But it's also because I know all too well how significant this opportunity is—to be a member of a Labor government with the capacity to make profound impact on the lives of people right across our country.”
“In line with this intended commencement date, provisions have been included to allow the refund of fees collected between 1 July 2025 (inclusive) and the commencement date of this bill where the applicant's approval has come into force on or after 1 July 2025. To preserve the high level of confidence in the accuracy of pathology testing in Australia provided under Medicare, the administrative requirements including accreditation obligations will remain unchanged. I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned.”
“The 2022 Health Portfolio Charging Review identified that the fees set against each of these application categories have not been reviewed or changed since the pathology fees act came into force. Further, when investigated, the fees were found to exceed the administrative cost of processing these application categories. As such, this arrangement does not align with the Australian Government Charging Framework (2015). Removing the fees applied to the three categories of applications through the repeal of the pathology fees act will resolve this misalignment with government charging policy. It will provide fee relief in addition to reducing the administrative burden for the pathology sector. The consequential amendments included in this bill remove all references to the payment of fees for these application types from 1 July 2025.”