In a world of growing misinformation and disinformation trusted media are vital to a healthy democracy and thriving society.

With commercial media models disrupted by the growth of the internet and social media, our public broadcasters – the ABC and SBS have never been more vital.

As Australians shift their media preferences, we must ensure there is not only room for new entrants and new forms, but that trusted and authoritative news sources such as our public broadcasters, continue to thrive.

The ABC and SBS remain our most trusted sources of good journalism and quality entertainment. They can’t continue that role without adequate funding and government support that respects the integrity of these vital institutions.

The good governance and independence of the ABC is vital, and I will continue to support and advocate on their behalf.

I know how important the ABC and SBS are to our community, and I will advocate strongly to ensure they continue to provide impartial news and analysis, contribute to our sense of national identity, entertain, inform and reflect Australia’s cultural identity, promote the arts and project Australia to the world.

I believe all Australians deserve the right to age with respect, dignity and choice which is why I consult widely with my community to understand the unique challenges faced by elderly Australians and those accessing or considering accessing supports. Last year I supported bi-partisan legislation to improve the sustainability of the aged-care system, acknowledging that such significant changes introduce uncertainty and transitional considerations. I continue to pressure the Government on behalf of my community to reduce the unacceptable wait times for home care supports that enable independent living for longer.  

Our population is naturally ageing overtime, and Australians are living longer on average than they used to. We need a positive, cultural shift in how we think about ageing and more proactive policies and supports to help older Australians live fulfilling and independent lives for longer. 

I am highly supportive of the bi-partisan, rights-based framework for aged care that was finally enacted in 2024. A rights-based system elevates aged care to the same level as healthcare or disability insurance, legislating all Australians’ right to access quality and affordable care in line with their means. 

But I believe greater home care is essential for sustainability of the system and wellbeing of elderly Australians. I welcome the increased funding that will unlock additional packages from July this year, but I continue to push Government to significantly reduce the unacceptable wait times that currently persist for home care packages, particularly in the interim. 

I acknowledge the changes represent a significant adjustment for users and providers of aged care services and will continue to work with Government to ensure the system is responsive and accountable to those who rely on it.   

Seniors Guide

If you are a senior citizen looking for support with Government services, you can download a digital copy of Allegra’s Seniors Guide here or request a copy by contacting the electorate office through [email protected].  

Humane treatment of animals is one of the tenants of a fair, modern society. I am proud that in this parliament we successfully pushed the government to stop live exports. This was a key priority for me. I will continue to support stronger animal welfare protections, including an Animal Welfare Commission.  

Animal treatment and welfare is an area particularly close to my heart and one that I know is important to the constituents of Wentworth. Our community wants Australia to be a world-leader in animal rights and protections, and accordingly I meet regularly with animal welfare experts and advocates to understand how Australia can improve its record and global influence. 

Since coming to Parliament, I have advocated particularly strongly for the Government to phase out of live animal exports which make up just a small remaining share of Australia’s meat exports. This term, with the support of my crossbench colleagues and I, the Government passed legislation to end the live sheep export trade.  

However, there is more to be done, and I will continue to: 

• Oppose attempts by the Liberal and National parties to repeal the live sheep export ban 

• Push the government to bring forward the timeline for the live sheep ban from 2028  

• Push for the extension of summer export bans that prevent animals being exported during the hottest months in the interim; and 

• Advocate for the establishment of a National Animal Welfare Strategy.  

I’m deeply concerned about Australia’s ongoing failure to close the gap for Indigenous Australians.

The Voice was a historic opportunity to bring about lasting change, and while I was disappointed with the overall result, I’m so proud that Wentworth delivered one of the highest ‘YES’ votes in the country at over 62%.

I remain committed to reconciliation, truth telling, and treaty – as set out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

The motivation of the Voice was giving First Nations people a say in the decisions that affect their lives. That’s a sound principle in all good policy decisions, and while it isn’t enshrined in the Constitution, it should underpin all government programs that support First Nations people.

For example, one of the priorities of the next parliament is to reform our broken environmental laws. This should include a new National Environmental Standard for First Nations Engagement and Participation in decision-making.

I strongly support deliberate wage theft being criminalised and I have said this in parliament.

Unfortunately, the 144-page ‘omnibus’ Bill that criminalising wage theft was part of also included a number of other measures which I did not feel had support in our community. I therefore voted against the Bill as a whole.

During my speech in parliament, I said: “… there are many important parts of the bill that support people who need it right now, including … to ensure that people do not have their wages stolen from them. This is absolutely important.”

Along with other crossbenchers, I pushed for this length omnibus Bill to be split into different parts, so that we could vote in support of specific elements. Unfortunately, the government did not agree to this.

Wentworth is home to thousands of serving and former defence personnel and I’m proud of the role that the defence force members play in our society, economy and local community. During this term I have been pressing Government to implement all recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide as well as advocating for better support of Defence Families. I continue to advocate for the sort of system-wide reform recommended in the Royal Commission and for the updating of legislation to better reflect the reality of modern defence families.  

Wentworth is a crucial geography for Australia’s defence capability with critical defence infrastructure with local bases including Victoria Barracks and the Garden Island Defence Precinct. Accordingly, Wentworth is proudly home to around 2,000 serving members and veterans  

During this term, I have been engaging across the community to represent the unique interests of defence personnel, veterans and their families. I have been pushing the Government to implement all recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, particularly Recommendation 122 that relates to system-wide reform to improve the experience of serving and ex-serving members. I have also been working closely with Defence Family organisations to advocate modest terminology changes in existing legislation to better reflect modern defence families and relationships. Locally, I have worked to facilitate greater relationships between community members, residents and defence personnel, including around the redevelopment of HMAS Watson. 

The security of Australia is of paramount concern to the Federal Government and in an uncertain geopolitical environment I believe we want to make some significant investments to update and maintain our defence capability. While I am supportive of AUKUS, I acknowledge concerns in my community regarding the cost of the program and risks of delay. I meet regularly with Defence leadership and am committed to ensuring these investments in Australia’s defence capability are kept accountable, on time and on budget and will seek greater transparency where appropriate. I am also committed to ensuring that defence procurement delivers better outcomes for Australian business. 

Maintaining Australia’s defence force and ensuring national security is one of the core responsibilities of the Federal Government and, as an island nation, integral to our defence, border security, and supply chains.  

Australia’s defence forces also represent a significant employer and contributor to the Australian economy, employing around 600,000 Australians and accounting for about 2% of GDP each year.  

Defence is also a major investor in technology research and development, representing a significant commercialisation pathway for innovative Australian start-ups. The defence force is behind significant investments in emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence and robotics. During my time in parliament, I have been pushing for better access to procurement opportunities for Australian innovative businesses.  

Given the uncertain geopolitical environment, I believe some investments to upgrade and maintain our military capability are required. The bi-partisan AUKUS program represents the largest such investment into Australia’s defence force capability in recent decades, however, I acknowledge the concerns held by many in my community regarding the total cost of the AUKUS program, the lack of transparency around it, and defence spending more generally.  

I support the intent of the AUKUS program but believe we must continually scrutinise the timelines, costs and expected strategic benefits of such programs over the long-term. In my capacity as an independent member of parliament, I regularly meet with, and receive briefings from, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence leadership to do just that.  

These considerations are even more critical given America’s evolving foreign policy position. I am watching these developments closely in terms of the potential impact on the AUKUS agreement as well as our broader economic and security concerns. 

Australia has an excellent healthcare system, which is the result of good policy decisions over many years – including the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Medicare, and the integration of private and public systems. However, much more needs to be done to address Australia’s mental health crisis and improve the affordability of primary healthcare.

Since being elected, I have supported significant investment in women’s healthcare and efforts to raise GP bulk-billing. I have spoken and written regularly to the Health Minister regarding local healthcare issues in Wentworth, including detailed analysis I conducted on bulk billing rates (see more here).

In the next term, my focus will be on:

• Addressing the mental health crisis – through increased investment in mental health services and workforce, better integration of state and federal services, and smarter ways of supporting consumers between primary and specialist healthcare providers.
• Improving affordability of primary care – with a greater focus on preventative measures and better matching of services (like GP visits) to the needs of patients.

Speeches in Parliament

• Cost of Living Medicare Levy Bill 2024: Allegra highlights the role of tax reform in combatting the bulk billing crisis, 15 February 2024 (link)
• Tobacco & Vaping: Allegra supports greater measures to ban e-cigarette retail stores and products, 19 October 2023 (link)
• Bulk Billing: Allegra reinforces that Australians can no longer afford to visit a GP due to the rising cost of living and inaccessibility of bulk billing doctors, 26 September 2022 (link)

Australia is facing a mental health crisis and too many people are falling through the cracks. Recent government analysis shows that more than 230,000 people with severe conditions are not receiving the psycho-social support they need.

This crisis has developed over many years, under governments of all types. The most recent National Survey of Mental Health found that only 45% of 16-85 year-olds with a mental health disorder were able to access professional care – roughly the same level as was reported in 2010.

Following the Bondi Junction Tragedy in April 2024, I convened leaders and experts in mental health at Parliament House. Our advocacy helped secure regular meetings of Mental Health Ministers across the country, and the release of an analysis of unmet needs for psycho-social supports. The government has also announced a new National Early Intervention Service to start in 2026.

We need to do much more, but there are no easy answers. My priorities are:

Funding equity for mental health.

Mental health issues account for 15% of the total burden of disease in Australia, yet still attracts only 7% of the total national health budget. This has barely changed since 1992, and investment must be raised as part of the National Health Reform Agreement, including on workforce development.

Smarter ways of supporting people with mental health conditions.

It would be a mistake to only pump more money into our current healthcare delivery models because these aren’t working well for existing consumers, particularly those with complex needs.

We need to better leverage low intensity and digital services to free-up resources for those who need in-person care. We also need to help ensure specialist care is provided to those who need the support the most.

These changes are even more important whilst the mental health workforce remains constrained.

Better integration of state and federal services.

Too many people are falling through the cracks between primary care (federal) and hospital care (state). Supporting this “missing middle” must be the focus of long-term health reform.

The Productivity Commission is currently reviewing the agreements signed between Federal and State governments around mental health services, ahead of their renewal next year. This reform must deliver more accountability for delivering care to those people with more complex needs.

This will also require more regional commissioning, so support services are tailored to the needs of local communities.

Wentworth values and is highly supportive of Australia’s world-leading national disability insurance scheme that provides invaluable support and independence to some of Australia’s most vulnerable people. However, myself and many others are concerned that the growing cost of the program poses the greatest risk to the NDIS. I supported legislation this term that attempts to restrict the growth in costs while maintaining the focus on choice and control, however, I acknowledge the great distress and uncertainty this caused participants and providers. I have and will continue to consult widely with community members, carers and disability advocacy groups and communicate your concerns to Government as we navigate these significant changes.

Australia’s NDIS is a world-class system that acknowledges the rights of people with a disability to choose and control their individual care needs. However, in recent years, the rapid growth in costs has posed the most significant risk to the system we’ve seen since its inception in 2013.  

While I supported the recent legislative changes aimed at growing the system sustainably, I listened carefully to concerns of both recipients and providers, consulted widely with experts, and worked closely with my crossbench colleagues, led by fellow independent Dr Monique Ryan, to make several important amendments to the Governments bill.  

However, I am extremely aware of the concern and uncertainty that this change has created for both participants and operators. With so many details yet to be determined, many are Australians unclear of how they will be affected by the change and are placing enormous trust in the next Government to get this right.  

I commit to working closely with whoever is in Government and whoever is the Minister in the next term to ensure the core principles of this system – choice and control - are maintained for participants.

I strongly support non-government schools continuing to receive full and fair funding, in line with their Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) entitlement.

Wentworth is home to fantastic non-government schools and I am proud to have worked closely with them. Every parent should have the right to choose the school they believe is best for the child, and there is multi-partisan consensus over many years that schools should be funded in line with the Gonski Review’s SRS entitlement.

I strongly support getting all schools to 100% of their SRS entitlement. That means maintaining our support for non-government education, and properly funding public schools.

Contrary to some commentary, non-government and public schools are not competing for a fixed bucket and funding. Funding is based on the number and type of students in each school. The average public school in Australia receives around four times as much government funding per student as the average independent school in Wentworth.

I am also pushing for non-government schools to be provided with greater certainty over when government funding is provided.

Last year, non-government schools were only told in mid-November what their funding would be for the coming calendar year. This does not provide enough time to adjust school budgets and programs, and can lead to changes in school fees that are very hard for parents to accommodate.

I am pushing for these funding decisions to be communicated 6-12 months ahead of their implementation, to provide non-government schools with sufficient time to adapt to changes.

Watch me speak about these issues in parliament here.

I know that my community want to see Wentworth continue being a great place to live and raise a family which means having diverse and affordable education options that cater to the whole community. I have been working with the State Government and community groups, including tabling a petition with over 3000 signatures in parliament, calling on a new public high school in Wentworth. 

Wentworth is a wonderfully diverse electorate, but our schooling options are extremely limited. While 50% of our students attend public primary schools, only 20% attend public high schools and a large part of this has to do with the lack of options. 

Particularly during a cost-of-living crisis, families need options for high-quality and affordable education in the East. 

Through community pressure we have already managed to secure a $42 million investment in an upgraded co-ed public high school in Randwick but we need to do more.  

That’s why I’m working tirelessly with my state counterpart, independent MP Alex Greenwich, and community groups to advocate for a second public high school to be built in Edgecliff.  

You can find more information, including architectural designs and links to my public petition here.

Speeches in Parliament

• Public schools in Wentworth: Allegra emphasises her prioritisation of public school education options in Wentworth, 7 November 2024 (link)
• Constituent statement on schooling in Wentworth: Allegra highlights the need for a public high school in the electorate, 7 November 2024 (link)
• The National Student Ombudsman: Allegra believes that the National Student Ombudsman is a much-needed step towards creating a safer and more accountable university environment, 9 October 2024 (link)
• Opposition to the reduction of international students: Allegra encourages the government to rethink their policy to reduce the quantity of international students at Australian universities, 13 August 2024 (link)
• Schools in Wentworth: Allegra expresses her pride for the work completed within Wentworth's schools. She highlights the issues central to students in the electorate ranging from mental health, the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and the role of social media, 23 June 2023 (link)

Australia has long been a safe haven for people fleeing violence and persecution, and I know our community wants to see refugees and people seeking asylum treated with more compassion and less fear. I've been a strong advocate for refugees in this parliament and I will continue to stand-up for them if I'm re-elected.

As a member of parliament's Migration Committee, I have consistently advocated for more humane treatment of refugees. We made good progress in the first part of this parliament and I'm proud to have helped deliver:

• Permanent protection for around 20,000 refugees - who were left in limbo for a decade by the previous government on so-called Temporary Protection Visas.
• An increased refugee intake - from 13,750 under the previous government to 20,000 today.
• The release of Australia’s longest serving immigration detainee, Said Imassi – who had been in detention for over 13 years because he was stateless. My team and I worked hard to help secure his release, following advocacy from a Wentworth constituent.

Wentworth is also a leading electorate nationwide for community refugee sponsorship, where friends and neighbours help newly arrived refugees build a life in Australia. I have been a strong supporter of the Community Refugee Sponsorship program and successfully pushed for it to be made a permanent part of our migration program.

But more recently, we've seen the major parties team-up on a series of rushed bills that limit the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum, and could see them deported to countries where their lives are put in danger.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can maintain the strong borders and laws that keep us safe, whilst treating those fleeing violence and persecution with more humanity and less fear. That's why I want to:

• End the uncertainty for 8,000 people left in limbo by Tony Abbott’s failed 'Fast Track' policy – which produced unfair and incorrect decisions, has caused extended and traumatic delays, and resulted in refugees being deported to countries where they face persecution. Read more here.
• Reintroduce the Medevac Bill - to give access to healthcare for critically ill refugees detained overseas.
• Allow people seeking asylum to lead productive lives - by allowing them to support their families and contribute to the Australian economy, unless there are compelling reasons not to (e.g. related to security).
• Prevent the detention of children - and reduce the time that people spend in immigration detention awaiting a decision on protection applications.

You can read more here.

Wentworth values high quality, safe and affordable higher education as a critical to the development of our young people and for Australia’s ongoing economic prosperity. In this term I am proud to have delivered a change to the way HECS is indexed, a national student ombudsman for women, and for standing up for students experiencing antisemitism on campus. Going forward, I am committed to working with Government to reverse the failing job-ready graduates scheme and optimise our research and development spending to provide greater support for Australian innovators.  

Since coming to parliament, I have worked particularly hard to limit the climbing costs of Australia’s higher education system that acts as a disincentive, particularly for marginal communities, to study. Alongside my crossbench colleagues, I pushed hard for, and was successful in getting the Government to change the way HECS loans are indexed, delivering a saving of $1,200 for the average graduate. Similarly, I have long suggested banks should have greater discretion regarding the treatment of HECS loans, including in public hearings with the major banks in my capacity as a member of the House Economics Committee.  

While I acknowledge a need to strike the right balance of international and domestic students, I opposed the imposition of student caps due to the impact this will have on Australia’s largest non-mining export. Our tertiary education industry supports 143,000 Australians in high-quality jobs, generates tourism, funds important university research, cross-subsidises domestic student fees to keep costs down, and enhances Australia’s international reputation. I am supportive of universities housing more of their international students to alleviate pressures on the private rental market but am concerned by the blunt approach that student caps represent. 

I continue to work hard to remove the perverse “Job-Ready Graduates” program implemented by the previous Coalition government that undervalues certain degrees and increases their cost. I am also concerned by a downward trend in research funding and spending from higher education institutions that will restrict innovation and economic opportunity. 

You can read my more about my position here.

I understand that there are a range views on voluntary assisted dying within my community. While this issue is dealt with at the State and Territory level, I am supportive of a robust and consistent legal framework that gives terminally ill Australians, who would otherwise endure suffering and an undignified death, the option to end their life in a safe and tightly regulated, medical environment. 

Voluntary assisted Dying (VAD) laws are now operating in all states and territories apart from the Northern Territory. While I understand that individuals have deeply held personal views on VAD, I support the democratic rights of states to determine their own laws and practice on this. For this reason, I supported the Restoring Territory Rights Bill in 2022 that allowed the territory parliaments of the Northern Territory and the ACT to consider this issue in the same way that the state parliaments. 

As it stands, I am satisfied that the states and territory laws are suitably robust to prevent the misuse of VAD and am satisfied with the consistent application of principles across the country. I will continue to monitor this issue and update my views on VAD in light of new evidence. 

I know that a voice to parliament was and continues to be an important issue for many in my community, evidenced by one of the highest ‘YES’ votes in the country. I strongly supported the inclusion of an indigenous voice to parliament and led the ‘Wentworth for the Voice campaign’. While disappointed by the result, I remain committed to reconciliation and consult widely with my community and indigenous representatives to find new ways to advance this important cause. 

While disappointed with the overall outcome of the referendum, I am extremely proud of Wentworth’s 62.5% ‘YES’ vote, the 8th highest percentage of all electorates in Australia and the 3rd highest in NSW. 

I strongly believe that the Voice Referendum proposed a modest yet powerful acknowledgement in our constitution and was entirely consistent with Australian democracy. I do not believe it would have infringed the rights or downplayed the experience of other Australians yet could have made an enormous contribution towards Indigenous reconciliation. 

In acknowledgement of Wentworth’s values, I continue to listen to and work with Indigenous stakeholder groups to find new ways to promote and achieve lasting reconciliation in Australia.