Name: House of Representatives Chamber (part 1 of 2)
Uploaded: 2026-10-25T22:50:00+00:00
Duration: 21600 s

10:16 - 10:43

Speaker 4

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples who are the traditional custodians of the Canberra area and pay respects to the elders past and present of all Australia's indigenous peoples. Almighty God, we humbly beseech thee to vouchsafe thy blessing upon this Parliament. Direct and prosper our deliberations to the advancement of thy glory and the true welfare of the people of Australia. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

10:43 - 11:12

Speaker 3

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen. I call to the Leader of the House.

11:12 - 11:21

Speaker 1

Speaker, I move the motion to suspend standing and sessional orders in relation to the time and order of business for this sitting in the terms as circulated to honorable members in the chamber.

11:21 - 11:35

Speaker 2

The question is the motion be agreed to. I put the question. Those in opinion say aye. Against no. I think the ayes have it.

I call the honorable the Prime Minister.

11:35 - 12:12

Speaker 6

I move that this house declares one, its support for the member for Indi following the horrific incident in Wangaratta on Monday 19 October 2026. Two, its strongest well wishes for the member for Indi's recovery ahead. Three, its appreciation for the courage and swift action of bystanders, first responders, and health professionals. And four, its support to the member for Indi's family, friends, staff, and community at this extremely difficult time.

12:12 - 12:14

Speaker 5

Prime Minister.

12:14 - 14:36

Speaker 6

As the house meets for the first time since the horrific events of last Monday, it is appropriate that our very first act is to speak about the member for Indi, Dr. Helen Haines. Her husband Phil Haines was with us this morning. He has shown a level of grace that for most of us is simply beyond reckoning. This morning Phil spoke lovingly of Helen's superpowers as empathy, kindness, and compassion. He spoke of hope and change and the need for a gentler, more cohesive path.

I want Phil to know that we are with him and Helen and with their children and their grandchildren and will remain with them. The shock from what happened last Monday is like a stone in our hearts. What brings it home today is being back in this chamber on what should have been an ordinary sitting day, looking across at the member for Indi's seat over there and hoping and looking forward to the day in which she's back here representing the community that she loves. A community that right now is hurting badly, as are her wonderful close-knit staff here and in Wangaratta and Wodonga. Our hearts are with you.

We look across to the member for Indi's place and despite ourselves half expect to see her face, like a trick that the heart plays on the mind if only to grant us a moment's respite from the truth. Right now our friend and colleague is in hospital, grievously injured, the shape of her life and her family's lives changed forever. The day will come when we look across this chamber and see the member for Indi's face again. As the Victorian Police, AFP, and ASIO continue their investigations, we give our thanks to them, just as we give our thanks to the health and emergency service workers and all who have provided assistance to Helen. We are also uplifted in the knowledge that on that terrible afternoon we saw examples of the best of the Australian character.