Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

It's a great honour to be a member of parliament. For each and every one of us, despite the things we show rancour over, the things we disagree on and the policy challenges, the thing we hold in common is that it's an enormous honour to be elected to represent our communities in this place. It's an important institution and it should be treated with care and respect, as our democracy is an important institution—young by international standards and something that needs to be nurtured and respected.

At the 2022 election Labor promised a better future for the people of Australia, including those of my electorate of Whitlam, and we're delivering on that promise. My electorate runs from the industrial heartlands of the coast land to the big suburbs of Dapto, Albion Park and Shellharbour—once a village and now a major city—to the coastal strip between Windang in the north and the famous 'Farm', Killalea Beach, in the south, right up to the Hume Highway in the Southern Highlands. In many respects it is two separate electorates—very different. It is a regional electorate—the farming villages of Robertson, service towns like Moss Vale, once-farming villages but now tourist regions, like Berrima, and the very popular tourist destinations of Bowral and Mittagong. It is a great place to represent—a wonderful honour.

We promised a better future. It's my great challenge in this place to represent them all. It's a great honour to be a minister in this government and it's a great challenge to fulfil my ministerial responsibilities while ensuring that my first and foremost responsibility—representing the locals of my electorate—is fulfilled as well. We understand the economic challenges. There are many, and we're facing into them. We received a budget in all sorts of mess—a trillion dollars worth of debt and a structural deficit that will take considerable effort to wind back. We received an economy with significant supply-side constraints from living in the shadow of the COVID pandemic and all the significant changes that needed to be made, and inflationary pressures in the economy, many of them because of energy price increases internationally, for gas and coal and petrol, influenced by international factors but, as the Treasurer often says, 'received internationally but felt around household kitchen tables'. There were significant structural problems with the budget.

It's not the job of government to complain about the situation we received. It is our job to explain it and to explain to the Australian people what we're going to do about it. We've already taken real action on climate change, legislating out targets, and are now working with the parliament to ensure that our new safeguard mechanisms are able to move through the parliament so that we can do the heavy lifting on meeting our 2030, 2035 and 2050 emissions reduction targets. We've legislated for cheaper child care, knowing that for many households that's a very large and lumpy expense in their weekly budget. We've legislated changes to our workplace relations system which will get wages moving again as well as making a concrete difference in areas that I think all members of this place share—for example, in the area of domestic violence, paid domestic violence leave. Of course, the angels in all of our natures hope that nobody ever has to access that, but we know that in reality domestic violence is a scourge on our society, with people having to take time out of work to attend to moving home, getting care, getting support. Our domestic violence legislation will make a concrete difference in that area. We intend to have a conversation and a referendum on a voice to parliament, to lift up our democracy and our founding document to ensure that it reflects the 65,000 years of First Nations heritage.

We have introduced and legislated—and this is a matter I know you are very engaged with, Deputy Speaker Wilkie—a national anticorruption commission. Corruption, and the threat of corruption, doesn't stop at a state border. It was naive of this place to think that we were immune from the threat of corruption in public life and public administration. A national anticorruption commission sends a strong signal to those of us involved in public life and those involved in public administration that there is a watchdog that will be seriously addressing it. The mere fact that we have one hopefully provides a very persuasive influence on the way that elected and public officials conduct themselves.

In the area of energy, we know it's a big challenge. I have mentioned that most of the problems in the energy market have come to us from the failed energy policies of our predecessors—their failure to take the shift to renewables seriously—together with the war in Ukraine. Again, complaining about the problem is not the role of government; explaining what's going on and putting in place solutions is. Our wholesale energy price caps in the area of coal and gas are legislated. Regrettably, they were not supported by the other side. The coalition parties voted against capping prices—which, we were advised by Treasury modelling in the last 24 hours, are already having a material impact on the prices that people will pay at the household and business level. That's what a serious government does: gets on with business and tries to put practical solutions in place.

Closer to my home in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands, I made a promise to my constituents that I'd continue to advocate for them. With a Labor government in office, they know their voices are going to be heard. We will deliver on promises that we made nationally to every Australian, but also locally. At home, this includes funding for a $25 million trauma recovery centre for families, women and children who unfortunately have had to endure family and domestic violence. This is the first such facility in the country. It will be a pilot and lead the way for other initiatives around the country.

Delivering community batteries involves, again, firming up our energy generation and distribution system, but is also a pilot for the way we might provide energy storage solutions for communities. The beauty of community batteries is that they provide the benefits of renewable energy generation to communities. With solar installation, for example, people who may not be homeowners—or maybe live in units or are renters and aren't going to install solar on a house that they don't own—are going to get the benefits of solar through the installation of community batteries. I'm very pleased to be a part of a national pilot on this in Dapto.

Nine million dollars has been provided to Wollongong Council to build an accessible sport and play precinct at West Dapto. When I was first elected, West Dapto was mostly dairy farms. There are now burgeoning suburbs, which are underserviced in relation to a lot of community infrastructure. New sporting facilities will make a material difference to this growing community. We've hoping to get work underway over the next couple of years. The $9 million will facilitate that.

Over $500,000 is going to the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens to create a dedicated learning facility. This is a volunteer run organisation. When I was first elected it was a patch of dirt on the outskirts of Bowral. It's now a burgeoning community facility—an entirely community run botanic gardens. They're lifting it up every year. This money will help them put in place an education facility.

There is $450,000 going to the Southern Highlands regional art gallery Ngununggula, another magnificent community facility, for the installation of solar systems to help them power the gallery. What does a solar system have to do with art? It will save them thousands and thousands of dollars a year in operation costs, and they can then convert that money into staff, community programs and bringing more exhibitions into the area. It's absolutely fantastic. I want to pay tribute to Ben Quilty and the team who have been driving the establishment of that gallery and ensuring that it's going to bring art to the Southern Highlands and that all can enjoy that fantastic community-run facility.

Deputy Speaker, I was first elected in 2010—the same year as you!—and I'm delighted to say that this is my fifth election. I couldn't have been elected at the first, second, third, fourth or even fifth time unless it had been with the amazing support of a team of volunteers. The first lot of volunteers are your family, of course. They're conscripted. I want to thank my partner, Brooke. I want to thank my kids, Jessica and Paddy, and my extended family for the enormous support that they give to me so that I can do my job here.

I want to thank the branches and the branch members who are there, year in, year out, during the dark days and the tough times. We were in opposition for nine years. They were really tough times for many of the branches, many of whose members have been members of our great party since before I was born. I want to pay tribute to them: the Albion Park and Oak Flats branch, the Dapto branch, the Port Kembla branch, the Shellharbour and Barrack Heights branch, the Southern Highlands branch and the magnificent Warilla and Mount Warrigal branch.

I'm now going to do something very risky: I'm going to name individuals. There are two risks. One is that I don't get them all named before the time runs out. The second risk is that I'm going to miss out somebody. But here I go, and can I say in advance, if I've missed you out, I'm going to get back to you in another opportunity.

I want to pay great tribute to Illce and Raja Musarevski who are now life members of our great party. They've been staffing the booths at Warilla for decades now. They're great friends and great champions of Labor, as is Lauren Leonard at Warrilla and Mount Warrigal. Jan Merriman of Oak Flats is a wonderful supporter and a magnificent human being. She's had some family tragedy that she's had to deal with over the last couple of years, but she turns out to support us on election day.

Maree Duffy-Moon and Mick Moon, again, are great champions, who are also dealing with family challenges but were out there everyday. Robin Harvey—what a beauty! I describe him as a bloke who has summer thongs and winter thongs and summer shorts and winter shorts. He was out there in the middle of a winter election, campaigning for me. Tom Hawker is a magnificent volunteer as well. Boris Baraldi and his entire family are great friends and great supporters. Thank you so much.

Moira Hamilton, who is also a councillor—thank you for your support. Gary Shaw, Jim Pearce and his partner, Adele Flood, are magnificent humans—thank you for your support. I also thank Denise Hadley; Arthur Hurst; Michael Auld; Brian Forbes, who is a very old mate of mine; and Louise Hogan. Jade Joliffe is a single mum who knocked off from work and knocked off from uni and would be out there doing—you know what prepolls are like? There are long hours, it's often raining and you're up to your ankles in mud. She was out there on prepoll helping me. I'm really thankful for her support.

I thank Joanna Kubota, Sandra Mitrevski—she just had a child, but she's still out there supporting—Marlene Calleja and Alice Scott. She's not a party member but a real trooper, a battler. Everyone in her community knows Alice, and she's always been out there supporting. I thank also Christine Okoniowski, out at Berkley; Maria Di Carlo, a fantastic supporter over many years; my mate Louis Parnis, a stalwart of the Maltese community and the George Cross Falcon club and a big supporter over in Cringila; Emerson Burke; David Haden; John Najjar; Rebecca Dayal; Wendy and Bob Turford, who are absolute troopers; my old mate Simon Zulian, a former staffer but a long-time stalwart and great supporter; Ailis Quinn; James O'Maley; Kristin Dawson and her partner, Marguerite, who are, again, wonderful champions of the community and great supporters; Adam Byrne; and Don Kelly and his family.

Thank you, Carole Faughlin, Aiden Roberts, David Dellapina, roped in by his son who works for me, John Williamson, Nick Haughain, Warren Wiseham, Charlie Habazin—it's been a tough couple of years for Charlie. He lost his wife at the beginning of COVID. Our thoughts go out to you, Charlie. Thanks for turning up and thanks for your support, mate.

Thank you to the Wilson clan. Nothing goes on in Port Kembla and whereabouts without the say-so of the Wilson clan. They're absolute troopers. Michael, James, Norma and the whole crew: love you dearly. You're great supporters. Rhonda Jones, Julie Allen, Geoff McAdam—I couldn't have got through without your support, Geoff; thank you so much. There's Lila Best. I forgot to mention Michael in the Wilson clan—geez, I'll be in trouble at the next Port Kembla branch meeting if I don't give him a shout-out. Dana Nelse, a magnificent human being, runs the Oak Flats Neighbourhood Centre but is also the president of our FEC.

Thank you, Robbie Petrevski and family. Robbie's a councillor and champion of the Macedonian community. Thanks also to George Dimitrievski, Vasel Kocovski, Goce Angelevski—well known, with his community broadcast, in the Macedonian community—Lauren McKay, Josh Leonard, Matthew Badcock, Roy Caddick, Ray Bernasconi, Hetty and Robert Cummins, Jim David and his partner, Bernafe. David, again, was out there rain, hail and shine during pre-poll. Thank you so much. I'm very grateful.

Here's a name many will recognise: Gary Punch, a former member of this place. He got good sense and moved down south to my electorate and now resides over in Warilla, a very nice place. I was grateful for his support. Madeline Baker is an absolute trooper. She coordinated the Southern Highlands branch booth rosters. It's a damned cold place to campaign in a winter election, I can tell you, particularly on a wet evening. Thanks, Madeline.

Thank you, Eric Savage, Dean Cowgill, Ross Hannah, Graham and Linda McLaughlin—all of these people are very dear to me—Phil Yeo and Rodney Cavalier. They're absolute stalwarts. Thank you, Terry Hannan, Mark Coles, Judy McLean and Ed Gilchrist.

I'll do something really risky here. I'm going to name three people: Angus Braiden, Oskar Durst and Leo Schwarze. They are students of Bowral High School. Before school, they'd come and set up pre-poll. They'd go and do their day's school and then after school they'd come and do pre-poll in the evening, shut up and take the signs and everything home. A big shout-out to you guys; you're wonderful human beings and thank you so much.

I thank Kerrie Butson, Jane Miller, Peter Nelson, Christine Goodwin, Jeff Lapidos, Annella Wheatley, Doug and Kathie Blunt, Jim Gasson, Bronwyn Willats, Paul Totman, Denice Welch, Stuart Perry, Stephen Clarke and Mick Jones. They all made fantastic contributions. There's my old mate Glen Vandine—rain, hail and shine—Rowena Perry, Maurie O'Sullivan, I've known since I was a kid, a stalwart of the Southern Highlands branch, and a great asset. If you've got constituents who need to be spoken to in Gaelic, Maurie your man, an absolute trooper and wonderful human being. Dave Kent is fantastic and a great fundraiser up in the highlands as well. He sells a mean raffle ticket.

Thanks to Penny Newlove, Hazel Williams, Margaret Higgins, Michael Lucey, David Baker, Barbara Baker, Warren and Dawn Glase—Warren's had his challenges over the last three years but turned up to help the cause—Barry Costin, Dom Martino, Leonie Stone, Christine Miller, Marilyn Raby, Roy and Anne Elbourne—thank you so much—Peter Rowe, Jenny Bailey, Les Dawes—thank you so much for your support—and Marianne, Alec Hall, Ben Hancock, Michael Valceski, Liam Turner, Harvey Shead, Glenn Hayes, Trudie Greer, Sally Stevenson, Sally Horton, Emma Mattison, Rebecca Chapman, Paula Loustos, Barry Purcell, Robin Petrevski, Dance Volcevski, Steve Naumovski, Mick Galligan, Greg Hannah, Wassel Kich, and Alastair and Michele Graham. And a big shout-out, I've got to say, to Eli and Annie Harris. And thanks to my staff: John Ryan, Tom Iggulden, Jarrod Dellapina, Tiana Myers, Linda Campbell, Ela Akyol, Roman Ristovski, Ben Mofardin, Boris Baraldi and Sara Al Arnoos.

To all my parliamentary colleagues and counsellors who supported me: thank you so much. I wouldn't be here without your great support. And if there's anyone who I missed, I'll come back to you!

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