May marked one-year since Australians voted for a better future under a Labor Government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

And what a year it has been! In that time we’ve done a lot, but there’s still so much more to do.
Some of Labor’s achievements so far include:

• Real climate action.
• The establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
• Strengthening Medicare.
• Cheaper Child Care.
• Restoring Territory Rights after 25 years of discrimination.
• Making our workplaces fairer for Australian workers and legislating for paid domestic and family violence leave.
• Abolished TPVs.
• Properly funding our National Institutions.
• Huge reforms to the Aged Care sector.
• Allowing sole parents with children aged up to 14 to again access Parenting Payment.

Thank you to all the Canberrans who put your trust in me to represent you as part of an Albanese Labor Government - it is the greatest honour.

May was also Budget month, and the 2023 Budget delivers for Canberrans, particularly when it comes to our health.

We’re investing $5.7 billion to strengthen Medicare including by tripling the bulk-billing incentive. This is huge for the ACT which has the lowest rate of bulk-billing in the country and ends the decades long attacks on our community GPs by the former Government.

The Budget also delivered for the Australian Public Service – whose work critical for our democracy, and for the delivery of the services that Australians rely on.

The Albanese Government is investing in the APS to rebuild capability and streamline efficiency.

This includes: $2 billion to modernise govt ICT systems to deliver simpler, more secure and connected digital services; $10.9 million to establish an in-house consulting firm to reduce reliance on external consultants; $8.4 million to build capability of the APS to address service-wide challenges; and $3.4 million to help achieve our commitment to 5% First Nations employment by 2030.

For too long the APS has been undervalued and undermined. Under Labor, our public service will always be respected.

As a former public servant with Treasury, I’m proud to be part of a Government that respects the Australian Public Service, your critical role and the professionalism and dedication with which you do your work.

Thank you to all the public servants for the work you’ve done to deliver the Budget - a mammoth task - and the work you do to deliver for the Australian people everyday.

Unfortunately, the Coalition chose to use Senate Estimates to bully and try to shame public servants based on their clothing. Their lack of respect for the work our APS does is outrageous.

I spoke about this in the Parliament which you can watch here. You can also see my speech about the budget here.

May also marked an important milestone on the road to Reconciliation as the House passed the Constitution Alteration Bill.

The Bill, which will now go to the Senate, prepares the way for a referendum later this year on the Voice to Parliament - a once in a generation opportunity to recognise First Nations Australians in the Constitution.

I was pleased with the strong interest from Canberrans when I and my ACT Labor colleagues - Senator Katy Gallagher, Andrew Leigh MP and David Smith MP – hosted a Voice to Parliament Forum on Reconcilitation Day.

About 300 Canberrans attended in person, and another 400 joined us online, to discuss the Voice with Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney, Professor Peter Yu AM, Noah Allan and Aunty Violet Sheridan.

You can watch the entire forum here, and my speech in support of the Constitution Alteration Bill here.

Outside Parliament, I was honoured to help launch the Shine-Dalgarno Centre for RNA Innovation at the Shine Dome at The Australian National University!

Here in Canberra, 50 years ago, John Shine and Lynn Dalgarno discovered what became known as the Shine-Dalgarno sequence – which paved the way for much of what we know today about molecular biology and gene expression.

It is through the Covid Pandemic many of us will have learnt the acronym mRNA for the first time through the introduction of life saving vaccines. These discoveries made that work possible.
And this week, with the pardoning of Kathleen Folbig, we see the importance of science and genetic biology once again.

It was a pleasure to address this incredibly impressive room of scientific minds and I’m greatly looking forward to the scientific discoveries the Centre will undoubtedly make in the future.

In other exciting milestones, the Canberra Institute of Technology turned 95.

Founded in 1928, CIT has grown to five campuses and trains 20,000 students each year.
I was pleased to speak at the celebrations.

The VET sector is undergoing a once in a generation reform with the Albanese Labor Government funding 180,000 Fee-Free TAFE and VET places this year, and a further 300,000 from next year.

This is vital so the VET sector can equip Australians with the skills they need for well-paid, secure work and getting us ready for the opportunities of the future.

In May, I was also delight to attend a number of important celebrations.

I enjoyed a wonderful night at the Conservation Council ACT Region World Environment Day Dinner, celebrating the tireless work the Canberra environment community does to protect our local and global environment.

I was honoured to join the Canberra Tamil Association to celebrate 40 years of their organisation connecting and supporting Tamil migrants in Canberra, preserving and celebrating their rich culture and contributing to the diversity of our city.

I also had the privilege to celebrate Vesak at the Sakyamuni Monastery with my colleague Sam Lim MP. Vesak, or Buddha Day, is the most important Buddhist festival - commemorating the life and enlightenment of Gautama Buddha.

I’ve been out and about holding mobile offices and coffee catch ups around Canberra, talking to Canberrans about the important work of the government. If you see me around, please come and say hello!

Parliament is back next week with a lot to get done! I'll make sure to do my best to keep you informed.

Thank you for reading. If there is anything I can do to help you, please get in contact with my office at [email protected] or (02) 6247 8475.