MARK DREYFUS MP

Health justice partnerships and integrated service models are playing an increasingly critical role in the delivery of legal assistance. Legal need is often connected to other needs, in particular healthcare, and these models recognise and reflect that. This important work that you do reaffirms my view that legal assistance cannot and should not exist in a vacuum. Health justice partnerships foster unique pathways designed to better facilitate access to justice for vulnerable and disadvantaged people

So much of what I have done – and hope to do as Attorney-General – concerns transparency and accountability.

Not as an end in itself.

A bad government that is transparent is not better than a bad government that is not.

But transparency has a tendency to make governments and institutions be better, if only out of a sense of self-preservation.

The Respect@Work report represents a major shift in how public policy and the legislative framework support people who experience sexual harassment and discrimination. The modified equal access cost provision in this bill reflects a considered and balanced approach, which best achieves the policy objectives of recommendation 25 of the Respect@Work report.

It is essential that there be certainty in the bankruptcy system. The amendments in the bill will provide certainty to individuals and industry by affirming a longstanding practice and common understanding of the application of the legislation.

Anti-Semitism has been called “the longest hatred” – the Nazis did not invent it. And, as the events of the last week have demonstrated all too tragically, Anti-Semitism did not end when the Nazis were defeated.

Tonight, more than 75 years since Australia supported the creation of the state of Israel, my message to you on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Australian Government – your government – is simple: Australia stands as one with Israel and the people of Israel.

This bill will ensure the continued use of strong and secure identity verification, enhancing the privacy of Australians.

This bill is an important milestone in driving the digitisation of government services. It will deliver a world-class, simple and secure public service for all Australians.

Labor’s commitment to a strong Australian democracy is about a democracy that works for the Australian people, not just for elected officials. Labor knows – in opposition and in government – that Australia’s strong democratic traditions are precious and must be protected.

We all have a responsibility to be aware of the Constitution and its importance. It is we, the Australian people, who are ultimately responsible for maintaining and amending the Constitution to meet the changing and growing needs of our nation. This year, the Australian people will be asked to vote in a referendum to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by enshrining an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution. It’s an historic moment in Australia’s journey to reconciliation. It is not an easy journey – as I have said already, changing the Australian constitution is hard – but I am confident that Australians will embrace this opportunity.