Ellie Whiteaker

Latest speeches

1. Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee - Perth, WA (part 2 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 23 September 2026

   • Senator Ruston: impact of rebate measure on premiums

     “Thank you, Senator Ruston. I just have two very brief questions to wrap us up. Mr. Hawkins, I just want to clarify something you said earlier on the budget process in the lead up to this decision, but also any…”

     Watch from 1:16

   • Chair: Treasury/APRA role in budget process

     “Yep, thank you. Understand that. Mr. Young, just a final question for you. To the data that the department uses when it's, you know, working through the modeling on this question in particular, where do you get that data that…”

     Watch from 2:41

   • Data sources for modelling and hearing closure

     “Okay, thank you for clarifying that. Thank you to all the officials for appearing before the committee today. The committee will report to the Senate on the 7th of October 2026. We've agreed that responses to questions on notice should…”

     Watch from 3:38

2. Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee - Perth, WA (part 1 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 23 September 2026

   • Opening of hearing and procedural framework

     “I open this hearing of the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee's inquiry into the Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026. I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land, the Whadjuk Noongar people…”

     Watch from 16:00

   • Vascular surgeons: opposition and clinical risks

     “Dr. Wu, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but we can't hear you very well, and I'm wondering if perhaps you're talking into your phone on speaker rather than holding the handset to your ear.”

     Watch from 22:52

   • Transition to Day Hospitals Australia panel

     “No, no, I'm happy to go back to Senator Grogan. Do you have questions for the Society for Vascular Surgery?”

     Watch from 38:54
   17 more clips in this sitting

3. Senate Community Affairs References Committee · Australian Parliament · 22 September 2026

   • COTA Australia & COTA NSW: fees, trust and data needs

     “Thank you very much, Chair, and thanks for your time this morning. I've just got a couple of questions to finish us off. One of the things that, um, you've spoken to in your evidence and that we've heard in…”

     Watch from 1:17:31

   • COTA Australia & COTA NSW: fees, trust and data needs

     “Thank you. I want to just touch on something that you said earlier in your first answer to my question. You talked about older Australians who perhaps are not quite in need of a package now being advised to go…”

     Watch from 1:23:40

   • COTA Australia & COTA NSW: fees, trust and data needs

     “Yeah, thank you, that's, I think that is an important point. We've talked a bit about the co-payments and the costs on older Australians who are accessing care. I think, well, I'm aware the government announced that from the 1st…”

     Watch from 1:26:26
   13 more clips in this sitting

4. Senate Chamber (part 1 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 17 September 2026

   • Two‑minute statements: agriculture, social policy, environment, tax and integrity

     “Thank you, Acting Deputy President. The internet is a very different place from the one that I grew up with. When I was a teenager, the biggest social crisis online that I faced was deciding who to make my top…”

     Watch from 4:58:05

5. Senate Chamber (part 3 of 3) · Australian Parliament · 16 September 2026

   • Health Insurance Amendment bill: government outlines incentive framework

     “Thank you, Acting Deputy President. The Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2024 strengthens Medicare by improving the administration, integrity and transparency of key incentive payment programs. This bill delivers three key things. First, it places a…”

     Watch from 22:33

   • Whiteaker: bulk billing targets and Medicare performance

     “Everywhere I go, I hear about the difference that our plan to give more Australians access to bulk-billing GP appointments is making. For the families who shouldn't have to wait for their next paycheck to take their kid to the…”

     Watch from 25:14

6. Senate Chamber (part 2 of 3) · Australian Parliament · 16 September 2026

   • Take note of answers: economy, women’s rights, Muldoon and migration

     “Thank you, Acting Deputy President. I rise to take note of answers given in question time, and I particularly want to talk to the answers given by Senator Wong to the Coalition's first questions, and then I'll get to some…”

     Watch from 1:15:46