Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips is standing behind her strong record of delivering for the South Coast community after the Prime Minister announced an election would be held on Saturday 3 May, 2025.
“It’s not going to be easy, but I think I’ve got the runs on the board and the people of Gilmore know that I’m all about supporting and delivering for my community,” Mrs Phillips said.
“I’ve been the Labor Federal Member for Gilmore since 2019 and I’m really proud of what I have achieved for the region over the past six years.
“We’ve had some really tough times, with bushfires, floods and the Covid lockdowns, but I’ve always stood by my community to ensure people received the support needed to recover and to be more prepared for future disasters.”
Mrs Phillips said, as a true local, born and bred on a dairy farm near Nowra, she understood the needs of Gilmore communities, from Kiama to Moruya.
“I’m always out and about talking to people, not just in the lead up to an election, so I get it. I know what our communities need. I understand that people are doing it tough.
“That’s why I’m so pleased that a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will take unprecedented steps to help ease the cost-of-living with more energy bill relief, even cheaper medicines and, of course, new tax cuts - which the Liberals have said they will axe.
“Families, students and seniors across Gilmore will benefit from a range of measures announced in this week’s Federal Budget that are aimed at easing financial stress in the home and building Australia’s future while, importantly, placing downward pressure on inflation.
“Under Labor 64,000 taxpayers in Gilmore will receive another tax cut. That’s money going straight back into the pockets of hardworking locals.”
Mrs Phillips has delivered the Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which has seen more than 12,500 patients walk through the doors since December 2023 and, under a re-elected Albanese Labor Government, she will deliver a second federally-funded clinic in Nowra.
“Affordable, accessible health care is top of mind for people in Gilmore, which is why I fought so hard for a second Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Nowra, that will take pressure off the busy Shoalhaven Hospital emergency department.
“And it’s the reason why a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will extend the opening hours at the Batemans Bay Urgent Care Clinic to 6am till midnight.
“I’m really proud to have delivered Medicare Mental Health Clinics at Nowra and Moruya, providing free, walk-in support for people when they need it.
“And, of course our fantastic and much-needed South Eastern NSW Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic at Milton is changing the lives of women and will be expanded to include menopause support under a re-elected Labor government.”
Mrs Phillips said Labor was making the single largest investment in Medicare with more Urgent Care Clinics, cheaper medicines, more bulk-billing and investing in training more doctors and nurses.
“The Albanese Government is also investing in education, housing and creating more regional jobs through the Future Made in Australia plan,” she said.
“This is really great for young people and families, because we’re making it easier to buy and rent a home, training more tradies with free TAFE and we’re investing in every stage of education, including a 20 per cent cut to student debt and putting all public schools in NSW on a path to full and fair funding.
“As a mum of four young adults, who all attended local public schools, I know how important it is to get a good education, right from the start, which is why we’re supporting our young people from early child care, right through to university.
“We’ll improve the accessibility and affordability of early childhood education and care with the introduction of a 3 Day Guarantee from January 2026, and we’re injecting $529.6 million to establish new child care services and increase the capacity of existing services.”
She said students would continue to get ahead with fee-free TAFE in industry skill-shortage areas and Commonwealth Prac Payments for nurses, teachers and social workers – meaning they can now earn money while they learn.
“This is so important because we need to train tradies, nurses, aged care and child care workers to build more homes and to look after out most vulnerable,” Mrs Phillips added.
Mrs Phillips is proud of the many road projects she has delivered for Gilmore, including funding for the Jervis Bay Flyover, Milton-Ulladulla Bypass, Nowra Bypass and the duplication of the Princes Highway from Jervis Bay Road to Hawkin Road.
“I’ve delivered more than $1 billion in federal funding for Shoalhaven Roads, including $35 million for the Far North Collector Road. These projects will improve safety and livability for local residents,” she said.
“I’ve worked with communities to deliver really important services such as headspace at Batemans Bay and Kiama to support our young people, and local facilities like the Gerringong Surf Club, Malua Bay Beach Reserve and Jindelara Cottage at Ulladulla.
“I’ve secured funds for the country’s first Birthing on Country Facility at Nowra, delivered the spectacular new Mogo Local Aboriginal Lands Council building and provided grants for local indigenous rangers and, of course, our many wonderful Waminda women’s projects.
“I really love the outdoors and I’m thrilled to have secured funds to complete the Mogo Trails, Huskisson Mangrove Boardwalk and the Observation Point upgrade at Batemans Bay, and, I worked really hard for many years to obtain a $5 Million federal grant for the Shoalhaven Riverfront Precinct.”
Mrs Phillips said she was “excited and energized” to keep working hard and advocating for Gilmore residents, businesses and community groups.
“I’m always out and about keeping abreast of what the community needs, which is why we have a new fire station just completed at Lake Conjola, a new station underway at Manyana, and work has commenced on the new Eurobodalla Regional Co-located Emergency Services Precinct.
“A re-elected Albanese Government will also fund a brand new pilot house at Shoalhaven Marine Rescue as well, which is just fabulous.”
She is thrilled to see funds continuing to flow through to the region’s Defence facilities at HMAS Albatross and HMAS Creswell and to the local Defence Industry, supporting jobs and the South Coast economy.
“I’ve secured a $313.5 million contract with Sikorsky Australia to maintain the MH-60R Seahawk Helicopter fleet, which is great for local jobs, and I’m pleased that a re-elected Albanese government will continue to deliver for our Defence and Defence Industries,” Mrs Phillips added.
She said transitioning to renewable energy was crucial for combatting climate change and would bring down power prices.
“We need to do what we can to get more renewables into the grid as soon as possible, and that includes offshore wind.
“Renewable energy makes sense, while Peter Dutton’s $600 billion nuclear fantasy is too costly, will take too long and will push power prices up.
“I’ve fought alongside the community against a nuclear power plant at Jervis Bay in the past and I will continue to say no to nuclear.”
Mrs Phillips said people of all ages and from all walks of life would reap the benefits of an Albanese Labor Government’s responsible cost-of-living measures.
“That won’t be the case if the Liberals get their way, because they have opposed our cost of living relief time and time again,” she said.
“They have opposed Labor’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
“They’ve opposed free TAFE, cheaper medicines and cheaper childcare.
“They’ve opposed our $300 energy bill relief and help to buy plan.
“They opposed Labor’s tax cuts for every taxpayer, and instead they want to hike our taxes up.
“The people of Gilmore would have been much worse off over the last couple of years if Dutton had his way. And they’ll be worse off still if he wins the election.”
Media Contact: KATRINA CONDIE - 0437 662 967
