Fiona Phillips Update - Federal Member of Gilmore

 

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10 June 2026 John, Hello, Many of you would have driven over the fabulous new Jervis Bay Flyover which is now open, making driving on the Princes Highway safer and bringing an end to bottlenecks at the Princes Highway and Jervis Bay Road intersection. I’m so proud to have secured and delivered $100 million funding towards this really important infrastructure project for our region, and was pleased that the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited to officially cut the ribbon and thank community members and  the 110 workers who have worked on the flyover. In other news, of course, the Federal Budget is delivering more tax cuts and reforming how capital gains tax and negative gearing work to help get new homeowners into the market. This is so important for our coastal region, where cashed-up property investors are locking young people – our kids and grandkids - out of the local market. It’s fantastic that we’re making Medicare Urgent Care Clinics a permanent feature of our health system, with more than 3,100 presentations at the new Nowra UCC since the doors opened, and almost 29,000 presentations at the Batemans Bay clinic. This is having a significant impact for our region, with pressure taken off our hospitals and free, walk-in urgent care for residents and visitors. The Budget also includes a $25 billion Commonwealth investment in public hospitals, which will flow through to local hospitals in the Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla.  Importantly, the Budget provides relief for small businesses – the backbone of our region’s economy. While it’s been a busy time in Canberra working on these changes, I’ve also enjoyed getting out into the community attending the always wonderful Berry Celtic Fair, celebrating 100 years of Scouting with the Batemans Bay Scout group and joining with the Nowra RSL Sub-Branch for the Boer War Remembrance Service. It’s always fantastic to celebrate the achievements of our local life savers, so it was great to attend the Kiama Surf Life Saving club presentation where Pete Gallagher was announced the volunteer of the year – Congrats Peter! In Batemans Bay I was inspired by the creative works on show as part of the Sculpture for Clyde exhibition and I also took the chance to get out and enjoy our local beaches and bushland with my fur-baby Taj and caught up with so many locals along the way. This week I’m in Queensland chairing the Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport’s hearings as part of the inquiry into local government funding. This is so important, especially for regional councils, to better understand the funding challenges faced by local government, particularly those that provide services and infrastructure to regional and rural Australians. I’m looking forward to being home this weekend and getting out and about in the community. I hope to see you around! You can keep up-to-date with my daily activities, speeches and local news by following me on Facebook HERE. Check out my latest media releases and speeches below. Fiona Fiona Phillips MP Federal Member for Gilmore Jervis Bay Flyover open to traffic ahead of June long weekend It will be smooth sailing for locals and visitors to the popular holiday hot spots of Huskisson and Vincentia this June long weekend, with the $164 million flyover at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Jervis Bay Road now open.   Mrs Phillips said she was proud to have joined Bay and Basin residents to fight for the flyover, and to secure $100 million federal funding towards its construction. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Jervis Bay Flyover open to traffic ahead of June long weekend Federal support to help South Coast residents into secure work Two South Coast organisations have received federal funding to deliver Local Jobs, Local People projects to better connect jobseekers with employers, training and tailored assistance. Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said the Albanese Labor Government was again helping people local people gain secure jobs and respond to local workforce needs. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Federal support to help South Coast residents into secure work Jervis Bay Road intersection upgrade takes flight   The $164 million upgrade of the Jervis Bay Road intersection is one step closer to completion, with the new flyover bridge set to open to traffic from Monday, 1 June. Motorists travelling southbound will be the first to use the new bridge, with motorists travelling northbound to follow shortly afterwards. The full project was originally forecast to open to traffic in late 2027, but thanks to the efforts of 110 workers who have contributed a combined 472,000 hours, it is now set to open almost a year ahead of schedule, in early 2027. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Jervis Bay Road intersection upgrade takes flight Mount Wandera telecommunication works to boost disaster resilience Recently completed infrastructure resilience works at the Mount Wandera telecommunications site west of Moruya have improved road access, strengthened power supply protection and enhanced the resilience of the Eurobodalla emergency services radio network during natural disasters. A total of $623,132 was delivered to Eurobodalla Shire Council ($329,971) and Essential Energy ($293,161) to improve bushfire resilience at the Mount Wandera Communications Station under the Australian Government’s Protecting Our Communities (Disaster Resilience) program administered by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Mount Wandera telecommunication works to boost disaster resilience Safer journeys into Mogo with targeted road upgrades The Minns and Albanese Governments are working together to deliver targeted road safety upgrades that improve driver behaviour and protect local communities, with important safety improvements being carried out at Mogo. The works will improve driver awareness of reduced speeds when entering the town and address pedestrian safety concerns outside Mogo Public School. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Safer journeys into Mogo with targeted road upgrades 2000 patients through the doors at Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic More than 2000 people have presented to the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at Nowra in the two months since the doors opened on March 5, 2026. Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said that was 2000 people that weren’t clogging up the Shoalhaven Hospital emergency department. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: 2000 patients through the doors at Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic Fiona Phillips invites young people to ‘bring their voice to the table’ Young people across the region are invited to put their ideas into a speech to be read out in Parliament by Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips. Anyone aged under 25 can enter the 2026 ‘Raise Our Voice in Parliament’ competition, including school and uni students, apprentices, young workers, sportspeople, job seekers and community volunteers. Mrs Phillips has read out speeches written by young people for the past two years and is looking forward to receiving this year’s entries. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Fiona Phillips invites young people to ‘bring their voice to the table’ New mental health support program showcased in Nowra   “My peer worker has been incredibly supportive — she’s honestly changed my life. I’ve felt heard, understood and genuinely supported throughout my time with the service. It’s made a real impact on my recovery,” - MyRecovery client. People with severe and complex mental health needs living in Nowra and across South Eastern NSW are benefitting from a newly implemented program, offering tailored, coordinated care at no cost to consumers. Launched in November 2025, Mrs Phillips said MyRecovery provided much-needed, free support for those living with ongoing or complex mental health challenges in the Shoalhaven. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: New mental health support program showcased in Nowra Resilience and reform for the Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Highlands The Albanese Labor Government is securing more transitional housing for women and children escaping family and domestic violence with upgrades underway on 15 transitional homes in the Shoalhaven. Delivered by SASSI and supported by the Albanese Labor Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Crisis & Transitional program, the project has received $10.2 million federal funding to purchase and upgrade 15 homes, including six two-bedroom and nine three-bedroom units. Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said the property was well positioned, close to village shops, parks, and schools. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Resilience and reform for the Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Highlands SPEECH: Thank you to our emergency relief organisations Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (19:44): As we move into the colder months, I know that families across my electorate of Gilmore are facing increased cost-of-living pressures, and many people are trying to cope with housing stress, mental health challenges and, in some cases, the impacts of domestic violence. During winter, demand for assistance from our emergency relief services rises sharply, with energy costs, and many households are forced to make very difficult choices between heating their homes or meeting other basic needs. For some, this time of year brings real and immediate anxiety. That's why wonderful organisations like St Vincent de Paul are so important. READ MORE HERE …  SPEECH: Thank you to our emergency relief organisations SPEECH: Opening the door to more housing for young people Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (15:51): If you work hard and save hard, you should be able to purchase your own first home. But, sadly, for young people in my electorate of Gilmore on the picturesque New South Wales South Coast, the dream of buying their first home locally has been unattainable for years. First home buyers just can't compete with investors who are paying top dollar for homes in our popular beachside towns, lakeside hamlets and quaint historic villages. Our kids and grandkids are being forced to pull up roots and move away from the communities they love and grew up in. We know investors have a huge advantage over first home buyers. They have an unfair tax advantage, and we want to fix that. The Albanese Labor government is making bold changes to help young Australians get a foot in the door of the property market. READ MORE HERE …  SPEECH: Opening the door to more housing for young people SPEECH: Jervis Bay Flyover ribbon cutting Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (16:20): Friday was a fantastic day in my electorate, with the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, joining me and local state MPs to cut the ribbon on the long-awaited Jervis Bay flyover. This is the busiest intersection on the Princes Highway from Nowra to the Victorian border, and drivers have experienced a major bottleneck there for decades. I'm proud to have lobbied alongside the bay and basin community to secure $100 million in federal funding for this important infrastructure project, and I'm excited to announce the first cars will drive over it next Monday. READ MORE HERE …  SPEECH: Jervis Bay Flyover ribbon cutting SPEECH: 12 months delivering for the Gilmore community Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (09:46): Well, it's been just over a year since I was re-elected by my community in Gilmore as their representative here in the federal parliament. Over the past 12 months, I'm so proud of what the Albanese Labor government has delivered for my region, including a new Medicare urgent care clinic in Nowra, which has seen more than 2,000 people in the first two months of operation. We've also announced that a Seahawk helicopter, AKA Nowra's 'chopper on a stick', will be returning to the town's gateway after being selected as the preferred option by community vote. Next week, the impressive and long awaited Jervis Bay flyover will be open to traffic, marking a significant milestone in the upgrade of the Princes Highway on the New South Wales South Coast. One of the most critical projects now under way in the Shoalhaven is the provision of transitional housing for women and children escaping family and domestic violence, delivered by SASSI and supported by the Albanese Labor government's Housing Australia Future Fund Crisis and Transitional Program. READ MORE HERE …  SPEECH: 12 months delivering for the Gilmore community Yours sincerely, Fiona Phillips MP Member for Gilmore Please contact me on: Fiona.Phillips.MP@aph.gov.au (02) 4423 1782

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Gilmore News Update - Hon. Fiona Phillips, MP

 

11 March 2026 Hello! I’m looking forward to heading home soon after two weeks representing you in Federal Parliament. This sitting fortnight I was delighted to talk about our plans to bring back Nowra’s Chopper on a Stick with input from the local community and also announce the opening of Nowra’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. I spoke about the need for improved mobile and telecommunications services, including our government’s plan to introduce the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation which will keep people in Gilmore connected and safer by ensuring they are able to call for help in times of emergency.  I was really proud to talk about how we’re helping local people with a range of cost-of-living measures, from free TAFE to more bulk billing GPs, and the wonderful local women’s health initiatives, including the South-Eastern Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic and Waminda’s Birthing on Country Centre of Excellence. In parliament I also had an opportunity to meet with Mel Briggs Waminda, and new mum Whitney who were guest speakers at the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Maternal Health event. Back home for the weekend, I had a great time at the Milton Show which had an amazing number of pavilion entries from local children, and I joined 120 locals for the Zonta Kiama Shellharbour International Women’s Day High Tea event. Huge congrats to our local IWD award winners Irene Banks, Suzanne Eggins, Dr Tina Broad and 11-year-old Piper Clarke for their inspiring and generous contributions to our community. As the Shoalhaven Family History Society Patron, it was a pleasure to join members for their AGM and to see a beautifully restored photo album of Hugh Mackenzie who owned and lived at Terrara Estate and built Terrara House. He and his family, for four generations, also owned and lived at the Bundanon Estate, where his father Dr Kenneth Mackenzie completed the Bundanon Homestead in 1866. Hugh was a pastoralist and was the mayor of South Shoalhaven! During this difficult time, my thoughts go out to all Australians caught up in the Iranian conflict. We continue to work on contingencies to keep Australians safe and to help travellers leave the Middle East. Anyone needing assistance can contact my office. You can keep up-to-date with my daily activities, speeches and local news by following me on Facebook HERE. Check out my latest media releases and speeches below and I hope to see you out and about in the community soon! Fiona Fiona Phillips MP Federal Member for Gilmore Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic open The Albanese Government is delivering for residents in Nowra with the opening of the Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.   Located at 107 Scenic Drive, Nowra, the new federally-funded Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is now open extended hours, seven days a week.   No appointment is needed, patients can walk in and all services are bulk billed. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic open Targeted action to deliver more aged care beds The Albanese Government is delivering more aged care beds where they are needed most, to ensure every older Australian can access the world-class aged care they deserve. Today, Labor is announcing that the Illawarra will share in $115 million through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) to rapidly increase access to residential aged care – alongside Perth, Adelaide and the Hunter. An Expression of Interest process is encouraging interested providers to put forward proposals that will build and open more beds within two years to help address immediate delayed discharge pressures on hospitals, and deliver services that align with the National Aged Care Design Principles. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Targeted action to deliver more aged care beds CAST YOUR VOTE: Town to decide future of Nowra’s ‘Chopper on a Stick’   Nowra’s iconic ‘Chopper on a Stick’ is coming back, and locals NOW have the chance to choose which helicopter will take pride of place at the town’s gateway. VOTE HERE After more than 25 years sitting proudly at the northern gateway to Nowra, the Iroquois  894  – AKA ‘Huey’ chopper was removed due to serious safety concerns, and will soon be replaced with a new, life-sized replica. Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said people could now vote for the return of the much-loved Huey, or consider erecting a MH-60R Seahawk (Romeo) helicopter, which represents the Royal Australian Navy’s current chopper fleet based at HMAS Albatross. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: CAST YOUR VOTE: Town to decide future of Nowra’s ‘Chopper on a Stick’ Volunteer Grants now open to assist community groups in Gilmore Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips is encouraging local community groups to apply for a Volunteer Grant to help foster community connections. The Volunteer Grants support the work of community organisations by reducing barriers for volunteers and increasing participation and awareness of volunteering opportunities. Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 are available to help community organisations to support the efforts of their volunteers. Grants can be used to purchase communication or insurance items, provide training, or for items that support volunteer cohorts and volunteer-run activities. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Volunteer Grants now open to assist community groups in Gilmore Work to start on three Cambewarra Mountain landslips Work to repair three landslip sites will start next week on Moss Vale Road at Cambewarra Mountain. The repairs are funded by the Albanese and Minns Governments through joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Transport for NSW has engaged specialist contractors to carry out the slope stabilisation work from Monday 23 February between Green Valley Road and Cambewarra Lookout Road. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Work to start on three Cambewarra Mountain landslips 250,000 Cheaper Home Batteries powering the suburbs, rural and regional Australia More than a quarter of a million households, small businesses and community organisations have now installed a bill busting battery under the Albanese Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries program, with around half of those installing new or upgraded solar systems at the same time. Batteries help households store the cheaper, cleaner energy they generate during the day, and use it at night. That means less reliance on peak prices, a more reliable grid and putting downward pressure on prices for everyone. New postcode-level data shows the clean energy upgrade is being led by the outer suburbs and by rural and regional communities, not the inner-city. Around 77 per cent of uptake has occurred in these regional and outer-suburban areas. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: 250,000 Cheaper Home Batteries powering the suburbs, rural and regional Australia Critical support for saltmarshes on NSW South Coast The Albanese Government is investing $600,000 to monitor and restore saltmarshes and riparian habitat across three locations on the NSW South Coast. The commitment, made by the Albanese Government during the 2025 election campaign, will improve the condition of at least 60 hectares of coastal saltmarsh and associated threatened ecological communities on the Clyde River at Batemans Bay, Burrill Lake and Lake Illawarra. Saltmarshes provide important habitat for fish, birds and crustaceans, while acting as a filter for nutrients and sediment to reduce erosion and maintain water quality. READ MORE HERE …  MEDIA RELEASE: Critical support for saltmarshes on NSW South Coast SPEECH: Supporting the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (17:15): I rise today to support the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 and to applaud the Albanese Labor government's commitment to strengthening the resilience of Australia's telecommunications service. The Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation will require national mobile carriers Telstra, Optus and TPG to provide access to SMS and voice coverage for Australians nationwide, almost everywhere you can see the sky. This is really important reform that will improve connectivity and provide reassurance for people in regional areas like my electorate of Gilmore. Gilmore is a big electorate. A few times a week I drive up and down the highway, sometimes for up to four hours, from one end to the other. Driving through mountains, forests and farmland, I pass through numerous mobile blackspots, so I know just how frustrating it can be when service is interrupted. READ MORE HERE …  SPEECH: Supporting the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation SPEECH: Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic now open Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (13:52): Today is a fantastic day because today the doors of the brand-new Nowra Medicare urgent care clinic opened. The clinic is a huge win for my community and will take pressure off the busy emergency department at Shoalhaven hospital. During the election campaign I knocked on hundreds of doors in Nowra, and the message was loud and clear. A local Medicare urgent care clinic was desperately needed.  I promised to deliver this important service for our community and I'm so thrilled the doors are now open. The clinic will make a real difference for locals and visitors by providing convenient, bulk-billed urgent care in the heart of Nowra.  Located at 107 Scenic Drive, Nowra, the Medicare urgent care clinic will operate from 8 am until 10 pm seven days a week, making sure patients can get the care they need when they need it. READ MORE HERE …  SPEECH: Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic now open SPEECH: Women's Health Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (11:47): Endometriosis, pelvic pain and sexual health have for too long been taboo topics, but the incredible team at the south-eastern endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic in Milton is changing that.   The clinic was one of the first of its kind to open its doors in September 2023, and for more than two years has been providing women from Helensburgh to the Victorian border with expert multidisciplinary services and care for endometriosis and pelvic pain.   Not only is the team helping women of all ages, many of whom have lived with intense pelvic pain for many years, even decades; they're also educating our younger generation. Women's health nurse Susan Wilford has been travelling across the south-east of New South Wales visiting high schools at Nowra, Moruya, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla as well as community groups including CWAs and VIEW clubs. READ MORE HERE …  SPEECH: Women's Health SPEECH: Chopper on a Stick Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (19:45): Nowra is a proud defence and Navy town, home to HMAS Albatross, HMAS Creswell, the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Australian Naval College.   Defence and defence industry are our biggest employers, and I am proud of the amazing work they do for our community and our country. That's why I am absolutely delighted that Nowra's iconic 'chopper on a stick' is coming back. READ MORE HERE …  SPEECH: Chopper on a Stick SPEECH: Delivering cost of living relief Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (11:05): The Albanese Labor government's No. 1 priority is to keep delivering cost-of-living relief for Australians. We're focused on helping on so many levels, from tax cuts for every taxpayer and a pay rise for our lowest-paid workers to cheaper home batteries and slashing student debt, because we know every little bit helps. Our record investment in Medicare is at the heart of our cost-of-living relief, with a focus on cheaper medicines and reducing healthcare costs. I'm so pleased that, since the Albanese Labor government's GP bulk-billing incentives were introduced, on 1 November 2025, the number of fully bulk-billing medical practices in Gilmore has more than doubled. There are now 32 fully bulk-billing practices operating across my electorate. This means it's easier for locals to see a doctor and it's saving families hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket medical expenses. READ MORE HERE …  SPEECH: Delivering cost of living relief Yours sincerely, Fiona Phillips MP Member for Gilmore Please contact me on: Fiona.Phillips.MP@aph.gov.au (02) 4423 1782