← LEADERSHIP TERMINAL

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · FORMER

Anne Urquhart

Braddon · Australian Labor Party · Australia

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Today is 1 July. The Albanese Labor government is delivering real change for Australians, with cost-of-living measures starting today. Through tax cuts, expanded paid parental leave, and stronger investment in Medicare and hospitals, we're putting more money back into people's pockets and making it easier for families to access the care t…

SITTING OF 2026-07-01 · READ IN HANSARD

From today, we are protecting Australian families by making it illegal for retailers like Coles and Woolies to price gouge customers by artificially inflating prices on groceries.

SITTING OF 2026-07-01 · READ IN HANSARD

Last week I attended a memorial service for Constable Keith Smith, a long-serving and respected member of Tasmania Police who spent 25 years working across northern and western Tasmania. Keith received the Commissioner's Medal in 2011, the National Police Service Medal in 2016 and a 20-year clasp in 2021.

SITTING OF 2026-06-23 · READ IN HANSARD

It was especially touching when the Central Coast mayor, Cheryl Fuller, announced a local thoroughfare between King Edward Street and Victoria Street in Ulverstone would be named Keith Smith Lane.

SITTING OF 2026-06-23 · READ IN HANSARD

This also matters because award-reliant workers are disproportionately women, and their work has too often been undervalued and underpaid. Labor has backed wage rises in aged care, is supporting historic pay increases in early childhood education and care, and continues to support fair outcomes in sectors that have contributed to the gend…

SITTING OF 2026-06-22 · READ IN HANSARD

But low unemployment does not mean that every Australian can easily access work. Too many people are missing out because the employment services system that replaced the CES in 1998 is no longer working for everyone who needs support to find and keep work.

SITTING OF 2026-06-22 · READ IN HANSARD

The complete record

Every one of 258 lines we hold for Anne Urquhart, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 6.

  1. My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering a stronger Medicare for all Australians after a decade of cuts and neglect? Are there other approaches to the trusted Medicare brand?

    SITTING OF 2026-07-02 · READ IN HANSARD

  2. From today, we are protecting Australian families by making it illegal for retailers like Coles and Woolies to price gouge customers by artificially inflating prices on groceries. Unlike those opposite, we will keep working every day to ease the pressure on families in Braddon and right across the country by delivering cost-of-living relief and a more secure and prosperous economy for all Australians, wherever they are—in my electorate of Braddon or right across the country. We will work every day to ensure that we secure that prosperous economy for all Australians.

    SITTING OF 2026-07-01 · READ IN HANSARD

  3. Today is 1 July. The Albanese Labor government is delivering real change for Australians, with cost-of-living measures starting today. Through tax cuts, expanded paid parental leave, and stronger investment in Medicare and hospitals, we're putting more money back into people's pockets and making it easier for families to access the care that they need. For the people in my electorate of Braddon, these changes will make a real difference, helping households manage everyday costs, supporting local jobs and strengthening the essential services our communities rely on. We're backing wage increases, supporting small business, making urgent care clinics permanent and investing more than ever in our public hospitals because this is about building a fairer, stronger future for everyone.

    SITTING OF 2026-07-01 · READ IN HANSARD

  4. My question is to the Minister for Education. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to get more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and the regions into university? What policies would see fewer people get the opportunity to go to university?

    SITTING OF 2026-06-25 · READ IN HANSARD

  5. It was especially touching when the Central Coast mayor, Cheryl Fuller, announced a local thoroughfare between King Edward Street and Victoria Street in Ulverstone would be named Keith Smith Lane. Regularly used by police, paramedics and first responders on their way to a favourite coffee shop, the lane will stand as a lasting tribute to Keith's service and as a reminder of the community's love and respect for him. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-23 · READ IN HANSARD

  6. Last week I attended a memorial service for Constable Keith Smith, a long-serving and respected member of Tasmania Police who spent 25 years working across northern and western Tasmania. Keith received the Commissioner's Medal in 2011, the National Police Service Medal in 2016 and a 20-year clasp in 2021. He was tragically killed in June 2025 while serving his community. Police colleagues, first responders and community members gathered in Ulverstone on Wednesday to honour Keith, holding a minute's silence at 11 am with the wider police family right across Tasmania. We remembered Keith for his generosity, kindness and ability to make people feel seen and heard.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-23 · READ IN HANSARD

  7. Labor's task is twofold: to make sure that work pays and to make sure more Australians can share in the dignity and security that work provides. The dignity of work is not just a slogan for Labor governments. It is a principle. It is a promise. And it's a promise that we are delivering. The delivery of that promise is around modernising and changing the employment services that are out there today to become more receptive to those who are looking for work.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-22 · READ IN HANSARD

  8. But low unemployment does not mean that every Australian can easily access work. Too many people are missing out because the employment services system that replaced the CES in 1998 is no longer working for everyone who needs support to find and keep work. The Commonwealth spends around $2 billion each year on employment services, supporting more than one million Australians. But the current system is ill equipped for diverse needs and too often relies on a one-size-fits-all model. That's why we're rebuilding that system around people, not punishment, and around capability, not compliance for its own sake. We have announced fundamental reforms—the biggest change to employment services in 30 years. It means the right support at the right time for those people who need it, for those more than one million people out there.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-22 · READ IN HANSARD

  9. Our commitment to fair work and fair pay is not new. It is part of Labor's legacy of nation building. After the Second World War, the Curtin Labor government helped lay the foundations for full employment through the Commonwealth Employment Service, launched in 1946. Its purpose was simple but powerful: to connect people with work, respond to labour shortages and support Australians through changing economic conditions. The CES recognised that employment policy is not just about statistics but about people, families and communities. That principle still matters today. Under this government, Australia has recorded the lowest average unemployment rate of any government in more than 50 years, and more than 1.2 million jobs have been created. That is a record of which we can be proud.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-22 · READ IN HANSARD

  10. This also matters because award-reliant workers are disproportionately women, and their work has too often been undervalued and underpaid. Labor has backed wage rises in aged care, is supporting historic pay increases in early childhood education and care, and continues to support fair outcomes in sectors that have contributed to the gender pay gap. Under Labor, Australia's national gender pay gap has fallen to an historic low of 11.5 per cent, down from 14.1 per cent in May 2022. That progress happened because Labor acted, backing minimum wage increases, banning pay secrecy clauses, modernising bargaining, improving transparency and lifting wages in feminised industries. That's what Labor governments do. We see fair wages as the foundation of a decent society. We do not simply praise essential workers. We fight to pay them properly.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-22 · READ IN HANSARD

  11. That's why this Labor government has advocated for wage increases in every wage review since coming to office. This year, the government supported sustainable real wage increases for the lowest paid workers. The Fair Work Commission has now increased the national minimum wage by six per cent and minimum award wages by 4.75 per cent. These adjustments take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July this year. Around 2.7 million award-reliant workers will receive a pay rise. For them, this is practical relief—the difference between falling behind and keeping up. Many low-paid workers are young, women or casual workers. Many work in jobs that keep Australia going—retail, hospitality, cleaning, aged care, disability support and early childhood education. They deserve more than thanks. They deserve fair pay.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-22 · READ IN HANSARD

  12. Before the 2022 federal election, Labor made a clear commitment. We would stand up for Australia's lowest paid workers. We said we would go to the Fair Work Commission and argue for an immediate wage increase because people who work hard should not be left behind. For nearly a decade under the former Liberal and National government, low wages were not an accident. They were a deliberate design feature of economic policy. Working Australians were told to wait, accept less and carry rising costs without receiving a fair share of the prosperity they helped create. Labor has a different view. Work should provide security, dignity and opportunity. A strong economy is measured not only by profit but by whether working people can pay the rent, fill the fridge, put petrol in the car and buy school shoes.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-22 · READ IN HANSARD

  13. My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. What actions is the Albanese Labor government taking to strengthen our biosecurity system and get more fertiliser to our farms? What has been the response to these measures?

    SITTING OF 2026-06-04 · READ IN HANSARD

  14. This, together with the tax relief in today's bill, means the average Australian worker will receive a combined benefit of around $2,800 in 2028. We're also helping first home buyers achieve the dream of homeownership. In my electorate of Braddon, I hear every day from people who want to buy their own homes but have been locked out of the market. For too long, the tax system designed by the Liberals has driven property prices beyond the reach of ordinary Australians. Our reforms remove the distortions in the system that have warped our housing market. This means 75,000 more first home owners will enter the housing market over the next 10 years. Labor's reforms are about rewarding hard work, strengthening opportunity and building a fairer future for all Australians.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-04 · READ IN HANSARD

  15. The Albanese Labor government's landmark tax reforms mean Australians will be able to earn more and keep more of what they earn, and more people will be able to buy their own homes. Our reforms go to the heart of what Labor governments are about: fairness, opportunity and making sure the next generation, like the ones in the gallery up there, get a fair go. We've also seen what the opposition is about: running a protection racket for vested interests and leaving ordinary Australians behind. As the party of working Australians, Labor is cutting income tax five times in three different ways. We've already brought tax rates down and pushed thresholds up. Another tax cut was done on 1 July this year, and another will happen on 1 July next year.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-04 · READ IN HANSARD

  16. The PALM scheme has helped fill labour shortages and provided businesses with reliable and skilled workers, many of whom return season after season. By supporting our farmers, protecting our biosecurity, investing in innovation and strengthening our workforce, we are helping to ensure Tasmania's agriculture sector remains strong and prosperous for generations to come. Minister Julie Collins is a strong voice and an active participant right across the agriculture sector, and I congratulate her on her commitment in supporting the sector, particularly through this difficult time.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-03 · READ IN HANSARD

  17. At the same time, we're rebuilding international relationships and strengthening trade partnerships to create new opportunities for Australian producers. We have seen trade barriers removed and new market access opportunities open for a wide range of agricultural products. However, we know that market access alone is not enough. We can open as many export markets as we like, but if we do not have the workforce to harvest, process and pack our produce those opportunities cannot be realised. That is why the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme has been so important for our region. The north-west has embraced workers from the Pacific nations and Timor-Leste who have become a critical part of our local workforce.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-03 · READ IN HANSARD

  18. Our biosecurity system protects agricultural, forestry and fisheries exports worth more than $51 billion while supporting jobs and safeguarding our natural environment. We apply these protections offshore, at the border and onshore. The government is also investing in research, innovation and resilience. The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture demonstration farm in my electorate is a fantastic example of collaboration between researchers and producers. Last year, the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program supported workshops and field trials focused on improving soil health and sustainability. We're also helping farmers prepare for the future challenges through the Future Drought Fund. In 2025, grants were awarded to restore dams across Tasmania, helping to strengthen water security and drought resilience.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-03 · READ IN HANSARD

  19. Beyond the farm gate, it creates hundreds of jobs in processing, manufacturing and transport. I know this firsthand because, before entering this place, I spent 11 years working at the Edgell Birds Eye factory, now Simplot, starting on the potato production line. That is why it is so important that governments continue to support the sector. The Albanese Labor government is backing agriculture and primary production in a range of ways, including through our strong biosecurity system. We are managing the threats that are posed by pests and disease that could impact our industry's environment, plants, animals and communities. Thanks to our investment in biosecurity, Australia remains one of the few countries free from many of the world's most damaging invasive pests and diseases.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-03 · READ IN HANSARD

  20. If you've enjoyed a packet of snack sized carrots recently, there's a good chance that they came from Harvest Moon. The electorate is also known for premium fruits such as apples, cherries and berries. Tasmania's fruit and berry industry generates around $400 million in farm-gate value and employs more than 10,000 seasonal workers. Braddon is also leading the way in high-value crops, including poppies for pharmaceutical use, pyrethrum daisies for insecticide production and lavender for oils, teas and honey. We also produce truffles, wasabi, oysters, saffron and avocados, all of which pair beautifully with the famous Cape Grim and King Island beef grown in the electorate. Agriculture is a major employer in Tasmania, supporting well-paid jobs and our local communities.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-03 · READ IN HANSARD

  21. In the great state of Tasmania and more specifically in the mighty electorate of Braddon, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who does not have some connection to agriculture and primary production. The north-west of Tasmania is the food bowl of our state. Our temperate climate, reliable rainfall and rich red volcanic soils support a huge variety of premium crops and livestock. The region is renowned for its potatoes, onions, carrots and brassicas grown for both domestic and international markets. While we're on the topic of carrots, Braddon is home to the Carrot Festival, hosted by the marvellous team at Harvest Moon in the Forth Valley. Harvest Moon is a proudly Tasmanian success story, growing premium vegetables for more than 40 years.

    SITTING OF 2026-06-03 · READ IN HANSARD

  22. This funding for RTV benefits jobseekers, employers and local businesses by delivering practical, community led solutions that respond directly to local workforce requirements and also to what's coming up in the future. I want to congratulate Maree and Jason on securing this funding. I'm proud to support increased access to training, both for jobseekers and for those looking to upskill right across those industries that are going to be so important to us in the future, not only for existing workers to transition into but for new workers coming in.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  23. The machinery is located onsite to give participants real-time experience in practical training scenarios. They also offer qualifications in agriculture, horticulture, civil construction, mining and quarrying. These qualifications are all directly relevant to many work opportunities right across the electorate of Braddon, so it's fantastic to have access to quality and comprehensive training close to where people live so they don't have to travel that far to get there—in their words, 'If we can train quality workers in Braddon, we can keep them here and everyone benefits.' The Albanese Labor government is funding projects that support the workforce needs of our region, helping jobseekers move into work while supporting local employers to get the workforce that they need.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  24. Maree and Jason are passionate about getting the best out of their clients, regularly providing support over and above what's required for their training and short courses. They've even purpose-built a mini roof for their working-at-heights training so the course can be conducted safely and practically. Maree and Jason told me they were very excited to start this new program, given the job opportunities that currently are available in these growth sectors. As an RTO, RTV provide courses for businesses and individuals, including short courses for first aid, confined spaces, white card, chainsaw and many more. They have a huge range of machinery to teach people how to operate loaders, telehandlers, graders, dozers and a whole range of others.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  25. Last week I met with Maree and Jason, the husband-and-wife team behind RTV Training, a local machinery and safety training organisation in the electorate of Braddon. They've successfully secured $250,000 in funding through the Albanese Labor government's local jobs, local people grants under the Local Jobs Program. The funding will allow RTV to run their new program, Entering the Construction and Energy Transition Industries. The program will support around 40 participants and will build on their skills and abilities to secure nationally accredited training and employment opportunities. It's focused on the construction and future energy transition industries, which are growth sectors for Braddon. Maree and Jason were kind enough to show me around their fantastic training facilities in Ridgley, and even got me into an excavator!

    SITTING OF 2026-05-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  26. I'm so proud of this long-term project, its focus on creative industries and what it will mean for the future generations in Braddon, keeping them engaged in our communities, away from the judicial system, and giving them a focus in life that they wouldn't have had without this project.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-25 · READ IN HANSARD

  27. Through the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, the Albanese Labor government is investing in transformative projects in regional, rural and remote Australia based on the principles of unifying regional places, growing economies and serving communities. During the announcement, when I was there the other day, we had quite a large group, including the mayor and other participants from around the community. They were blown away by the concept of what this organisation is going to be able to provide, particularly to young people and also to those who have now become disengaged not only from their school but also from life. It was really great to catch up with many of those who came along to listen to the great news, and they're really excited about what the future brings.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-25 · READ IN HANSARD

  28. One participant in Big hART's program is Logan, who lost his sight when he was midway through his apprenticeship as a carpenter. He used to have to travel to Hobart and Launceston to continue his woodworking through programs for the blind and visually impaired. However, now he can use Big hART's facilities just five minutes down the road from his home. He's excited about the new hub, saying it will be 'worth its weight in gold'. First Nations culture will be at the centre of this precinct, with a First Nations cultural centre and workshop designed for First Nations knowledge, cultural practice and enterprise incubation.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-25 · READ IN HANSARD

  29. They are currently at capacity, meaning the new precinct will enable growth into the future and cement their status as a trusted social change organisation in Braddon. For a regional community such as Wynyard, this investment will be invaluable for local disengaged youth and those who may struggle in traditional education and employment pathways. For disengaged people, the space will offer increased work and learning opportunities and will provide avenues into trades and connections with local employers. I've heard from local high-school kids who tell me they would rather go to Big hART and work with their hands than go to school any day. For business owners, the creative hub will value our lost trades, such as carpentry, stonemasonry, stained glass and ceramics.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-25 · READ IN HANSARD

  30. Braddon has long been a hub for creatives, and this project continues our strong industrial heritage. There are already multiple enterprises operating on the site. The Artisan precinct will have the capacity to house up to 10 businesses, where they will be supported until they can operate viably and independently. Once these businesses are self-sustaining, they will move on, creating space for new ones. In exchange, the enterprises will work with Big hART to provide innovative pathways for disengaged locals and young people. The new development will enable Big hART to increase their capacity in the community. They've already seen huge growth in the number of participants that they support, just over the last 12 months.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-25 · READ IN HANSARD

  31. When I met with the proponents to tell them their application was successful, they were overwhelmed. Tears were nearly shed. That's how much this project means to them and to the Braddon community more broadly. The proponent, Big hART, was born on the north-west coast of Tassie and is now a leading, nationwide arts and social change organisation. They've been working with the Braddon community for 35 years, including close involvement with local high schools. Big hART was motivated to find new ways of dealing with disadvantage following the closure of the Burnie pulp mill. Those job losses had a huge effect on the local community at the time. Big hART are focused on designing and delivering transformative projects which address complex social issues. They aim to drive generational change.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-25 · READ IN HANSARD

  32. Through the RPPP funding, the Albanese Labor government will deliver $9.6 million for the Artisan Precinct Initiative, a social enterprise hub in Braddon. In Wynyard on Tasmania's north-west coast, the Artisan precinct will deliver social enterprises and workplace training programs for the local community, particularly disengaged youth. It will provide a critical link between education providers, disability services and local employers to shift intergenerational unemployment by backing local innovation. Designed in collaboration with the community, the project will include the building and fit-out of infrastructure, including six workshops, a First Nations workshop, a commercial greenhouse, an artisan hub, a precinct caretaker residence and sustainability infrastructure.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-25 · READ IN HANSARD

  33. That is making quality health care accessible, along with the urgent care clinics and the cheaper PBS medicines for people who live in our regions. There is so much more, if only I had more time, but we are delivering for regional Tasmania. (Time expired)

    SITTING OF 2026-05-12 · READ IN HANSARD

  34. Again, in the electorate of Braddon, between 2024 and 2029, local councils—those people that do rely on us to support them, which we do really well—will receive almost $29 million through Roads to Recovery. That's important for people who travel the roads every day to go to work and for our transport industry in coming and going from our ports. Those are really important issues. We have cheaper medicines, bulk-billing and hospital funding. We've tripled the bulk-billing incentive, helping pensioners, concession-card holders and families with young children. In Braddon, we've got 70 per cent of GPS now fully bulk-billing. We've got 27 Medicare bulk-billing practices—10 of these switched to bulk-billing after we made the changes on 1 November.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-12 · READ IN HANSARD

  35. On penalty rates: we've passed legislation to protect penalty and overtime rates. That benefits 2.6 million Australians who work on our public holidays, and we can thank them for that. But, also, the fact is that they now get recognition for their weekends, late nights and early mornings, and that delivers on a commitment that we put to the electorate in 2025. And just take a look at the number of regional electorates that we represent right around this horseshoe. They put their faith in us, and we have delivered on that. We're funding road upgrades in regional programs like Roads to Recovery and the Black Spot Program. These programs support the construction and maintenance of local roads.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-12 · READ IN HANSARD

  36. In the electorate of Braddon there are two, one in Burnie and one in Devonport. There's no need for an appointment and no need for a referral. Access to timely mental health care is available without delay, without a referral and without cost. The really important thing that I love about these centres is the support from support workers who have travelled their own journey with mental health issues. We delivered tax cuts for every taxpayer, including more coming this year and next year. That will benefit all taxpayers right up and down the income scale—not just those on the big money up there but everyone, on every scale of the system. The average tax cut was $43 a week in 2026-27, and that is benefiting over 45,000 taxpayers in my electorate of Braddon alone.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-12 · READ IN HANSARD

  37. It offers free walk-in care when people need it over extended hours, seven days a week, taking pressure off both our North West Regional Hospital and the Mersey Community Hospital. It is improving accessibility to health services for regional Australians—the people that live in my region. Our government has committed to deliver more urgent care clinics right across the country, with four out of five Australians living within a 20-minute drive of their local clinic. So don't try and stand there and tell us over on this side that we are not delivering for regional Australia, because that is one part. There are Medicare mental health centres offering free walk-in mental health care and support. We are establishing a national network of 92 Medicare mental health centres, including five in Tasmania.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-12 · READ IN HANSARD

  38. I was shocked when I read what this MPI is about, because I wanted to come in here and talk about some of the things that we are delivering not only for the electorate that I represent, which is rural, remote and regional, but also right across the country in. In Burnie, we have delivered an urgent care clinic that has seen 1,800 presentations, and it opened in March; 1,800 people have been able to go through the doors of that urgent care clinic to keep them out of the Burnie hospital emergency department. The Devonport Urgent Care Clinic, open for two-and-a-bit years now, has seen over 40,500 presentations. I had to actually go back and look at that figure because I thought it was wrong.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-12 · READ IN HANSARD

  39. The Albanese Labor government is investing billions in remote, rural and regional Australia. We don't just deliver a pork-barrel chunk of money for regional infrastructure and call it a day, like those opposite did. We are delivering all our programs, across all portfolios, to help regional Australians with their health, housing and education. I represent a rural, remote and regional electorate in the electorate of Braddon, which spans across the north-west coast of Tasmania, down the west coast—the wild west—across to King Island. An honourable member: It's beautiful. It is beautiful, thank you.

    SITTING OF 2026-05-12 · READ IN HANSARD

  40. We need stability in the market while we transition to net zero, and without gas we simply can't have that. We need to build our net zero emissions to a point where they can stabilise, but without gas we simply can't do that, and without the investment that we receive that simply wouldn't happen. We need to ensure that that investment is reliable and is strong and that we have that trading with our partners to ensure that we have a reliable energy system here in the country while we are transitioning to a net zero system.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-31 · READ IN HANSARD

  41. There would be no batteries, solar panels or wind turbines without the gas industry, because green hydrogen simply isn't commercially viable yet. We know that, as we transition to that net zero economy, reliable and affordable energy is a must. It is a must for our community and consumers. We also know that we are a trusted and reliable trading partner—a partner that is working to bring down its emissions. In our current global situation, we're acting to ensure that our fuel is getting out the door to those who need it while also securing more to come into our country as well. We're acting to shield Australia against any future disruptions to the fuel supply chain by establishing new fuel security powers and enabling government to work with fuel suppliers to keep fuel flowing to Australia.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-31 · READ IN HANSARD

  42. Imposing new costs on the oil and gas industry could undermine that investment in gas production, causing shortfalls here in Australia. Five million homes are still connected to gas in Australia for heating, for cooking and for hot water. Without investment from our international trading partners, we wouldn't be able to provide for domestic and regional energy security. The government is focused on delivering policies that ensure there is enough gas for domestic users while also meeting our international commitments. We also rely on the gas industry to get us off coal and act as a bridge to more renewables in the energy grid. The government is committed to net zero emissions, just like many of our trading partners as well as our Pacific partners.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-31 · READ IN HANSARD

  43. The oil and gas industry contributed almost $12 billion in taxes in 2023-24. This is on top of billions of dollars in royalties to states and territories. The latest budget update forecasts that we will collect $5.4 billion in PRRT over the four years to 2028-29. This is on top of the corporate tax that these companies will have to pay. The company tax paid by the oil and gas sector increased from $1.1 billion on average annually in the years to 2021-22 to $10.4 billion in 2023-24. Importantly, our changes also provide industry and investors with policy certainty—certainty that is needed for a reliable supply of domestic gas and to ensure that Australia remains a reliable international energy supplier and investment partner. We are working to ensure multinationals, including gas companies, pay their fair share of tax in Australia.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-31 · READ IN HANSARD

  44. Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Since coming to government, we have done more than any other to protect our tax base. We have reformed our tax system and secured the tax revenue arrangements needed to fund government services and stimulate investment. Within this system, we're delivering tax cuts for every single Australian worker this year and next year and a fairer, more sustainable superannuation system. We believe that Australians are entitled to receive a fair return on our resources. In our first term, the Albanese Labor government reformed the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, the PRRT, to deliver a fairer return to the Australian community from our natural resources. Our changes to the PRRT ensure that offshore gas companies pay more tax sooner. Our changes increased the number of companies paying PRRT from 11 to 16 in 2023-24.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-31 · READ IN HANSARD

  45. We've discounted home batteries by 30 per cent to lower power bills, with almost 400 batteries installed to date in Braddon, with a usable capacity of over 6,000 kilowatt hours. We've supported almost 1,000 enrolments in free TAFE courses that will deliver important skills and drive economic growth across Braddon and also right across Tasmania. We, on this side, are focused on delivering cost-of-living relief. The Liberals and the Nationals are focused on themselves, and those things haven't changed.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  46. The Albanese Labor government is cutting taxes for 14 million Australians this year and next year. Our tax cuts are putting money back in the pockets of 47,000 taxpayers in Braddon, who, on average, are saving $2,200 annually. Yet the coalition voted against these tax cuts—a decision that was made by the Leader of the Opposition when he was the shadow Treasurer. The people of Braddon know that helping Australians with the cost of living is Labor's No. 1 priority. That's why we've cut student debt for nearly 8,000 people in Braddon. We've cut the cost of PBS medicines, delivering savings of almost $5.5 million so far in my electorate. We've opened two urgent care clinics and two Medicare mental health clinics, delivering free, walk-in, specialised health and mental health services to the people in Braddon without any cost to them.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-26 · READ IN HANSARD

  47. My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel. How is the Albanese government delivering support for veterans to access free advocacy services, and why is this so important?

    SITTING OF 2026-03-25 · READ IN HANSARD

  48. Importantly, the upgrade increases freight capacity for high-productivity vehicles—a lot of farming and tourism businesses are up this road—supporting the efficiency and growth of our local agricultural sector. I also especially want to acknowledge the contractor on this project, Hardings Group, a Tasmanian owned and operated company and a cornerstone of our state's civil construction industry. This year, Harding celebrates 40 years of operation, growing from a two-person business into a trusted and respected business, employing more than 100 Tasmanians. Their local knowledge, skilled workforce and long-term commitment in Tasmania are critical to delivering high-quality infrastructure that regional communities rely on.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-23 · READ IN HANSARD

  49. Through the Australian government's $150 million Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program, the Albanese Labor government is backing projects that strengthen our regional communities. As part of this program, Central Coast Council received $7.5 million for the Ironcliffe Road upgrade, which I officially opened last week. The project has upgraded 8.6 kilometres of Ironcliffe Road with road widening and sealing, safer curves, upgraded intersections and lighting, new line marking, safety barriers and footpaths. These works have delivered safer travel for all road users, improved access for residents and stronger connections for farms, businesses and homes right along this important road.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-23 · READ IN HANSARD

  50. The Albanese Labor government is delivering a better and more connected future, not just for regional and remote Tasmania but for all of Australia. Labor's vision is clear: we want Australia to be the most connected continent in the world so that, no matter where you live or what you do, you can connect. I commend the bill to the House.

    SITTING OF 2026-03-11 · READ IN HANSARD