Sarah Witty
Melbourne · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Before entering parliament, I worked in the homelessness sector at Homes for Homes. I there helped to build a pipeline of more than $110 million for social and affordable housing. During my time, I worked with property developers and helped them to engage with the organisation and raise that money.”
“But what had happened to her was that she had experienced domestic violence. Her husband had stopped her bank account. She was living on a friend's couch and couldn't stay there any longer. I was completely shocked. It is also a reminder to me that homelessness can happen quickly and it can happen to anyone.”
“Today, I want to speak about housing, not as a market and not as a headline but as a place where a person can close the door and feel safe. Recently, I met with the Victorian Homelessness Fund. Since 1987, the fund has worked to provide long-term homes for women and children escaping domestic violence. Their model is practical.”
“Where a cancelled flight causes additional cost, the proposed scheme seeks to make sure airlines cover reasonable costs, such as meals, transport or overnight accommodation. This bill is also important because aviation is not experienced equally by everyone.”
“This bill is not pretending every flight will run on time. It is not pretending every disruption can be avoided, and it is not pretending aviation can be simplified by legislation alone, but it does something important.”
“The ombudsperson will provide a fair, accessible and independent external dispute resolution service for complaints about airlines and airports.”
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“This is why the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People matters—because children should not have to weaponise their own pain to find belonging, because trauma should not be misread as misbehaviour, because culture, family and identity are not optional extras but protective factors and because every Aboriginal child deserves a system that sees them not as a problem to be managed but as a person to be held, safely, respectfully and in community. If we are serious about listening to children then we must be serious about building systems that hear what they are really saying, even when they don't have the words. Mat knew exactly what he needed. It's time our systems did too. These outcomes are not accidental. They are not inevitable.”
“This was the child who had learned, through systems meant to protect him, that connection had to be earned through failure; that the only way home was to be too much; and that culture, kin and belonging was something you had to break yourself to get back to. Eventually, when he left my care, he went to live with family—with his uncle, alongside his cousins. While I was glad to see him back with mob, I was left asking a hard question: why did it take so much loss for that to happen?”
“He came from a home shaped by violence. His father was in prison for what he had done to his mother. For this boy, safety had never been consistent; it had been conditional, temporary and fragile. Before he came to me, he'd already had multiple foster placements not because he was a difficult child but because he was traumatised. He didn't trust easily. He tested boundaries. He pushed people away before they could leave him first. One day, after a particularly hard moment, he said something to me that I will never forget: 'I know, if I keep breaking placements, they'll have to send me back to my family eventually.' Think about that for a moment.”
“I've spoken in this House many times about my experiences as a foster carer, and it is on behalf of the children who have been in my care that I rise today to speak in strong support of the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026 and the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026. For decades, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people have been overrepresented in systems of harm and underrepresented in the decisions that shape their lives. Let me start with a silence. It belongs to a child, Mat, who learned too early how systems really work. He was Aboriginal, he was young and by the time I met him he was already carrying more than most adults ever should.”
“As we mark 125 years since Federation, this is a moment to recommit to the places that anchored our national story. The Royal Exhibition Building is not just part of Melbourne's history; it is a central part of the history of our great country. Australia took its first step as a nation under that dome 125 years ago. If that moment matters to us and if our Commonwealth matters to us, then the place where it began must matter too. I will continue to be a strong and constructive advocate for the Royal Exhibition Building, for its protection, for its funding and for its future as a living public place, not just as a monument to our past, but as a working reminder of who we are and what we are prepared to stand for. Thank you. House adjourned at 20:00”
“The plans bring discipline, clarity and accountability to how the site is cared for, but the task ahead remains significant. The Royal Exhibition Building requires sustained long-term investment to protect its fabric, address climate risk and ensure it can continue functioning as both a heritage site and a civic venue. Delay does not reduce cost; it compounds risk, it narrows options, and it brings us closer to partial or full closure to the public. Enclosure would not protect this place; it would diminish it. I have heard clearly from local residents, heritage experts and community advocates who care deeply about this site. They are not calling for symbolism or short-term fixes; they are calling for serious stewardship and resolve.”
“I recently met with Museums Victoria to discuss the work already underway and the support still required to secure the building's future. That conversation was honest, detailed and forward looking. There are strong and exciting plans to open the Royal Exhibition Building all year round from mid-2027, expanding public access while protecting its heritage values. That vision is grounded in simple truth—a heritage building survives when it is open, understood and actively used by the community it belongs to. Important conservation works are already beginning to be delivered—repairs to the dome and facades, safety upgrades and new World Heritage management plans that guide every decision about conservation, use and renewal.”
“This year marks the 125th anniversary of Federation, and, in May, the Royal Exhibition Building will again stand at the centre of our nation's story. There are few places in Australia where the history of our Commonwealth can be experienced so directly, where people can stand in the exact space where our democratic life began. In recent years, however, deterioration has become impossible to ignore—damage to the dome interior, falling plaster and decorative schemes, structural elements requiring urgent repairs, and impact from water ingress, storms and extreme weather. These are not abstract concerns. They affect safety. They affect access. They affect whether this building can continue to serve the public at all.”
“I can only imagine or begin to imagine what that moment must have been like nearly 125 years ago, when the first Australian parliament assembled in the Royal Exhibition Building in the electorate of Melbourne, stepping into a new nation carrying hope, uncertainty and the enormous task of shaping a future not yet written. Beneath that historic dome, Australia stopped being an idea and became a reality. In 2004, the Royal Exhibition Building and surrounds became Australia's first cultural site listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. It is recognised as a rare and intact survivor of the 19th century international expo movement—a place built to project confidence, ambition and a belief in the future. World Heritage listing is not a prize to admire; it's an obligation to honour.”
“It is an immense honour to stand here in this parliament, in this building, representing the people of Melbourne. Every time I come to Canberra, I feel it. I walk toward Parliament House, and, as the flagpole comes into view, something catches in my chest. The goosebumps come. The weight of history presses in. I feel the grandeur of the building before I even step inside it—the scale, the symbolism, the privilege of what it represents. All of us in this chamber remember our first day here—some of us more recently than others—but that feeling of responsibility, the sense of awe and of being entrusted with something far greater than ourselves never truly fades.”
“The Social Studio has an 80 per cent completion rate, significantly higher than the national average for Certificate III qualifications. Under the Albanese Labor government, we are committed to strengthening skills, education and pathways to secure work, particularly for communities who have been too often locked out of the opportunity. The team behind the Social Studio are not just teaching technical skills; they are building confidence, dignity and futures and, in doing so, strengthening our entire community. I thank the team at the Social Studio for their leadership and the vital work they continue to do across Melbourne.”
“I recently had the opportunity to meet the team at the Social Studio, an organisation that has been quietly transforming lives in Melbourne for 17 years. The Social Studio delivers award-winning training and creative projects across fashion, textiles and the arts. But, at its core, it is first and foremost an education provider. It creates a safe space of belonging for newly arrived migrants and refugees while offering paid work experience that is connected to real skills and real outcomes. Their flagship two-year Certificate III program, supported through partnerships with RMIT and beyond, is built around small class sizes, wraparound pathway support, skills-extension workshops and paid training opportunities for both students and alumni. The results are powerful.”
“I am proud to be part of a government that understands the strength that comes from diversity and backs it with action. The Albanese government invests in multicultural communities, supports small businesses and works to ensure that every person from every background feels seen, respected and included in our national story. At a time where social cohesion matters more than ever, Lunar New Year is a reminder that Australia is stronger when we celebrate who we are together. When we make space for culture, language and tradition, we build trust. And when people feel they belong, our community is stronger. Happy New Year, and I wish you a prosperous new year.”
“Melbourne's Chinatown is the oldest continuous Chinese settlement in the Western world, and Lunar New Year celebrations are more than a cultural event; they are a must-see highlight on the city's calendar. This year we welcome the year of the horse, a symbol of strength, energy and forward momentum. The horse invites us to move forward with confidence and optimism. It is a fitting symbol for Melbourne, a city that thrives when it embraces change and turns diversity into strength. It reflects the leadership, contribution and cultural confidence that the Vietnamese and Chinese communities bring to Melbourne every day. Together, these celebrations remind us that multiculturalism is not an abstract idea; it is lived, it is shared, and it is built year after year through people showing up for one another.”
“The business association's commitment to supporting local traders and bringing the community together is vital to the success of the festival and to the ongoing revitalisation and strength of Victoria Street throughout the year. The Vietnamese community has shaped Richmond in lasting and meaningful ways, from small family businesses to community organisations and from food and culture to civic life. Their contribution is woven into the fabric of our city. As a local to Victoria Street, I regularly dine at the restaurants, and I'm grateful for the warmth and welcome I receive. In a few weeks I will also be attending the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Melbourne's historic Chinatown.”
“[language not transcribed] Happy New Year to Melbourne's Chinese and Vietnamese communities. On Sunday I had the pleasure of joining the local Vietnamese community at the Lunar New Year festival along Victoria Street in Richmond. The festival was an enjoyable reminder of what this season represents: renewal and good fortune, community, family and traditions shared across generations. Victoria Street was alive. Families and friends gathered to join in the celebrations and enjoy the atmosphere, while local businesses opened their doors to share food, music and culture. The event was organised by Victoria Street Business Association. Thank you to the team for making it happen.”
“It's a reminder that, while hatred is loud, care is widespread. The rabbi reminded me that reaching into the plight of others is how we find repair. It is how all of us together turn tragedy into a deeper partnership across civil society, each of us doing what we can to build a flourishing, inclusive nation. Australia is a country built on diversity, freedom and mutual respect. We will not allow violence or hatred to define us. Nor will we allow any community to be blamed or vilified for the actions of these two individuals. Our response must be guided by unity, not suspicion, and by strength, not fear. May the memories of those who were murdered at Bondi be a blessing to their families and friends. May those who are healing find strength and care in the weeks and months ahead.”
“We must not excuse it, minimise it or tolerate it in any form. All Australians, including Jewish Australians, deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace. Rabbi Gutnick, of East Melbourne, has spoken with honesty about the feelings many Australians are experiencing. It is natural to feel angry. It is natural to feel helpless. It is natural to ask, 'What can I do?' His answer is both simple and powerful: 'More than you think.' We may not be able to do everything. We may not be able to do a lot, but we can do something no matter how small. Rabbi Gutnick spoke of the fire at the East Melbourne synagogue in July 2025. The congregation received an outpouring of support: cards filled with beautiful words, flowers and messages of solidarity from people of different faiths. After the tragedy there was an explosion of kindness.”
“These acts of courage remind us of who we are at our best. This was an act of terrorism, intended to not only harm individuals but instil fear and division in our society. It will not succeed. This attack targeted Jewish people, striking at a community that is a part of the fabric of everyday Australian life and which has, in recent times, faced an alarming rise in hatred and intimidation. I have spoken with many Jewish Melburnians who have deeply felt the effects of 14 December. Rabbi Herzog of Melbourne said that the Jewish community is not separate from Australian society; it is woven into it. Jewish Australians are our neighbours, our colleagues and our friends. When antisemitism appears it is not an attack on someone else; it is an attack on who we are as a nation. We must stamp out all hatred.”
“Although I can't imagine how terrifying it was, I can picture how the day began—with joy and with families and friends gathered together, sharing laughter and tradition. To imagine that kind of happiness suddenly turning into fear, violence and loss is unbearable. Australians were killed. Australians were injured. Recovery will not be quick or simple. It will take time, support and compassion. The parliament and the nation stand with the families who lost loved ones, with Jewish Australians and with the people of Bondi. In moments of terror we also saw moments of extraordinary courage. We saw first responders, lifeguards, police and paramedics who acted swiftly and selflessly under immense pressure. Their bravery saved lives. Everyday Australians ran towards danger to help strangers and refused to look away.”
“Today we come together in grief, reflection and resolve. The attack in Bondi shocked our nation. In a place known for openness, community and everyday life, innocent people were targeted while celebrating their faith. What should have been a day of celebration was transformed into one of horror, loss and heartbreak. On behalf of the people of Melbourne, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who were murdered on that day. No words spoken here can ease the pain of loss. The sudden, violent taking of loved ones leaves an absence that can never be filled. I cannot bear to imagine the terror and heartbreak of that day, when two alleged terrorists made the decision to take the lives of innocent people simply because they were celebrating their faith.”
“Melbourne does not follow hospitality trends; Melbourne sets them, and this legislation will keep us setting them. I commend the bills to the House.”
“These bills recognise the value of work, the importance of stability and the need to protect industries that bring communities together. Melbourne is a city that takes its social spaces seriously. Our pubs, bars and breweries are where ideas start, friendships grow and community is built. Protecting them isn't nostalgia; it's an investment in the civic life that makes this city what it is. Melbourne leads the nation in hospitality. This legislation helps ensure we continue to lead not by accident but by design—through careful policy, real relief and a clear understanding of the role hospitality plays in the lives of our communities. I am proud to support these bills. I am proud to support the workers and businesses that make Melbourne what it is: a great place to live.”
“They give people a place to celebrate together, to relax and to be part of something larger than themselves. A strong hospitality sector supports mental wellbeing and strengthens neighbourhood life. I once heard a bar tender in Collingwood explain a list of seasonal beers that included a pale ale inspired by tropical sunsets, a pilsner inspired by buttery croissants and a stout inspired by existential dread. That sense of humour and creativity are part of who we are. These bills help protect the places that make that possible. The pause in indexation is responsible. It maintains the structure of alcohol taxation. It avoids inflationary pressures. It is temporary and measured. It provides real and practical support for small businesses that employ thousands of Australians.”
“The skills held by Melbourne's hospitality sector—creativity, professionalism, technical expertise—are part of what makes our city competitive on the global stage. When we invest in this industry, we safeguard not just local culture but Melbourne's standing as one of the world's great event and hospitality capitals. These bills complement other government measures that support households and small businesses. They sit alongside bill relief, support for apprentices and increased rent assistance. Together, these measures help families manage cost-of-living pressures and help small businesses remain competitive. The impact of these bills extends beyond alcohol taxation. It helps protect the social fabric of our communities. Hospitality venues offer connection and belonging.”
“Our city hosts the largest sporting events in the country, including the Australian Open and the Grand Prix. We host major festivals, conferences, exhibitions and celebrations. None of these events function without hospitality. Hospitality workers welcome international visitors, serve families, support tourism, and keep the city running long after other industries close for the night. When we support hospitality in Melbourne, we support the national visitor economy. As we strengthen Melbourne's international reputation, we strengthen Australia's place in the world. Our city is known internationally for its food cultures, its laneway bars, its world-class service and its ability to deliver major events with precision and generosity.”
“It is not a subsidy of luxury. It's about strengthening a sector that plays a crucial role in our social and economic life. It's about helping small businesses manage costs during volatile periods. It's about ensuring workers have stable workplaces that support their wellbeing, their income and their sense of security. In Melbourne, that matters. Our cafes, pubs and small bars are the places where ideas spark, friendships form and communities take shape. The intent is simple: strengthen businesses that give Melbourne its character, support the spaces that bring people together and make sure our hospitality scene continues to thrive as one of the great engines of the city's culture and identity. Melbourne anchors the national hospitality landscape.”
“Businesses can commit to local suppliers with greater certainty and create more reliable income streams for people who support the industry from behind the scenes. This doesn't just effect the great restaurants and bars of Melbourne. Every dollar spent in a hospitality venue circulates through multiple layers of the local economy. It supports small suppliers who rarely get mentioned: the local bakeries delivering bread, the florists supplying events and the cleaners keeping venues clean and welcoming. When venues remain strong, they keep people employed, they keep money moving and they keep neighbourhoods active. Strong hospitality helps reduce isolation, supports mental wellbeing and delivers social benefits that extend well beyond the economic ledger. That is why targeted, responsible relief is so important.”
“They are where people go when celebrating, when feeling lonely, when starting over or when they just need to sit somewhere and feel familiar. When a venue can plan ahead, it can keep being that anchor—the place that stays open when someone needs a moment of normal; the place a community leans on without ever even having to ask. Our venues give Melbourne somewhere to gather, to breathe and to belong. This pause also improves the resilience of the supply chain behind every keg. Breweries depend on predictable demands from pubs. Transport providers rely on predictable routes. Grain growers rely on predictable production schedules. When excise is stable, the entire chain becomes easier to manage.”
“In Melbourne, we do not just drink beer; we workshop it and we analyse it. I have listened in as bar goers in Richmond describe an IPA the way others would describe a novel or a long-lost lover. To reflect more broadly on what this legislation means from the economic stability of the communities we present, in an industry like hospitality, long-term planning is not an abstract exercise. It's the difference between investing in equipment, repairs and training or deferring them indefinitely. For small-business owners, certainty translates directly into confidence and confidence translates into better decisions for workers and customers. In Melbourne, our hospitality venues aren't just places to eat or drink; they are the rooms where the city remembers who you are.”
“For many small pub operators, even a modest reduction in expected costs can be the difference between maintaining hours or cutting them, investing in local staff or delaying that decision, and continuing to operate or closing the doors. Hospitality operates on tight margins. Predictable costs support secure livelihoods. Another venue in Melbourne is Brick Lane Brewing near the Queen Victoria Market. It shows how powerful that support can be. Brick Lane was founded by a collective that included local athletes, hospitality leaders and industry experts who wanted to create a brewery grounded in community. They employ locals, invest in brewing apprenticeships and help revitalise the Queen Victoria Market precinct. A pause in excise indexation gives them and their workers certainty as they continue to grow.”
“Its beer sales support musicians, comedy nights and a thriving local arts scene. Places like this hold neighbourhood identity. They aren't just venues; they are cultural anchors. These bills also deliver measurable financial benefits. By pausing indexation four times over two years, this government is helping save venues from automatic increases that would have compounded into real pressure. The permanent lowering of the long-term excise trajectory means businesses in future years will pay less tax than they otherwise would have. This helps small venues stay open, helps new venues survive the hardest early years and helps established venues serve the communities that rely on them. These savings matter.”
“This creative ecosystem depends on stable, predictable costs. When the stage lights stay on, our cultural life stays strong. These bills also support the brewing sector, which relies heavily on keg sales to maintain cashflow. Kegs require more labour, more logistics and more handling than other forms. These bills support more jobs; keep excise stable; and help brewers plan production cycles, invest in equipment and maintain predictable relationships with pubs and venues. Stability flows through the entire supply chain—from farmers growing grain and truck drivers delivering kegs to technicians maintaining tap systems. Another great example from my electorate is the Mill Brewery at the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood, sitting inside a venue that has been part of Melbourne's live music DNA for decades.”
“When the excise remains stable, venues can maintain prices, keep customers coming through the door and hold onto staff with confidence. That support, delivered by these bills, sits inside a broader economic reality. Many hospitality venues have seen their margins squeezed by rising import costs. They simply cannot absorb an increase in excise twice a year without consequences. A pause on indexation means small businesses can plan across the next two financial years with accuracy. It helps protect jobs. It helps protect business viability. It helps protect local economies that rely on hospitality to stay vibrant. In Abbotsford, Bodriggy Brewing shows what that looks like. The venue was transformed from an old LP gas conversion warehouse into a community space that supports local artists and live music.”
“I want to speak about something that started as a little gem and grew into a movement: Mountain Goat in Richmond. Two mates started it in the late 1990s in an old warehouse, brewing with second-hand equipment and offering local pizzas on a Wednesday night while the taps ran. Those early nights helped build Melbourne's craft beer culture. They were pioneers, experimenting, taking risks and helping shape what the industry became. In Melbourne, ordering a beer is not a simple choice; it's a commitment. You ask for the tap list and, suddenly, you're looking at 30 options, half of them brewed within walking distance. At that point, you're not choosing a drink; you're entering a relationship. That newfound relationship reflects something real. Draught beer is essential to how hospitality operates in the city.”
“This is responsible, targeted relief that helps around 10,000 venues nationwide and supports 160,000 workers across the brewery and hospitality sectors. It also supports Melbourne's creative life, from the musicians who rely on gig rooms to the comedians, artists and event organisers who build their careers inside these venues. In Melbourne, hospitality is not just an industry; it is one of the defining features of our city. Walk through Carlton or Fitzroy at any hour and you feel it. Catch a tram down Bridge Road in Richmond, through the city or on Chapel Street in South Yarra and you'll see it. Hospitality gives people income, stability, community and wellbeing. It is one of our biggest employers and one of the most important cultural forces. The bills strengthen the venues that make Melbourne Melbourne.”
“I rise to speak today in support of the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 because Melbourne understands hospitality. In Melbourne, hospitality is not a backdrop; it is the soundtrack—from the clutter of plates on Brunswick Street to the roar of a pub before the siren at the G. We know that Melbourne is the heart of Australia's hospitality scene, and these bills keep it that way. The indexation pause that began on 1 October 2025 is another example of how this government is supporting small businesses and the workers they employ. Under these bills, the scheduled increases from August 2025 through to February 2027 will not occur. Instead, indexation will resume in August 2027 at the frozen rate, which permanently lowers the long-term excise path.”
“Bodriggy Brewpub, Inflation, Lulie Tavern, the iconic Punters Club, the Evelyn Hotel, the historic Grace Darling Hotel and the ever-energetic Yah Yah's are all benefiting from Revive Live funding. These venues aren't just places to go on Friday nights; they take risks on emerging artists, nurture local talent and give us the soundtrack to our lives. Revive Live ensures these venues can continue. It keeps the pipeline of Australian music strong, from the first gig in the back room to the biggest festival stages in the country. So let's celebrate our venues and keep Australian music live.”
“I rise today to speak about something that beats at the heart of our creative nation: our live music venues. These spaces are more than bricks and mortar; they are community hubs, incubators of talent and the first stages where artists find their sound and find their audience. Without venues, there is no live music industry. Without live music, we lose part of who we are as Australians. That's why the Albanese government has stepped up with Revive Live—targeted, practical, real-world support that keeps doors open, staff employed and stages lit. It recognises that, when venues thrive, artists thrive, and, when artists thrive, communities flourish. I'm proud to say that in my community this support is already making an impact.”
“We do this because it is the fair thing to do, because it reflects the values of Australians and because every person deserves the chance to live with safety, dignity and hope. I commend this motion to the House.”
“People who've come here seeking stability give back through hard work, community involvement and a commitment to build a better future. In Melbourne we see the strength of multicultural communities that care deeply about fairness, compassion and justice. These values are at the heart of this motion, and they are the values that guide my work as the member for Melbourne. I am proud to serve one of the most diverse electorates in the country, proud to stand up for dignity and equality, and proud to support motions like this that call on Australia to remain steadfast in defending human rights. Acknowledging persecution is not enough, but it is necessary. Calling for protection is not enough, but it is right. Australia must continue to show leadership, uphold international law and stand with communities who face discrimination and violence.”
“Following the devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan in August, the Albanese government committed an additional $1 million in urgent relief. Our assistance goes to the Afghan people, not to the Taliban regime. DFAT continues to monitor the situation closely, working with partners to ensure that our support remains principled, targeted and effective. The final part of this motion recognises the contribution of Hazara Australians to our country. That acknowledgement is important. Hazara Australians enrich our culture and social life. They contribute to our workforce, our schools, our businesses and our communities. Their resilience and determination reflects something fundamental about the Australian story. People given safety and opportunity build stronger communities for everyone. I see that in Melbourne every day.”
“Australia, together with Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, has also initiated proceedings under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to hold Afghanistan to account for the systematic discrimination against women and girls. This is a strong and principled step, and it is consistent with who we are as a country. Australia's support does not depend on the country or the context. It reflects a belief that human dignity must be defended wherever it is threatened. Values matter, but so does action. Since 2021, Australia has provided more than $260 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, delivering food, shelter, health services and essential protection programs especially for women, children and minority groups.”
“Multicultural organisations and community leaders I have met speak often about their worry for loved ones overseas and their desire to see Australia continue to stand firmly for human rights. This motion reflects these values and those expectations. This motion also calls for the protection of all minorities as well as women and girls. That call is not symbolic. It aligns with Australia's longstanding commitment to international law and to the safeguarding of human rights. The Albanese Labor government has consistently condemned the Taliban's abuse at the United Nations Human Rights Council and at the General Assembly. Australia co-sponsored the UN resolution on the situation in Afghanistan, urging the protection of human rights, adherence to international law and decisive action against terrorism.”
“I rise to support the motion moved by the member for Corangamite and I thank her for bringing it to the house. It is important that this parliament speaks with clarity and with conscience about what is happening in Afghanistan and about the prosecution faced by the Hazara people and other minorities under the Taliban. The reality is stark. Since the Taliban's takeover, Hazara communities have faced targeted attacks, discrimination and constant threats of violence. Women and girls have been removed from public life. Religious minorities have been pushed further into danger. No part of Afghan society has been free from the effects of repression. For many Australians, this is not a distant story. In a country as diverse as ours, people feel these events through their families, their friendships and their sense of identity.”
“This support gives certainty to clients and allows cohealth to continue delivering essential care while a long-term plan is developed. This funding ensures continuity of care while we work towards a sustainable long-term solution. To support that process the Australian and Victorian governments will commission an independent review of cohealth's general practice model, governance and finance, providing clarity and a strong foundation for the future. Our government is committed to ensuring every Australian can access high-quality, affordable primary care. The funding announcement honours that commitment and means that families— (Time expired)”
“I rise today to speak about an issue that has deeply affected many people across Collingwood and Fitzroy: the future of cohealth's general practice service. The decision to close the Collingwood and Fitzroy clinics has caused real anxiety for the people who rely on those essential health services. These clinics are more than buildings. They are trusted places of care for thousands of patients, particularly some of the most vulnerable community members. That is why the Albanese government moved quickly and decisively. We asked the cohealth board to pause its closure plans, recognising the significant disruption this would have caused for patients and staff. I am pleased to confirm that our government will provide up to $1.5 million in funding to ensure cohealth's GP services remain open until 31 July 2026.”
“Melbourne is an electorate where people chase opportunity with everything they've got. Our job is to make sure the system does not punish them for doing so. Today, I am proud to stand here and say we promised it, we delivered it, and we are just getting started. I commend the motion to the House.”
“I meet students in Richmond who work two jobs and feel like they are going backwards and young workers in North Melbourne who feel crushed between rent, groceries and student repayments. I meet parents in Parkville and South Yarra who tell me their talented kids are working hard but can't see a path to owning a home because the HECS debts keep dragging them behind—like an anchor. These reforms cut that anchor loose. The opposition called the policy profoundly unfair. They said Australians will see no benefit. Australians saw a benefit, and they elected a government that promised to deliver. And deliver it we have. Education is not meant to trap people; it's meant to launch them. Debt should never be the thing that decides whether someone can dream of a future in a city they love.”
“We introduced the Commonwealth prac payment, giving financial support to future teachers, nurses, midwives and social workers—people who keep our great city running; people who staff our hospitals, our schools and our community services. We expanded FEE-FREE Uni Ready courses so that more people can transition into university, including those who never imagined they would take that path. We doubled the number of university study hubs, bringing tertiary education closer to where people live. Melbourne is a city built on brains, creativity and ambition. We are home to some of the country's best universities, but we are also home to thousands of people who feel locked out by rising rent, rising costs and rising expectations. This government is bringing those barriers down.”