Dhawra nguna dhawra Ngunawal

Members of the House of Representatives and Senators of the Twenty-Ninth Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, ladies, gentlemen, and those otherwise identified. I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunawal people, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present, emerging leaders and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders gathered here today. I also acknowledge the voices of the next generation of Australia who have gathered here today to have their voices heard. In the spirit of those traditional owners of the land, the House and Government welcomes you. To use the words of the Ngunawal themselves, we seek to bind together, Naraganawali, for the future of our nation.

My Government however will not merely content itself with simply acknowledging the Ngunawal people of Australia. In fact, we will not content ourselves with that for any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community in this country. My Government has said that enough is enough. My Government recognises that the need for endless inquiries with no action is over, and commits itself to the full implementation of the recommendations of the Closing the Gap, Bringing Them Home Report and Royal Commission into Indigenous Deaths in Custody. Furthermore, my Government will seek to acknowledge the self-determination of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within Australia, establish a Tribunal who can make legally binding rulings on Aboriginal issues throughout Australia in line with New Zealand’s Waitangi Tribunal model and we will finally pass a Treaty establishing the basic rights of Aboriginal Australians.

*All Government MPs and Senators stand up and applaud*

This is a Government which comes off the heels of successive failures by a variety of coalitions, which have failed to pass meaningful reform and which have left Australia in a difficult situation. We have seen Governments squander their historic majorities and one of the largest movements away from organised political parties in recent memory. With the historic mandate delivered to the new Government, we simply cannot rest on our laurels. We are forced to actively challenge and fight the issues of Australia head on. A majority like this one cannot be wasted on petty politics and it is the wish of my Government to break through the divide and come together as Australians for a more sensible governing arrangement.

My Government comes into office with a historic mandate from rural and regional Australia and will govern with the principle of ensuring parity between our urban and regional areas. The Government is committed that it is not simply enough to give paltry offerings to rural and regional Australia but decisive action is needed.

My government recognises that tonight, as the eyes of Australia and the world are watching, progress is needed to ensure that the young people of this nation are heard. My Government commits to the full introduction and passing of the *Electoral Amendment (Votes at 16) Act 2024\,* giving 16 and 17 year olds the right to have their say in the festival of democracy, bringing together all parts of this nation to have their say on who will represent them.

My Government believes that water is one of the most sacred measurements of life. Our Government is united by the Pacific, with our lineage tied to our Pacific Islander brothers and sisters. The water which flows through our nation deserves to be healthy, safe to drink and in the fellowship of all Australians. My Government will be pursuing reforms to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority in order to ensure that Australia’s largest river authority remains fit for purpose. We will be seeking reviews on water metre legislation and continuing the crackdown started by the 2022-2023 “Rural Budget” against water theft. We will expand the desalination project started by that same Budget and work to ensure that new solutions are offered so that no Australian will have to deal with drought.

My Government recognises the inherent right of all Australians to a healthy environment, and recognises the efforts of the ACT Government in spearheading this proposal to ensure that every individual in Australia may enjoy this right. To ensure this is achieved, my Government will work to restore the Australian Environment and its wildlife, to strengthen conservation efforts, preserve our magnificent native forests, the Great Barrier Reef and implement Rewilding Programmes to help bring the Australian Bush back to its former glory. Further to these efforts, my government will establish a National Beautification Project, investing funds directly into our environment and the groups that look after it, leaving the world better than how we found it. My government will uphold the Clean Energy Act along with enforcing the ban on new Coal projects and establish a second Research and Medicine Reactor. We will also work with State Governments and make sure they have the needed support to be best prepared for the effects of Climate Change.

My Government will be seeking a better deal for farming communities and rural communities at every turn. We will be delivering new funding mandates for farming communities, through the introduction of a 10% Farm Debt Mediation scheme to deal with the farm debt crisis, a $10,000 livestock replenishment fund and an increase in inspection for large herd health. My Government will seek to end the land banking practices of large agricultural firms and return rural land into being competitive for everyday farmers who are being priced out of their family land. My Government will seek to implement a Commonwealth fund for rural and regional markets, ensuring that all of these markets have access to regular facilities and that there is a high thoroughfare for our nation's goods.

My government recognises that Australia’s healthcare system needs fresh new ideas, and needs bold action taken to ensure it meets the needs of all Australians moving towards 2030. My government will bring the epidemic of nicotine abuse through vaping under control. Too many children are taking up nicotine through colourful, attractive vapes which are single-use and incredibly harmful to the environment. We will make vaping products prescription-only and crack down on retailers who choose to illegally sell them. We will also reverse the alarming trend of GP Clinics towards mixed-billing by bolstering spending in our Medicare system. My Government will operate towards a harm-reduction model on harmful substances, including reforming drug laws to provide for decriminalised use and the expansion of pill testing and safe room programs. My government will work to see that Non-Binary Australians will be properly recognised. By introducing a Gender Rights reform bill we'll ensure that All Australians will be able to have themselves identified correctly on the identifying documents. Furthermore, my government will streamline the process for transgender Australians to seek the life saving gender affirming healthcare that they need, ensuring easier and more reliable access through psychologists. My Government will additionally establish and fully fund a new Australian Biocrisis Agency, situated within the Department of Health but working across all government departments to ensure that Australia is ready and prepared in the case of future pandemics, and establishing a national medical and logistical stockpile for use in emergencies in conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency.

My government will reinvigorate spending on the arts in Australia. For too long, successive conservative governments have neglected to adequately fund culture and society programs in this country. This will end with my government, as we create a special, targeted fund for Australia’s creative industries which are designed to maximise living standards and fuel tourism. The arts, which includes screen, cinema, video games, theatre, music, and so much more, will be prioritised by this government. As a matter of priority, my government will re-establish the Australia Network. Further to our plans to bolster the rights of Indigenous Australians, my government will invest in the creation and promotion of Indigenous media and literature, allowing the rich stories and cultures of Indigenous Australians to be shared and celebrated across our nation.

My government is committed to restoring Australia’s place and reputation on the international stage, ensuring that our global partners and neighbours have the certainty that a progressive Australia is prepared to stand up for the values that shape our great nation. It is impossible to deny the reality of Australia’s place within the Pacific and Asia more broadly, and it is an objective of my government to ensure that Australia’s place is restored in our region, and that our bastion of democracy acts as a protector of democracy across our broader region. My Government will reintroduce the Sovereign States and Territories Bill, which will force current and future governments to abandon any attempts at isolationism, and ensure that the government of the day gives appropriate thought, consideration and response to any ongoing conflict affecting a declared nation or territory.

My government will get Australia moving again. It is the priority of my government to ensure that all areas of this nation are granted the proper infrastructure needed to support a growing and thriving Australia. This government will get shovels in the ground on a Melbourne Airport-CBD rail link, investing in road upgrades, and more suburban commuter rail for our major cities. My Government will additionally focus on longer-range transport, through creating a nationalised high-speed rail network. My Government will seek to expand the regional networks of Australian transport infrastructure, ensuring our regions are never left behind. We plan to do this through expanding Fast Rail to Wollongong and by expanding the regional Queensland train network to provide more direct coverage between Brisbane and major regional centers. Energy infrastructure is a matter which we will not ignore, building Snowy 2.0 to increase energy storage. Whilst this is just a few things, it is a small part of a far bigger infrastructure agenda. My government will work to improve Australia's infrastructure in all fields and all places, upgrading communications infrastructure, especially the national broadband network. My Government aims to improve rural transport connections with regional rail, and networks of regional airports, while also improving urban public transport, focusing away from cars and towards buses and light rail. My Government recognises the housing crisis facing our nation, which is why through strong investment in affordable, public and social housing across the nation, my government will introduce a nationwide rent to buy scheme, and will take the necessary steps to abolish negative gearing.

My government recognises the right of every child in Australia to have the best possible start in life, regardless of who they are. My Government will deliver the most comprehensive education reform since the incident, ensuring that millions of children and students may get the best possible start in life. Through the benefits of our government's economic reform, they will deliver universal subsidised childcare, improving the lives of children and parents alike, bolstering the additional commitment of a universal baby-box scheme. Further to this education reform, my government will reintroduce and pass the Australian Education Act, restoring billions of dollars of needed funding into the Australian school system.

My Government will be a Government which seeks to finally stand up for working class Australia and deliver massive new measures for them. We will seek to cover the cost of all workplace accidents under Medicare and ensure that, if you are harmed in your workplace, you will not pay a single cent of cost for the service which heals you. The government will make it the official stance to encourage that people should join a workers union and it is the wish of my Government that those who hear this speech today go out and organise under collective labour. My Government will seek to make new strides in the unionisation of the young and migrant communities, with a particular focus on the unionisation of migrant workers within New South Wales and Queensland. My Government will seek to break the monopolies in the Australian mining sector which has resulted in a stranglehold on the rights of Australian miners, aim to create a fairer taxation deal between the Commonwealth and State Governments and increase the rate of mining inspections.

My government will maintain strong levels of investment in all areas of the Australian defence forces to ensure that our military stays up-to-date on all important developments., expanding upon efforts in the field of cyberwarfare, so we are better able to maintain a strong defence against such methods if need be. My government will ensure a full implementation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicide to ensure that the mental health of those in the defence forces are well looked after. My government will also reform the Intelligence community to ensure this vital asset to our nations’ defence is as efficient at protecting our people as possible, and as cohesive in working with government and the wider defence forces as it can be.

All of this must be paid for at some stage and the Government has noticed that previous Government’s have failed to pass Budget legislation. Through the mandate received at the previous election from the Australian people, my Government believes it has no excuse for our Budgetary documents failing and so will seek to build consensus across Australia on our Budgetary direction. My Government will seek to implement a federal land value tax in order to provide large tax coverage for its new spending programs, will seek to reorganise our taxation system to lay new levies against major companies and will seek to make Australia an internationally recognised leader in sensible budget management. My Government will seek to keep Australia in a low-debt environment and make us internationally accredited to overseas lenders, ensuring that we work within our means while delivering for everyday Australians.