Fatima Payman (WA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When I announced Australia's Voice in October last year I was criticised for not releasing a policy platform along with the announcement. I still don't see why. Last Sunday, on Insiders, the Leader of the Opposition announced that his policy on cutting the Public Service would be released after the election. Unlike 'Mr Detail'—sorry; Mr Dutton—Australia's Voice has announced its policy platform before the election, after carefully considering the issues affecting Australians and the solutions they deserve.

I've spoken many times in this place about big-picture reforms to negative gearing, the capital gains discount and the AUKUS agreement. Today I want to focus on precise yet significant measures Australia's Voice will push for when given the balance of power.

The first of these reforms will be to the remote area allowance. This is a payment made to Australians, including some of our most vulnerable, who live in regional areas. It hasn't been increased since the year 2000. How is this fair? For context, the United States has recently raised their minimum wage more than that, despite some Americans still earning as little as A$12 an hour. Life in the regions is difficult. Without proper support, services will decline and regional Australians will fall further behind. We must increase and index the remote area allowance to bolster our regions.

Then we come to the issue of domestic violence. The number of women being killed by their partners in Australia is a national shame. The systems in place are riddled with bureaucratic hoops that force victims-survivors to repeatedly recount their trauma to different agencies just to access support. How is this fair? We will push for a national family violence database to streamline services, with proper safeguards around data security. This will reduce red tape and ensure faster access to support, giving victims-survivors help when they need it most.

There is nothing more reflective of the character of a country than how we treat those who have spent their lives building it. Age pensioners and self-funded retirees alike have contributed to the prosperity we enjoy today, yet housing remains one of their biggest and most pressing concerns. Many are struggling with soaring rents, insecure tenancy arrangements and a lack of affordable housing. How is this fair? A simple yet effective solution would be to expand access to affordable, secure housing through government backed rental schemes and incentives for developments designed with older Australians in mind. Retirement should not mean trading dignity for a roof over someone's head.

Another shared concern is inflation. Bracket creep pushes self-funded retirees into higher tax brackets, not because they're earning more but because the tax thresholds haven't kept pace with inflation. We owe our retirees more than platitudes. We owe them policies that uphold fairness, foresight and respect.

The mental health of Australians can not be put at too high a price. Australian Bureau of Statistics data from 2022 found that 43 per cent of people aged 16 to 85 had experienced a mental disorder at some point. On average, more than eight Australians die by suicide every day. The cost of living only adds to this burden. It not only increases stress and anxiety but also prevents Australians from seeking professional help, because psychology sessions are simply unaffordable. How is this fair? Australia's Voice will fight to restore access to 20 Medicare funded psychology sessions, a policy that actually had majority support in this chamber. That access has been cut from 20 to 10 sessions. Additionally, we will push for a higher Medicare rebate on psychology sessions so that more Australians can access them.

These are not populist thought bubbles like nuclear power or social media bans. These are real, targeted measures backed by experts like the Australian Council of Social Service, Domestic Violence Advocacy Australia and the Australian Association of Psychologists. These policies will make a genuine difference for everyday Aussies, and this is just the beginning. If you like what you hear and want to learn more, visit australiasvoice.com.au to see our full policy platform. It's time to push the next government, whether it's the red team or the blue team, to do better.