Today in question time we saw scores of farmers from my electorate of Mallee—around 60 of them—in the chamber, and I congratulate them for downing tools, turning off the tractors and trying to put a stop to the nonsense that is electricity transmission lines without social licence. This is the latest in a series of…
I rise to support the premise of the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Amendment (Disclosure of Information) Bill 2023 and its potential to raise awareness of organ donation, although I believe more work needs to be done before the bill passes both houses. Allowing organisations such as the Organ and Tissue Authority…
I believe keeping a promise is a sign of integrity. Those who are elected members in this House hold positions of privilege, and it is incumbent upon each of us to fulfil our promises—much more so from a Prime Minister. When he breaks his promise, the nation has a right to hold him to account.…
Mallee is kilometre upon kilometre of prime agricultural and horticultural land. If you haven’t been there, I invite you to come. REMPLAN estimates the region’s gross regional product at around $10 billion. The people of Mallee clothe and feed the nation and, indeed, the world. I rise to speak on an issue that has farmers…
In my role as the shadow assistant minister for regional health and the member for Mallee, I am pleased to speak about regional Australia and my home electorate of Mallee in this debate on Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2023-2024. I am passionate and committed to improving healthcare services for every person living in regional, rural and…
I rise to talk about a wonderful volunteer organisation in my electorate of Mallee called CHAILIS. It stands for Children Having an Illness Living in Sunraysia. Although it was officially established in early 2015, it was borne out of the incredible work over many years of its chairman, Mr John Burfitt. John is a man…
Australia has a proud migration history. Migrants are the thread woven into the very fabric of our nation, blessing us with their variety in culture, belief, cuisine and, indeed, coffee and wine. Migrants have underpinned the economy and workforce in electorates like mine in Mallee, working long and hard to grow the agriculture, construction, research,…
The Albanese Labor Government’s reckless rush to renewables is threatening Australia’s energy grid and the livelihoods of farmers and their communities, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. In its draft 2024 Integrated System Plan (ISP) released on Friday, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has brought forward the expected exit of the network’s coal-fired power…
The Albanese Labor Government is threatening Mallee’s productivity through the new biosecurity fresh food tax, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says. The Productivity Commission’s new report Towards Levyathan? Industry levies in Australia found levies introduced in the agriculture sector were now being imposed to simply raise general tax revenue. “The Productivity Commissions report shows…
This week I met with the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) to talk about mining projects in Mallee and the potential impact on prime agricultural land. Projects such as mineral sands mining or construction of transmission lines require proponents to complete a state Environmental Effects Statement (EES) on the possible impacts their development may have…