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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“For my constituents in Melbourne, these commitments mean hope—hope that education is affordable, hope that buying a home is possible, hope that heritage and creativity are valued, and hope that sport, music and culture will continue to thrive. Appropriation bills are about what we choose to focus on. The focus of this government is clear. We value education because every young Australian deserves a fair start. We know that access to secure shelter is essential for human dignity. We support culture and community because they are the threads that bind us together. In my electorate of Melbourne, these investments will make a real difference. They will ease the burden of debt, they will open the door to homeownership and they will enrich our cultural life and strengthen our community spirit. That is what this bill delivers.”
“With the government's investment, Breaking Barriers is not only growing the game but breaking down stereotypes, creating real opportunities for women and girls in Melbourne. When we look across these appropriation measures and the impact they have on delivering services, we see HECS relief, housing innovations and cultural investment, and a clear story emerges. It is the story of a government that is listening to people; it is the story of a government that recognises the struggles young people face with debt, housing and cost-of-living pressures; and it is the story of a government that understands the importance of culture and community in making Australia a great place to live.”
“That's why I'm so proud that the Albanese Labor government has supported Play Our Way and is backing Melbourne Storm's Breaking Barriers initiative. Breaking Barriers is opening the doors of Rugby League to women and girls in Victoria, not only as players but as referees, coaches and leaders. Already we have seen female participation grow by 50 per cent last year and by a further 32 per cent this year. Twenty-eight new female referees have been trained and 40 new female coaches are stepping forward. This is the kind of change that lasts, and it is paying off. Just this season, the first female Storm team proudly ran out in purple at AAMI Park, a historic moment for our city and a glimpse of the NRLW's future that we are building in Victoria.”
“Labor is supporting the African music and cultural festival at Federation Square, a joyful celebration of one of the fastest-growing communities. Every year, this festival brings people together with music, dance and food. It showcases the contribution African Australians make to our country and gives young people from diverse backgrounds a chance to shine. By supporting this festival, Labor is investing in inclusion, in belonging and in the multicultural future of Australia. Just as we invest in the arts, we also recognise sport as a culture in its own right, and the Albanese government has done exactly that. In Melbourne, we know that sport is more than just a game; it's a pathway, a community and a chance for young people to find a place in the world.”
“It's not just one of Victoria's treasures; it's also one of Australia's. I enjoyed visiting the French Impressionist works on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and I'm looking forward to visiting the Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo exhibition in December. Thanks to the Albanese government's investment, announced by the Minister for the Arts, more Australians will have the chance to experience the same spark of inspiration. A whole new generation will have an opportunity to fall in love with the arts, just as I do every time I visit the NGV. This investment in arts and culture not only enriches Melbourne and Australia's cultural life but brings millions of visitors and billions in economic benefit. It cements Melbourne as Australia's cultural capital.”
“One of the highlights before the election was visiting Melbourne's Hellenic Museum with Senator Jana Stewart to announce the Albanese Labor government's pledge of $400,000 to spend on a landmark exhibition, Rituals: Gifts for the Gods . This brought over 100 rare artefacts from Greece, many never seen before outside of Greece, to our city. For Melbourne's vibrant Greek community, the largest Greek-speaking population and the largest Greek community in a single city outside Greece, this is about honouring heritage, deepening cultural ties and celebrating identity. We are investing in the transformation of Melbourne's arts precinct, including support for The Fox: NGV Contemporary gallery, which will become the largest gallery of contemporary art in the Southern Hemisphere. I'm so proud of the NGV in my electorate.”
“They told me that they did not want empty words or political spin. They wanted real, practical solutions that make a difference in their lives. This is Labor acting to ensure that the next generation of Melburnians can build their lives in the city they love, close to their work, close to their families and close to the community that gives them their strength and identity. It is about making sure that Melbourne remains a place where opportunity is possible not just for those who already have wealth behind them but for every young person who is willing to put in the effort. Education and housing are vital, but what makes my electorate of Melbourne truly special is its culture, its creativity and its community spirit, and this appropriations bill recognises that.”
“This is not about a lack of aspiration or a lack of discipline; it's about a system that has been stacked against ordinary people who are simply trying to give themselves and their children a better life. Alongside that is another story: the graduate in Carlton who until recently believed that owning a home was a dream reserved for others. This is someone who worked hard at university, took on casual jobs to pay their way and then graduated, only to be hit with high HECS debt and insecure work. For years they resigned themselves to the idea that buying a home was out of reach, that they would always be renting, always on the move, never able to put down roots in the community they loved. This government is delivering real change in housing, and that was something that my community told me they wanted. They were loud and clear.”
“I hear examples of someone who gets up before dawn to go to a cleaning shift, then rushes across the city to put hours behind the counter. I hear of workers doing shifts in offices and then in hospitality, only to return home late at night exhausted, barely able to spend time with their children before they need to go to bed. These are parents who work hard so their kids will not go without, who take an extra shift to cover school expenses and, while they are doing all that, are still expected to find the time to help with homework, show up for sports days and keep the family together under pressure that most of us would find overwhelming. When you are saving for a house deposit, every week can be a balancing act. After rent, after groceries, after petrol, there can be very little left.”
“That is tens of thousands of dollars saved upfront, making the difference between years of waiting and actually owning a home. Importantly, that is backed up with Labor's commitment to build 100,000 new homes for first home buyers. This is not just about numbers; it's about making sure that homes are available for people to live in. In Melbourne, I hear from constituents who are desperate for this help. I think of the young couple in Fitzroy who came to me. They are both working hard and doing everything right. They are saving every cent they can for a deposit for their first home, but, at the same time, they are paying high rent to keep a roof over their heads. The single parent in Collingwood working two jobs but still unable to get a foothold in the market is not a one-off example; it is a story I hear all too often.”
“Housing prices are rising far faster than wages, and young families are locked in rental stress, unable to break into the market. In an electorate like Melbourne, where demand is high and affordability is stretched, this has been one of the most pressing concerns I have heard from my constituents. That is why I am proud that this government delivers on Labor's strong commitments to first home buyers. Of course, these measures do not sit inside the appropriations bill itself, but they are central to the economic and social impact of the appropriations bill. They show how this government is focused on the cost-of-living pressures that matter most. We are expanding the first home buyers grants so that more buyers can purchase a property with as little as a five per cent deposit without the added burden of lenders mortgage insurance.”
“It's about the young graduate in Docklands who said they were paying more in their HECS than their groceries each month. It's about the single mum in Abbotsford going back to study teaching who will now have more time to stabilise her income before repayments begin. This measure recognises that education is an investment, not a burden. It recognises that the future prosperity of this country depends on giving young people the best possible start. It recognises that Melbourne, as a hub of universities, TAFEs and innovation, will feel these benefits most strongly. Of course, helping young people into a secure future is not just about education; it's also about housing. Something that I heard from voters right across the electorate is that, for too many in Melbourne, the dream of homeownership feels out of reach. We all know the story.”
“This government has listened and has acted. The Albanese Labor government has cut HECS debt by 20 per cent across the board. That is an average saving of over $5,000 per student. In Melbourne, where so many young people carry this debt, it is life changing. We are also lifting the repayment threshold so that graduates will not begin paying their debt until they earn above $67,000. That means young teachers, nurses, hospitality workers and creative professionals in Melbourne can focus on starting their careers, saving for a home and building our lives without the immediate pressure of a repayment system that bites too soon. This is not just a theory. It's about the young woman in Carlton who told me she put off applying for a postgraduate degree because her HECS debt was crushing her.”
“While the appropriation legislation itself is about allocating the funding that keeps government services running, I also want to highlight one of the biggest changes, which is easing the pressure on students and graduates through HECS. This reform will have one of the biggest impacts on people in my electorate, giving them more breathing space and helping them plan for their future. Melbourne is home to some of the largest concentrations of students in the country. We have the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Victoria University, ACU and countless TAFEs, other university campuses and training institutions. Every year tens of thousands of students come here to learn, to innovate, to prepare for the future. For too long those students have been saddled with debt that weighed them down before they even had a chance to stand on their own feet.”
“I rise today in strong support of these appropriation bills because at their heart are fairness, opportunity and building a future that works for every Australian. Appropriations may sound technical—it did to me when I first heard it—but what we are really talking about today is the way this government chooses to invest in people, in communities and in the shared future of our nation. These decisions shape whether students can afford to study, whether families can buy their first home, whether communities can celebrate their culture and whether our children can look to a future with hope. I think nowhere is this more evident than in the electorate of Melbourne, a community rich in history, diversity, creativity and aspiration. Any investment in Melbourne is an investment into one of the beating hearts of Australia.”
“We know what happened on the weekend was shameful, but how we respond matters even more. The truth is that Australians stand up again and again to say: 'We will not accept racism. We will not let extremists take over our streets.' Saying no to hate matters, but what is more powerful is when we back up that 'no' with what we do in our daily lives. We must see it in our schools, we must see it in our workplaces and we must see it in our neighbourhoods. That is how we show unity not only in speeches here but in the choices we must make by living with respect and fairness. Hate is not welcome here.”
“I know a Melbourne that is a city of welcome; a place where people from all backgrounds live side by side, learn from each other and share their stories; a place where neighbours help one another no matter where they come from or what language they speak. Even though what we have seen this last weekend has shocked us, we cannot let it define us. We can't let hate and division win. The answer to hate isn't more hate; it's unity. It's people standing side by side and saying racism, fascism and violence are not welcome here. We all must stand up to hate, raise our voices, stand together with our neighbours and show pride in who we are as a community. Showing strength in the face of bullying shows us a path forward where we stand together, speak with one voice and make it clear that hate will never win in Australia.”
“What we witnessed recently in Melbourne and across Australia was disgraceful. These marches led by neo-Nazis and anti-immigration extremists were a shameful moment for our city and our nation. Like many in my electorate, I was sickened when black-clad agitators descended on Camp Sovereignty, a peaceful First Nations cultural and political gathering place created to honour Aboriginal resistance and survival. The irony is blunt. Australia's first people were expressing culture while thugs pretended to march for Australia, causing on the violence. This was not a protest; this was an attack. They were trying to split our community apart, shut down voices that deserve respect and bring back hurt for people who have already been through too much. This is not the city I know.”
“They mean dignity. Those opposite can talk all they like about numbers on a page. On this side, we will keep talking about the people behind those numbers—the families, the workers, the students, and the small businesses who need and deserve a government that has their back. This is not about ideology; it's about compassion. It's about security, and it is about fairness. That is exactly what the Albanese Labor government is delivering. Seriously, those opposite have no idea what families are going through. The choice is clear: Labor delivers relief and responsibility; the Liberals and Nationals deliver nothing but defects, debt and cuts.”
“Good health care should not depend on your bank balance and women's pain should never be dismissed or ignored. It's not just about the cost of living; it's about the quality of life you live. We are backing ambition with support for apprenticeships in housing and construction, with discounts on home batteries to permanently lower power bills. We will continue to provide help for small businesses to invest and grow. This is not a spending spree. This is a government stepping in responsibly and carefully to make sure families do not fall through the cracks. When I think of the parents who came to the Nappy Collective for the first time, parents who never thought they would be in that position, I know exactly why these measures matter. They mean fewer families pushed to the point of desperation. They mean a little more breathing room.”
“This government is making sure their wages keep pace with the cost of living. We have extended paid parental leave to 24 weeks and, for the very first time, super will be paid on parental leave. That will not just help families in the here and now; it will mean long-term financial security, especially for women, who often retire with less. We are making sure student nurses, teachers, social workers and midwives are paid during their practical placements. Young people training for those critical professions will no longer have to choose between gaining experience and paying their bills. We are strengthening Medicare, with a $1.8 billion boost for hospitals, new rebates for longer consultations and better care for women's health. We have just spent the week speaking about how the cost of prescriptions will come down.”
“We all do our best for our children, but what if, at even your best, you can't provide them with a clean nappy not because of a crisis but because of rising costs that have pushed you to the edge and the failure of minimum wage to keep pace? That is the reality outside this chamber. That is why this government has chosen action over slogans and responsibility over scare campaigns. From 1 July, every household in Australia will see another $150 taken off their power bills. That relief matters when you are sitting at the kitchen table, wondering how to pay the next bill. We have delivered a 3.5 per cent pay rise for millions of Australians on minimum and award wages. These are workers who spend every cent on food, housing and school costs—not luxuries but basics, like nappies.”
“The opposition would have us believe that this government is on a reckless spending spree. But let us be clear: what they call a 'spree', families in my electorate call a 'lifeline'. Before entering this place, I was the CEO of the Nappy Collective. That work started with the simple idea to collect nappies when children had grown out of them or toilet-trained too quickly and pass them on to families in crisis, families looking for help because of the crushing weight of the cost-of-living pressures following years of Liberal-Nationals cuts and attacks on workers, parents who were unable to afford essentials.”
“My question is to the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities. How is the Albanese Labor government helping Australians into homeownership and delivering new housing supply? Are there other proposals the government is being asked to consider?”
“This policy is about building communities, not just houses, because 'new romantics' are moving in, bringing fresh energy and ideas into our city. Let's be clear. Renters shouldn't feel like 'all you had to do was stay' when all they want is a fair go at buying, nor should Melbourne miss out because in the past others said 'this is why we can't have nice things'. Labor is changing that. We're making it easier to buy your first home and giving more people the security of a place to love to call their own. (Time expired)”
“For too long the dream of homeownership has felt like 'a cruel summer' for young people in Melbourne—working hard, saving what they can, but never quite getting there. That's why Labor's five per cent deposit policy matters. It gives first home buyers 'a place in this world', a real chance to step out of their endless renting into stability. Too many feel they don't belong in the market, but they do. They can find a home and say 'you belong with me'. For young couples and families, this is a 'love story' of security and possibility. From October, 'everything has changed'. It will take years less to save for a deposit and no-one will pay a single dollar in mortgage insurance. When you finally hold the keys, that's the moment to say 'long live' the hope of owning your own home.”
“It shows a government doing what it said it would do, and it demonstrates the values of fairness, health and opportunity that Labor stands for. Cheaper medicines are good for households, good for the economy and good for the health of the nation. It is this government that is firmly committed to upholding Medicare's founding principle that health care should never depend on wealth. That's why we have invested billions to reinforce bulk-billing, ensuring we can see a doctor with only our Medicare card and no out-of-pocket costs. I commend the bill to the House.”
“By keeping people out of emergency—especially on weekends, when sport injuries surge—urgent care clinics are easing pressure on our hospitals. They are delivering real relief for families and making an enormous difference for our dedicated health workers. The truth is that, when Labor is in government, Medicare is stronger. The National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 proves that once again. This bill delivers immediate relief on medicine costs for more than 5.1 million Australians from 1 January next year, over $200 million in savings every year for patients—more than $8.8 million in savings already for the people of Melbourne—and a stronger, fairer PBS that will keep medicines affordable for decades to come. It delivers on the promise we made to the Australian people in the 2025 election.”
“It offers fully bulk-billed urgent care with extended hours, alleviating pressure on the nearby Royal Melbourne Hospital and delivering immediate access to care for local families. I cannot overstate how transformative urgent care clinics have been for families. During the election campaign I spoke with a family whose son, a sports-mad but accident-prone boy, had taken them to the emergency department far more often than they would have wished. With the introduction of urgent care clinics, their experience changed. Instead of being stuck in emergency for hours, they could get the care they needed quickly, be back home earlier and avoid the stress of trying to juggle three restless kids in a waiting room.”
“It is this government that is firmly committed to upholding Medicare's founding principle that health care should never depend on wealth. That's why we have invested billions to reinforce bulk-billing, ensuring we can all see a doctor with our Medicare card, not out-of-pocket costs. This government has also rolled out Medicare urgent care clinics, bulk-billed walk-in clinics with extended operating hours, open seven days a week and able to treat urgent but not life-threatening conditions. You do not need an appointment, you do not pay a cent and you will not wait hours in the emergency department. For my constituents in Melbourne, the Inner Melbourne Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opens its doors at 221 Drummond Street, Carlton.”
“By asking patients for a fair contribution and having the government meet the rest, the PBS remains sustainable while ensuring that no Australian is denied access to the medicines they need. Importantly, the bill also preserves pharmacy discounting. Pharmacies will still be able to offer medicines below the co-payment level, giving patients the full benefit of competition and choice. From 2027, indexation of the co-payment will begin from the new, lower $25 base, ensuring savings continue to flow well into the future. Cheaper medicines sit alongside bulk-billing, more doctors and nurses and more urgent-care clinics as pillars of a stronger Medicare. Each of these reforms is designed to make health care more affordable, more accessible and more sustainable.”
“Cheaper medicines mean healthier parents, stronger families and communities that can focus on living rather than on the cost of staying alive. I note that the opposition is expected to support this bill. That is welcome because Australians want certainty when it comes to their health care. They don't want political pointscoring. They want the cost of their medicines brought down. This is a chance for the parliament to speak with one voice on an issue that touches every household. This bill also protects the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme itself. The PBS is one of the cornerstones of Medicare, providing over $18 billion worth of subsidised medicines in 2023 and 2024.”
“I have spoken with families who tell me they check their parents' pill organisers and are frightened to see doses missed because the medicine was too expensive to fill or because their parents have been rationing to make it last longer. When medicine is unaffordable, the stress does not stop with the patient. It ripples through entire families. It weighs on adult children trying to balance their own mortgage or rent, trying to raise kids and at the same time fearing that a parent's health could collapse because the medicine was just too expensive. No family should live with that fear. This bill lifts that weight. By making medicines cheaper, we give older Australians peace of mind and we give their children and grandchildren relief from the constant stress of worrying whether their loved ones are quietly sacrificing their health.”
“The only thing that matters is finding a way to breathe again. That's what the medicine gives you: not just relief but life itself. That is why the reforms in the bill are so important. Cutting the PBS co-payment to $25 means fewer pensioners skipping the medicine they need. It means fewer anxious nights wondering whether the pills in the packet will last until payday. It means dignity, security and health for those who built this country and now deserve to be looked after. It is not just the pensioners themselves who carry that burden; it's also their adult children, who worry every day about whether Mum is taking her heart tablets or whether Dad is stretching out his insulin.”
“That means fewer hospital admissions, more avoidable GP visits and better health outcomes for the whole community. It means a person with asthma no longer stretches their inhaler to last an extra month. It means a parent with diabetes is not skipping doses to make the prescription last longer. It means a pensioner with heart disease can stick to their treatment without anxiety about the bill at the pharmacy counter. As someone who lived with asthma from childhood through to my early 20s, I know how terrifying it can be when you cannot access the medicine you need. I remember moments of real fear when I didn't have my puffer—my tightened chest, my burning lungs, the desperate gasps for air. It is an experience that strips away everything else in those minutes. School, work, even friendships don't matter.”
“For students and young workers in my electorate, too, this reform makes a real difference. Many are living on tight budgets, trying to balance study and part-time work. Cheaper medicines mean they are far less likely to skip their prescriptions because of cost. When people in Melbourne tell me about the cost of living, this is what they mean: choosing between filling a prescription and paying for food or delaying treatments because the medicine feels too expensive. Every dollar counts and every cheaper script helps. Cheaper medicines aren't just good for the hip pocket; they're good for people's health. When medicines are affordable, people fill their scripts. They take the medicine as prescribed, and they manage their conditions properly.”
“It recognises that women carry a greater share of the health burden and it helps to close the gap. Together, all these measures have already saved Australians $1.5 billion in the cost of their medicines. I want to bring this down to what it means for the people I represent. According to the most recent data, as of 31 July 2025 the people of Melbourne have already saved $18,845,129. This is simply fantastic. That is almost $19 million that has stayed in the pockets of families, pensioners, students and workers in my community—money that would otherwise have gone on medicine costs. That is a tangible, direct benefit of Labor policy. For women in their 40s and 50s, it means better access to perimenopause and menopause treatments, helping them manage what can be life-altering symptoms with less financial stress.”
“By cutting out unnecessary GP visits for routine and ongoing conditions, women in particular now have more control over their health care—less time lost to appointments and more money left in their pockets. We know that women are more likely to manage chronic health conditions, more likely to be primary carers for children or elderly parents and more likely to have less flexibility at work. That means every extra doctor's appointment and every trip to the chemist falls harder on them. By cutting out unnecessary GP visits for routine and ongoing conditions, we have helped free up women's time, reduced pressure on family budgets and removed a barrier that too often leads to missed appointments or delayed treatments. This measure is not just about cheaper medicines; it's about fairness.”
“Over the last three years, Labor has reduced the PBS safety net threshold for concession card holders, giving them free and cheaper medicines sooner. That has saved pensioners half a billion dollars. In the last three years we have also cut the maximum cost of a general script from $42.50 to $30, saving patients $770 million. We froze PBS co-payments for all Australians for the first time in 25 years, stopping them from rising with inflation, and introduced 60-day prescriptions for common medicines, saving patients time and money and cutting out 35 million unnecessary trips to the chemist. I just want to reflect on that for a moment. This measure has been transformational for so many, especially for women's health.”
“It matters because cheaper medicines help people manage their health, and staying well keeps people working, caring for their families, contributing to their communities and simply living their lives. We all know that families are feeling cost-of-living pressures. Household budgets are pushed higher by housing costs, power bills and groceries. Medicines are not an optional extra; they are essential. By cutting the PBS co-payment to $25, this government is taking another practical step to relieve that pressure. We are making medicines even cheaper. In 2023, the government delivered the largest reduction in PBS history when it dropped the general co-payment from $42.50 to $30—and this wasn't a one-off. This bill is the fifth wave of reform to deliver cheaper medicines.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025. This bill delivers one of the Albanese Labor government's election commitments, reducing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme general patient co-payment from $31.60 to $25. From 1 January next year, Australians will pay no more than $25 for their PBS medicines. This is a saving of more than 20 per cent, and it is the first time in over two decades, since 2004, that the cost of PBS medicines will be this low. This matters. This matters to me, and it matters to the people of Melbourne. It matters because it will put more than $200 million back in the hands of Australians every single year.”
“Many graduates in Melbourne balance rent, rising bills and student repayments. This will free up real money to put towards a first deposit. It means more for our teachers, nurses and hospitality workers, who can see a pathway to buy their own home. The Liberals sat on their hands for a decade, letting the crisis get worse. I am proud that this government is tackling it head-on, cutting the time to save, reducing student debt and building the homes our city needs, because everyone deserves a chance to have a place to call home.”
“Too many young people in Melbourne work hard and save what they can, but homeownership feels further out of reach every year. That's why I welcome the Albanese Labor government's announcement that from 1 October every first home buyer will only need a five per cent deposit. This will cut years off the time it takes to save, and it means buyers won't pay a single dollar in mortgage insurance. In suburbs across the electorate of Melbourne, from Carlton to Collingwood and Docklands to Fitzroy, young people are being locked out of the market. Cutting deposit requirements is practical, immediate relief, and, by building 100,000 homes exclusively for first home buyers, we are levelling the playing field. This comes alongside Labor's 20 per cent reduction in HECS debt.”
“My question is to the Minister for Education. How is the Albanese Labor government helping Australians with a student debt to be able to own their own home? What has been the response to these reforms?”
“When we act on climate, we protect lives, we create jobs, we clean up our air and we build a more just and sustainable Australia. So let's honour the work already happening on the ground by groups like YCAN, Electrify Yarra and many, many others, while we in this place seize the moment before us. We have a responsibility to listen to the communities on the frontline of the fight, to stand with them and to act with urgency. (Time expired)”
“It's important in places like Melbourne, where so many residents are embracing clean energy but need support to make it affordable and accessible. Labor is also investing in community batteries, upgrading the grid and electrifying our transport system—important steps that move us towards a zero-emissions future. But we must keep Melbourne going. The people of Melbourne know that a serious response to the climate emergency means continuing to invest in renewable energy and making it accessible to households and businesses, and supercharging the electrification of homes and transport, especially for renters, public housing residents and those living in older buildings. The people of Melbourne are not asking for miracles. They're not asking for perfection; they're asking for courage.”
“YCAN has spent over a decade knocking on doors, hosting community forums and holding all levels of government to account. Their message is powerful: climate justice must be social justice. And the Australian Conservation Foundation continues to remind us that protecting country is not an option; it's a duty, especially to First Nations people, who have cared for these lands for millennia. These groups and so many others are showing us that a clean energy future isn't a dream; it's already underway. But they can't do it alone. That's why I'm proud to support Labor's Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which is rolling out right now. This is real action that will help households store solar power, slash bills and ease the burden on the grid, all while cutting emissions.”
“They are visible. And they are hitting the most vulnerable in our communities first and hardest. In inner Melbourne, it's renters in old drafty houses, struggling to afford cooling, and it's families trying to make their homes cleaner and cheaper to run. People in Fitzroy, Carlton, Richmond and Collingwood don't need another warning from the IPCC. They see it in their gardens, in their power bills and in the smoke haze that creeps in during the summer fire season. They are not waiting; they are acting. I want to tell you about two local environment groups in Melbourne who are taking action. Electrify Yarra is helping households to ditch gas and switch to clean, electric appliances powered by rooftop solar. They are proving that climate action isn't a sacrifice; it's an upgrade.”
“From the grassroots efforts of Yarra Climate Action Now, known as YCAN, to the leadership of Electrify Yarra and the national advocacy from the Australian Conservation Foundation, the message is clear. 'Our communities are mobilising, they are innovating and their message is constant: we are doing our part; we need you to do yours.' At the May election, people put their trust in Labor and rejected the extreme politics on both sides. People in Melbourne want governments, businesses and environmental groups to work together to protect our environment. We want to reap the climate health and economic benefits of sustainable development. My community tells me time is up for taking small steps. Fires, floods and heatwaves are not a distant threat. The impacts of climate change are no longer abstract. They are here. They are now.”
“Today I rise to speak not just as the member for Melbourne but as a voice for the thousands of people in my community who know we are in a climate emergency. Australians endorsed the Albanese government's policy agenda at this election, which involved protecting jobs and the environment. Our platform included making sensible reforms to protect our environment. In my first months as the member for Melbourne, I've met with advocates from local climate action and environmental groups urgently fighting for these issues. But I've also heard from dozens of other community organisations and hundreds of passionate individuals—people who are worried, who are informed and who are ready for action now.”