Achievements

Headline Achievements

  • Van ensured proper maintenance of national projects, such as the 310 St Kilda Rd project, through Senate Estimates and prompting a government review.

  • Van advocated for awarding the LAND 8116 self-propelled artillery project contract to Hanwha in 2020 and 2021, resulting in the construction of 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles in Geelong, Victoria.

  • Van called for an independent review into ABC complaints in February 2021.

  • Van consistently held the Premier accountable during Victoria's COVID Lockdowns.

  • Van played a key role in passing the Religious Discrimination Bill and ensuring protections for Religious Organisations.

  • As Chair of the Parliamentary friends of Ukraine, Van advocated for Australian support for Ukraine, raising the issue in Parliament and participating in rallies with the Ukrainian community.

  • Van campaigned for and secured support for Ukraine, including the provision of Bushmasters and Hawkeyes.

  • Van campaigned strongly for an end to single use plastics and personally created a line of aluminium water bottles.

  •  Senator Van celebrates the win of Hanwha, the Korean defence company, has successfully secured a multi-billion dollar contract to construct numerous new armoured personnel carriers for the army. It emerged triumphant over Germany's Rheinmetall in a rigorous five-year tender process, ultimately sealing the deal to manufacture 129 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).

    Senator has long called for more investment in the defence industry in Australia and this milestone agreement serves as a significant economic boost for Geelong, where Hanwha is currently establishing a cutting-edge factory near Avalon airport, dedicated to the assembly of armoured vehicles within Australia.

Committee Achievements

  • Joint Standing: Trade and Investment Growth served from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Treaties served from 21.10.2021 to present; National Capital and External Territories served from 1.8.2022 to present; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 2.8.2022 to present

  • Joint Statutory: Human Rights served from 2.7.2019 to 15.10.2019; Public Works served from 23.11.2022 to present

  • Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 2.12.2021; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 14.10.2019; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 3.2.2021 to 25.7.2022; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 2.12.2021 to 25.7.2022

  • Senate Select: Foreign Interference through Social Media served from 5.12.2019 to 21.4.2022

  • Senate Standing: Senators' Interests served from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 1.8.2022 to present

Grant Achievements (Over $100,000)

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Cooperative Research Centre Project grant

  • Date: 7/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Ojas Group Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $3000000  

  • Description: accelerate an innovative project to upcycle hazardous solar panel waste into value-added materials.

     

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Modern Manufacturing Fund

  • Date: 4/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Flavour Makers Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $986588

  • Description: HFFS Dry Sachet Packing Line Capital Investment Project

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Modern Manufacturing Fund

  • Date: 4/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: V-B Granite (Aust) Pty. Ltd.

  • Funding: $934681

  • Description: VBG SilicaSafe Automtion Project (Phase 2)

  • Electorate: Bruce

  • Grant Name: Modern Manufacturing Fund

  • Date: 4/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Mickies Bikkies Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $882806

  • Description: Kez’s Kitchen Factory Modernisation, Innovation and Expansion

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Modern Manufacturing Fund

  • Date: 4/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Nissan Casting Australia Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $862537

  • Description: Nissan Casting Australia TdC Efficiency upgrade Gen2

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Modern Manufacturing Fund

  • Date: 4/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Omniblend Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $800000

  • Description: Advanced manufacturing infrastructure for solid form nutritional foods

     

  • Electorate: Dunkley

  • Grant Name: Capital Grants Program

  • Date: 8/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: The David Scott School

  • Funding: $600000

  • Description: Purchase of adjoining property

     

  • Electorate: Holt

  • Grant Name: Safer Community Grant

  • Date: 7/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: The Buddhist Meditation Association of Victoria Inc.

  • Funding: $463106.7

  • Description: Intergrative Safety and Communication Project

  • Electorate: Hotham

  • Grant Name: Safer Community Grant

  • Date: 7/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Beis Menachem Community Centre

  • Funding: $450000

  • Description: Project Safe Community

  • Electorate: Bruce

  • Grant Name: Safer Community Grant

  • Date: 7/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Victorian TAMIL ASSOCIATION INC

  • Funding: $448470

  • Description: Protecting the Victorian Tamil Community Centre

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Safer Community Grant

  • Date: 7/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: The Trustees of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas

  • Funding: $442915.2

  • Description: St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Parish South East Melbourne safe and secure project.

     

  • Electorate: Dunkley

  • Grant Name: Safer Community Grant

  • Date: 7/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: The Hindu Society of Victoria (Australia) Inc.

  • Funding: $408515.4

  • Description: Securing HSV’s Shiva Vishnu temple and community cultural centre

     

  • Electorate: VIC

  • Grant Name: Social Inclusion through Sport Grant

  • Date: 6/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities Inc.

  • Funding: $357939

  • Description: Supporting women of colour to be healthier and happier - an initiative to empower CALD women to participate in sports and physical activity.

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Safer Community Grant

  • Date: 7/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: The Trustee for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Charitable Trust

  • Funding: $324000

  • Description: New Infrastructure for safer Community

  • Electorate: VIC

  • Grant Name: Social Inclusion through Sport Grant

  • Date: 6/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: University of Melbourne

  • Funding: $315500

  • Description: Co-designing, implementing and evaluating an intervention to tackle racism and Islamophobia in junior sport.

     

  • Electorate: VIC

  • Grant Name: Social Inclusion through Sport Grant

  • Date: 6/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Victorian YMCA Community Programming Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $310038

  • Description: Aboriginal Camping and Active Recreation Project

  • Electorate: Dunkley

  • Grant Name: Modern Manufacturing Fund

  • Date: 4/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Essential Flavours And Ingredients Pty Limited

  • Funding: $247500

  • Description: Enhancement of Encapsulation Capacity

     

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Automotive Innovation Lab Access Grant

  • Date: 5/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Pedder’s Shock Absorber Service Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $200000

  • Description: project for development of load ryder on board scales

  • Electorate: Bruce

  • Grant Name: Automotive Innovation Lab Access Grant

  • Date: 5/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: TRJ Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $198000

  • Description: project for development of a specialty vehicle street rod in kit form

  • Electorate: Bruce

  • Grant Name: Automotive Innovation Lab Access Grants Round 2

  • Date:

  • Legal Trading name: The Trustee for TRJ Trust

  • Funding: $198000

  • Description: 

  • Electorate: Hotham

  • Grant Name: Entrepreneurs' Programme

  • Date:

  • Legal Trading name: CAPSULAR TECHNOLOGIES PTY. LTD.

  • Funding: $165000

  • Description: 

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Automotive Innovation Lab Access Grant

  • Date: 5/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Lumen Australia Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $161500

  • Description: project for validation testing of electronic modules for vehicles.

  • Electorate: Isaacs

  • Grant Name: Defence Global Competitiveness Grant

  • Date: 7/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Hosico Engineering

  • Funding: $150000

  • Description: 

  • Electorate: VIC

  • Grant Name: Social Inclusion through Sport Grant

  • Date: 6/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Polish Community Care Services Incorporated

  • Funding: $150000

  • Description: Let's Get Active - Community Sports Program for CALD Polish women and people with a disability

  • Electorate: Hotham

  • Grant Name: Safer Community Grant

  • Date: 7/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Melbourne Anglican Trust Corporation

  • Funding: $106685.1

  • Description: Security Upgrade to Glen Waverley Anglican Church

  • Electorate: Bruce

  • Grant Name: Automotive Innovation Lab Access Grant

  • Date: 5/1/2020

  • Legal Trading name: Innovative Mechatronics Group Pty Ltd

  • Funding: $103000

  • Description: project to develop Australia’s first national scale hybrid battery aftermarket service

  • Electorate: Bruce

  • Grant Name: Automotive Innovation Lab Access Grants Round 2

  • Date:

  • Legal Trading name: INNOVATIVE MECHATRONICS GROUP PTY LTD

  • Funding: $103000

    Constituent Achievements

  • In 2021, Ms. Spisbah endured overwhelming stress and anxiety as her husband's travel request to arrive in Australia during the COVID-19 Pandemic was continually being rejected. Ms Spisbah was in the third trimester of her pregnancy in Australia and her husband was in France at the time. She was extremely worried he would miss the birth of their baby.

    However, Senator Van intervened and successfully united the couple just in time.

  • Ali Nazari was living in the most difficult circumstances since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Working alongside the Australian Department of Home Affairs Senator Van was able to reunite Ali Nazari and his family after two years. 

Ms Spisbah and her husband

Ali Nazari and Family