You would expect that the last full Parliamentary sitting fortnight before an election would be an opportunity for a government to cement their achievements and talk about their vision for our nation. Instead, all we saw from the Morrison Government was broken promises, divisive legislation and scare campaigns. 
 
Scott Morrison’s Religious Discrimination Bill was a signature promise of his from before the last election. A Bill to support freedom from discrimination based on religion could have been a unifying moment for our nation, but instead this Prime Minister sought to divide Australians by protecting the rights of some at a cost to the rights of others.  

It started with the Government’s attempts to sacrifice the rights of transgender children in a bid to wedge Labor on the Religion Discrimination Bill. It was a disgraceful act of politicking, which ultimately blew up in his own face after a revolt from his backbench and the success of Labor’s amendments to protect school students. Rather than work with Labor to give all Australians better protections, Scott Morrison instead chose to abandon his bill altogether. 
 
Labor believes all Australians have the right to live their lives free of discrimination. I am deeply sorry that the LGBTI community have again had to endure a damaging public debate like this. The people of Canberra made it very clear to me that they did not want to see the rights of some protected at the expense of the rights of others. Again I want to thank everyone who contacted me about this Bill, in recent weeks and over the last three years. You can see my speech on this legislation here.
 
The Government also confirmed that it would not pursue a federal integrity commission, breaking yet another election promise. Its attempts to blame Labor for this failure were embarrassing, false and in stark contrast to our commitment to establish a strong and independent watchdog with real powers. You can see our full policy here.

Speaking about the divisive Religious Discrimination Bill.

In this sitting, Parliament also marked the 14th anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations. 

Importantly, Anthony Albanese used the anniversary of the Apology to re-affirm Labor’s commitment to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full as an important next step on the path to reconciliation. I spoke about this here.

The Parliament also delivered a formal apology to victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and bullying while working in federal parliament. The apology fulfilled an important first recommendation of the independent Jenkins review into Parliament’s workplace culture. The review was sparked by Brittany Higgins allegations of sexual assault inside Parliament House and the bravery of other victim/survivors who also came forward.  

Ms Higgins, along with our incredible 2021 Australian of the year, Grace Tame, delivered a powerful address to the National Press Club about gender based violence the following day. I also spoke in the Parliament about the status of women in Australia. You can watch that speech here.

Speaking about the status of women in Australia.

Outside Parliament, there were protests over three very different subjects. The anti-vax/mandate protests received wide media attention, and the poor behaviour of some of the protestors was a great disappointment.  
Canberrans are used to protests and are very respectful of people’s right to peaceful protest. But the conduct of some of the protestors, including harassing local businesses and that leading to the cancellation of the Lifeline Bookfair and EPIC Farmers Market was incredibly frustrating for all of us. 

I spoke about the importance of the Bookfair to fund Lifeline’s lifesaving work which you can see here. I’m so proud of our community's response after news spread of the cancellation, raising over $700,000 for Lifeline Canberra. 

A second protest, which received less attention, was organised by former Afghan interpreters to plead with the Australian Government to do more to help those at risk of persecution in Afghanistan. It was an important message and I spoke about the great work of refugee advocates in Canberra, which you can see here.

I also spoke about the broader treatment of refugees in Australia, including the need to release those kept in the Park Hotel in Melbourne, the waste that is offshore processing, and Labor's pledge to end temporary protection visas, safe haven enterprise visas, and indefinite detention. You can see that speech here.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation also held a protest to highlight the crisis in aged care. I spoke about the Morrison Government’s failure to take decisive action to head off this crisis, which you can see here.

Shadow Minister for Aged Care, Clare O’Neil, speaking to aged care staff.

It was an honour to participate in a panel at the Australian Gender Economics Workshop with the ANU’s Kristen Sobeck, Women’s Legal Centre ACT principal solicitor Claudia Maclean, and Grattan Institute chief executive Danielle Wood. 

We discussed policies to ensure gender equality as we rebuild from the COVID pandemic. 

Labor has a plan to help the economy work better for women, including cheaper childcare, closing the gender-pay gap, and addressing wage stagnation and insecure work. Just to name a few. You can read more about our policies here.

Discussing gender equity for the Australian Gender Economics Workshop.

Parliament dissolved into high farce in the second sitting week, with the Government choosing to run multiple baseless scare campaigns. The behaviour by Scott Morrison and his colleagues in the House was disgraceful and beneath what Australians should expect from their Parliament. It is little wonder so many people have lost faith in our democratic institutions. 
 
The fact the Government would choose to spend its time before an election slinging dirt, rather than addressing the crisis in aged care, the climate crisis or housing affordability, shows its complete lack of policy, agenda, or legacy. 
 
The 46th Parliament has only the short Budget sittings at the end of March before it is dissolved for  the next election. And after the display of the past fortnight, that election can’t come soon enough.

Much nicer conversations with residents in Deakin compared to some of the debate in Parliament.

I’ll be out and about holding mobile offices around Canberra in coming weeks, talking to Canberrans about the need to change the Government. If you see me around, please come and say hello! 

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