Well, here we go again. It seems like the CFMEU saga will never, ever end. But this time it isn’t just another messy chapter in the long and troubled history of the CFMEU. It is something far more serious. It’s an industrial-scale cover-up that goes to the heart of this Albanese Labor government. It has […]
It is indeed a privilege to represent the good people of Moncrieff, and it’s something I will never, ever take for granted. Moncrieff is in the heart of the Gold Coast, and we’re so incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful community—a community built on mateship, on shared values and of course on service. That’s why I rise today to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding Aussies from Moncrieff who have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours. Australia Day is a time to reflect on who we are as a nation.
The Gold Coast is home to some of our nation’s most extraordinary athletes, and I rise to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible career and retirement of one of Australia’s greatest surf lifesaving athletes and legends, Ironman champion Ali Day. Ali Day’s career stands as one of the most dominant and respected in the history of Ironman racing. Over more than a decade at the elite level, he did not simply compete; he set the standard. His achievements include multiple Australian Ironman championships, Coolangatta Gold victories and national series titles that place him firmly among the legends of sport. But statistics alone do not capture Ali Day’s contribution.
Yes, for those listening from home, you’ve got me again. I’m here to represent Senator Kerrynne Liddle, a South Australian senator and an Indigenous senator from Adelaide and, actually, from the Northern Territory as well. Today I rise to speak on the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Bill 2026 and the associated National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026. At the outset, I acknowledge the seriousness of the issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children today, issues that demand practical action, accountability and relentless focus on outcomes on the front line. That is key. I acknowledge the upcoming anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations and the members of the Stolen Generations that will be present in the chamber this week for that very sad anniversary.
I rise today to speak on the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical changes No. 1) Bill 2026. The opposition will not oppose the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 in the House of Representatives. However, we do hold concerns on some aspects of the bill before us today. The coalition has always taken the view that Australia must maintain a strong, fair and sustainable social services safety net. Few countries in the world provide the level of support that Australian taxpayers fund for people who are out of work, facing hardship or experiencing a family breakdown. That’s something Australians should be proud of.
Australians were promised faster approvals, higher productivity and stronger economic growth under Labor’s new environmental laws. Instead, Senate Estimates has exposed a government with no evidence, no timelines and no delivery. When Labor pushed through its Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) reforms, the Prime Minister claimed environmental approvals would be cut from years to months, and from months to weeks. These claims were presented as a central pillar of Labor’s productivity agenda.
It’s an absolute privilege to represent the good people of Moncrieff and it’s something I will never take for granted. Moncrieff sits at the very heart of our city. From our beaches and waterways to our small businesses, community groups and sporting clubs, our electorate is the epicentre of the Gold Coast.
The Minister for Small Business interjected when the member for Goldstein was delivering his speech on his MPI. I’d like Australians to know that what she said was that small businesses are dodgy. I say the Minister for Small Business is dodgy, I say the Treasurer is dodgy and I say the Prime Minister is dodgy.
The Reserve Bank’s latest decision confirms what Australians already know: Labor has lost control of the economy. They’ve lost control of energy costs. They’ve lost control of social cohesion. They’ve lost control of our borders.
In moments of tragedy, a nation can find unity. The horrific terrorist attack at Bondi last month was one of those moments. It shocked us, saddened us, and reminded us how precious our way of life is. But it also did something else. It brought Australians together. And in the face of the hatred and violence of this atrocity, Australians instinctively reached for the values that bind us – freedom, community and resilience.