At a Glance

First Term Wins 

Territory rights restored

One of my main commitments to the ACT community during the 2022 election was to restore the ability for the territories to legislate on voluntary assisted dying. In 1997, a ban was imposed on territories being able to legislate on voluntary assisted dying, which effectively stripped the rights from territorians to have a say on this issue. Together with colleagues from across the Parliament, I advocated for the ban to be overturned and successfully pushed for it to happen within the first six months of 2022.

I was honoured to play a part in overturning this decades-old injustice on behalf of our community and I want to acknowledge the many, many Canberrans that fought for years for this change - many of whom are unfortunately no longer with us.

I also want to acknowledge the work of other ACT and NT senators, who had also advocated on this issue over many years. With the exception of just one senator, it was a powerful moment to see representatives of the NT and ACT - past and present - united to celebrate the moment this discriminatory law was finally overturned.

You can read more here. 

PTSD support for first responders

Our first responders - police, paramedics, firefighters, and emergency call operators - face traumatic situations daily, and face a higher lifetime risk of developing PTSD. It’s a wicked disease - early support makes a big difference, and so our compensation scheme should kick in as quickly as possible to fund what is needed to put our first responders on the best possible path to recovery.

Previously, Comcare delayed crucial support by requiring proof that PTSD was caused by a first responder’s work. I fought to change this. Now under new laws, Comcare and the ACT Government’s insurer must presume that if a first responder has PTSD, then that developed as part of their job.

These reforms ensure faster access to support, helping those who protect us get the care they need. You can read more here.

Centre for Disease Control in Canberra 

In 2023, I helped convince the government to base the $251.7m new Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Canberra. The CDC will deliver enormous flow-on benefits to the people of the ACT, especially in helping attract and retain desperately needed specialists. You can read more here.

$100 million national Active Travel Fund

Active travel is one of the smartest investments we can make. It improves our health, cuts emissions, and makes our communities more liveable.

That’s why I negotiated with the Government to secure $100 million in federal funding to upgrade and deliver new bicycle and walking paths across Australia.

This funding is now available for projects that make it safer and easier for people to walk and cycle, and I am hopeful that the ACT Government will bid for our fair share.

Better walking and cycling infrastructure means:

• Safer streets for everyone, from commuters to kids
• Healthier communities and more active lifestyles
• Lower transport costs and reduced traffic congestion
• Cleaner air and fewer emissions
  

This is about designing neighbourhoods around people, not just cars. I’ll keep fighting for investments that make it easier, safer, and more appealing to walk, ride, and thrive in our cities and suburbs.

Holding airlines to account and protecting Canberra travellers

When airlines cancel flights, hike prices, and face no scrutiny, passengers pay the price, especially in places like Canberra, where lack of competition has hit hard.

That’s why I negotiated with the Government to reinstate the ACCC’s airline monitoring regime. We needed to bring back oversight of airfare pricing, flight cancellations, and potential price gouging.

The regime was introduced in 2020 but quietly lapsed under the current Government. I fought to bring it back and won. I also supported and participated in a senate inquiry looking at airline industry competition in Australia.

Canberra has felt the worst of airline underperformance. At one point, the Canberra–Sydney and Sydney–Canberra routes were Australia’s #1 and #5 most cancelled flights. Since the ACCC monitoring was reinstated, there’s been a noticeable improvement in cancellations for flights out of Canberra.

This monitoring matters. It ensures:

• Greater accountability from airlines
• Better service for travellers
• And pressure to improve competition and affordability in the aviation sector
  

Canberrans are still paying higher prices to travel so there’s more work to do but this monitoring will help.

You can read more here. 

Protecting ACT universities from potentially harmful student caps

When the Government introduced legislation to improve quality and integrity in international education, I supported the intent, but pushed back hard on one critical flaw: a blunt cap on international student numbers.

The proposed caps would have severely hurt universities in the ACT, undermining our economy and damaging a sector that supports thousands of jobs and students. I participated in the senate committee inquiry and championed key amendments to the bill that protected what was good (like stronger quality and integrity measures) while removing the poorly designed cap mechanism. I also opposed scapegoating international students for decades of failed housing policy from both major parties, especially here in the ACT where our universities have invested heavily in student accommodation.

Ultimately the bill was shelved but the Coalition is pushing an even deeper cut that again threatens the sector.

The ACT has a world-class university sector that:

• Drives economic growth
• Strengthens international ties
• Funds vital research and education programs

I will continue to push for better protection of education standards without punishing high-performing institutions or shrinking one of Australia’s biggest exports. We need to get the balance right. You can read more here.

National Capital Investment Framework

To start turning around decades of underinvestment in the ACT infrastructure, I pushed for a long-term plan to provide sustainable investment to ensure that our roads, hospitals, schools and community sporting facilities are fit for purpose and can serve the changing needs of our communities. 

The ACT didn’t get a single cent of the more than $10 billion the former Coalition spent on city deals with every other state and the NT.

In July 2023, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced a National Capital Investment Framework intended to recognise Canberra’s role as Australia’s capital and to address community concerns across the Canberra Region about decades of underinvestment in our city’s infrastructure.

This Framework is intended to offer a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in an ambitious long-term infrastructure plan for the ACT that has the support of our community and local businesses. But I want to make sure it wasn’t just a figleaf for inaction to try and appease my advocacy on this issue.

In consultation with the Canberra community, I have also put together a Vision for Canberra, which could be realised through this Framework. By agreeing to deliver the core elements of the Vision for Canberra, the Federal and ACT Governments can give industry and private-sector partners greater certainty and a strong pipeline of projects capable of building our National Capital into an attractive global city of the future — all while preserving Canberra’s garden feel.

Better protections for firefighters

In 2022, as part of my negotiations on industrial relations legislation, I secured some important changes that will provide better care to firefighters in the ACT who have developed cancers from their work.

Working with both volunteer and career firefighters, we quickly realised that our workers’ compensation arrangements are not where they should be - and were certainly far behind comparable countries.

I saw an opportunity to put the ACT ahead of the pack, and line up compensation arrangements with current evidence. I secured an agreement to add 12 new cancers to the compensation list, including - for the first time in Australia - women's reproductive cancers. We now have some of the most up-to-date arrangements in the world, meaning our professional and volunteer firies can be confident that compensation will be there for any cancer that may develop as a result of their job.

Keeping the AIS in Canberra where it belongs

Early in my first term, I raised serious concerns about reports the Government was considering moving the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to Queensland. This move would have cost taxpayers five times more than refurbishing the existing site and dealt a huge blow to Canberra.

The AIS is a national institution, but it's also a proud part of Canberra’s identity. I pushed for the Government to rule out relocation and instead invest in revitalising the long-neglected precinct, ensuring it continues to support the next generation of elite athletes.

In February 2024, following an independent review, the Government made the right call: the AIS will stay in Canberra and they have invested $241m in much needed refurbishments.

This is a win for:

• Common sense spending by refurbishing, not wasting taxpayer dollars
• High-performance sport with upgraded facilities to support our athletes
• The Canberra community preserving local jobs, pride, and identity
  

I’ll keep fighting for smart investment in the national capital and for policies that back ambition, excellence, and community. You can read more here. 

Comcare Review

In 2023, alongside Senator Lambie, I negotiated with the Government to establish a full, independent review into the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (the SRC Act). This is the law that dictates how the Government provides workers compensation for their own employees. It covers both Federal and ACT Government employees, or around 90,000 people in the ACT. It’s the first time the Act has been fully reviewed since it was first established decades ago. I’ve been deeply concerned about stories I’m hearing from constituents about their treatment by Comcare, and I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the Review.

Data sharing on road safety 

In February 2024, I secured a major breakthrough: road safety data transparency is now tied to $50 billion in federal road funding.

That means states and territories will be required to share detailed crash data as a condition of receiving Commonwealth funding, a huge step toward making our roads safer and our infrastructure spending smarter.

For too long, road funding has been driven by politics, not evidence. This reform will:

• Shine a light on where crashes are actually happening
• Ensure funding is targeted based on real need
• Help reduce road deaths and serious injuries by guiding better investments
  

It’s a big win for transparency, safety, and accountability and a clear example of how smart policy can save lives and I’ll keep fighting for reforms that cut through the spin and deliver outcomes that matter.

Support for National Cultural and Collecting Institutions

I have been pushing for secure and sustained funding for our cultural institutions so that they can repair leaking roofs and undertake much-needed capital works to restore the buildings. I was pleased to see the Government announce an extra $535 million over four years in the 2023 budget, but there’s still a lot more that could be done to ensure that Canberra isn’t one of the least-known capitals in the world. I’m also pushing the Government to re-examine maintaining the efficiency dividend for the cultural institutions, given how destructive it has been on their budgets over the past decade.

Design and feasibility funding for Convention Centre & stadium

After years of advocacy, Federal Labor made a $100 million funding commitment for a feasibility study for the Convention Centre and new aquatic facilities in Commonwealth park. This step forward shows what can happen when communities vote for independent voices that put local priorities first.

But let’s be clear: this is just the beginning. We need a comprehensive, long-term vision for investment. That’s why I’ve been pushing for:

• A new Convention Centre co-located with a city stadium, to unlock major economic and event-hosting benefits
• A commitment to funding the full project, not just another feasibility study
• A national capital that can host major conferences, concerts, and sporting events with pride
• Genuine community consultation on the new projects (for example ensuring the diving boards are relocated from Civic pool)

Our city punches above its weight and deserves infrastructure that matches its national role and local ambition.

What I’m Fighting For

Fair Senate representation for the ACT

The ACT and the NT deserve fair representation in the Senate. The ACT has grown in population substantially since establishment, and now has a similar population to Tasmania, which is represented by 12 Senators, while the ACT has just two.

The ACT and the NT need the protection of greater representation following repeated federal overreach, most notably through the long-standing ban on legislating for voluntary assisted dying. That ban was only overturned in 2022 thanks to powerful community advocacy.

But the interference hasn’t stopped. The Coalition has since introduced multiple bills in the Senate aimed at changing territory laws. This must end.

Labor promised to increase territory Senate representation, a critical step toward fairness. But they backed down and instead introduced reforms to stitch-up our electoral system in favour of the major parties and lock out competition.

I’ve introduced a Private Senator’s Bill to deliver fair representation for the ACT, and moved amendments that had the support of the crossbench. If Labor had backed them, they would have passed. You can read more about my views on fair senate representation for the ACT and the NT in my additional comments to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters Inquiry into the 2022 election.

The ACT should not be treated as a second-class jurisdiction. I will keep pushing for this change and for the principle that territory voters deserve a fair voice in the Federal Parliament as everyone else.

Further support for our first responders

While I have secured some important changes for first responders in this first term, there’s still more to do. 

I’m concerned that we are still not looking after the health and wellbeing of our first responders - particularly our police - as best we can. I’ve heard from too many current and former officers about the challenges working in the AFP and how little support there is for people facing physical and mental injuries.

At the same time, I have been frustrated by the response of AFP leadership, who continue to evade questioning about their custodianship of the agency and their role in leading an organisation where employees do not feel valued or supported when they have been injured. For example, despite asking on a number of occasions for a copy of the AFP’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy, I’m still yet to receive it.

I also want to ensure I continue to deliver on my commitment to the brave emergency service workers, police, paramedics and firefighters who participated in the Heart2Heart Walk for First Responder Mental Health and Wellbeing to continue advocating for the full implementation of the recommendations of the 2019 The People Behind 000 Senate Committee Inquiry Report.

I have also seen the emerging evidence that some motor neuron diseases may be linked to firefighting. If the evidence is strong enough, I will push for it to be added to the regulations that ensure that workers compensation insurers have to cover those diseases automatically.

I’ll continue to fight for:

• An independent review of AFP leadership and culture to investigate a system that has left so many officers with psychological injury and with so little support
• Establishment of an AFP “Blue Card” to provide our police with ongoing medical and psychological support for injuries sustained on the job.
• Implementation of the remaining recommendations of The People Behind 000: mental health of our first responders report, particularly the recommendation to establish a national action on first responder mental health.
• Continue to expand the workers compensation arrangements for firefighters to cover known diseases that are linked to firefighting.

Housing at the CSIRO Ginninderra site

In 2022 I campaigned for the Commonwealth to divest  the 243 hectares of surplus land identified at CSIRO’s Ginninderra site and release it either directly to the private sector or to the ACT Government for redevelopment as housing, with a strict requirement for new social and affordable housing to be included in the mix. I have met with all the relevant Ministers multiple times to push them on this. While I understand work continues on this proposal behind the scenes it is disappointing that it has not progressed further after three years given the chronic housing supply shortage facing Canberrans and the potential for this site to add significantly to new supply.

A Vision for Canberra

Canberra deserves a future as ambitious as its people and I have been pushing for a Canberra Region City Partnership. A bold, collaborative plan to future-proof our city and unlock its full potential.

The proposal is built on four pillars:

• Housing: addressing Canberra’s acute housing crisis with urgent investment
• Events: replacing outdated infrastructure with world-class venues for sport, culture, and major conferences
• Innovation: building a thriving innovation precinct to retain high-growth companies and top talent
• Transport: accelerating key internal and regional transport connections
  

This call has been co-signed by 35 leading Canberra organisations across business, housing, sport, culture, tourism, retail and tech. It’s a powerful, united front demanding long-term investment in Canberra’s future.

Canberra has outgrown piecemeal planning. It’s time for national attention and coordinated investment in a city that punches well above its weight. 

I will keep working with our community to make this vision a reality. You can read more about A Vision for Canberra here.

A national convention centre and multi-use arena

The National Convention Centre Canberra is the second oldest in the country and has had the least amount of investment. We’ve known since 2001 that we need a new one to enable the national capital to hold big events.

In 2022, I campaigned for a modern, centrally located multi-use arena co-located with a convention centre in the city to support local businesses, and attract major sporting, cultural, and entertainment events. In 2023 I launched A Vision for Canberra - a long-term plan based on wide consultation and with broad support.

Federally, Labor as part of the 2025 campaign, has now pledged $31.1 million for feasibility and design work for a new Convention and Entertainment Centre precinct and $68.9 million to construct new aquatic facilities in Commonwealth Park replacing Civic Pool. Earlier in the term they also committed $10m to yet another feasibility study for a new stadium in Bruce as part of a new health precinct, which doesn’t line up with what experts recommend. 

My advocacy for the new Convention Centre is part of a plan that also unlocks new land for desperately needed additional housing, by finally realising the City to the Lake vision, and includes investments for priority projects right across the territory, especially the much neglected southern suburbs and growing centres like Gungahlin.

To make this vision a reality, I’m calling on the Federal Government to fully fund this project through the National Capital Investment Framework.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a vibrant Civic precinct and establish Canberra as a world-class destination for events, conferences and live entertainment.

Forgiveness of the ACT’s historic housing debt

The ACT has a crippling shortage of social and affordable housing, yet more than half of our federal housing funding under the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement is lost to interest payments on historic housing debt. In 2022 I campaigned for what was then a $102 million debt to be forgiven, just as a previous federal Labor government forgave South Australia’s far larger debt in 2013. It’s something Labor called for from Opposition, but haven’t followed  through with in government. I’ve pushed to have the debt waived in every negotiation on housing legislation and I will keep doing so, especially as our stock of social and public housing in the ACT has gone backwards. If the government is serious about increasing housing supply, wiping this debt is a logical first step. Housing is a crisis, and we must act now.

A Multicultural Centre Canberra can be proud of

Canberra’s multicultural communities deserve a dedicated, purpose-built centre to celebrate culture, faith and community.

The ACT Government promised a $21 million multicultural centre. Instead, they now plan to refurbish a small pavilion at EPIC. It’s a space that simply won’t meet the needs of Canberra’s vibrant and growing communities.

Cultural and religious celebrations are not optional extras. They’re central to building strong, connected communities and fostering understanding across generations and backgrounds.

A real multicultural centre must include:

• Commercial kitchens for shared meals and food preparation
• Affordable, accessible spaces for regular gatherings and events
• Capacity for large celebrations and major festivals
  

I’m standing with multicultural communities across Canberra to demand the Government delivers what it promised. This is about respect, inclusion, and ensuring that our diversity is celebrated, supported and seen.

First Nations stewardship and ownership of the Western Edge of Canberra

The Australian Capital Territory is the only jurisdiction in Australia in which the Traditional Owners do not own and manage any land. It’s time to fix this and hand back the incredible Western Edge to be managed by First Nations people.

Watch a short video about a vision for the Western Edge here.

The Western Edge is 9,800 hectares of land to the west of the territory and stretching along the Murrumbidgee River. It is home to endangered box gum woodlands, temperate grasslands, and dozens of endangered  species. The area is rich in cultural importance to First Nations People, and a vital buffer against bushfires from the west.

Canberrans love living in the bush capital. We are a city where nature isn’t something we visit, it’s something we live alongside. But a big part of our incredible bushland is at risk.

The Western Edge is a piece of bushland that cannot be replaced. We can’t offset what’s already nearly gone.

• Less than 1% of temperate grasslands remain in Australia.
• Box gum woodlands are down to just a few percent of their original extent.
• Offsets don’t work when the ecosystems being destroyed can’t be replaced.
  

Yet the ACT Government continues to rely on offsets that fail to deliver real conservation outcomes. According to the 2024 WWF Threatened Species Scorecard, the ACT saw the biggest decline in recovery and protection efforts in the country.

We need a new vision to protect the bush capital and to deliver for First Nations people. One that protects, restores, and respects.

That’s why I’m calling for:

1. Full protection of the Western Edge, including Block 402
   Block 402 (leased to the ANU) is an ecological gem that must be added to the nature reserve. Its high biodiversity value and role as a fire buffer make it too important to sacrifice.
2. A First Nations-led land management and conservation project
   This land has been cared for by First Nations people for tens of thousands of years. It's time governments recognised that. This project would support Indigenous fire management, weed and pest control, and revegetation, while generating cultural, environmental and economic benefits.
3. Transparency and accountability in conservation funding
   We need spending that matches rhetoric not more announcements with no follow-through.

Learn more about a vision for the Western Edge here.

An active travel capital

Despite leading on climate policy, Canberra has been ranked Australia’s least walkable city. We need urgent investment in active travel infrastructure like safe cycle lanes and well-maintained footpaths. Better infrastructure will cut emissions, reduce our reliance on cars, and support Canberrans of all ages to walk, ride and roll safely.

I’m calling on the Commonwealth to co-invest with the ACT Government to deliver on the Active Travel Plan, starting with a dedicated Civic-to-Woden active travel corridor.

With Light Rail Stage 2A not expected until 2028 and no confirmed timeline for Stage 2B, we can’t wait. This is one of Canberra’s busiest transport corridors and it's currently dangerous for cyclists.

This is a chance to:

• Boost safety for people walking and riding
• Support healthy, low-cost transport choices
• Improve accessibility for residents and visitors
• Set Canberra up as a model for a carbon-neutral capital
  

Let’s start building a more walkable, rideable Canberra now.

Investing in Viking Park - A stadium for Canberra’s south

Canberra’s growing population and vibrant sporting culture deserve the infrastructure to match. It’s time to invest in a modern suburban stadium that supports both elite and community sport.

While I continue to push for a major new stadium already in the city, we also need a smaller, flexible venue that can host mid-sized events and support our teams during construction disruptions. That’s why in 2022 I backed the Viking Group’s plan to redevelop Viking Park into a boutique 10,000-15,000 seat stadium in Tuggeranong and continue to push for it today.

This $35 million project would:

• Provide a high-quality venue for Canberra’s sporting teams
• Deliver a boost to community sport in the south
• Reinvigorate the Erindale centre and drive local economic activity
  

With strong local backing and a clear development plan, this is a shovel-ready project that deserves federal investment. I’m calling on the Commonwealth to commit $35 million over three years to help deliver this important infrastructure for Canberra’s south.

Let’s build a stadium that supports our teams, grows our communities, and celebrates sport in the national capital.

Health policy that works for the ACT

Canberrans are telling me that a more accessible, affordable healthcare system is one of their top priorities.

Our health system in the ACT is not working the best it can for Canberrans. Across almost every metric, the ACT is an outlier in terms of access and affordability.

From parents who need to leave the Territory to seek help for a sick child, to people having to dip into retirement savings to afford essential care, Canberrans are frustrated by the costs associated with our health system and the lack of options.

While the Government has made some good investments, we know that it won’t significantly improve the situation in Canberra as it won’t address the structural issues locally that impact GP bulk billing and access to other health services.

The status quo simply won’t cut it and below are the policy solutions tailored to the ACT’s specific needs that I will push for if I am returned to the next parliament to make a real difference for Canberrans’ experience of our healthcare system.

Ensuring the ACT gets its fair share of hospital funding

The Commonwealth and the ACT are supposed to share the load when it comes to the public health system. In December 2023, National Cabinet endorsed the Commonwealth increasing National Health Reform Agreement contributions to 45 per cent over a maximum of a 10-year glide path from 1 July 2025, with an achievement of 42.5 per cent before 2030.

What the data currently shows - and what the ACT Government reports - is that the ACT’s public hospital costs are rapidly increasing, while the Commonwealth’s share has remained pretty flat. In reality, the Commonwealth’s contribution doesn’t come close to the 45% it’s supposed to contribute. This is the case across all jurisdictions, but appears particularly pronounced here in Canberra. 

We are a growing city, supporting an even larger region. We need a fair investment so that our hospitals can provide the services Canberrans rightly expect. We’ll never be Sydney or Melbourne, but it’s not good enough that the ACT’s surgical wait times are the longest in the country and that people struggle to access a paediatrician.

With the hospital agreement up for renegotiation in the next term of parliament, I’ll be backing the ACT to get its fair share; a share that recognises the challenges we face as a small jurisdiction that also supports neighbours in NSW, while allowing us to keep up with demand.