Battle lines drawn: Parliament opener sets stage for ALP’s agenda, but election promises face hurdles

Governor General Sam Mostyn set the stage for the political battles to come as she addressed the combined chambers of Australia’s 48th parliament on Tuesday, laying out Labor’s second-term domestic and foreign policy goals.

The speech, drafted by the Prime Minister’s office, was a long list of targets already canvassed in Labor’s Federal election campaign, spanning the Government’s ambitions for cheaper medical treatment, more affordable access to education and housing, and tax relief.

It signalled Labor would use the majority from its thumping election win to deliver “lasting cost-of-living relief” and with “ensuring that our economy is resilient, diversified and productive.”

But despite the optimistic buzz as parliamentarians took their seats in the Chamber for the first time, the Government faces significant hurdles to get its ambitious agenda across the line within three years.

Labor’s aim to “unlock housing supply” by building 1.2 million houses over the next five years remained one of the priorities outlined in the speech, even after Treasury advice accidentally leaked last week to the ABC said this target “would not be met”, urging the Government to craft a “coherent and well-prioritised” housing agenda.

A shadow was also cast over the Government’s cornerstone election pledge to deliver 18 million more bulk-billed GP visits a year through a massive $8.5 billion funding boost, after a report in the Australian suggested nearly a quarter of doctors’ clinics were unlikely to accept the terms of Labor’s plan.

On the global stage, the Governor General’s speech gave a nod to the great responsibility held by the Government to secure the nation’s future, pledging to give law enforcement and intelligence agencies “the tools they need”.

Ms Mostyn flagged increases to military spending and support for a defence strategy that took “a whole of the nation approach”.

“We live in a time of significant geopolitical change and uncertainty and the government is positioning Australia to meet the global growing security challenges we face,” she said.

In a sign of robust foreign policy debates to come, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi sat silently facing the Governor-General’s podium, holding up a cardboard sign with the words “Gaza is starving, words won’t feed them. Sanction Israel.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Greens had welcomed a move by the Government to join 27 nations in condemning Israel’s denial of humanitarian aid to Gaza and urging it to end the war, but the group demanded more action, including the sanctioning of the entire Israeli Cabinet.

Ms Mostyn did not make a direct reference to the situation in Israel and Gaza as she summarised Australia’s foreign policy objectives.

As she drew her speech to a close, Ms Mostyn congratulated members and senators who had been “called to serve”.

“Our democracy is a golden thread that unites Australians across geography and generations. It is now time for you to act as stewards of our proud democratic traditions and faithfully cut out the duty with which Australia is have entrusted you,” she said.

Democracy was a “work in progress” that thrived “when ideas and propositions are subject to robust but respectful interrogation,” said the Governor-General.

“I wish you all the very best as you build how extraordinary nation’s future together. It is now my duty and my honour to declare the 48th Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia open.”

The speech capped an inauguration day of pomp, ceremony and parliamentary tradition, followed by a booming 19-gun salute and the first tranche of speeches from 40 new MPs and Senators.

Ali France, who ousted former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton from his Queensland seat of Dickson in a shock defeat, was afforded the honour of making the first speech out of the new batch of members.

Ms France’s speech was peppered with gratitude for all who had supported her journey to the benches of parliament, from local party workers to the Prime Minister, but with a special tribute to her son Henry, 19, who died last year after an 18-month battle with leukemia.

“He told me many times, that this election was my time. He was convinced I would win and said a number of times, ‘don’t make me the excuse for you not doing important things’. His words, his courage, were with me every day of the campaign,” she said.

Ms France’s deeply personal first address to parliament told the story of how she fought the odds to get there, including through the struggles of losing her leg in a car accident while saving her second son Zac.

Professor Martin Wullschleger and Dr Munjed Al Muderis, the surgeons who saved her life, looked on from the gallery as she praised their skills, the Australian health system and the refugee program that brought Dr Al Muderis to the country.

“I literally would not be standing here today without you,” she said. “Modern Australia is the product of migrants and refugees like Munjed who have come here and worked hard to give back and contribute to their adoptive country.”

Ms France concluded that as one of the first women with a disability to be elected to the House, and the first person to unseat an Opposition Leader, “kindness, a helping hand, opportunity and open doors have got me here.”

“That’s what I will be giving to the people of Dickson.”

The speech was a poignant conclusion to a day that began with a traditional church service attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and fiancée Jodie Haydon, alongside members of the Cabinet and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.

It had been a “wonderful way” to begin the term, said the Prime Minister while exiting the Wesley Uniting Church, making brief comments about the “opportunity” this whopping 94-seat majority has delivered.

“Every day’s an opportunity to deliver for Australians and this week, we will have legislation to do that,” he told reporters.

Mr Albanese then returned to Parliament for the swearing in of his 94-seat majority, preceded by a Welcome to Country statement and traditional smoking ceremony to celebrate Australia’s Indigenous history.

Both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader sat side-by-side while Ngunnawal elder Serena Williams led a traditional dance in parliament’s Great Hall, while Aunty Violet Sheridan spoke of a “culture of strength, of resilience and of deep wisdom” as she delivered the Welcome to Country address.

Mr Albanese praised the ceremony as a “powerful” and “respectful” way to begin a new parliament in Canberra, “which of course means the meeting place.”

It was an opportunity for MPs to “embrace and show a profound love of home and country,” he said.

“It is a reminder as well of why we all belong here together, that we are stronger together and we belong.”