Political leaders return to parliamentary battlefield

Perth Now

5 days ago

Pomp and ceremony out of the way, federal politicians will get back to work as parliamentary business resumes.
The 48th parliament officially opened with a day of pageantry, which included a traditional church service and smoking ceremony before politicians were sworn in.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley will square off in parliament as rival party leaders for the first time on Wednesday.
Education Minister Jason Clare will deliver on Labor's election promise by introducing legislation to the lower house to slash university debt for three million Australians by 20 per cent.
The coalition is expected to support the move which will wipe $16 billion off student debt but is waiting to see the fine print.
People with an average HELP debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their loans.
The government has also said it will this week introduce childcare reform aimed at improving safety measures.
Labor returns to parliament with a lion's share of 94 seats, to the coalition's 43 in the lower house.
Melbourne MP Sarah Witty, who defeated former Greens leader Adam Bandt at the election, gave a heartfelt first speech to parliament on Tuesday evening.
She tearfully spoke of enduring "heartache after heartache" for more than a decade after experiencing pregnancy loss.
"We grieve deeply," she said.
"I opened myself to a new path. I stepped into the world of foster care, not out of ease, but out of a deep need to turn my pain into something positive."
Ms Witty said her experience taking care of children in need would shape her approach as an elected parliamentarian.
Griffith MP Renee Coffey, who wrested back Kevin Rudd's old seat for Labor from the Greens, spoke of the kindness former rival Max Chandler-Mather had shown her following a confronting interaction with a voter.
"On election day, I was stunned when a voter told me he couldn't possibly vote for me because I have MS and he couldn't be represented in parliament by someone who could be in a wheelchair," she said.
"It knocked the wind out of me. In a strange turn of fate, it was the then-member for Griffith, Max Chandler-Mather, who saw me step away from that interaction.
"And the kind words of support he offered me, I will never forget."