MATTERS OF URGENCY

Senator FARUQI (New South Wales—Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens) (17:12): Labor and Liberal governments have bent the knee to billionaires and corporations for far too long. In exchange for millions in donations and cushy jobs, the political establishment has flogged off essential public services for the benefits of CEOs, investment bankers and private equity ghouls.

This has been going on for decades. It's why every grocery bill, rent repayment and power bill feels like a punch to the guts. It's why life keeps getting harder while the banks, telcos and health providers that used to be owned by the public are making massive profits for their corporate owners.

Letting capitalism destroy essential services hasn't just hurt our household budgets. It has killed people. We all want the best care for our loved ones.

We want to know they are safe and happy when we can't be with them, but, from child care to aged care, we've seen the neglect and abuse that happens when you put profit over people—corners cut, safety undermined and workers underpaid and undervalued. Small tweaks won't fix the broken system that's harming our kids and our parents. Occasional fines and public shaming won't change the behaviour of soulless businessmen who know their bonuses are on the way.

We have to threaten their business models by giving ordinary people real alternatives owned by the people and run for good, not for profit. Here's what I think: a government without a plan for public ownership and nationalisation is one that doesn't deserve to govern. That's the test the Albanese government has failed.

The Greens won't have it. We are bringing public services back into public hands where they belong.