At a Glance

First Term Wins 

Greater transparency and accountability in defence contacts

When it comes to Defence spending, integrity and accountability should be non-negotiable, especially with taxpayers footing the bill.

Through Senate Estimates, I uncovered serious concerns with the $515 million “One Defence Data” project, a major initiative intended to unify Defence’s data systems. The procurement process lacked rigour, transparency, and proper oversight, putting both the project’s value and public trust at risk. But following my scrutiny, Defence has since made changes to how the capability will be delivered.

This is exactly why parliamentary oversight matters:

• To shine a light on opaque processes
• To protect value for money in taxpayer investment
• And to drive better outcomes for major government programs
  

I’ll keep using every tool available, including Senate Estimates, to ensure Defence and other departments deliver on their promises, with integrity and in the public interest.

Increasing focus on the risk climate change poses to defence and national security

Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s a national security threat. And yet, for too long, that risk has been downplayed or ignored in official reporting.

During negotiations over the Climate Change Act 2022, I secured a critical amendment: the Annual Statement on Climate Change must now consider the national security risks of climate change. This ensures that our climate policy is not just about emissions,  it’s also about protecting Australia’s strategic interests, supply chains, infrastructure, and communities from worsening climate impacts.

But transparency matters too, which is why I’ve been leading crossbench calls for the public release of the Office of National Intelligence’s Climate Risk Assessment. Australians deserve to know how climate change threatens our national security, and what’s being done about it.

Climate change is reshaping our world. I’ll keep pushing to ensure our policies are grounded in evidence, transparency, and a clear-eyed view of the risks ahead.

Definition of Australian business in our procurement rules - supporting sovereign capability in the defence industry

Every year, the federal government spends over $70 billion on goods and services, in 2023-24 that reached almost $100 billion. I’ve been determined to make sure that Australian small and medium businesses are able to compete with large multinationals on a level playing field.

I got support for a Senate inquiry into reforming procurement rules to back Australian businesses. Through the inquiry and following its report, I haveI pushed the Government to define Australian business for procurement purposes.

In early 2025, the Government inserted a definition for Australian business. This change is a win for local jobs, fair competition, and better outcomes.

I’ll keep fighting to make sure public money delivers the best outcomes and that Australian businesses aren’t locked out of opportunity.

Military support to Ukraine

Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, I’ve consistently called for Australia to stand with the Ukrainian people and provide the military aid they need to defend their sovereignty, freedom, and lives.

I’ve engaged closely with the Ukrainian community in the ACT, and worked alongside the Ambassador of Ukraine to ensure their voices are heard. I’ve met with and written to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, urging the Government to step up and do more.

Thanks to the tireless advocacy of the Ukrainian-Australian community and the support of so many Australians, we’ve seen real action, with the delivery of aid including M1A1 Abrams tanks, Bushmaster armoured vehicles, Howitzers, drones, rigid hull boats, and more.

I will continue to stand with Ukraine and work to ensure Australia does its part, because defending freedom and upholding the rules-based international order matters.

Bringing forward the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commissioner

Before the end of the parliamentary term, I worked with Senator Jacqui Lambie to negotiate with the Government to bring forward legislation to set up the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission (a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicides).

The idea behind the Commission is to give government independent oversight and advice to help drive real reforms that improve suicide prevention and mental health outcomes for current and former members of the ADF.

The Commission’s findings were tough to read, and I felt strongly that we couldn’t just sit on them. That’s why I pushed to get this new body in place before the end of the parliamentary term, so it could start doing the work and have the powers it needs to help make real, lasting change across defence and veterans’ services.

What I’m Fighting For

A defence budget that delivers national security

Australia faces an increasingly complex and uncertain strategic environment and we need a defence budget that reflects that.

Recent increases to defence spending are justified, but investment alone is not enough. We need to ensure every dollar actually delivers real capability and security, not just more procurement blowouts.

That means:

• A focus on both the quality and quantity of defence spending
• Greater accountability and transparency in procurement
• Ensuring funds go to capability that meets strategic needs, not political priorities
  

At the same time, we must talk honestly about how to pay for it.

Australia is one of the world’s largest resource exporters, yet we continue to sell our gas and minerals for a far lower return than Australians deserve. Fairer taxation of resource profits would ensure we can properly fund defence, while still investing in public services (like health, housing and education) as well as clean energy.

A credible defence strategy needs a credible funding strategy. I’ll keep working to ensure we get both.

Implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

The Royal Commission’s final report paints a picture of a complex system with two many gaps. A system that has let far too many people down. I was particularly struck by this quote, which opens the Royal Commission’s final report:

“[N]othing will take away what it does to a person to literally sign a piece of paper to say they will go anywhere at any time and do anything – including sacrificing their own life – in the defence of our country. And then for that country to turn around and say to them they are not worth anything to them broken. Not worth anything to them injured. That they see me as nothing.” - Ex-serving Air Force  member

When I speak to current and former members of the ADF, they often tell me just how rewarding it can be to serve in the military. But we must be clear-eyed about the huge challenges faced by many of our Veterans and serving members. We are losing an average of 78 serving and ex-serving defence members each year to suicide, and significant changes are needed.

The Royal Commission has given us a blueprint of what we must now do to ensure our support systems recognise when people need help and then actually provide that help.

The Government has accepted the vast majority of the Royal Commission’s recommendations, but change does not happen overnight and we cannot afford to lose momentum. If re-elected, I will work with our Ex-Service Organisations, with Canberrans and with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that we honour current and former ADF members by holding the next government accountable for implementing the recommendations they have accepted.

National Veteran Volunteer Program to supercharge disaster response, improve Veteran wellbeing and reduce reliance on the ADF

As climate disasters become more frequent and severe, Australia needs a 21st-century emergency response system. One that doesn’t just rely on the ADF, but empowers communities to lead and respond.

That’s why I’m backing a plan from Disaster Relief Australia for an expansion to their National Veteran Volunteer Program that will  strengthen Australia’s volunteer disaster response capacity. This plan builds on the existing Volunteer Uplift Program, to build capacity to respond to disasters, address declining Veteran health and well-being and reduce reliance on the ADF to respond to disasters.

In its first budget the Albanese Government committed $38.3 million over four years to Disaster Relief Australia. Further Investment is needed to grow the program to 10,000 trained disaster volunteers, establish an Initial Relief Force and create 1,250 small-team leadership and coordination cells.This will enable DRF to support an additional 10,000 volunteers over and above those under the organisation.

The program requires indexed continuation of existing funding ($15 million per year in 2025 dollars) plus an additional $5.5 million per year in indexed funding for expanded capability and reach.

Transparency around AUKUS

Canberrans often raise concerns with me about AUKUS and in particular AUKUS Pillar 1, which is the acquisition of nuclear-powered attack submarines. Concerns centre on cost, capability, and whether this agreement will actually deliver what Australia needs in an increasingly uncertain world.

I believe there is merit in Australia acquiring a credible submarine capability. But questions remain over whether AUKUS is the right vehicle to achieve that goal and concerns around the lack of public debate and scrutiny over the agreement at the timeit was made and subsequently.

We are facing one of the most complex and fast-changing strategic environments in decades. In this context, national security is of vital importance and we must ensure that AUKUS delivers value for money, appropriate sovereignty, and long-term capability.

I will continue to hold the Government to account on AUKUS. That means asking:

• What capabilities are we actually getting?
• How will this affect our long-term defence planning?
• And how will we ensure this enormous investment strengthens our national security, not just our strategic relationships?
  

Australia needs a defence strategy that’s transparent and fit for the future and I will continue to scrutinise AUKUS to ensure it delivers real national security.

A smarter, faster, more inclusive approach to Defence recruitment

We need to grow our permanent defence force to 80,000 by 2040, but we’re already falling behind. As of early 2024, the ADF was short 4,300 personnel, and without urgent reforms, it is unlikely that we will close that gap.

The Government is also spending a concerning amount of taxpayer money on advertising for defence recruitment - over $41 million annually in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

The issue isn’t a lack of interest - last year, 64,000 people applied to join the ADF.  But right now, the average recruitment process takes 300 days. Many highly capable applicants are walking away, frustrated by delays and outdated standards. They’re not being out-competed, they’re being ignored or excluded by a system that’s too slow, too rigid, and too risk-averse.

To address this, we need to streamline the recruitment pipeline, rethink outdated health standards and focus on ability. Moreover, the ADF must manage its recruitment provider, Adecco, for performance and results. I would like to see a review of the defence recruitment system to increase speed, inclusivity, and strategic workforce planning.

Ensuring veterans have access to health services

Whether it’s physiotherapy, exercise physiology or general practice, the vast majority of health service providers I speak to say that are reaching the point where they will need to stop providing services to veterans.

They do the work because they love it - but the Department of Veterans Affairs is not providing the investment needed to ensure these services are sustainable and available over the long-term. And we are starting to see some practices starting to reject DVA White Cards.

We cannot afford to lose these services, which are helping veterans to manage long-term service-related injuries. If re-elected, I’ll be pushing the Government to review how they’re funding health services through DVA and to ensure it aligns with what they’re funding through other schemes.