Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Yesterday marked the beginning of National Volunteer Week, so we celebrate the contribution of all our nation's volunteers, who give their time and their skills to their community. Like the member for Newcastle, I want to particularly pay attention to our volunteers who might be with us today, who have changed the lives of so many. In the Northern Territory, we've got about 70,000 volunteers out of quite a small population. They also benefit the Northern Territory economy by an estimated $3 billion. So it's really significant.

For my part, I work as a volunteer with Vinnie's and also with ex-service organisations, and I joined volunteers at the Darwin North RSL war memorial to continue the clean-up after Cyclone Marcus on the weekend. So I want to tip my hat to all the ladies and gentlemen that turned up there. This Saturday I'll also be attending DigniTEA, which is a high tea fundraiser run by Share the Dignity, an initiative to supply sanitary items to women and girls who are experiencing homelessness, are at risk of homelessness or are victims of domestic violence. Share the Dignity are a great example of the impact that volunteer-driven organisations have in our community. It's also a happy coincidence that the Top End Health Service have launched a new volunteer program at Royal Darwin Hospital this morning, and I look forward to meeting those 20 volunteers that have already signed up when I got back to Darwin. (Time expired)

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