Like many Australians, I am appalled by the ongoing loss of life in Gaza, the suffering of innocent people, the destruction of critical infrastructure including hospitals and the obstruction of food and medical supplies.    

As your Independent MP, I am using my position as an elected representative to push for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, immediate humanitarian aid, and calling on the Australian Government to do more to put pressure on the Netanyahu Government to end this conflict. 

I condemn the attacks on Israel on October 7 by Hamas and call for the return of all hostages. In not dismissing the decades of history in this region, the generations of hurt, I acknowledge this current conflict was triggered by those awful events. But the months of violence that have followed since can no longer be tolerated by the international community. 

I have spoken in Parliament to give voice to Indi constituents on the push for peace,  

I have supported motions to allow debate about the conflict in federal parliament and I have written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Foreign Minister Penny Wong to share my deep concerns and called on the Government to uphold the important work of International Criminal Court (ICC).   

My thoughts are with the Israeli and Palestinian communities here in Australia who are deeply and tragically impacted by the conflict. I hope that as a community we continue to discuss this issue with respect and empathy, and work towards maintaining a safe, peaceful and cohesive society. 

Australians lose more than $25 billion every year to gambling. Yet, the harms of gambling aren’t just financial, but extend to mental health, domestic violence, family breakdown and homelessness.     

I support the calls from social service groups, leaders in sport, health and business, former prime ministers and state premiers, and a host of MPs urging the Government to commit to a ban on all gambling advertising. 

The evidence is clear and was detailed in the government’s own Report “You win some, you lose more”.  

A ban on gambling advertising would remove up to one million gambling ads from our televisions and radio airwaves every year and put a stop to the online grooming of our children by gambling companies. 

The Government must ban gambling advertising.  

I believe in universal access to early childhood education and care – it’s good for children and it’s good for parents and carers. 

The influence of early childhood education and care cannot be overstated – it is transformational. Children who receive high-quality education in their earliest years do better in school and at work, grow up heathier and happier, and lead more fulfilling lives.  

But across Australia, particularly in regional Australia, the early childhood education and care system is struggling. Families are forced to wait for months or years on wait lists to access childcare.   

When parents can’t access childcare, it is disproportionately women who will leave the workforce to provide that care. This reinforces the gender pay gap and makes it harder for women to balance motherhood and work.   

This is why I’m working to tackle childcare shortages across regional Australia, including in Indi.  

I support the Government’s commitment to increase wages for early childhood educators, and I support universal child care in Australia. All children should be able thrive, no matter where they come from and no matter their parents income.  

The introduction of the Government’s Aged Care Bill has been a long time coming, and I know how important this reform is to so many people across Indi. Its creation was a key recommendation in the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.  

I have consistently said that the new aged care legislation must focus on the safety, health and wellbeing of older people and put their needs and preferences first. I support the proposed creation of a statement of rights, so that older persons and their families can hold governments and providers accountable when their rights are not met.   

I encourage you to view the webinar provided by the Department of Health and Aged Care which explains the proposed reforms.

The Bill is before a senate committee. As an Independent Member of Parliament, I am scrutinising this Bill closely, to ensure it will improve access to aged care services for people in North-East Victoria and indeed across regional, rural and remote Australia.  

I support the NDIS because I know the incredible difference it makes in the lives of thousands of people living with disability in Indi, as well as for their families, friends and carers. That’s why I also know how important it is for the NDIS to be fair, sustainable and accessible for the long term. 

In its first decade, the scheme has empowered people with disabilities to access the supports they require, and to engage more fulsomely in their communities. 

But while I believe Australians should be proud of the NDIS, I also acknowledge the need for reform to the scheme to ensure it continues to meets people’s needs and remains sustainable in the long term. 

Parliament recently debated a key piece of legislation to reform the NDIS, which was eventually passed after an agreement between the Government and the Coalition. You can read my speech on the Bill here, which explains my concerns about the changes. 

The Minister for the NDIS committed to co-design the changes to the scheme with people with disability, and I will be watching closely to make sure that does happen. 

You can read more about the Bill and how it will be implemented here.   

I have also expressed concern about the Government’s lacklustre response to the Disability Royal Commission – which shined a distressing light on our failures as a nation to support and empower persons with disabilities. We are also awaiting the Government’s response to the landmark NDIS review.  

Like many people across Indi, I agree we need laws to protect Australians from discrimination based on their faith, or non-faith. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief is a human right, recognised under international law.  

I believe in the fundamental right to hold and safely express religious belief. However, legislation must balance this right with the need to afford protections against discrimination based on gender and sexuality. I understand the Government have drafted legislation in response to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s report on religious educational institutions and anti-discrimination laws. The Government are yet to released their draft legislation. 

As an Independent MP, I look forward to scrutinising the bills carefully when they are available and meeting with the Attorney-General to discuss these reforms. 

Our strong defence community, our veterans, and their families make an enormous contribution to our country and help keep us safe. However, when veterans transition back to civilian life, it can be difficult to access the right supports.  

The defence industry brings in millions of dollars of investment and many jobs into the Indi economy each year. I supported the establishment Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide championed by Senator Jacqui Lambie and I am working through its recommendations. 

I’ve also advocated for better supports for defence spouses in Indi who bring huge economic potential to our region.