Key Albanese Government achievements since the May 2025 election:

ü  Wiping student debt by 20% was the very first piece of legislation introduced to the Australian Parliament when it returned in July. This is directly benefiting around 18,600 people in our region.

ü  The single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago is now underway with our $8.5 billion package delivering more bulk billing and more doctors for all Australians. From 1 November 2025, bulk billing incentives have been paid to GPs for every patient they bulk bill. Thanks to this incentive, 26 GP clinics in the Ballarat area will be fully bulk billing – up from 8 previously.

ü  From 1 January 2026, we’re making medicines even cheaper with prescriptions on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme costing no more than $25. The last time PBS medicines cost no more than $25 was 2004.

ü  We’re providing record funding for our public hospitals with an additional $1.8 billion from the Commonwealth flowing to the states from 1 July 2025. 

ü  We’ve made it easier to buy a first home with every first homebuyer now only needing a 5% deposit. This helps first homebuyers into their home sooner – and they won’t have to pay a single dollar in mortgage insurance.

ü  We’ve introduced new laws requiring social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having a social media account and deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16.

ü  Reforms to paid parental leave have commenced, with the amount of paid parental leave available to families increased to 24 weeks.

ü  Penalty rates and overtime rates for millions of Australians are now enshrined in law, protecting crucial entitlements for around 2.6 million workers.

ü  We’ve changed the rules so that employers must pay employees super at the same time as their wages.

ü  We’ve introduced a new principle into the Fair Work Act that unless employers and employees have expressly agreed otherwise, employer funded paid parental leave must not be cancelled because a child is stillborn or dies.

ü  We’ve passed legislation to lift child safety in early education and care services. The gives the government the power to cut off funding to childcare centres that don’t meet the National Quality Standard when it comes to safety and quality.  

ü  We’re taking real action on climate change with a new target of reducing emissions by 62 to 70% by 2035. We’re investing $2 billion to deliver even more renewable energy and we’re setting up a new $5 billion Net Zero Fund to help heavy industry switch to clean energy.

ü  We’ve made home batteries cheaper with a 30% per cent discount on upfront costs. Hundreds of Ballarat electorate residents have already taken advantage of this program.

ü  We’ve passed legislation to deliver strong environmental reforms that better protect our environment, deliver certainty to industry and more transparency for our community.