Marion Scrymgour

Answer from Andrew Giles

The Minister announced $6.9 million in mobile TAFE projects and reported that the free TAFE program had achieved more than 850,000 enrolments and 275,000 completions. He stated that completions were growing at twice the rate of enrolments. He criticised the opposition for voting against free TAFE and characterising it as a waste of money. He affirmed the government's commitment to maintaining free TAFE as a central part of the education system.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister cited reforms to secure the National Disability Insurance Scheme, tackle gambling harm, and ensure fuel supply through Energy Security Taskforce measures. He noted that 500,000 cheaper home batteries had been installed and that minimum standards for gig workers and wage justice for early childhood workers had been introduced. He stated that the gender pay gap was at a record low and that these measures demonstrated the government's commitment to both immediate relief and future stability.

Answer from Kristy McBain

The Minister noted that 60 severe weather events had impacted over 190 local government areas in the last high-risk season. She listed government investments including the establishment of the National Emergency Management Agency, a $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund, a National Emergency Management Stockpile, the AusAlert warning system, and over $100 million in aerial firefighting capability. The Minister criticized the opposition for ignoring warnings and playing politics with recovery support, referencing comments by the Leader of the Opposition regarding firefighters.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister thanked the member for her representation of remote Indigenous communities and noted the privilege of sharing the continent with the oldest continuous culture. He described participating in the Long Walk to the MCG and welcoming Travis Lovett to parliament. He referenced the recent tragic death of Kumanjayi Little Baby and his visit to Alice Springs with the member for Lingiari and the Minister for Indigenous Australians to support the community. He stated that Reconciliation Week was an opportunity to recommit to doing better for First Nations Australians, acknowledging past failures by all sides of politics.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister extended deepest condolences to the family and acknowledged their request for space to conduct sorry business. He described Kumanjayi Little Baby as a bright five-year-old and noted the community's unity in searching for her and mourning her loss. He emphasized that all governments have failed to adequately address generational challenges affecting Indigenous children and affirmed that every child deserves safety and opportunity. He encouraged Australians to reflect on the mother's wish to look for the brightest star in the night sky.

Answer from Kristy McBain

The Minister reported that NEMA had activated the Crisis Coordination Team and embedded officials in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. In the Northern Territory, support was activated in 20 local government areas, with disaster recovery payments in Katherine, Daly River, and Palumpa. ADF personnel were assisting with clean-up and evacuations, and an AUSMAT field hospital was set up in East Katherine. In Queensland, disaster recovery funding was activated in 61 local government areas, with over $107 million in additional support packages. The Minister warned that Cyclone Narelle was travelling along the WA coast as a severe category 3 cyclone with gusts up to 185 km/h and urged vigilance.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister reported on contacts with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli regarding threats to Bundaberg and the Wide Bay region, advising residents to prioritize safety. He noted that in the Northern Territory, a monsoon trough was affecting the Big Rivers region, with Minister McCarthy visiting evacuation centres in Katherine. The Commonwealth had deployed National Emergency Management Agency staff to coordinate evacuations and activated joint disaster recovery funding for clean-up, relief payments, and accommodation. He affirmed ongoing cooperation with all levels of government.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister noted that 400 new or amended listings had been added to the PBS, including treatments for reproductive health, menopause, and cancer. He highlighted the listing of Opdivo and Yervoy for whole-of-cancer eligibility, which would benefit approximately 5,000 Australians annually. He shared a constituent's story of curing melanoma with these drugs, which previously cost $100,000 out-of-pocket, emphasizing that the listing would prevent such financial hardship.

Answer from Amanda Rishworth

The minister highlighted investments in jobs, training, food security, health, housing, and education. She noted the doubling of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program from 3,000 to 6,000 jobs, with 1,500 already created. She mentioned lifting the cap on the Low-cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme for 225 remote stores, reducing prices for 30 essential items. She also cited record Commonwealth investment in First Nations health, infrastructure for community-controlled services, birthing on country initiatives, and a new national plan to end family, domestic and sexual violence.

Answer from Tanya Plibersek

The Minister announced the release of a dedicated national plan endorsed by all states and territories, accompanied by an additional $218 million in funding. She cited statistics showing Aboriginal women are seven times more likely to die in domestic homicide and 27 times more likely to require hospital care because of intimate partner violence. She detailed investments in mobile teams, men's centres, legal services, and housing, noting that this funding complements previous commitments of $262 million and $367 million.

Answer from Kristy McBain

The minister highlighted investments in regional health, housing, and education, including the Regional and Remote Airport Support Program and $10,000 payments for housing apprentices. She noted that PBS medicines were now $25 or less, saving over $200 million annually, and that 122 urgent care clinics had opened, with 39 in regional areas. She also mentioned increasing Roads to Recovery funding to $1 billion a year, with 85 per cent going to regional councils.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that the Community Development Programme had been abolished and replaced with the Remote Australia Employment Service, which was delivering 3,000 remote jobs. He highlighted a 10-year agreement to build up to 2,700 homes in the Northern Territory and 33 water projects. He also noted that over 100 community stores had signed up to reduce the cost of 30 household staples.

Answer from Catherine King

The minister explained that the $1.1 billion Cleaner Fuels Program aims to build a domestic low-carbon liquid fuels industry for hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and heavy haulage. She cited support from the National Farmers' Federation, Tourism & Transport Forum, and Ampol, highlighting job creation and income diversification for regional communities. She criticized the opposition for opposing the plan and failing to support new industries in regions facing population decline.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister stated that the government had increased by three times the incentive for bulk billing for pensioners, holders of concessional cards, and children, providing six million extra free visits. He noted that bulk billing for this group had risen above 90 per cent. He announced that bulk-billing support had been extended to every Australian. He criticized the opposition for previously trying to abolish bulk billing and introducing user-pays systems, citing comments from the shadow health minister. He argued that the opposition wanted to return to a system where credit cards were more important than Medicare cards.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister stated that $1.8 billion in energy bill relief was flowing to households and small businesses, alongside tax cuts totaling over $2,000 a year for the average taxpayer. He identified the opposition's nuclear policy as a risk, noting that the Shadow Treasurer had failed to provide a clear cost estimate for it, dismissing both $600 billion and $331 billion figures as nonsense. He argued that the cost of nuclear power would likely be paid for by cuts to health and education, which the opposition had previously criticized as wasteful spending.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister highlighted responsible economic management, including turning a $78 billion deficit into a $22 billion surplus and reducing inflation to 2.4 per cent. He cited the creation of 1.1 million jobs, real wage increases, and cost-of-living relief measures such as tax cuts and cheaper medicines. He also mentioned investments in housing, healthcare, education, and regional support, including backing for Rex Airlines to maintain regional connectivity.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister noted that the Commonwealth share of hospital budgets was declining and announced $1.7 billion in additional funding for the next financial year for all states and territories. He highlighted that the Northern Territory's funding would increase by 30 per cent to address chronic underfunding. He stated that the government was negotiating a longer-term five-year funding agreement. He contrasted this with the Coalition's previous attempt to cut $50 billion from public hospitals and their current plan for unspecified cuts to fund nuclear power.

Answer from Anika Wells

The Minister stated that $15 billion had been invested in pay rises, with registered nurses earning an additional $196 a week and personal care workers earning an extra $141 a week. She contrasted this with the opposition's past opposition to pay rises and tax cuts for aged-care workers. She claimed the opposition's priorities were focused on funding corporate lunches rather than improving aged care.