Welcome to the final edition of Payne's Parliamentary Proceedings for 2023, wrapping up the last sitting days of Parliament and capping off a big year of the Albanese Labor Government delivering for Australians.

Some important legislation passed through the Parliament in the past few weeks including:

• Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill – A bill to Increase protections for workers including criminalising wage theft, same job same pay provisions to protect labour hire workers and new criminal offences for industrial manslaughter.
• Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill – A bill to finally deliver on the Murray Darling Basin Plan in full including the promised 450GL of water for the environment.
• Nature Repair Market Bill – A bill to promote investment in biodiversity and nature repair including through the introduction of a water trigger into the EPBC Act.

Over these sitting weeks I’ve had the opportunity to speak on a number of important topics including:

• The rights of intersex Australians through a speech written by my constituent, Isabella
• The situation in Gaza and Israel
• My visit to Vietnam to represent Australia at the OECD South East Asia Ministerial Forum in October
• Economic Advisory Committee Bill 2023
• The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 16 days of action.
• Digital Safety for Young Australians
• Movember
• A reflection on the achievements of 2023.

You can watch these speeches at the links attached.

During this sitting period, as Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, I tabled the report of our inquiry into Governance on Norfolk Island.

It’s a great privilege to chair this committee and to have had the opportunity to hear from Norfolk Island residents about the significant challenges they face.

Our report, entitled ‘Restoring Democracy’, charts a path forwards for residents who have lived with a democratic deficit for too long. You can watch my tabling speech here and read the full report here.

We also marked the International Day for Ending Violence Against Women and the subsequent 16 Days of Activism.

As Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Ending Violence Against Women and Children, I was happy to co-host the launch of Our Watch’s Strategic Plan 2024-2029. Our Watch is a national leader in preventing violence against women and children in Australia.

I’m glad that our group continues to bring together parliamentarians across political lines to show our support for ending violence against women and children.

Also during this sitting period, Our Government announced a $15 million investment to improve the health and resilience of the Murumbidgee river, and another $5 million to monitor the river's health and ensure that it is protected well into the future.
 
I also was pleased to join the Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King, Chief Minister Andrew Barr and ACT Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel, alongside my fellow ACT MPs Andrew Leigh and David Smith to announce an additional federal investment of $125.5 million for the Stage 2A Light Rail extension.

Light rail was part of Walter Burley Griffin’s original plan for Canberra, and it’s exciting to watch this project come to life. Construction will begin in late 2024, with services slated to begin in early 2028.

In November, Women in Information and Communications Technology (WIC) held their annual Dinner Debate and Awards.

As proud patron of WIC I was very pleased to present the 2023 Defying Gravity Award to Farryn Brousek for her amazing work. The evening also included a funny and thoughtful discussion on the future of AI. 

Last, I’d like to briefly pay tribute to my friend and colleague Peta Murphy MP, who sadly passed away this month from cancer, just days after attending Parliament.

Peta and I were first elected together in 2019. She was a fierce advocate for her community and for progressive change, an inspirational member of Parliament and a wonderful friend who we will miss terribly.

You can watch my condolence speech for Peta here.

Thanks for reading this final edition of this newsletter for 2023.

It’s been a huge year and as always I’m incredibly proud to represent our city in the Federal Parliament. I’m looking forward to a big 2024.

As always, if you have an issue or concern you’d like to raise directly with me, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with my office. You can also stay up to date with my work on my social media channels which you can find below.
 
My Electorate Office in the City will be closed from 22 December 2023 to 8 January 2024, but you can contact us by calling and leaving a voice message or emailing [email protected] – both will be regularly monitored throughout the break.

I hope you’re able to have a break of the festive season. Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and safe 2024.