Merry Christmas, Macnamara

By Josh Burns - Federal MP for Macnamara

Being in government is a huge privilege. It is about delivering for the people who gave us the opportunity to serve the community. So, I thought I would wrap the year by providing an update on some of the work that has already happened in our first six months of government.  

In the last sitting week of the year, we fulfilled our promise to legislate a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). We promised we’d get it done this year and that’s exactly what we’ve done. 

The NACC will be a powerful, independent body with teeth that will deliver on our community’s expectations to raise the standards in parliament.

I commend my good friend Mark Dreyfus on working with the crossbench and community stakeholders to deliver on this important reform.

After 10 years wasted with countless failed energy policies and failed energy ministers under the previous Coalition government, Australia finally has a legislated climate bill as the law of this land.

Our climate change bill is already proving to be a gamechanger for our economy. It’s helping create hundreds of thousands of jobs, as well as helping local businesses and households thrive into the future with it being the cheapest form of new energy.

This is all while making serious ambitious action on climate change and protecting our native species, the Great Barrier Reef and investing in local ecological projects.

From our youngest to our oldest Australians, the federal Labor government has also delivered critical change to these sectors.

Making child care cheaper is a key economic reform that’s good for parents and good for working parents – especially working mums. And from July 2023 it will become a whole a lot cheaper for a whole lot more families. 

Some of our most vulnerable citizens reside in aged care. I’m very proud that one of our very first reform bills was to restore dignity to our oldest Australians. 

We passed major improvements to aged care in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

In addition, we have legislated 10 days domestic and paid violence leave and have extended paid parental leave up until 26 weeks. 

And the best part about this latter reform is it doesn’t matter what your family make up is or how you choose to split it – we are empowering you to make that choice.

And last but certainly not least, we have legislated to get wages moving again. After 10 years of wages stagnation being a deliberate economic design feature, this government is restoring the balance and giving workers a fair go. 

Those were just a few of my highlights, but there is a lot more to do. It’s a real privilege to be able to represent you federally from within government. 

I look forward to recharging my batteries over summer and continue to represent you strongly in our federal parliament as we continue to embark on our strong and progressive policy agenda.

I wish the entire Southbank community happy holidays, and no matter what or how you celebrate, I hope it is a restful and important time to you and your family.  

And a special thank you to all workers working over public holidays. You deserve your penalty rates and all of our thanks. •

Caption - Attorney-General the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC, MP and Josh Burns MP, Federal Member for Macnamara.