Federation Chamber - PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS - Aged Care
All Australians want and expect our older Australians to be well supported and cared for in our community, including and particularly in residential aged-care homes. The opposition remains committed to supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of older Australians and understands the important role of healthcare providers, care workers and nurses play in ensuring that support is provided in the residential aged-care settings.
Federation Chamber - PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS - Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is one of the most transformational technologies of the 21st century. It is, in my view, equivalent with the Industrial Revolution. It is the most significant technology development since the creation of the internet itself. While most of the public commentary on artificial intelligence focuses on its potential risk, I prefer that we also recognise the enormous opportunities and benefits that will flow from this technology. We should not be afraid of this technology. We need to embrace it and we need to work out how we can make it work in our world.
Federation Chamber - PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS - Energy
I spoke in support of the motion brought by the member for Fairfax. I thank him for bringing this motion that brings to this House's attention the failure of the Albanese Labor government, and especially Minister Bowen, to ensure that a plan is in place as we transition Australia through new technologies to a net zero emission economy and world. On this side, we are committed to net zero but to achieving it through principles of liberalism—using the market economy and encouraging and incentivising entrepreneurial innovations to enable us to successfully transition to new energy sources.
STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS - Hughes Electorate: Holsworthy Public School, Smythe, Mr Jack
I rise to talk about some very important visitors that we've had down to Parliament House this week.
BILLS - Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2023 - Second Reading
I support of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2023. The coalition is fully supportive of this legislation. Governments have no greater responsibility than the protection of their citizens. This bill deals with the work that is done by our security organisations, most of which is, by necessity, done in secret. I will take this opportunity to thank all of those men and women who work within our intelligence organisations for the work that they do in protecting all of us.
Federation Chamber - CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS - Hughes Electorate: The Fathering Project
I recently met with an organisation called the Fathering Project, and, while we are still some months away from Father's Day, I thought it was an opportune time for me to speak about this organisation and particularly to give a shout-out to all of the fantastic fathers, stepdads, grandfathers, uncles and the men within my electorate of Hughes who play such an important role within their own families and within the community.
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Economy
I thank the member for Hume, our shadow Treasurer, for bringing this very important matter of public importance to this House's attention: the inflation crisis which this government has caused.
BILLS - Trade Support Loans Amendment Bill 2023, Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Amendment Bill 2023 - Second Reading
The Trade Support Loans Amendment Bill 2023 and the associated legislation provide additional financial support and other support to apprentices and trainees.
We are facing a significant skills shortage in our country and in my electorate of Hughes, and any financial or other support that can be provided to encourage people into apprenticeships and traineeships and to retain them must be supported.
BILLS - Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Amendment (Disclosure of Information) Bill 2023 - Second Reading
I spoke on and support the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Amendment (Disclosure of Information) Bill 2023.
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Energy
I spoke in favour of this matter of public importance that's been brought by my friend and colleague, and our shadow energy minister, the member for Fairfax. Labor promised Australians before it went to the last election that energy bills would be reduced by $275. I have sat here and heard speeches today, and I'm going to start, first of all, with the member for Gellibrand saying it is all the fault of Russia having invaded the Ukraine. Russia invaded the Ukraine before the last federal election, and even after the Russian invasion of Ukraine then opposition leader Albanese continued to promise, on 97 separate occasions, that energy bills would reduce by $275. That is just one of this government's neglected promises.
Federation Chamber - BILLS - Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 2) Bill 2023 - Second Reading
I acknowledge the many veterans who live in my electorate of Hughes, those at the Holsworthy Barracks and the veterans' families. As I travel around my electorate, especially with my mobile office, it has been a privilege and a pleasure to meet veterans of many of our wars—from the Vietnam War through to more the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It has also been a great privilege to present many of them with certificates of appreciation. I acknowledge the work that the current government and the minister in particular are doing in that space.
BILLS - Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 - Second Reading
Twelve months ago the people of Hughes put their trust and faith in me to represent and serve them in this place. I similarly put my trust and faith in the people of Hughes when later this year they, along with 17.5 million other Australians, will have the opportunity to vote on this referendum.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE - Victoria: Taxation
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware of the Victorian Premier's $8.6 billion decade of tax on businesses and property investors in that state? Yesterday, the Premier encouraged Victorians to use his so-called COVID debt levy to offset their Commonwealth tax obligations, costing Australian taxpayers $3 billion over the next four years. Does the Prime Minister support Premier Andrews's decision to slug Victorians with $8.6 billion of taxes?
Federation Chamber - BILLS - Defence Legislation Amendment (Naval Nuclear Propulsion) Bill 2023 - Second Reading
I spoke on the Defence Legislation Amendment (Naval Nuclear Propulsion) Bill 2023. This bill represents the first of many legislative reforms required to implement the commitment of the former coalition Morrison government, adopted by the Labor government as part of the AUKUS security partnership between Australia and our good friends, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS - St George and Sutherland Community College
St George and Sutherland Community College at Jannali is a community based not-for-profit organisation that delivers nationally recognised qualifications in business and community services to both domestic and international students. I was recently taken through the college by CEO Bernadette Mills and met with students, staff and teachers, all passionate about the work they each undertake at the college.
Federation Chamber - MOTIONS - Education
I spoke on the motion by the honourable member for Bonner. This motion concerns education, particularly in the field of financial literacy. We need to be empowering our students, our children, our youth, to be financially literate, to better understand our financial institutions and to be confident dealing with their own finances now and into the future.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE - Housing
My question is to the Minister for Housing. KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley says there are 16,400 dwellings in Sydney approved, but not yet commenced—the highest number in four years. Yet the government's own budget papers say an extra 1.5 million people will come to Australia over five years. When will the minister finally admit that Labor has no plan to house its big Australia?
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Migration
I spoke on this matter of public importance, and I commended the member for Wannon for bringing this matter to the House's attention. It's particularly concerning to read that we're going to have an additional 1.5 million migrants, but this is in conjunction with, in the other place, the Greens rejecting the Albanese Labor government's housing plan on this very day. We'll have 1.5 million additional immigrants, and where are they going to live?
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Cost of Living
I thank the member for Reid for many of her remarks. I note that she has spoken about acting and Logie awards. I would just draw the House's attention and the member for Reid's attention to the Prime Minister's pledges that were made: household and business energy bills will be cut by $275—that's act 1; a real lasting plan for cheaper electricity and cheaper mortgages—that's act 2; Australians will be better off under a Labor government—that's act 3. When the current Prime Minister was opposition leader, he personally promised $275 power bill cuts no fewer than 97 times during the election campaign. Not only has the Prime Minister broken that promise; he refuses in question time to even answer any questions about power bills, and we saw that again today.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE - Interest Rates
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, you promised Australians cheaper mortgages, but after 10 interest rate rises in a row on your watch the average borrower is now paying 62 per cent more in repayments than in 2020 and in almost half of New South Wales postcodes the average repayment is more than 40 per cent of median income. Prime Minister, why do Australians always pay more under Labor?