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

Thank you, Deputy Speaker Gee, for stepping into the breach. Parliamentarians often refer to July as the winter break, but up in the north it's been non-stop action—the dry season is here. Here are just some of the highlights.

We had a forum looking at the great opportunities that will follow on from the start of flights from Darwin to mainland China. The member for Hunter and the member for Blaxland came up and saw firsthand some of the exciting things happening in the north. Their visit included a trip out to the Humpty Doo Barramundi farm. In fact, the member for Blaxland visited twice over the winter break, including a visit out to the increasingly neglected Kakadu National Park. I understand my good friend Dr Freelander also made his way out to Kakadu during the break, which is fantastic.

I had the opportunity to join the Australian American Leadership Dialogue, first at Fort Worth in Texas and then in Washington DC, where I met with the office of congressman and former US marine Seth Moulton to discuss veterans affairs issues. I shared with his office the details of Labor's veterans employment policy. Speaking of veterans and defence, I joined an ADF Parliamentary Program on Operation Resolute in Darwin. I went out to sea with HMAS Glenelg, a patrol boat. Well done to Lieutenant Commander Jorge McKee, the commanding officer of that vessel. Also, well done to the commanding officer of NORFORCE, Lieutenant Colonel Brett Thomas DSC. I also went up on a maritime surveillance patrol with Cobham staff in their border protection role. Well done to all of them.

I held a crime and justice task force forum with the member for Hotham, Clare O'Neil—thank you. We listened to the community and to local service providers on some of the current challenges. We had many events out in the community. The Darwin Show was fantastic. I chaired a public hearing of the Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources looking at how the mining sector can better support local businesses. We also had the member for Griffith up in Darwin, where we had a youth roundtable discussing mental health for young people and university funding. It is not helpful that $30 million is being ripped out of Charles Darwin University. I also had the great fortune of joining you, Mr Deputy Speaker, on exercise Pitch Black. I want to thank Air Commodore Michael Kitcher for the way that he hosted us during that event. The Palmerston Regional Hospital is opening soon, so well done to all, and we look forward to great health services being provided to the people of my electorate from that hospital.

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