The Liberal and National team just secured a victory in the Senate to stop Labor’s attack on private health insurance. To everyone who signed our petition, contacted their local MP or raised concerns, thank you for making your views heard. We will continue to fight to fix the economy and protect Australians’ way of life.

My sixth and final event today is the Ipswich Region Business Excellence Awards. As the only Senator based in the Greater Ipswich Region, I know how tough current conditions are for our local businesses. It makes it even more important to celebrate success. Congratulations to all finalists and winners, and thank you to the Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce for hosting another fantastic evening recognising business excellence.

It was a pleasure to join Queensland's Nigerian community for the Nigerian Cultural Day Celebration.  Our Nigerian Australian community makes an outstanding contribution to our beautiful country. Members of the community work in the professions and operate very successful businesses. Thank you to the Nigerian Community Association Queensland for hosting such a vibrant event, and for the warm welcome.

It was a pleasure to join Ipswich Little Athletics to celebrate its 50th anniversary and take part in the Twilight Carnival at Bill Paterson Oval.  For five decades, Ipswich Little Athletics has helped generations of young people develop confidence, resilience and a love of sport. With more than 400 athletes, including a strong multi-class cohort, the club continues to make a wonderful contribution to our community.  Congratulations to all athletes, volunteers, coaches and families who have been part of this remarkable journey. Here's to the next 50 years of inspiring young athletes across Ipswich.

Congratulations to Bethania Rams Football Club for a very successful junior season for 2026. It was a real honour to participate in the awards ceremony today. The success of grassroots sport depends on dedicated coaches, committee members, volunteers and parents who generously give their time to support young people. Thank you for all that you do.  Congratulations to all award winners and to every player who represented the Bethania Rams this season.

Great to participate in the Fiji Day celebrations in Brisbane today with our wonderful Fijian Australian community. It was a great honour to participate in the Kava welcoming ceremony with elders and the Premier of Queensland, David Crisafulli. Thank you to Sunnybank Rugby for hosting the event. Vinaka vakalevu for the warm welcome.

Thank you to Weipa Town Authority and Rio Tinto for hosting my visit to Weipa this week. I was so impressed by everything I saw and obtained a real appreciation for the challenges facing our remote communities. Coming from the mining industry before politics, my mine site tour was a real joy. Congratulations to the Rio Tinto team for everything you have achieved. Fingers crossed for some big and positive investment decisions in the near future. To Jaime and her team at Weipa Town Authority, your passion for the community and providing services was truly inspiring. Thank you to everyone!

Great to meet with the Gordonvale Chamber of Commerce in Cairns yesterday and learn more about the issues facing businesses in our regions.  It was a valuable opportunity to hear directly from local business leaders about the challenges and opportunities in regional Queensland.  Thanks to Terry James MP for hosting us! Today it’s off to Weipa!

Congratulations to everyone at APNA for another successful Harmony Cricket Cup today. Thanks also to our wonderful hosts the Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club. I was honoured to be patron of the Nepalese Queensland team.   The Nepalese community has been through so much and it is inspiring to see the Australian community continue to support them.

Great to attend the Pasifika Vibes Festival and celebrate the cultures, traditions and contributions of Pacific communities in Queensland.  Australia’s relationships with Pacific nations are strengthened by generations of community connections and a shared passion for culture and sport.  Congratulations to everyone involved in this fantastic celebration.

It was an honour to participate in the award ceremony for the Taiwanese Australia–Brisbane Badminton Friendship Tournament over the long weekend. There is so much talent in our Taiwanese Queensland community including on the badminton court!  Congratulations to the competitors, award recipients and organisers.

Congratulations to everyone involved in organising the inaugural Oceania Nations Rugby Challenge 2026 at Sunnybank Rugby Union Club over the weekend. It was an honour to be asked to do the official opening. Approximately 500 players from Queensland and the Northern Territory will be competing from under 10’s to under 18’s. It is about sport bringing together our wonderful Pacific Australian communities!

Today the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is holding its General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa. I am very privileged to represent Team Australia as a voting delegate. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is a key body which links Commonwealth countries across through our shared democratic values.

This week I have been in Cape Town representing Australia at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. This is an important event attended by 900 delegates from both national and state governments. There have been important topics discussed from AI to best parliamentary practices. A highlight had been the bilateral meetings with representatives from all over the Commonwealth.   More than anything, the event highlights the enduring ties the Commonwealth maintains based on our shared democratic values.

I support age-appropriate and effective education about consent and respectful relationships. At the same time, we should be able to have a sensible discussion about broader issues in education, including the significant decline in male primary school teachers. Legitimate concerns should be debated respectfully rather than dismissed.

The Impact Gold Coast Youth Summit has empowered more than 1,000 young people to share their ideas, build confidence and shape their futures. Congratulations to Angie Bell MP and everyone involved in this outstanding initiative.

Congratulations to Nazrin Vaziri on receiving the Creative and Artistic Excellence Award at the Batia Samaj Multicultural Awards. Through her work with GC MAGIC and support for Queensland's diverse communities, Nazrin continues to make a lasting difference. A well-deserved honour.

Wonderful to attend the Logan Business Distinction Awards this evening as a proud sponsor of this important event.  Local businesses are the backbone of our economy. They create jobs, support families and help build stronger communities.  Tonight was an opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of the businesses and individuals helping Logan thrive.  Congratulations to all finalists and winners and thank you to the Logan Chamber of Commerce for its ongoing advocacy and support for local businesses across our region.

Right now, around 1,100 Queensland public hospital beds are occupied by older Australians waiting for aged care. Yet Labor wants to abolish the private health insurance rebate for over-65s, making private cover less affordable. At the very time we need to be freeing up hospital beds, the Albanese Government is pursuing a policy that risks sending more people into the public system.  Queenslanders will pay the price.

When asked whether office romances are a good idea, I had to say "yay" because my marriage began as an office romance. As a Senator, I get asked questions on a diverse range of matters! See my response in relation to the question of office romances…