In a 90-sec parliamentary speech, I shared with the House the resourcefulness, benevolence and resilience of Indi communities and individuals.

For too long in this country we have been sold the idea that to be kind we must be cruel, and to avoid people drowning at sea, we must detain those who do not. The Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020 is founded on a false assumption.

The Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan makes 165 recommendations that together would transform the way we prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from bushfires, but we must first address the root cause of worsening bushfires

I am supporting the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020 because it has the qualified support of Indi’s regional universities, but it’s clear and glaring deficiencies cannot be ignored

Being smarter about how we use resources is not just an environmental but a jobs opportunity and a regional jobs opportunity. What would it look like if we got serious about growing jobs in recycling in regional Australia?

Migration will be crucial in the post-COVID recovery. When the borders open, we should prioritise partner visas – welcoming people who have chosen Australia as their new home into our regional communities.

The JobKeeper extension is very welcome, as it’s clear from business, welfare and community leaders that the pandemic is not over. But I am feeling more optimistic today that we have what we need in place to get through in a better state.

People in North East border communities have survived bushfires and the decimation of the summer tourism market. They survived the COVID-19 lockdown, twice. But it’s the border closures that could finish them off.

Indi projects should be front and centre as we look forward to building communities post the COVID restrictions.

From bushfires to pandemics, emergencies expose the precarious nature of our hard-fought wins. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the consequences of COVID-19 on women.