When Labor won the Federal Election in May, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged not to waste a minute in government.

For the past 6 months we’ve seen this pledge in action and especially in the final sitting fortnight of the year. The Parliament has had another packed agenda of legislation in order to get things done for Australians.

With Parliament returning on Thursday to cap energy prices, Australians can look back with satisfaction on a successful first six months of the Albanese Labor Government.

Beginning in our first weeks in office we have already secured:

• An increase to the minimum wage
• A legislated commitment to reducing Australia’s carbon emissions by 43% by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2050
• Legislation to make childcare and medicines cheaper 
• Legislation to fix the broken aged care system, including securing an interim 15% pay rise for aged care workers
• Extended paid parental leave to six months
• The establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Commission
• The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill which will get wages moving again.

In total, in the first 6 months of the Albanese Labor Government, a total of 70 bills have been presented to the Parliament, and 33 have passed and received Royal Assent.

In a historic moment for Canberrans, the fortnight saw the passing of Luke Gosling and my Private Members Bill to repeal the Andrews’ Bill and restore territory rights. The Bill passed the Senate on the voices – meaning there was no need for a formal division.

This delivers on Labor’s promise to prioritise this debate and after 25 years return full democratic rights to the territories. The ACT and Northern Territory Legislative Assemblies now have the right to debate and legislate voluntary assisted dying, which have already passed in every state of Australia.

It was honour to be in the Senate Chamber for the final vote and I want to thank all of my colleagues across the Parliament for their support of Canberrans and Northern Territorians when voting for our bill.

A lot of exciting Bills passed during the fortnight, including legislation to establish National Anti-Corruption Commission and fix Industrial Relations.

Labor is committed to tackling corruption and restoring trust and integrity to federal politics. The NACC that was legislated will be transparent and independent and have the power to investigate serious or systemic corrupt conduct across the entire federal public sector.  

I spoke in support of the NACC. You can watch my speech here.

Australia’s workplace relations were broken and not working to deliver a fair go for workers. That’s why Labor introduced the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill - changing the law to promote job security, help close the gender pay gap, modernise the workplace bargaining system and get wages moving. It was incredibly satisfying to see this bill pass the Parliament.

I spoke about the Bill on the ABC’s Capital Hill program. You can watch that interview here.

I also spoke in Parliament about the Budget and protecting Australia's environment. You can watch those speeches here and here.

Outside Parliament, I was just as busy as inside.

The highlight was the first meeting of my deliberative democracy group, The Canberra Forum. It was wonderful to meet the participants and commence what I hope will be a great conversation and learning experience for us all!

The Forum will meet early next year to choose topics and then over a period of six months before delivering their recommendations to me. I will use this feedback to guide my representations of the people of Canberra in the Parliament.

I can’t wait to hear what the forum comes up with.

I was pleased to join Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly, Education Minister Jason Clare, and Assistant Minister for Education Senator Anthony Chisholm for a visit to Civic Early Childhood Centre to mark the passing of our cheaper childcare bill through Parliament. From July, more than 23,000 ACT families will have access to cheaper early education and care.

I was also pleased to receive the Women’s Climate Congress charter for change while A Chorus of Women performed a song. These brilliant women are wonderful advocates for climate action and I’m proud to be part of a government that is taking action to combat climate change.

The festive season also arrived in Parliament, with Parliamentary staff doing a wonderful job of decorating Parliament House. Christmas is a season of giving and it’s important to remember many in our community are doing it tough this year. I was pleased to join my colleagues and fellow Parliamentarians in donating gifts to the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.

I also recently visited Community Services #1 to help chief executive Amanda Tobler pack Christmas hampers. Amanda said CS1 has had double the usual demand for help this holiday season. If you’re able to donate to the hampers, you can drop off donations at the Narrabundah office, donate via the website, or else support one of the many other organisations doing wonderful work supporting Canberrans this Christmas.

It was also my great honour in the last sitting to be appointed to the Speaker’s Panel – which means I will assist the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to chair Parliament in 2023.

When Parliament is done for the year, myself, my staff and all my Labor colleagues will continue to work hard for you and in your interests.

If you need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me on (02) 6247 8475 or at [email protected].

You can stay up to date with my day-to-day work around Canberra on my social media channels (links below my signature block) to keep up to date with my day-to-day work around Canberra.

Finally, I wish all Canberrans a restful and relaxing summer break over Christmas and the festive season. Stay safe and I look forward to hearing from you and advocating for our community in 2022.