Zoe McKenzie

LP Federal

AI Summary

• McKenzie endorses the Australia-EU Security and Defence Partnership as crucial for trade and strategic collaboration.
• The EU is Australia's third-largest trading partner and offers significant opportunities for various Australian exports.
• The partnership aims to enhance cooperation in cybersecurity, maritime security, and advanced technologies amidst global instability.
• Australian businesses stand to benefit from access to EU markets and investment in defence technologies.
• Strengthening ties with the EU is essential for Australia's security and prosperity in a challenging international environment.

AI Summary

• The commencement of the Point Nepean Research and Education Field Station was celebrated, highlighting the collaboration between two Victorian universities and the local community.
• Zoe McKenzie acknowledged key contributors, including Professors and community members, and shared personal reflections on the historical significance of the park.
• The project aims to enhance understanding of marine and climate issues, with aspirations for its long-term impact on local and global research.

AI Summary

• The eSafety Commissioner labelled the government's social media regulations as ineffective, likening them to a 'wet lettuce'.
• A study revealed that over 85% of adolescents under 16 still accessed restricted social media, undermining the ban's effectiveness.
• Calls for a thorough three-month inquiry into the legislation were met with government resistance, highlighting concerns over its potential failure to protect children.

AI Summary

• The coalition endorses the importance of the statute update legislation for maintaining the integrity of the Commonwealth Statute Book.
• Concerns were raised regarding the need for verification of the bill's technical amendments, citing a history of hasty legislative processes resulting in errors.
• The coalition proposes referral of the bill to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee to ensure no substantive legal changes are made.

I spent this last week embedded with the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Base Darwin, sharing the Defence Accommodation Precinct at Howard Springs with 3000 Airforce personnel from 19 different countries. I will have more to say about the trip, and its purpose, in coming days. But I wanted to start by recognising the amazing work the RAAF does in working with the people of Darwin and the North in mounting this extraordinary exercise, with over 100 participating aircraft, many of which were put on ‘show’ for around 40,000 people to enjoy in a fly past at Mindil Beach in Darwin on Thursday night. Pitch Black takes place every two years, and I have never seen anything, or indeed, imagined anything like it. Think air-based-warfare-olympics - building our capability and interoperabili...

🥇 FLINDERS FIGHTS FOR GLORY IN GLASGOW 🥇 Congratulations to our Flinders athletes selected to compete for Australia at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow: 🇦🇺 Eileen Cikamatana – Women’s 86kg Weightlifting 🇦🇺 Emily Whitehead – Women’s Artistic Gymnastics 🇦🇺 Thomas McGough – Men’s 100m T38 Athletics I’ve been fortunate to meet both Emily and Eileen after their outstanding performances at the Paris Olympics. And a special shout-out to Thomas, who is balancing elite sport with Year 10 at Padua College. I look forward to meeting with him on his return! Best of luck! 💚💛

** CONGRATULATIONS ANTHONY MARSH ** Congrats to my friend Anthony Marsh - who retained the State seat of Nepean in the weekend’s by-election. I have worked with Anthony for years, as our effective, budget-conscious, rate-payer minded Mayor! I have worked with him for months on his local campaign in Nepean, and now greatly look forward to working with him as together, we fight for a better deal for the Mornington Peninsula. This campaign saw the State Liberal leadership team spend weeks on...

** ITS NOT FREE SPEECH - ITS ALGORITHMICALLY FED SPEECH ** Yesterday I addressed a remarkable group of Australian entrepreneurs and business leaders at The Cambium in Red Hill. One of the many things we discussed was Ai, social media, Australia’s social media reforms and indeed the impact of algorithms and foreign interference in what we see each and every day online. Your feed is not your free speech. It is algorithmically pushed to keep you engaged. Its not what you choose to watch. It...