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Articles by D. Pocock
National Press Club Address
Skip navigation National Press Club Address We gather today on the lands of the Ngunnawal people. I acknowledge their ongoing care for this place and pay my respect to Ngunnawal elders past and present, as well as any other families with connections to these lands. I came here today wanting to deliver a simple message to the many people around our country feeling like politics as usual has failed them. I wanted to say that it doesn’t have to be like this.
BURRANGIRI BROKEN PROMISE
Federal Labor has walked away from its 2025 election commitment to deliver additional respite beds for the ACT announcing today that the full $10 million will be spent on an upgrade at Burrangiri rather than an expansion of the facilities. ACT Independent Senator David Pocock said the electorate of Bean and the broader ACT community had been let down by the Labor Government failing to deliver additional respite beds for the people of Canberra.
Mobile Office 9 November 2026
To give everyone equal opportunity to meet with the Senator, please only book one ticket. If you book more than one allocated time slot, all of your bookings will be cancelled. Please RSVP so we can let you know if there are any last minute changes. I am dedicated to ensuring that these events are inclusive and safe spaces that can be attended by anyone. If there’s anything I can do to facilitate your participation, or if you'd like to suggest a venue for a future mobile office event, please email .
COMMUNITY WIN IN COMMITTEE REPORT ON HUME CIRCLE
A parliamentary joint committee has today recommended excluding existing medium density housing, including Staffordshire Terrace, from a precinct-wide development plan in Narrabundah at what is known as Hume Circle. It follows strong advocacy from local community organisations and residents who objected to the change to the National Capital Plan that would have brought their homes under National Capital Authority planning.
AI Policy
I run a small office. A few staff cover policy, legislation, media, correspondence, events and electorate work for the whole of the ACT. The major parties have party research units, policy staff shared across a caucus, media teams, and colleagues who can each take a portfolio. As an Independent, my small team and I work incredibly hard to deliver for the ACT. In a typical week my office receives hundreds of emails, alongside phone calls, meeting requests, invitations and casework.
Speech to 2026 Cooperative Housing Summit
Skip navigation Speech to 2026 Cooperative Housing Summit Thank you very much for inviting me here to speak today. Housing has been one of my top priorities since first announcing I was running for the Senate. It’s one of the things Canberrans, and Australians generally, raise the most with me. Because we know that housing is a human right, but too often we don’t treat it like one in our policy making. It’s also not just any human right. It’s an enabler of other fundamental human rights.
Statement on OpenAI Medicare hack
This is a very concerning but ultimately unsurprising breach of Australians’ data by an AI agent. It again highlights how slow the Australian Government has been to implement appropriate safeguards for AI in high risk settings. This begs the question about why the Albanese Government shelved plans for a National AI Safety Act and why they are so slow to develop legislation to implement new standards.
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY TO DELIVER FULLY ELECTRIFIED SUBURB
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock has welcomed ARENA’s announcement today that 1000 households in Banks will benefit from an $8.2 million investment in electrifying their homes. The commitment to trial electrifying homes at scale in one suburb in every state and territory, including the ACT, was negotiated by Senator David Pocock in the last term of parliament.
NEW LAWS PROPOSED TO STOP BREACHES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
Independent Members and Senators are this week introducing a package of private bills jointly into both houses of parliament that would bring Australia’s domestic legislation into line with our international obligations. In the absence of a federal human rights act, the Red Lines package is an important suite of legislative amendments that has huge support across civil society and shifts the focus from prohibition to prevention - where it needs to be.
$10M PLAN TO MAKE A PLAN: BRUCE PRECINCT MASTER PLAN UNDERWHELMS
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock said he was disappointed the $10 million Bruce Precinct Master Plan released today failed to set out a preferred location for a stadium, a detailed business case, costing or timeline for the future of the site. Senator Pocock said the “plan” sets out two high-level scenarios that leave virtually every major decision regarding the future of the stadium unresolved.
Mobile Office 23 October 2026
To give everyone equal opportunity to meet with the Senator, please only book one ticket. If you book more than one allocated time slot, all of your bookings will be cancelled. Please RSVP so we can let you know if there are any last minute changes. I am dedicated to ensuring that these events are inclusive and safe spaces that can be attended by anyone. If there’s anything I can do to facilitate your participation, or if you'd like to suggest a venue for a future mobile office event, please email .
AMENDMENTS RECOMMENDED TO UNIVERSITY FUNDING BILL
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock is proposing a suite of amendments to the government’s legislation that would change funding arrangements for universities. The Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026 seeks to change the basis of higher education funding to a managed growth funding system and introduce needs-based funding grants for equity cohorts of students.
CANBERRANS CALL FOR STRONGER GAMBLING REFORM
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock is today tabling a petition coordinated by Independent Candidate for Bean Jessie Price calling for a full ban on gambling advertising. Signed by more than 700 Canberrans the petition demonstrates widespread support in the ACT for stronger action on gambling advertising. “Our petition in Bean adds our voices to the pressure on government to back in real reform,” Ms Price said.
Protecting and restoring the Upper Murrumbidgee
Management of the upper Murrumbidgee and Snowy rivers is the subject of an independent review initiated by for the federal government, following an agreement reached with Senator David Pocock. The draft report was released on 7 July 2026, and is open for consultation until Tuesday 4 August. The mighty Murrumbidgee river has been in terminal decline for decades and currently receives less than 10% of its natural inflow of water.
BILL TO USE GOVERNMENT LAND TO IMPROVE HOUSING SUPPLY
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock is today introducing a private senator’s bill to better leverage land owned by the Federal Government for the supply of new affordable housing. Senator Pocock’s bill would make it mandatory for affordable housing to be included in any residential development on Commonwealth land that’s sold or leased to private entities.
AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE WEAK GAMBLING LAWS
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock is proposing six amendments to significantly strengthen the government’s proposed new gambling laws starting with a full ban on gambling ads as recommended by the landmark, multi-partisan backed, Murphy Report. Experts have warned that without amendments, the Albanese Government’s new gambling laws could actually lead to an increase in gambling ads during live sport broadcasts. Senator Pocock’s amendments aim to clamp down on this.
WE CANNOT LET DATA CENTRES BE A REPEAT OF THE GREAT GAS SCAM
Over the past few months, tens of thousands of Australians have emailed their local MP calling for a 25% tax on gas exports. More than 2,200 people have even chipped in their own money to fund billboards promoting the idea. Why? Because Australians can see what's happening. We see multinational gas companies posting enormous profits from exporting a finite resource while paying less in Petroleum Resource Rent Tax than Australians collectively pay in beer excise.
TRANSCRIPT - DOORSTOP - SPLITTING THE CGT BILL
WEDNESDAY 4 JUNE ACT INDEPENDENT SENATOR DAVID POCOCK We've seen huge changes introduced by the government, and they are actively avoiding scrutiny. I think the Senate should do its job and actually split this bill. For the changes to housing, the case has been well made. The WATO, the $250 for working Australians, those things should be able to pass.
FURTHER CUTS AT CSIRO
My thoughts today are with the tremendous scientists and professional staff who face losing a job they love serving our nation Australians love and care about the CSIRO. More than 22,000 people have signed my CSIRO petition. The 92 jobs being cut from the Environment Research Unit is a hugely disproportionately hit relative to the cuts being made to CSIRO staff.
Post Budget Wrap
Last night I attended my fifth Federal Budget lock up and wanted to share my initial take with you. It’s a pretty austere budget very thin on new announcements, and while some reforms like negative gearing go further than I’d expected, there are a stack of missed reform opportunities. For a deeper analysis I’ll be hosting a post-budget Town Hall on 16 June in Tuggeranong with special guest economist Katherine Trebeck. You can also read my pre-budget submission lodged on behalf of the ACT community.
WEAK MURPHY REVIEW RESPONSE FAILS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM GAMBLING ADVERTISING HARM
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock has slammed the Government’s response to the Murphy Review into online gambling harm, describing it as “cowardly” and “deeply disrespectful” to the Australians who are being harmed by gambling and to the vast majority of Australians who want gambling advertising banned to protect young Australians.
FEDERAL BUDGET A STEP TOWARDS INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY BUT BIG MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock has congratulated the Treasurer on pursuing housing reform in tonight’s federal budget, but lamented the Albanese Government’s lack of courage in failing to implement a 25% gas export tax. The Budget papers show actual revenue from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax this financial year fell $100 million against what was predicted at the end of last year.
CANBERRA-SYDNEY RAIL FUNDING INADEQUATE BUT WELCOME
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock has welcomed the announcement of $50 million in Federal Funding towards upgrading the Sydney to Canberra rail line but said it wasn’t enough to make a significant difference to travel times. “A faster Sydney to Canberra rail line is something I have pushed for on behalf of Canberrans in multiple pre-budget submissions, including my most recent one,” Senator Pocock said.
STATEMENT ON THE ANU CHANCELLOR’S RESIGNATION
This year the Australian National University (ANU) will mark 80 years serving our community here in Canberra, across the country and around the world. Scores of academics, professional staff and students have given so much of themselves over these eight decades making a powerful contribution to knowledge, to understanding and to the betterment of our society. ANU was founded in the wake of two world wars as a beacon of hope, of working together and striving for better as a country.
25 YEARS TO REPAY STUDENT DEBT UNDER JRG TREASURY WORKING PAPER REVEALS
A Treasury working paper from May last year released under Freedom of Information to The Guardian has estimated the impact of the Morrison Government’s failed Job Ready Graduates (JRG) scheme on student debt and repayments. The paper finds that JRG, which has now been in place for longer under the Albanese Labor Government despite promises for reform, increases fees in fields where students tend to have lower earnings and blows out total debt and repayment times in impacted disciplines.
GAS INDUSTRY NEEDS TO FACT CHECK ITS FIGURES
An analysis of ATO data on company tax paid, PRRT revenue from the federal budget papers, excise data from the ATO, Commonwealth royalties from the federal budget papers and State royalties reported by relevant jurisdictions suggest the gas industry is significantly overstating the total tax it pays and may have misled a senate inquiry.
Mobile Office 19 June 2026
Being accessible and accountable is a key part of my commitment to our community. If there are issues you'd like to raise or views you'd like to share, my town halls and mobile offices, which I hold all around Canberra, are a great way to keep in touch. These events are intended as an opportunity to meet with me and chat about what matters most to you. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SELECT A TIME SLOT VIA THE 'GET TICKETS' BUTTON.
INQUIRY RECOMMENDS ONGOING INCREASE IN BASE FUNDING FOR NATIONAL SCIENCE AGENCY
A Senate Economics References Committee inquiry into the Funding and Resourcing for the CSIRO has reported today with the Chair's report making six recommendations. The inquiry was set up by a joint motion ACT Independent Senator David Pocock coordinated with Senators Chandler and Whish-Wilson co-sponsoring it in November last year. In his additional comments, Senator Pocock went further recommending a permanent, ongoing increase in CSIRO’s base appropriation alongside six other recommendations.
ONE MILLION AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN IN POVERTY AS PM POISED TO REJECT GAS EXPORT TAX
On the same day reports show the Prime Minister is refusing to collect a fair return for the sale of Australia’s finite gas resources, the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee finds one million Australian children and young people are living in poverty.
2026 TOWN HALL NDIS CHANGES
Town Hall: NDIS Changes WHEN May 20, 2026 at 17:30 - 7pm WHERE COTA ACT Hughes Community Centre Hughes Community Centre, 2 Wisdom St, Hughes Canberra, ACT 2605 Australia Google map and directions CONTACT Rory Chevalier · · (02) 6247 6444 Senator David Pocock, Thomas Emerson MLA and Fiona Carrick MLA invite you to a community town hall to discuss the recently announced changes to the NDIS.
FULL GAMBLING AD BAN & A NATIONAL REGULATOR NEEDED
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock has called out any attempt by the Albanese Government to water down the recommendations of the Murphy Report. Senator Pocock said anything short of a full gambling advertising ban, the establishment of a National Regulator and tackling things like inducements simply won’t cut it.
SUPPORT MUST START NOW FOR MOST VULNERABLE
Representatives of frontline service organisations and members of the crossbench are calling on the Albanese Government to go further than the temporary fuel excise halving this week to deliver urgent support to Australians most vulnerable to the economic impacts of the conflict in the Middle East. Increases to fuel costs, interest rates and inflation are ramping up pressure on already stretched household budgets, increasing rates of food insecurity, housing stress and the risk of homelessness.
ALMOST HALF OF FEDERAL PARLIAMENTARIANS PUSH FOR URGENT CHANGES TO HELP OLDER AUSTRALIANS
Members and Senators representing almost half of the federal parliament and nearly two-thirds of the Senate have sent a letter to Aged Care Minister Sam Rae calling for urgent reforms to the Support at Home program. Coordinated by ACT Independent Senator David Pocock, with support from the Coalition, the Greens and the entire crossbench, the letter calls for five key actions following a growing number of complaints from older Australians and their carers.
INDEPENDENTS MARK 1000 DAYS OF GOVERNMENT INACTION ON GAMBLING REFORM
Tuesday marks 1000 days since late Labor MP Peta Murphy presented the You win some, you lose more report into online gambling harm. Acknowledging the milestone, Independents Kate Chaney MP, Andrew Wilkie MP and Senator David Pocock have renewed their commitment to hold the government to account until meaningful reforms are implemented. Ms Chaney will introduce her Stop the Gambling Ads private member’s bill today to end online gambling advertising.
Middle East Conflict Survey
Thank you so much for taking the time to complete this survey. The Australian Government has confirmed that the Australian Defence Force will be providing defensive military assistance to Gulf allies in response to Iranian missile and drone threats, while stating it does not intend to participate in offensive operations or a ground war. The most recent reports have 85 military personnel, a E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and medium-range air-to-air missiles.
COMMUNITY PRESSURE KEEPS RESPITE AVAILABLE BUT LONG-TERM PLAN NEEDED
ACT Independent Senator Dave Pocock has welcomed today’s announcement from the Albanese Government that it will amend the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). The move to the new Support at Home system had locked older Canberrans and their families out of using the Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre as they had been previously, despite it being home to half of the ACT’s available respite beds.
COMMITTEE REPORTS PILE UP
Joint Media Statement with Kate Chaney MP - Government squanders Parliament’s best work as commttiee reports pile up. Independent crossbench MPs and Senators are demanding the Federal Government honour its commitment to parliamentary democracy by responding to the 130 parliamentary committee inquiry reports le unanswered past the deadline, under the Albanese Government. Since 2022, the Government has failed to respond in me to 50 completed House and Joint committee inquiries.
GAMBLING IS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
Joint Media Release with DR Monique Ryan. Gambling is a public health emergency, and must be recognised by the Australian Centre for Disease Control. Here we go again. As the new footy season kicks off, millions of Australian fans will be inundated once more with gambling advertising at the ground, on the backs of players, on television and streaming services – despite the Murphy Report’s recommendation almost three years ago that online gambling advertising must be banned.
NEW SENATE INQUIRY PROPOSED TO EXAMINE THE GREAT GAS GIVEAWAY
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock is today tabling a motion proposing to establish a special senate committee to inquire into the extraordinarily low rates of revenue Australians receive from the export of our gas resources.
Mobile Office 8 May 2026
Being accessible and accountable is a key part of my commitment to our community. If there are issues you'd like to raise or views you'd like to share, my town halls and mobile offices, which I hold all around Canberra, are a great way to keep in touch. These events are intended as an opportunity to meet with me and chat about what matters most to you. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SELECT A TIME SLOT VIA THE 'GET TICKETS' BUTTON.
Sitting week and Senate Estimates wrap
We’ve just reached the end of a sitting fortnight in Parliament, and it has been a very busy few weeks. It has also been an emotional couple of weeks for many in our community. I have heard from Canberrans feeling concerned, anxious, frustrated and, in some cases, deeply affected by recent events. I want to acknowledge that and thank everyone who has taken the time to write, call or speak with me.
Senate Estimates - Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - Burrangiri
Wednesday 11 February Senate Estimates Questions to Community affairs about Burrangiri Respite Care 10:12 - 10:13 Senator David Pocock Firstly I wanted to ask, people have been reporting to me that they can no longer access Burrangiri aged care respite in the ACT using Support at Home packages. And they're saying that they could access them when they're on Home Care packages. Now they’re on Support at Home, they can't, and I'm just interested in what's going on there.
NEW SUPPORT AT HOME SYSTEM LOCKS OLDER CANBERRANS OUT OF HALF OF THE ACT’S RESPITE BEDS
The Albanese Government’s new Support at Home system is locking older Canberrans and their families out of Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre, despite it being home to half of the ACT’s available respite beds. ACT Independent Senator David Pocock exposed the alarming revelation today during Senate Estimates.
SENATE ESTIMATES HUME CIRCLE, BRIDGEWORKS, AQUATIC STRATEGY
SENATE ESTIMATES - RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT Monday 9th January Senate Estimates Questions to RRAT about the Hume Circle, Bridge Works, Aquatic Pool Senator Glenn Sterle, Chair of the Committee 0:24 You are the lucky last and the only one who wants to ask any questions is Senator Pocock. Senator David Pocock 0:28 Thank you very much, Chair. Thank you for attending so late on Monday night and really looking forward to the upcoming briefing.
SENATE ESTIMATES - RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT
SENATE ESTIMATES - RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT Monday 9th January Senate Estimates Questions to RRAT Senator David Pocock 0:02 Can I ask about the status of the $10 million in the 2024-25 budget for the development of the Bruce precinct master plan.
ENDING PLACEMENT POVERTY WITHIN REACH, SAY HAINES AND POCOCK
ENDING PLACEMENT POVERTY WITHIN REACH, SAY HAINES AND POCOCK Independent Member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines MP, and ACT Independent Senator David Pocock say ending placement poverty for the next generation of Australia’s health workforce is within reach according to costings from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) they commissioned.
Mobile Office 20 March 2026
Being accessible and accountable is a key part of my commitment to our community. If there are issues you'd like to raise or views you'd like to share, my town halls and mobile offices, which I hold all around Canberra, are a great way to keep in touch. These events are intended as an opportunity to meet with me and chat about what matters most to you. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SELECT A TIME SLOT VIA THE 'GET TICKETS' BUTTON.
Second reading speech Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026
Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (21:45): I rise today to speak on the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026. I want to start by, again, remembering that we are here today because 15 people were murdered in a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community in Bondi—the largest terrorist attack to happen on our shores. It was an attack designed to inspire fear and divide us.
Second reading speech - Firearms and Customs Laws
Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (17:46): I rise to speak to the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026 and foreshadow a second reading amendment in my name and in the names of Senators Lambie, Tyrrell, Payman and Thorpe. I begin by, again, expressing my deep condolences to the victims of the horrific ISIS inspired antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi that targeted members of the Jewish community.
Parliamentary Launch of the Red Lines Legislative Package
Senator Lidia Thorpe, Senator David Pocock and Dr Sophie Scamps MP, the Association for the Promotion of International Law (APIL), and the parliamentarians and organisations of the Red Lines Coalition invite you to the parliamentary launch of the Red Lines Legislative Package — a groundbreaking package of legislation designed to strengthen Australia’s commitment to international law, accountability and the prevention of atrocity crimes.
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