9 Oct | '2025

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026 Consideration in Detail – Social Services

Clearly, since the federal budget in March, we’ve had a federal election. Traditionally, after an election, where there is no change of government, we might expect only minor adjustments, such as a reshuffle of ministerial line-ups and a few tweaks in responsibilities across those portfolios. After this most recent election, what we saw in the social services portfolio was far from minor.

8 Oct | '2025

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026 Consideration in Detail – Environment

Australians have lost trust in this government. That’s absolutely the truth, because actually only one in three Australians voted for Labor at the last election. And why is that? Well, uncertainty, lack of accountability, soaring inflation, record government spending, foreign-policy failings and inaction on the environment—inaction that can be seen firsthand, as the harmful algal bloom in South Australia continues to ravage coastal communities.

8 Oct | '2025

Albanese Government

Australia’s way of life is built on the values of fairness, of tolerance and of respect. But, unfortunately, our strength and unity are being tested during times of civil unrest never before seen in our great country. The fact is that social cohesion is on a knife’s edge, and Australians are rightly disappointed in the Prime Minister’s lack of leadership. There have been multiple failures of government to keep our community safe and united. Crime is spiralling out of control in several states. Synagogues have been firebombed, with our Jewish community under siege.

7 Oct | '2025

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026 Consideration in Detail – Education

During my 2024 consideration-in-detail speech as shadow minister for early childhood education and care, my opening line was this: ‘It’s been two years, three budgets and I haven’t met a single Australian who is better off under Labor.’ Here we are in the same position, on the same downhill spiral under this government, and the question is: are Australians safer and are they more secure than they were when Labor took office? The answer is a categorical no, because the reality is Australians always suffer under Labor.

3 Sep | '2025

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Bill 2025

I rise on the matter of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Bill 2025. The bill adjusts the EPBC Act, specifically in relation to our Commonwealth national parks, including the iconic and deeply loved Kakadu National Park, the alluring Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the beautiful Booderee National Park.

1 Sep | '2025

Social Cohesion

I am an Australian and I’m proud to be an Australian and I’m proud of our Australian flag. Do those opposite feel as proud of our nation as we do on this side of the House; are they as proud of our national flag as we are?

27 Aug | '2025

Moncrieff Electorate: Vietnam Veterans’ Day

I recently had the great privilege of joining my community for the annual Kokoda Day and Vietnam Veterans’ Day commemorations. This year marked the 83rd Kokoda Day commemoration and, as I do each year, I joined the Rotary Club of Broadwater Southport and the Surfers Paradise RSL Sub-Branch for their service.

25 Aug | '2025

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS – Environment

Last Friday, we heard an extraordinary admission from those opposite in relation to South Australia’s algal bloom crisis. The member for Adelaide and its beaches said that he accepted criticism that this has been a bit slow, and that the best time to have done this would have been some weeks ago, maybe even a few months ago. So why didn’t they act sooner?

31 Jul | '2025

Algal Bloom

Last Friday, we heard an extraordinary admission from those opposite in relation to South Australia’s algal bloom crisis. The member for Adelaide and its beaches said that he accepted criticism that this has been a bit slow, and that the best time to have done this would have been some weeks ago, maybe even a few months ago. So why didn’t they act sooner?

29 Jul | '2025

Algal Bloom and Koala vaccines

I want to talk tonight about two significant environmental issues. The first one is the failure of the Albanese government on the algal bloom calamity occurring in South Australian waters at the moment. The second one is my deep concern over the lack of a funding commitment for koala chlamydia vaccines.