Emma Husar (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank the member for Fisher for this motion today. Like the member for Longman, I am a bit sceptical about his grandstanding, coming in and announcing all this money for our communities. I do welcome any opportunity to help our hardworking organisations, predominantly the not-for-profit organisations, that deliver real benefits to my wonderful community in Lindsay. I know I say this all the time and everyone is probably sick of hearing me say it, but I do have the best people in my community. They are the salt of the earth and they are incredibly hardworking. They put up with long commutes and limited public transport options. They have significant healthcare concerns, but live with the most under-pressure hospital in the state. Under this government every single one of our public schools is seeing funding cuts, and our university—the only university—is about to lose $98 million. We have a three per cent higher cost of living than those living in Sydney. It is skyrocketing under this government. Wages are flatlining and up to 1,200 of my people have less to spend on their family, bills and groceries thanks to the penalty rate cuts—all while this government gives big business a $65 million handout. So I am sceptical, and those are the reasons why.

Like me, though, the people in my community don't beat about the bush. If they're not happy with you, they'll let you know. But, if someone needs help, they will absolutely be there. Many of them are already doing it tough. As I often say about my community, they would give you a spare rib if they needed to. As such, our not-for-profit organisations frequently are called upon to provide services to people in our community with very little financial backing. They have to be creative; they have think outside the box. In many cases they are providing services for people who have been failed or let down by government.

I think this is a massive cost-shifting exercise. Our community and our community groups end up paying the price. This is why I welcomed with open arms the opportunity to help some of these organisations financially through the Stronger Communities Program. I spent much of my adult life advocating and fundraising for community organisations and I know firsthand the struggles that they face. With the guidance of my volunteer community selection panel I was able to recommend 13 individual community-building projects for 50-50 funding under round 3 of the program. I would like to run through just a couple of them and give a bit of background as to why each is valued and important.

Members in here will have heard me speak about the wonderful work done by the Penrith Women's Health Centre and its CEO, Jane Gold. It provides a safe, one-stop shop for women's health, counselling, education, self-help, advocacy and referral services. Ninety per cent of their work is for women who have been facing DV. I know firsthand that they have saved many women's lives in my community, so I was pleased to support the recommendation that they receive a grant to buy a new interactive whiteboard for the education components of their courses. This upgrade to the technology will be of great benefit to the women who utilise the services.

The NMA has been helping the CALD community in my electorate since 1989. They support the settlement of newly arrived migrants and refugees for up to five years. Laura Sardo and her team, like many community based organisations, struggle to meet the demand for their services. The NMA is planning to purchase a 12-seater bus, which is a significant but necessary expense to ensure vulnerable community members are not left isolated. I was pleased to support their nomination for a $20,000 Lindsay Stronger Communities grant.

Recently I had the incredible honour and pleasure of again opening in my electorate the gala ball of the Australian Foundation for Disability, AFFORD. If we want to talk about inclusion and promoting vibrancy in our community, this is one organisation that lives and breathes it. It has been nominated to receive funding under round 3 of the grants for massage chairs for its Penrith Disabilities Resource Centre. This will be a resource for many of their clients and carers, as well as local community groups, to relax and unwind after the many pressures associated with living with a disability.

We all know the mental and physical benefits of owning a pet—and I'll give a shout out to my own dog, Doggo, who's my son's assistance animal. I was very pleased to support the residents of Glenmore Park, led stoically by Dee Kerr, with their campaign to have an off-leash park provided in our community. Penrith council have combined, and their application for a $20,000 grant under round 3 will see this valuable space in Glenmore Park recognised if that grant is a success.

This weekend I attended the annual presentation night for the biggest sporting association in my electorate, the Nepean Football Association. The NFA provides competitions, facilities and education and training for its 31 member clubs and 12½ thousand players and supporters, including the Nepean Dragons, which is a special-needs soccer program that allows everyone to be included. As I looked around the room, I couldn't help but be in awe of the people who put in hours and hours each week to keep the organisation going, including the operations manager, Linda Cerone, and president, Frances Refalo. Upon my recommendation, we've supported a $10,000 for grant those people as well. (Time expired)

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