There is no more important role of government than providing young Australians with access to a decent education. Education is the great enabler. It is the springboard to a decent job and security in life. It ensures Australians have higher living standards and our economy is more productive.

I, as do my Labor colleagues, speak in support of the Succession to the Crown Bill 2015. This bill will ameliorate some of the worst elements of the rules of succession to the British royal crown, including providing that men will no longer take priority over women in the line of succession—priority will simply be determined by the order of birth.

When Mary Aikenhead established the Sisters of Charity, she proclaimed that the poor should have for love what the rich have for money. A not-for-profit organisation, the Sisters of Charity have been serving the people of Australia since 1838, with a particular emphasis on helping the poor and disadvantaged.

On behalf of the people of Kingsford Smith I offer sincerest condolences to the families of Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson, who tragically passed away in the Lindt cafe siege on 15 December 2014.

Last year I was fortunate to visit Laos as a guest of Gavi, the global Vaccine Alliance. In a rural village on the outskirts of Vientiane, I was fortunate to witness Australian aid dollars in action at the local clinic.

I pay tribute to the volunteers of the Randwick Botany State Emergency Service whose awards night I was privileged to attend last Friday.

On behalf of the people of Kingsford Smith, I wish to pay tribute to Phillip Hughes who passed away tragically on 27 November. The Australian summer is defined by three things: the beach, the barbecue and cricket.

I acknowledge the Bidjigal people, the traditional owners of this land and I pay my respects to their elders both past and present. I also acknowledge the Aboriginal name for this land Curiwwal and waters of Kamay.

I sincerely thank and pay tribute to the board and members of the Friends of Laperouse museum for the passion and commitment you have to preserving the Laperouse legacy and importantly educating our community and wider Australia of the French heritage in this area.

I speak in support of the amendment to the Dental Benefits Legislation Amendment Bill 2014. It is well known that bad oral health can have a negative impact on a person's quality of life. Untreated dental decay, as well as causing pain and infection, can affect nutritional status and growth and cause issues such as sleep disturbance, poor concentration and other behavioural impacts.

On Sunday the people of Clovelly came together to reimagine their streets and their suburb. They transformed Clovelly Road into the street that they want to live in and the environment they want to be a part of.